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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 William Duer

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.05103 Author/Creator: Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 August 1791 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; 31.5 x 19.8 cm. Order a Copy

Initialed by Knox. Encloses Mr. Bruce's report on the eastern lands (not included). Congratulates him on their purchase of the Mount Desert lands. Says "This is decidedly a good thing." Mentions that Duer will see from Bruce's report "that it would be rather imprudent to us to take the second million between the Schoodie and Penobscot - I would rather we should negotiate by Jackson and Flint for a million north of the Waldo Patent." Wants to explore buying additional townships for sale on the Penobscot or on the sea coast. Says they should move immediately and wants to know Duer's opinion. Makes reference to securing money for payments "to the state, and perhaps some more for our immediate use." Last page, which appears to be a postscript, says he is enclosing a letter from Henry Jackson (not included) which states the Mount Desert purchase is completed on good terms in respect to sum and payments. Docketed by Knox.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Duer, William, 1747-1799

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