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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 John Hancock

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.04484 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry, 1750-1806 Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: January 28, 1790 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; Height: 32 cm, Width: 20.3 cm Order a Copy

Encloses (not included) his report on the subject of a "republican national militia." Discusses his thoughts concerning a "republican national militia..." Believes republic governments are the sort of governments that will be "more productive of happiness and an enlargement of the mind than other forms [of] government, But that they cannot be [effectively] secured [against] the machinations of the interested and ambitious unless the people will sacrifice some [portion] of [ease], and establish strong institutions..." Solicits Hancock's help saying he does not know the fate of the report but believes if it meets Hancock's and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts approbation it will take "deep root..." Mentions Mrs. Knox just gave birth to another son. Date taken from docket. Knox's working draft. Docketed in Knox's hand.

Hancock, John, 1737-1797
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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