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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 Rufus King

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03119 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 28 March 1785 Pagination: 1 p. : docket Height: 32 cm, Width: 20.2 cm Order a Copy

Knox discusses his appointment as Secretary at War. Informs King, a Continental Congressman, "It is true I was fully of opinion that the salary was considerably inadequate to the honorable support of so confidential an officer, but I thought it would be injurious to the dignity of Congress to state that circumstance as an objection to my acceptance..." Hopes a future Congress will consider increasing the position's allowance.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
King, Rufus, 1755-1827

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