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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.

Randall, Thomas (d. 1811) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03081 Author/Creator: Randall, Thomas (d. 1811) Place Written: Guangzhou, China Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 26 December 1784 Pagination: 1 p. ; 22.8 x 18.5 cm. Order a Copy

Randall, who accompanied Samuel Shaw to China, thanks Knox for the "many civilities received in your family." Of Knox's family, writes "My heart retains so lively a sense of them, that no distance can ever efface it." Notes that Shaw, Knox's former aide, will personally deliver this letter to Knox.

Written from Canton, China (present-day Guangzhou). Thomas Randall was Captain of the 3rd Artillery, Massachusetts. He was an original member of the Massachusetts Society, but on the 4 July 1803, met with the New York State Society and subscribed his name to its Roll. After the war he became Captain of a New York merchant ship and the partner of Major Samuel Shaw in the Canton trade. His name appears on the Half-Pay Roll.

Randall, Thomas, d. 1811
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

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