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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26 March 1798

U.S. Senate

Broadside

Title: A Motion: establishing embargo, fortifying ports and raising an army

The motion was a result of the Quasi-War with France. Document is slashed on lower right corner. Formerly pencilled "Duplicate."

GLC00265.02

05 April 1798

Winthrop, James

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph B. Varnum

re: thanks for copy of president's message, sending town resolution against war with France [resolutions not included]. {7}

GLC03845.02

09 April 1798

Pamphlet

Title: Instructions to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, John Marshall and Elbridge Gerry

XYZ affair. Evans 34837. Sabin 34865. Disbound with paper wrapper. With date at top in ink: April 9, 1798

GLC00338

21 April 1798

Marshall, John (1755-1835)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney

Describes his journey from Paris to Bordeaux, where he waits to return to America. Writes with a vein of humor. Mentions that two wheels broke on the journey, but says such a fact does not need to be communicated to the Secretary of State, so the broken wheels can be saved a circuit around the United States.

GLC05632

04 May 1798

Adams, John (1735-1826)

Pamphlet

Title: Message of the President of the United States, to both houses

Dated May 4, 1798. Stab-stitched as issued. Regarding negotiations with France to end the Quasi-War, and report from Ambassadors

GLC00265.03

1798/05/08

Adams, John (1735-1826)

Letter signed

Title: to Inhabitants of Newburyport re: response to patriotic resolutions

Responding to the resolutions passed by Citizens of Newburyport, supporting the government (against the French, who are never mentioned). Docketed.

GLC06967

12 May 1798

Cabot, George (1752-1823)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Williams

Cabot, former United States Senator, informs Williams that he "must decline the Secretaryship of the Navy; to this determination I was ultimately brought by a full conviction that I cou'd not go through the labor of an office so difficult ...

GLC05588.01

15 May 1798

Howard, John Eager (1752-1827)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Maryland congressman Howard discusses the impending conflict between America and France and public reaction to the XYZ Affair. Free frank signed by Howard.

GLC02437.07128

24 May 1798

Winthrop, James

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph B. Varnum

re: problems in getting people to agree to resolution against the French, local politics. {12}

GLC03845.03

24 May 1798

Armstrong, J (fl. 1798)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William North

Discusses military and personal matters, and sends North the name of a friend.

GLC02542.32.18

8 June 1798

Pickering, Timothy (1745-1829)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frederick Jacob Wichelhausen

Letter forwarded to Wichelhausen, American Consul in Bremen, by Rufus King, American Ambassador to Britain. King's signature appears on the address. Secretary of State Pickering says he received Wichelhausen's letter of 16 January 1798 as well as several other letters and states he is providing diligent service. Comments on Wichelhausen's idea of issuing certificates to American merchant ships that state no British goods are being carried in order to counter a French decree of seizures.

GLC04439

15 June 1798

Trumbull, John (1756-1843)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

John Trumbull, the noted painter and former secretary to Washington, writes in detail, to Knox about new developments in artillery that might prove helpful in the impending war against France. Noted as written at 72 Welbeck Street in London, England.

GLC02437.07148

1798/06/21

Adams, John (1735-1826)

Letter signed

Title: to inhabitants...of Bedford, Pa re: speech on unity, with William Bingham letter

Signed as President, acknowledging receipt of their call for unity & noting that "Unanimity in all things is never to be expected."

GLC02793.007

25 June 1798

Jay, John (1745-1829)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William North

Arrived in New York on 23 June 1798 and received North's letter of 22 June 1798. Written by Jay as Governor of New York to North as Senator from New York. North wrote soliciting advice on foreign affairs from Jay. Says the French alliance of 1777 should be considered void, but advises that a declaration of war should be avoided. Says war must seem unavoidable and necessary before the general public will give its approval of such drastic measures. Regrets the drastic measures of the Jacobins in France.

GLC02528.02

26 June 1798

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. White

Letterpress copy. Discusses his concerns about the navy, and mentions a "few ships of War, and the french [sic] have a few, would in a few days convey an army of ten thousand blacks and people of color in Vessels seized from our own citizens." Continues with expressing his concern about the defense of the coast. Noted as private.

GLC02437.07154

4 July 1798

Dayton, Jonathan (1760-1824)

Autograph letter

Title: to John Adams

Date inferred from Adams' announcement of Washington as commander of Provisional Army on 2 July 1798. Also inferred from his response to this document, which was on 6 July 1798 (GLC 3866.01). Creator inferred from handwriting of Jonathan Dayton. New Jersey branch of Society of Cincinnati expresses "our entire satisfaction with his Administration of the Government, & in particular as it relates to the injuries & insults which have been received from the French Republic." Asserts that America needs be vigilant to defend its independence.

GLC03866.02

6 July 1798

Adams, John (1735-1826)

Letter signed

Title: to the New Jersey Society of the Cincinnati

President Adams expresses gratitude for the New Jersey Cincinnati's memorial of support as the country faces imminent war with France. On July 4th Adams had announced his appointment of George Washington ("that renowned, Veteran, and beloved Chief") as commander-in-chief of the army being raised to defend the country. Federalist fear of internal dissent (alluded to here as "intestine divisions") led to the passage of the infamous Alien and Sedition Acts in the midst of the crisis.

GLC03866.01

06 July 1798

Barry, John (1745-1803)

Document signed

Title: Signed by 18 sailors.

Sailors" Oath of Allegiance on Commander Barry"s Frigate "United States".

GLC08352

16 July 1798

Adams, John (1735-1826)

Letter signed

Title: to William North

Adams as president asks North as Senator from New York, to attend an important session of the Senate where he will communicate new information, probably in relation to the creation of the Provisional Army or the Quasi War with France. On 19 July 1798 North was appointed adjutant general of the army, which carried the rank of brigadier general. In March 1799 he became chief of staff to General Alexander Hamilton. North left the Senate in August 1798 after the New York legislature voted in James Watson.

GLC03757

16 July 1798

Washington, George (1732-1799)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox [incomplete]

Declares that it is in vain "to look for ease & happiness in a world of trouble," noting that the call of his country has persuaded him to participate in public service (Washington accepted command of the army in 1798, but did not assume an active role). Indicates that he does not want to jeopardize his good reputation by a poor performance at his post. Indicates he placed Knox among the people "on whom I wish to lean," with Alexander Hamilton and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. Notes that Hamilton will be second in command of the new army.

GLC02437.09432

1798/07/16

Adams, John (1735-1826)

Letter signed

Title: To: John Rutherford.

Call to convene Senate to receive communication (Quasi-War)-Washington's acceptance of command in the event of war with France.

GLC04468

17 July 1798

Adams, John Quincy (1767-1848)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Silvanus Bourne

Refers to letter of Bourne's from 10 July 1798. Written to the American General Consul in Amsterdam. Tries to console Bourne about the publication of one letter and the false statements made about the contents of another that made him appear pro-French by Russell (possibly Boston newspaper publisher John Russell). Says the controversy is minor but that the explosive atmosphere in America after the XYZ affair will make it appear worse than it is. Claims the real letter would have been innocuous and the real controversy is the breach of trust of his correspondent.

GLC04403

18 July 1798

Washington, George (1732-1799)

Broadside

Title: General Washington's Letter Declaring his Acceptance of the Command of the Armies of the United States

Regarding the Quasi-War with France, Washington's support for the Administration and acceptance of commander in chief. Signed: "D.R. Slade" in upper right corner. Washington's letter is dated July 17, 1798 from Mount Vernon. The document is also dated July 13, 1798 from Mount Vernon.

GLC00265.04

18 July 1798 ca.

Unknown

Header Record

Title: Broadsides and pamphlets including appointment as commander [Decimalized .01-.04]

[decimalized 00265.01-00265.04]

GLC00265

20 July 1798

Williams, Jonathan (1750-1815)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox to the hand of Henry Jackson

Offer his congratulations on an appointment to the army and discusses other business. Noted as written at Mount Pleasant, state unknown.

GLC02437.07159

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