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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.

Hawley, Charles E. (fl. 1858) to William McBlair

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00722.37 Author/Creator: Hawley, Charles E. (fl. 1858) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 2 May 1858 Pagination: 1 p. : docket : note ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

Letter, with McBlair's autograph endorsement signed on the verso. The letter, written on board the U.S.S. "Marion" at Porto Praya, Cape Verde, states that Hawley is ill with dyspepsia, does not believe he can recover on board, and wishes that "a medical survey may be held in my case." McBlair's note on the next page, written on 3 May 1858, on board the U.S.S. "Dale" at Porto Praya, orders the medical examination to be held. Note on bottom of page states that Hawley passed; it is signed by Assistant Surgeons W. Sherman, R. J. Mason and H.W.M. Washington.

William McBlair was a United States naval officer in command of the ship "Dale," responsible for catching illegal slave trading ships off the coast of Africa. Later served in the Confederate Navy.

McBlair, William, ?-1863
Hawley, Charles E., fl. 1858
Sherman, W., fl. 1858
Washington, H.W.M., fl. 1858
Mason, R.J., fl. 1858

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