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.

Lovell, James (1737-1814) to Samuel Holten

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 #: GLC01450.020.09 Author/Creator: Lovell, James (1737-1814) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 16 January 1781 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 31 x 19 cm. Order a Copy

Signed with initials. States that we have had no word from the eastern side of the Hudson River. Encloses a paper for Mr. Jay (possibly John Jay) and asks that he send it to the Navy Board. Remarks that he is mortified to find out from Mr. Laurens (possibly Henry Laurens) that the letters "given to him by Mr. Lovell and the Admiralty are in the Enemy Hands."

Lovell, Holten, and Laurens were members of the Continental Congress; Jay formerly served as a Continental Congressman. In June of 1781, Jay was appointed as one of the American ministers to negotiate peace with Great Britain.

16 Janry. 1781.
Dear Sir
We had yesterday no Post from the eastern Side of Hudson's River. I inclose a paper for Mr. Jay which you will be pleased to send to the Navy Board. I am mortified by knowing from Mr. Laurens that the Letters "given to him by Mr. Lovell and the Admiralty are in the Enemy's Hands."
JL

Lovell, James, 1737-1814
Holten, Samuel, 1738-1816
Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources