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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.

Walker, Benjamin, 1753-1818 to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.05862 Author/Creator: Walker, Benjamin, 1753-1818 Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: March 1793 Pagination: 4 p. : Height: 34.1 cm, Width: 21 cm Order a Copy

Apologizes for not meeting Knox that morning as planned. Says he was up late in an unproductive meeting with William Bingham. Has worked hard for an accommodation between Knox and Madame de la Val, but as it has not been possible he must attend to his own business. Describes why de la Val was so upset about the contracts she entered into with Knox. She wants "an equitable claim for an indemnification for the delays of its [one of the contracts] execution." Gives reasons for Madame de la Val's arguments to get out of paying 56 cents per acre. She claims that the sum of $9,000 was not advanced to her. Says "On asking her this morning to give me definitively what she would relinquish & what she would expect she handed me a paper of which the inclosed is a transaction." Tells Knox he must be the judge if he can accomodate "when you differ so widely." Says he now quits this business.

Walker, Benjamin, 1753-1818
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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