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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.

Bourke, Edward (fl. 1700-1730) to William Cadogan

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01450.446.11 Author/Creator: Bourke, Edward (fl. 1700-1730) Place Written: Cambray, France Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 29 November 1716 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 22.6 x 17.4 cm. Order a Copy

Discusses previous correspondence between Bourke and Cadogan regarding Bourke's discovery of a Jacobite plot in Cambray, France (refer to previous letters in the GLC01450.446 collection). Discusses a letter (not included) from Mr. Sheldon (possibly Dominick Sheldon), that Bourke may be transmitting to Cadogan, British ambassador at the Hague. Requests a sum of money from Cadogan, in exchange for information he has provided regarding Jacobites in Cambray. Instructs Cadogan to burn their previous correspondence. Addressed to John Williams, a pseudonym Cadogan used in correspondence with Bourke. Docket states 29 November; possibly written 21 November.

General Dominique Sheldon served as commander of Roi d’Angleterre, a regiment raised by Stuart in 1791; he fought in the Jacobite and French armies from 1689-1721. Edward was the son of John Bourke, Earl of Clanricarde. Cadogan was known for his suppression of Jacobite uprising.

S.r Cambray 9.ber the 29th 1716

It was not without reason I think [struck: without reason] I [struck: hr] allarmed you with some projects wich are of great importance to you as you may easily see by this letter from mister Sheldon to mee soe that if you send mee the summe I demanded of you I will writ to him that I am going into England and will pray him to lett mee know what he would have mee tell my bro: and as soone as I gett his answer I will communicate it to you the last letter I write you was because I faired you would bring my name in question but I hope you will follow my advice in burning all my letters and upon the aforesaid conditions but notwithstanding I cannot assure you that what was in my second letter to you was true [2] I must beg the favour of you to answer my letter as soone as possible you can and once there intreat you to send mee the fifteen hundred livres french or else I cannot stir and pray be assured that noe body is more then I am s.r
your most humbel and obed.t
servant Ed: Burke
it is equal to wich of the addresses you address to

[address]
To Mister John Williams

[docket]
Lettre venue de Cambray le 29 noer 1716
S.

Bourke, Edward, fl. 1700-1730
Cadogan, William, Earl, 1672-1726
James Francis Edward, Prince of Wales, 1688-1766
Clanricarde, John Bourke, Earl of, 1642-1722

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