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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.

Unknown A Bill for the Provisional Establishment and Regulation of Trade and Intercourse between the Subjects of Great Britain and those of the United States of North America

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01920 Author/Creator: Unknown Place Written: London, England Type: Printed document Date: circa 14 February 1783 Pagination: 5 p. ; 33.3 x 20.7 cm. Order a Copy

Printing of the bill being considered before the British Parliament to re-open trade between Britain and the United States. Divided into clauses A-I. This bill's provisions curtailed the United States's ability to trade with the British West Indies. There are two handwritten notes on page 4, but it is unclear if they are in Knox's hand. Next to clause H a note says "Query Is not this a law for ye United States?" The note on the bottom of page 4 says "The ports of America will Contain warehouses of every Species of West India productions, taken in exchange for their flour Lumber &c, should not this bill make provision that every thing of the kind might be made a source of remittence in British Bottoms, with distinctions if Necessary of such commodities as can only be thus imported into Britain for exportation" Page 1 has a picture of what appears to be the king among decorative scrolling. Dated from pencil note on page 1 which says "After 14 February 1783."

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