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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.

Elliott, Jesse D. (Jesse Duncan), 1782-1845 to Isaac Mayo

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04604.23 Author/Creator: Elliott, Jesse D. (Jesse Duncan), 1782-1845 Place Written: Pensacola Bay, Florida Type: Letter signed Date: 13 November 1830 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 31.6 cm, Width: 19.4 cm Order a Copy

Written in clerical hand and signed by Captain Elliott as commander of the West India Squadron to Lieutenant Commander Mayo as commander of the U.S.S. Grampus. Orders Mayo to take provisions for a four month cruise off the coast of Mexico. Says he needs to use economy in stocking the ship. Asks Mayo to leave him the triplicates of the list of requisitions. Says Lt. Rinker has been ordered to join the Grampus to replace Lt. Rick Morris. Says Morris is to have permission to return home and to report to the Secretary of the Navy by letter when he arrives. Mayo is to make an appearance off Vera Cruz, Tampico, and Campeche. Says he is to offer lawful protection to American ships claiming "In your intercourse with foreign public authorities, I would recommend a mild and conciliatory yet firm Course." Says he has enclosed a circular from 22 June (not included here) relative to consuls. After the cruise is over, Mayo is to report to Pensacola and await further instructions. Postscript says there is a new set of sails waiting for the Grampus, made of American cotton duck. Small piece of the letter is missing causing minor text loss.

Mayo, Isaac, fl. 1823-1832

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