Our Collection

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.

Ellery, William (1727-1820) to George G. Channing

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00108.01 Author/Creator: Ellery, William (1727-1820) Place Written: Newport, Rhode Island Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 January 1812 Pagination: 3 p. : address ; 21 x 17 cm. Order a Copy

Thanks his grandson for his letter and for the wine he sent. Apologizes for the delay in responding due to outfitting a revenue cutter to cruise against violators of the Non-Intercourse Act. Reports that he has received a letter from R.H. Dana of Provincetown. Praises education. Includes local news intended for Channing's mother and mentions a letter of recommendation for R.H. Dana. Asks that the letter be forwarded to M.R. Dana . A poetic note is written on the envelope leaf.

Ellery was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and was a member of the Continental Congress from Rhode Island from 1776 until 1785. He was Collector of the Port of Newport from 1790 until 1820. Channing was a publisher in Boston and a clergyman later in life.

Ellery, William, 1727-1820
Channing, George Gibbs, 1789-1881
Dana, Richard Henry, 1787-1879
Dana, M.R., fl. 1812

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources