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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.

Washington, George, 1732-1799 to Magistrates of Philadelphia re: his respect for civil authority & liberty

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03344 Author/Creator: Washington, George, 1732-1799 Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: [ 17 December 1781 ] Pagination: 2 p. : + blank Height: 23 cm, Width: 19 cm Order a Copy

Washington writes that he feels pleased by their praise and notes how he has endeavored to avoid violating liberty and civil authority. Written six months before being approached by Lewis Nicola with a plan to make Washington the king of the United States.

Washington, George, 1732-1799

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