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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.

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03588 Author/Creator: Jackson, Henry (1747-1809) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 June 1787 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 29.7 x 19.3 cm. Order a Copy

Informs Knox that "[t]he people are all at Meeting, and from a dead silence, the streets are all in an uproar, with the cry of fire - fire - fire - the Bells are ringing, & the streets thronged with men." Mentions that the town is in uproar but now the fire has been put out. Briefly touches on Massachusetts politics, mentioning appointments of [Thomas] Dawes and Benjamin Hichborn. "Free" stamped on address leaf with no signature.

[draft]
Boston June 24 1787
My dear Henry
I recd your private letter of the 18th dated it Philadelphia by the post last Eveng -
I have written you this day - the weather is very hot & I am exceeding lazy in consequence of it, you will therefore excuse my saying much to you at this time - The people are all at Meeting, and from a dead silence the streets are all in an uproar with the cry of fire - fire - the Bells are ringing & the streets thronged with men, women & children bursting from the different meeting houses. Indeed the whole Town appears in the greatest confusion - I have given one look out the window & sat down again with a determination not to move one inch - I feel cross and [2] unhappy & wish myself out of existence - pray does the warm weather have the same effect on you, if so, I pity you - The fire is out, it was only the Cabin of an oyster boat -
Our friend [Thos.] Dawes is chosen one of the Council & has taken his seat at the board - this makes a vacancy in the Boston seat, our friend Benja. [Hichborn] & [Thos.] Dawes [Junr.] - will be sent up as candidate -
Your friends are well send their love to you & Lucy -
From your affectionate
H Jackson
Genl Knox

[address leaf]
General Henry Knox
Secretary at War
New York

[docket]
Genl Jackson 18 June
1787

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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