Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 70,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

Advanced Search
Back to Collection Search

West, Benjamin (fl. 1773) to Henry Knox

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 #: GLC02437.00063 Author/Creator: West, Benjamin (fl. 1773) Place Written: Providence, Rhode Island Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 21 May 1773 Pagination: 1p. +addr.+docket. 19.8 cm. x 16.1 cm.

Explains that he has recently gone bankrupt. Explains that his creditors seized all the assets in his shop and "scarce left me the necessities of life." Asks Knox for leniency in regard to the money he owes him.

West, Benjamin, fl. 1773
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
American Revolution, 1763-1783
Book Selling
Merchants and Trade
Commerce
Finance
Debt
Road to Revolution

Order a CopyCitation Guidelines for Online Resources

The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.