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.

Montgomery, Sealy, and Co. to Newton, Gordon, and Johnston

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01450.022.06 Author/Creator: Montgomery, Sealy, and Co. Place Written: Lisbon, Portugal Type: Autograph letter Date: 18 September 1779 Pagination: 3 p. + addr. + docket 23.5 x 19.5 cm Order a Copy

Details accounts for the shipping of sundry goods, wine, and brandy. Then discusses placing insurance on the shipments and states that he has given the insurance agents the necessary information about the ships, the captains' names, where the shipment is going, etc. Mentions that British Admiral Charles Hardy has sailed with 53 ships to attack the enemy. Lists men returned safely from East India to Limerick. Reports that they took two French privateers on their way to Limerick. Newton, Gordon, and Johnston were merchants from Madeira.

Seller's notes: These are letters relative to the wine trade that was in progress and it will be noted that some of the famous officers of the day were ordering sizeable quantities of spirits at this time. Water in the colonies was very poor, so that these products were important to the every day survival.

Montgomery, John, fl. 1778-1779

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