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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.

Webster, Daniel (1782-1852) to Harriette Story Paige

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01946.37 Author/Creator: Webster, Daniel (1782-1852) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 28 January 1848 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; 18 x 11.4 cm. Order a Copy

Requests that an unnamed friend of his sister-in-law Paige forgive him for forgetting to submit payment for a book he ordered. States that his wife Caroline LeRoy Webster has "driven out" with Mrs. Blatchford (likely the wife of his close friend and business associate Richard Blatchford) and another acquaintance.

Washington
Jan: 28 ' 48
Dear Mrs. Paige;
You must prevail on the kindness of your fair friend to forgive. The matter had entirely escaped from my recollection; and it is a rule which I have, for years, observed so strictly, "not to subscribe for any Book" that I thought there [2] must be some mistake, when the books were presented. If it had occurred to me, that it was an affair in which you had taken an interest, I should have remembered that you have power to lead me to disregard my own rules.
Mrs. Webster has driven out, with Mrs. [Burkchew], & Mrs. Blackford; & I have a moment [3] before dinner to write this, & to congratulate you, as I hope I may, when you receive it on being once more in Summer Street.
Yours affectionably
Danl Webster
Mrs Paige
[Docket]
Washington
Jan 28-'48

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852
Paige, Harriette Story, 1806-1863
Webster, Caroline LeRoy, 1797-1882
Blatchford, Richard Milford, 1798-1875

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