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King, Rufus, 1755-1827 to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03774 Author/Creator: King, Rufus, 1755-1827 Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: January 27, 1788 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; Height: 32.5 cm, Width: 20.2 cm Order a Copy

King writes from the Massachusetts convention for ratification of the United States Constitution. Declares, "Our hopes do not diminish, although our confidence is not complete- The opposition are less positive of their strength, & those few among them who are honest & capable of Reflection appear uneasy concerning the Fate of the Question..." Mentions a proposal published in the [Massachusetts] Centinel for a conditional ratification. Writes, "[John] Hancock is still confined, he appears to me to wish well to the Constitution but don't care to risque any thing in its favor." Notes that Elbridge Gerry left and has not been reinvited (Gerry, an Antifederalist, previously sat in at the Massachusetts convention). "Free" stamped on address leaf with no signature.

Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

King, Rufus, 1755-1827
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Gerry, Elbridge, 1744-1814
Hancock, John, 1737-1797

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