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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 George Washington

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.05885 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 2 May 1793 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 32 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

This is Knox's retained draft of the original sent to Washington. Knox signs on behalf of Hamilton. The cover letter states that they are sending an answer to Washington's third question to the cabinet asked on 18 April. They are answering with "A conformity of opinion." The answer was sent as an enclosure to Washington that is not included here. The long, detailed answer (the original of which is in the George Washington papers at the Library of Congress, along with a copy of this cover letter) is in reference to the problem of accepting Edmond-Charles Genêt's credentials as French minister to America. The enclosure was only signed by Hamilton, even though it expressed Knox's opinion as well. On verso is the beginning of a different letter, in the hand of Alexander Hamilton.

Published in Harold C. Syrett, editor, "The Papers of Alexander Hamilton," Vol. 14, p. 367. The enclosure mentioned in this letter is also published in Vol. 14, p. 367-396.

[draft]
Philadelphia My 2d. 1793

Sir
A conformity of opinion, and upon the same grounds, enables us to submit to you a joint answer to the third of the questions what you were pleased to propose on the 18 of April, to the heads of the departments and the Attorney Genl.
We have concluded that this mode would be more agreable to you than a [struck: repett] repetition of the same ideas and arguments in separate answers

With perfect respect and the truest attachmnt We have the honor to be sir your most Obedeint & humbl Servts Henry Knox Alexr Hamilton

The President
of the US

[docket] The President of
The US
AH & & H Knox
2d May 1793

[overleaf]
[inserted in Alexander Hamilton's hand:]
Dr. Sir
Warrants have issued in favour of the Commissioners for

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804
Washington, George, 1732-1799

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