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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.

[Description of an impregnable floating engine]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00233 Author/Creator: Place Written: s.l. Type: Document Date: circa 1775-1776 Pagination: 1p. : Height: 31.6 cm, Width: 12 cm Order a Copy

Provides both a drawn and written explanation of the design of a vessel "constructed to destroy Barges, Tenders, Ships, Towns, Castles, & Magazines." Made of iron and wood, the vessel has an octangular design "in order to annoy the Enemy upon all Quarters." Notes that the size and artillery can be adjusted. The word "Taliacotius" appears at the end.

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