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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 to Benjamin Lincoln

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03453 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 Place Written: New York, New York Type: Manuscript document Date: February 14, 1787 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; Height: 32.4 cm, Width: 20.5 cm Order a Copy

Marked "copy." Body of the letter and signature in the hand of Robert Pemberton, Knox's aide. Discusses Lincoln's success at stopping Shays' Rebellion and dispersing the insurgents. Mentions how the rapid defeat of the insurgents will affect orders previously given to Colonel [David] Humphreys and Colonel [Henry] Jackson to move their regiments to Springfield, Massachusetts. Says he has been keeping General Washington and Congress abreast of Lincoln's actions. Comments on the upcoming Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and expresses his firm support of it. Believes the objections voiced by many are not well-founded. Hopes that Massachusetts agrees to send delegates to the convention and that they select Lincoln, Mr. [Rufus] King and Mr. [Stephen] Higginson to be among them.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810
Humphreys, David, 1752-1818
Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809
King, Rufus, 1755-1827
Higginson, Stephen, 1743-1828

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