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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.

Brown, John (1736-1803) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.06698 Author/Creator: Brown, John (1736-1803) Place Written: Providence, Rhode Island Type: Manuscript letter signed Date: 9 April 1796 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 22.6 x 17.3 cm. Order a Copy

Mentions that the people of Worcester, Providence, and the towns in between would like a canal to be built to service those areas. They have set plans in motion, and he has enclosed a subscription form (not present), hoping Knox will become one of the proprietors of the canal project. Refers to Knox's earlier investment in a project to build a canal from Boston through Worcester on the Connecticut River, which was ultimately unsuccessful. Given that research suggests the present canal to be more promising, asks if Knox, being "of a liberal Mind," would support it. Emphasizes that the canal will be a lucrative investment when completed.

Brown, John, 1736-1803
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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