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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23 April 1791

Hichborn, Benjamin (1746-1817)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Know to give his son, who received an appointment, preferential treatment. Believes Harry [Henry Jackson] should be appointed district Marshall. Thinks Jackson will be a good appointment as Knox "possesses an unbounded influence" on him. Hichborn mentions that he has seen Joseph Peirce often. This letter is marked private. "Free" stamped on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.04923

24 April 1791

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Jackson received Secretary of War Knox's letter of 10 April 1791. Comments on various military appointments and the recruits from Massachusetts. He says, "the Officers in this Town have inlisted five or six but they are not such men as you want for the service." Mentions that "gentlemen" in the area are pleased that Knox has sent people to survey the area for the canal. Writes that "Mr. Jonathan Jackson will try to hold both his appointments, that of Marshal, and in the Excise." Jackson does not approve.

GLC02437.04924

1 May 1791

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Acknowledges receipt of Knox's letter of 19 April 1791. Talks about people from Boston including the Brecks who were heading to Philadelphia. Jackson would have liked to have joined them, but could not due to "the particular situation of my good mother." Discusses military appointments and that Dr. William Eustis thinks finding a good army surgeon might be difficult. Jackson reports that "recruiting is very dull." Once again, Jackson believes the compensation is too low to "induce our country's lads." Says "Capt.

GLC02437.04935

8 May 1791

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Received Knox's letter of 2 May 1791. Thanks Knox for his "promise respecting the appointment of Marshall." Jackson believes that another, unrelated "Mr. Jackson" will try to hold on to that appointment along with the other appointment he holds. Says, "I have no fears in this head as the President will not approbate so great an impropriety as one man holding two Offices under the government." Goes on to discuss the issue of government appointments and the problem with choosing some men and leaving others out.

GLC02437.04939

8 May 1791

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Later copy. Knox reports that he has received from Lincoln his letter of 27 April 1791 and sent the enclosures on to a Mr. Lear via his servant Caesar. Knox says he will be happy to offer Dr. [William] Eustis "something worthy of his acceptance."

GLC02437.04942

10 May 1791

Williams, Jonathan (1751-1815)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Encloses a letter from his brother Bradford, who is "much alarmed at the appearance of a rival candidate in the person of [a] mutual friend Harry Jackson." Expresses no wish to sway Knox's opinion, but does ask for his "Opinion of the requisite Qualities of the two Candidates ... conclude that [he] will ... Support the pretensions of the man [he has]...

GLC02437.10229

21 May 1791

Hull, William (1753-1825)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by General Hull to Secretary of War Knox. Although "every wish of my heart strongly urges [Hull] again to resume the sword," he must decline Knox's appointment. Says the influence of his friends was decisive. Expresses further sentiments about the appointment and thanks Knox for the "Confidence" he has placed in him.

GLC02437.04953

27 May 1791

Williams, Jonathan (1750-1815)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Williams to Secretary of War Knox. References Knox's letter of 18 May, which returned Colonel Bradford's letter. Sends his answer to Knox (not present) and asks him to pass it along to Bradford. Is not surprised recruitment is slow in the East because "they feel less irritated against the Indians, and are less disposed for that sort of desultory war." Says people in Virginia will not join the expedition westward because they believe the Indians will not enter into a decisive battle.

GLC02437.04961

1 June 1791

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter

Title: to John Sullivan

Written by Secreatary of War Knox to General Sullivan. References Sullivan's letter of 30 April. Feels sorry that he was not made aware of Sullivan's son's desire to obtain a military appointment when there were still positions available. Emphasizes that the President of the United States would have been happy "to have into the army the son of so old and gallant a general." Will do his best to recommend Sullivan's son for any appropriate vacancies that become available.

GLC02437.04966

12 June 1791

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes about the subject "of the Lands." Says Oliver Smith will attend to that business. General Brooks is going to write by this post. Hopes their mutual friend Dr. Eustis will obtain "the appointment of principal in the Medical line of the United States." Knows he will accept if it is offered. Assures that "Ben & David" are the only persons he spoke to about the lands.

GLC02437.04990

19 June 1791

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson

Initialed twice by Knox. Reference's Jackson's two letters of 12 June. Says the goals of his negotiations seem "practicable." Tells him to "Be Snug and dont let it slip through your fingers." States that the difficulty of "any one companys holding more than one million [acres] may be obviated by using different names." Says that Royal Flint can be the representative of another company for them. Says he can also get "respectable names" for a third and fourth.

GLC02437.05011

19 June 1791

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References receiving Knox's letter of 13 June, which enclosed a copy of Samuel Ogden's letter. Reports that Abigail Cornish has set sail for Philadelphia. Says the lands in the Waldo Patent that were for sale in the advertisement went to Oliver Smith for £900/$3,000. Claims "it is thought best to say, or not deny, that the purchase was made for you." Says the auction was legal and open with sufficient time for all to bid.

GLC02437.05012

24 June 1791

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter

Title: to Jonathan Williams

References Williams's letter of 27 May (GLC02437.04961). Has forwarded Mr. Bradford's letter.

GLC02437.05028

27 June 1791

Knox, William (1756-1795)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Henry's letter of 6 April. Says he has sent 13 letters to him, the last from Dublin on the 13 or 20 June. Says his last letter informed Henry of his "motives for coming here namely to negociate some funds by which I might be kept from sinking in Dublin." Is sorry that Thomas Randall "cannot find it convenient to wait agreable to my proposition to him, from a perfect knowledge that the amount will bear hard upon you..." Offers to refund him when he is successful. Says Gouverneur Morris is here but has not made a great sale of land.

GLC02437.05035

3 July 1791

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 26 June. Knows that Joseph Peirce wrote him about the sale of the patent and hopes Knox has no fears about it. Reports that "it was well conducted, and Mr. Smith had a right to buy. - he was the highest bider [sic], and every exertion, and delay was made use of by the Vendue Master, to induce the company to a higher price, and I believe not more than two in the room had the least Idea that it was purchased for you." Says no reflection or insinuation has been made on Knox's involvement.

GLC02437.05048

11 July 1791

Coxe, Tench (1755-1824)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Marked "private." Written by Coxe as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury to Knox as Secretary of War. Has heard the Postmaster General (Samuel Osgood) has resigned or signified to President Washington his desire to resign. Would like Knox to nominate him for the job. Writes, "The Emoluments of the office are less than those of the office I hold, but there are circumstances, which I will have the honor to explain to you, that induce me to wish the change & Col. Hamilton is strongly impressed with their weight.

GLC02437.05059

16 July 1791

Procter, Thomas (1739-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Passed along to Knox, some time ago, a letter from "a Gentleman resident on the borders of the Spanish Government." Reports that the man is the principal officer of a new settlement on the Mississippi River. Fears he transgressed "the Limits of friendship and honor" by passing it along, and that "the unadvised Act, hath given me much pain of mind." Provides his reasons why he sent it. Had heard from a member of Congress that a very long letter by his Spanish correspondent was sent to George Washington.

GLC02437.05066

17 July 1791

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 10 July. Is happy to hear Lucy is doing well after the birth of their tenth child. Hopes God will take particular care of the little girl. Has made discreet inquiries about the powers of attorney necessary to transfer fifty bank shares, and describes the procedures for doing so. Reports that he asked Mr.

GLC02437.05067

22 July 1791

Washington, George (1732-1799)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Seeks an evaluation of Joseph Habersham, in order to find an appropriate federal appointment for him. Washington also asks advice on the law abilities of John Houstoun, for a possible appointment to Associate Judge for the Supreme Court. Marked confidential. Written as President to Secretary of War Knox.

GLC02857

24 July 1791

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 17 July. Will forward the letter Knox included for David Cobb. Claims that Cobb will write him and President Washington about the Postmaster General position. Tells Knox that Cobb's situation is "a very unpleasant one." Reports that Cobb is out of debt, but that he has 11 children and a wife to support without the means of doing so. Says that Cobb needs an appointment to a federal job to sustain himself. Reports Philips, the chairman of the Committee of the Sale of Eastern Lands, met with him and they discussed possible purchases.

GLC02437.05081

31 July 1791

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Anticipates seeing Knox by the middle of August. Observed that Major Jackson was appointed Postmaster General (although this was wrong, Timothy Pickering was appointed on 12 August 1791). Says the news will "disappoint & mortify" their friend David Cobb. Asks him to keep him in mind for the "marshalcy." Refers to his claim to the job as his "hobby horse."

GLC02437.05095

3 August 1791

Knox, William (1756-1795)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References his letters of 27 June and 19 July that he sent to Henry. Has not received any letters from Henry since the one marked 6 April. States he has not met with any success in selling Henry's lands, not even a single serious offer. Says his feelers in Paris have not met with any more success, noting "The Scioto business has left unfavorable impressions at Paris relative to purchases of land in America." Wants to go to Ireland next week, but needs to secure a loan to settle his debts there first. Claims his prospects are bleak.

GLC02437.05099

5 August 1791

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter

Title: to Marinus Willett

Marked "Private." Says that George Washington has showed him Willett's letter of 31 July. Knows that Willett was interested in a government position, but understands that he turned down an offer for the sheriff's office for the city and county of New York. States the president will be pleased to help him in the future. Docketed by Knox.

GLC02437.05104

7 August 1791

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 29 July. Besides the 100,000 acres mentioned as his payment earlier, Jackson wants another 100,000 acres more "as a subordinate purchaser, but I will leave it with you to determine exactly as is most agreeable to your views and I shall be satisfied." Notes their friends Ben and Cobb need to be remembered. Reports that they are "the only persons that has any Claim on me." Mentions that if he does not get the position of marshall he will have nothing to do. Would like to have this job or a position in Europe to promote their land sales.

GLC02437.05107

7 August 1791

Williams, Jonathan (1750-1815)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 24 June, which found him "in these back woods near the top of the Alleghany mountains." Tells Knox "I have long thought, with you, that your talents and disposition were not of a kind to be a very able manager in operations of interest & avarice; I cannot therefore form any great expectations of your success." Does not mean to disrespect him, but he has a cynical outlook because of his own situation as an "unsuccessfull merchant." Would like an appointment in the government, but he doesn't trust himself anymore.

GLC02437.05111

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