Our Collection

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.

Beckwith, George, Sir (1753-1823) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.05181 Author/Creator: Beckwith, George, Sir (1753-1823) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 2 October 1791 Pagination: 1 p. ; 24.5 x 20.3 cm. Order a Copy

Reports that he did himself the honor to visit Knox this morning in order to invite him to dinner at the City Tavern the following Tuesday at 4 o'clock. Notes that Knox will have the opportunity to "meet your neighbour & friend Mr. Laurence." States that he is "Anxious to promote the benign purposes of peace! good humour! and intercourse! I am happy at all times in the being employed in whatever may have a tendency to promote such objects, which cannot conclude better than by a little eating and drinking."

Beckwith was an informal representative of the British government in Philadelphia.

Beckwith, George, 1753-1823
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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