Our Collection

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.

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1805/06/04

Lear, Tobias (1762-1816)

Manuscript document

Title: Copy of treaty of peace and amity between the United States and Tripoli

In a clerk's hand with copy signatures of Tobias Lear and the various Tripolitan leaders involved in the treaty.

GLC02794.071

1805/06/05

Langford, William (fl. 1805)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear re: congratulations on peace treaty

"I am . . . to congratulate you on the happy restoration of the Peace between your Country, the United States of America, and His Excellency the Bashaw of Tripoli." Langford was the British Consul to Tripoli.

GLC02794.072

28 June 1805

Mountford, Timothy (fl. 1804-1810)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear re: assassination and expulsion of Jews from Algiers (pogrom)

An almost hour-by-hour description of the assassination of Napatili Busnach, Jewish Algerian government officer, and the expulsion and massacre of Jews in Algiers by the government. Mountford sends a report of activities in the city. "This morning about 8 O'clock, Napatili Busnach, in the sheet, was shot thro' the Belly, by a Turk Soldier, & died in two hours after. He never spoke after [inserted: he] was shot, altho' he walked to his own house. About 3 P.M. he was buried.

GLC02794.063

1805/08

Manuscript document

Title: Wrapper separated from its letter

Bears two inscriptions: "Correspondence with His Excelly the Bey of Tunis." "Copy of a Letter from the President of the U. States to the Bey of Tunis," without the letter enclosed.

GLC02794.074

1805/08/02

Lear, Tobias (1762-1816)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hamuda Bassa re: introduction as American Consul

Written aboard the "U.S.S. Constitution." Draft copy of letter with edits. "[T]he honor of presenting myself to your Excellency In the purpose of fulfilling the President's wishes."

GLC02794.075

1805/08/05

Bassa, Hamuda (fl. 1803-1807)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear re: Bassa recognizing Lear's diplomatic authority [in Italian]

GLC 2794.077 is a translation of this letter. The Bashaw initially refused to accept Lear as American Consul to Tunis.

GLC02794.076

1805/08/05

Bassa, Hamuda (fl. 1803-1807)

Manuscript document

Title: to Tobias Lear re: Bassa accepting Lear's diplomatic authority

Translation in a clerk's hand of GLC 2794.076: "[Y]ou are appointed as [Consul] to all the Powers whose coasts are wet by the Mediterranean, and as I am one of those powers, I make not the least difficulty to the contrary." This comment comes after Bashaw had originally refused to see Lear.

GLC02794.077

1805/08/05

Bassa, Hamuda (fl. 1803-1807)

Manuscript document signed

Title: Copy of letter to Tobias Lear re: Bassa recognizing Lear's auth'y. [in Italian]

Manuscript copy of GLC 2794.076. Signed by Tobias Lear on 2 September 1805, with a note: "A true copy from the original." Recognizes Lear's authority after originally refusing to accept him as American Consul to Tunis.

GLC02794.078

1805/08/05

Lear, Tobias (1762-1816)

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: to Hamuda Bassa re: the sovereign's refusal to meet with Lear

Written aboard the "U.S.S. Constitution." Draft copy, with edits, of GLC 2794.080. "As George Davis Esq our Charge de Affairs at your Courts has informed me that . . . you refused to receive me a person authorized to transact any business of my nation with you, I find myself unable to execute the duty assigned me by the President of the U. States." Page two contains doodling. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.079

1805/08/05

Lear, Tobias (1762-1816)

Letter signed

Title: to Hamuda Bassa re: the sovereign's refusal to meet with Lear

Final draft of GLC 2794.079 in a clerk's hand with Lear's signature. Written aboard the "U.S.S. Constitution." "As George Davis Esq our Charge d'Affairs at your Courts has informed me that . . . you refused to receive me a person authorized to transact any business of my nation with you, I find myself unable to execute the duty assigned me by the President of the U. States." Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.080

1805/08/07

Bassa, Hamuda (fl. 1803-1807)

Manuscript document

Title: to Tobias Lear: acknowledging receipt of letters, recognizes Lear's authority

Manuscript copy of letter in a clerk's hand. The Bey of Tunis writes: "as you are authorized by the President I am entirely disposed to hear from you an explanation of your wishes . . . ."

GLC02794.081

1805/08/07

Bassa, Hamuda (fl. 1803-1807)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear re: [?] [in Italian]

Mentions American Consul to Algiers, George Davis. Draft copy of GLC 2794.083. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.082

1805/08/07

Bassa, Hamuda (fl. 1803-1807)

Manuscript document signed

Title: Copy of letter to Tobias Lear re: [?] [in Italian]

Signed by Tobias Lear (p. 2) on 2 September 1805, with a note: "a true copy from the Original." Manuscript copy of GLC 2794.082. Marked "Copia" in upper left-hand corner of the first page. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.083

1805/08/08

Lear, Tobias (1762-1816)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hamuda Bassa re: threatened war between Tunis and U.S.

Draft copy of GLC 2794.085. Written aboard the "U.S.S. Constitution." For excerpt, see GLC 2794.085. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.084

1805/08/08

Lear, Tobias (1762-1816)

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Hamuda Bassa re: threatened war between Tunis and U.S.

Final draft of GLC 2794.084 in a clerk's hand, with Lear's signature. Written aboard the "U.S.S. Constitution." Lear writes: "the repeated threats of your Excellency to make war upon the United States has Obliged the Commander of the American Squadron in this Sea, to place himslef in a situation to guard against that evil [. . . .

GLC02794.085

1805/08/09

Bassa, Hamuda (fl. 1803-1807)

Manuscript document

Title: to Tobias Lear re: Bey's attempt to avoid hostilities with the U.S.

Manuscript copy of letter in a clerk's hand with copy signature. Bey writes: "you [Lear] are the sole person at this moment invested with the character & power of the President of your Government to treat with me on affairs relative to your Nation." Bey is defending his actions: "[r]ead that what I wrote to you . . . then tell me if you have found my pure intentions equivocal [. . . .] So far Am I from hostile ideas . . . that I now declare . . .

GLC02794.086

1805/08/09

Bassa, Hamuda (fl. 1803-1807)

Manuscript signed

Title: copy of letter to Tobias Lear re: [?] [in Italian]

Marked "Copia" in the upper left-hand corner of the first page. Signed by Tobias Lear on p. 9, with a note: "A true Copy from the Original." Bound by a green ribbon. Copy of GLC 2794.088. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.087

1805/08/09

Bassa, Hamuda (fl. 1803-1807)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear re: [?] [in Italian]

Same as GLC 2794.087, in a different hand. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.088

1805/08/10

Lear, Tobias (1762-1816)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hamuda Bassa re: delayed response to Lear's letter on possible war

Draft copy of GLC 2794.090. Written aboard the "U.S.S. Constitution." For excerpt, see GLC 2794.090. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.089

1805/08/10

Lear, Tobias (1762-1816)

Letter signed

Title: to Hamuda Bassa re: delayed response to Lear's letter on possible war

Final draft of GLC 2794.089 in a clerk's hand with Lear's signature. Written aboard the "U.S.S. Constitution." "I had flattered myself that I should have had the honor of hearing from your Excellency, in answer to my letters of the 8th. of this Month (GLC 2794.084 & 2794.085) [. . . .] As this is not the case . . . I have the honor to assure you that there will be on our part the same Secureity for any persons who may come on board our Vessels as has been heretofore, untill we may be in a declared state of hostitilty . . .

GLC02794.090

1805/08/11

Bassa, Hamuda (fl. 1803-1807)

Manuscript document

Title: Translation of letter to Tobias Lear re: delay in correspondence

The Bashaw explains that his other obligations, and lack of access to a translator resulted in the delayed reply to Lear's letter. Emphasizes that Lear should not doubt "my zeal, & peaceful intentions." Docketed on verso: "Translation of a Letter from the Bey of Tunis to Tobias Lear-- Aug. 11th. 1805"

GLC02794.091

1805/08/11

Lear, Tobias (1762-1816)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hamuda Bassa re: continued peace between U.S. and Tunis

Draft copy of GLC 2794.093. Written aboard the "U.S.S. Constitution." Lear responds to the Bashaw's letter of 9 August 1805 (GLC 2794.088). For excerpt, see GLC 2794.093. Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.092

1805/08/11

Lear, Tobias (1762-1816)

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Hamuda Bassa re: continued peace between U.S. and Tunis

Final draft of GLC 2794.092 in a clerk's hand with Lear's signature. Written aboard the "U.S.S. Constitution." Lear responds to the Bashaw's letter of 9 August 1805 (GLC 2794.088). "[A]s [your previous letters] contain such assurances of your friendly disposition towards the United States, and expressions of a determination to continue that friendship . . . I shall not hesitate to present myself before your Excellency towmorrow . . . ." Docketed on verso.

GLC02794.093

13 August 1805

Thornton, William (1759-1828)

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Document acknowledging William Eaton]

Written in a flowerly, religious tone by William Thornton, the architect who designed the U.S. Capitol building who was running the U.S. Patent Office in 1805. Given to William Eaton, former American commander of naval vessels sent to the Barbary states in 1804 and 1805. Presented to Eaton after his adventures with Prince Sidi Hamet, the Sultan of Tripoli who was disposed by his younger brother Yusuf Karamanli in 1804.

GLC06304.01

1805/08/13

Thornton, William

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Eaton re: cover letter on relations with Algiers and Barbary pirates

Eaton was American naval agent at Tripoli. Calls the enclosed document (.01) a "Holy Roll." He writes in part "I inclose you the Blessing & mysteries revealed to the chief maiabout Philosopher, astronomer, soothsayer & magician of the west."

GLC06304.02

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