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.

Colton, B. (fl. 1786) to William Wildman Barrington, 2nd Viscount of Barrington

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01450.724.02 Author/Creator: Colton, B. (fl. 1786) Place Written: Salisbury, England Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 3 August 1786 Pagination: 2 p. : address ; 23.4 x 18.7 cm. Order a Copy

Asks if Barrington will use his interest with Lord Sydney of behalf a Mr. Akers, who for the last 10 years was an Assistant Justice of the Courts of the King's Bench and Common Pleas in the Island of St. Vincents. Says he has worked without "the smallest pecuniary benefit" during his term there. Says his friends want Akers to be Chief Justice of the island after the death of Mr. Sharpe. Says Akers has written to Lord Sydney to solicit the position, but since Akers is unknown to Lord Sydney, further recommendations might be necessary. Gives a laudatory description of Akers's character and says he was twice Speaker of the Assembly of the island.

Barrington was former British Secretary at War during the American Revolution. He also held other high government positions in Britain.

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