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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 70,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

Economics

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7 September 1785

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Webber

Writes to Mr. James Webber of London on a variety of topics. First, thanks him very much for caring for Knox's brother William when William was ill. Is overjoyed to hear of "his restoration to reason and health," and that he will be returning to America from England. Discusses a variety of other topics, including trade between America and England, Boston politics, and the financial business between Webber, Knox, and the firm of Broome & Platt (see GLC02437.03185).

GLC02437.03186

9 September 1785

Shaw, Samuel (1754-1794)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Relates that per Knox's instructions, he has gone to New Haven and met with Mr. [Samuel] Broome and Mr. [Jeremiah] Platt to discuss their outstanding financial business. Explains that Broom and Platt assured him they will not be able to repay the money they owe in the next year. Provides a lengthy and detailed explanation of the firm's financial dealings, including the ways the war interfered with their business. Adds some information about the money they owe to the firm of [James] Webber & Co. Relates possible solutions to the problem.

GLC02437.03190

1785/09/10

Peterson, Abraham

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Livingston, Jr. re: request for extension of credit

Peterson states that due to the scarcity of money, he is unable to clear his debt with Robert, Jr. at the specified time. He then asks for a further extension of credit, and promises to compensate for any personal losses that Robert, Jr. may experience as a result of the delay. Docketed on address leaf.

GLC03107.03587

10 September 1785

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Broome & Platt

Discusses the details of his financial arrangements with the firm of Broome & Platt. Explains that he appreciates the candor with which they explained their financial distress to Samuel Shaw, Knox's representative at their meeting. Does have concerns about an arrangement they made regarding delivery of the goods they are using to pay Knox. Hopes they can make a better plan, in order to satisfy the other firm involved, Webber, Addington, & Birhnall. Adds that Mr.

GLC02437.03191

19 September 1785

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that he has received Knox's last letter. Reports that he has heard from a friend of Henry's brother William Knox, in London, that William should be arriving in America any day. Discusses matters of finance: "As the Bank is now calling in the whole of the monies due to them, the new money has become of equal value to gold & silver." Declares that he feels he must sell Henry's notes in order to pay what they owe to the bank, though he regrets the sacrifice Knox will have to make for this. Reports on the financial trouble of other firms.

GLC02437.03197

20 September 1785

Ogden, Samuel (1746-1810)

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Contract with Henry Knox and Samuel Shaw for sale of goods]

Apparently written in the hand of Samuel Shaw. Contract outlines the terms of an agreement between "Samuel Ogden, of the city of New York, Merchant," and General Henry Knox. Ogden agrees to sell the merchandise, worth "two thousand, two hundred and ninety three pounds, fourteen shillings and six pence, lawful money of the State of Connecticut, at the rate of six shillings for a Spanish milled dollar." Promises to sell the merchandise as if it were his own, at the same rate, and to the best of his power, and to provide all proceeds to Knox.

GLC02437.03199

16 October 1785

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes largely on financial subjects. Mentions a Mr. Appleton, and his attempts to get 20 associates to join. Also refers to a Mr. Sherbourn and a meeting with proprietors, and asks Knox about signing a bond they will be sending.

GLC02437.03208

19 December 1785

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes on several topics. Mentions that [Samuel] Shaw will leave soon for New York and that Jackson has delivered to Shaw all of Henry Knox's brother William's luggage.

GLC02437.03226

[1785] "1782"

Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826)

Book signed

Title: Notes on the State of Virginia [Edmund Randolph's copy] [with other works]

Bound with three rare pamphlets: "Draught of a Fundamental Constitution for ...

GLC05096

1786

Paine, Thomas

Pamphlet

Title: Dissertations on government, the affairs of the bank and paper money

8vo; Howe P18, Sabin 58221, Evans 19880, NUC NP0023152A defense of the infant Bank of the US.

GLC01235

3 January 1786

Paine, Thomas (1737-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Willing

Opposes the repeal of the charter of the Bank of North America on Constitutional grounds and discusses the power of assembly. Remarks upon the ill conduct of the House in violating the charter and calls the assembly incompetent. States that the assembly is not fit to handle " ...granting charters, compiling debts, fixing funds for the redemption of debts, making money, or any thing else which requires permanency." Intends to publish a pamphlet on these topics. Willing was President of the Bank of North America.

GLC06276

1786/02/16

Broadside

Title: Supplement to the Daily Advertiser...

Contains report of Congressional Committee establishing a system of revenue. Trimmed. Docketed on p. 1 "Report of Congress, Feb 1786"

GLC06955

5 March 1786

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter

Title: to James Webber

Writes that he is happy Webber approves of the negotiations he conducted with the firm of Broome & Platt, and brings him up to date on the status of their negotiations. Declares that Mr [Samuel] Ogden has sold a lot of Webber's goods but had to sell them on credit. Also discusses the state of his brother William Knox's health upon his arrival in the United States. Sends Mrs. Lucy Knox's regards to Mrs. Webber.

GLC02437.03245

14 March 1786

Grayson, William (1736-1790)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "I received a tickett from you just as I was setting out from N York, & had not then time to answer it. I am sorry it is not now in my power to say any thing certainly on the subject matter of it. We yesterday had an audience before the Assembly, but have had no answer, neither can we form any conclusions as to what will be the result of our Embassy. A bill for paper money, including a right of tendering, is before the Upper house and will be decided on in a day or two; it is said the Council are nearly divided in opinion on this important subject."

GLC02437.03252

23 April 1786

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports that Captain Hall is not back in town yet so he cannot do anything further about the lime business. Writes that Isaac Winslow has gone to Halifax, but they spoke about it and it is Winslow's opinion that it would take a large farm and many laborers to make the lime business profitable, but it might not be in the Winslow family's power to accomplish that. Further, the "government would not allow monopoly of this article to any one family." Lime is not selling well and the Winslows have a great store of it.

GLC02437.03263

May 1786

Hazard, Jonathan (fl. 1786)

Document signed

Title: [Rhode Island currency].

Cosigned by Samuel Allen and Elijah Cobb. Three Pound note; also listed as sixty shillings. Part of an issue of £100,000 in legal tender bills of credit equal to lawful silver money. Issued pursuant to acts of May, June and August of 1786 for the 4% amortization of seven year realty loans, referred to as the Tenth Rhode Island Bank. Printed In Newport by Solomon Southwich and Henry Barber on cream or bluish paper. Legal tender status was repealed by an act of September 1789, when the value of notes in this issue had depreciated to 10% of their original issue value.

GLC01980.05.02

1786/05/04

Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Page re: insights on England after visit: "that nation hates us"

Written while serving as U.S. Minister to France. Jefferson encloses a pamphlet (apparently Notes on the State of Virginia; not included), thanks Page for a steady stream of political news from America and records his observations upon returning from a visit to England. Jefferson comments that Notes on the State of Virginia "were written in haste & for his [i.e., Francois Barbe-Marbois] private inspection." based on his visit to England, Jefferson makes general observations on English farming, gardening, architecture and manufacture.

GLC02529

16 June 1786

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Manuscript document

Title: to Marquis de Lafayette

Later copy of letter written by Knox to Lafayette at GLC02437.03276. Thanks Lafayette for the kind treatment given to his brother William. Discusses the affair of Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant, who had been sent to France in 1783 to purchase jeweled eagle badges for the members of the Society of the Cincinnati. L'Enfant returned to America in 1784 and brought back many badges purchased on credit. The price proved too high for some officers, which left L'Enfant in a bind.

GLC02437.03275

16 June 1786

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Marquis de Lafayette

References Lafayette's letter of 11 February 1786. Thanks Lafayette for his kindness toward his brother William when he was ill. Says that William has recovered and has been with him since October 1785. Hopes the recovery is permanent. Discusses the affair of Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant, who had been sent to France in 1783 to purchase jeweled eagle badges for the members of the Society of the Cincinnati. L'Enfant returned to America in 1784 and brought back many badges purchased on credit. The price proved too high for some officers, which left L'Enfant in a bind.

GLC02437.03276

28 August 1786

Inman, John (fl. 1786)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Smith and Wyckoff

Writes to the firm of Smith and Wyckoff on behalf of himself and his brother, G.S. Inman of London.

GLC02437.03297

18 September 1786

Thomson, Charles

Document signed

Title: [Congressional resolution requiring that taxes be paid in specie].

Printed resolution of the Continental Congress that requires the states, Rhode Island and New Jersey in particular, to make payments on requisitions in specie and not in the paper currency issued by the state. Signed as Secretary of the Continental Congress.

GLC06047

11 October 1786-21 November 1786

Shaw, Samuel (1754-1794)

Manuscript document signed

Title: to John Green

Written from Canton, present-day Guangzhou, China. Writes a long narrative regarding a dispute with Captain John Green, who helmed the ship Shaw traveled on during his first visit to China in 1784. The first page contains a letter to John Green from Shaw, in which he declares that he is aware of the "liberties you have taken with my character." Writes, "I know you to be my enemy. I declare myself irreconcileably yours. Yet, although enemies, I will ask a favor of you. Do not, Mr. Green, ever attempt, under any circumstances, to speak to me.

GLC02437.03310

22 November 1786

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph document signed

Title: [Memorandum related to Robert Morris and Jeremiah Wadsworth]

Describes a series of meeting in October - November 1786 involving Knox, Robert Morris, Jeremiah Wadsworth, Gouverneur Morris, and Samuel Osgood to develop Knox's proposal to loan money to Congress to clothe, feed, pay and house the troops. Congress had recently passed a resolve that each state should donate money into Congress' treasury, and that Congress could take out private loans against this incoming treasury money.

GLC02437.03314

21 November 1786-3 December 1786

Shaw, Samuel (1754-1794)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox and Samuel Ogden

Written from Canton, present-day Guangzhou, China. Writes a lengthy letter updating his friends Knox and Ogden on the status of his business in China. Says he is pleased to finally be able to write, but is sad to report on the illness and death of their mutual friend Mr. [Isaac] Sears, who had been in China with him. Describes the cool reception he received from the Europeans when he arrived in China, because of the threat of competition the Americans posed. Discusses their business prospects, including the high prices and poor sales for tea and other goods.

GLC02437.03311

22 October 1786

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter

Title: to James Bowdoin

Writes that he will receive by this post the act of Congress authorizing an additional 700 troops in the Ohio frontier, where the troops there are suffering attacks from local Indians. Reports that Congress has called for the states to pay into the treasury by June of the following year, but that they need money more quickly than that if they want to support the troops already in service and augment the force as well.

GLC02437.03315

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