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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.

Ellery, William, 1727-1820 to George Wanton Ellery

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02300.08 Author/Creator: Ellery, William, 1727-1820 Place Written: Newport, Rhode Island Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 November 1803 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 21 cm, Width: 17 cm Order a Copy

Written to his son at Captain Barney's School in Wickford, Rhode Island. Thanks him for his letter. Gives dietary advice to avoid cholic. Accuses George of writing a short letter in order to avoid errors, and tells him to "[s]tretch your wings, and fly over two pages at least." Since his shoes are too small, he should get a pair in Wickford. Includes a recipe for rat poison for Mr. Updike. Closes with an admonition to George to keep his teeth clean. A Member of the Continental Congress from 1776 until 1785, William Ellery was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was Collector of the Port of Newport from 1790 until 1820.

Ellery, William, fl. 1802-1806

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