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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 George Washington

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05544 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 Place Written: Thomaston, Maine Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 22 December 1799 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; Height: 24.8 cm, Width: 20.3 cm Order a Copy

Introduces Rufus Davenport, a Boston merchant, to Washington. Writes that he, "like myriads of others, cannot die in peace, nor live with satisfaction, until they see you, who has done so much for them and for their Country!" Briefly discusses news regarding his estate in Maine and his family. Unaware of Washington's death on 14 December 1799, Knox closes the letter "I pray fervently that your days on earth may be days of felicity without clouds sickness or sorrow." GLC02437.07342 is Knox's retained copy of this letter.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Washington, George, 1732-1799

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