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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.

Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to George Washington

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.02286 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 14 July 1783 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 23.5 x 17 cm. Order a Copy

A letter regarding General Washington's sleigh. Knox apologetically writes that the painting of the sleigh has taken a long time. He explains that due to severe weather, the wood of the sleigh absorbed and congealed the oil, and could not be dried. Wishes General Washington "agreable jaunts" on the river.

[draft]
14 July 1783
My dear General - at length I send your Excellencys sleigh. I am ashamed to think how long the workmen have had it in hand. The painting has taken up [struck: a long] [inserted: much] time. The severity of the weather has been such that the oyl instead Mixing absorbed by the wood has congealed, and afterwards could not be dried in any [reasonable] time although [struck: the] fires were made to that purpose. [strikeout] I hope your Excellency may have many agreable jaunts [struck: in it which I think is [such]] on the river [inserted: in it] which from the present prospects will will [sic] sufficiently stay [struck: for that purpose]

I am with the highest degree
of respect & attachmnt your
Excellencys most obedt
Servant
HKnox

14 July -

[docket]
His Excellency
Genl Washington
14 July 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Washington, George, 1732-1799

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