Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 70,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

Advanced Search
Back to Collection Search

Washington, George (1732-1799) to Jonathan Trumbull re: American prisoners in Algiers

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02793.001 Author/Creator: Washington, George (1732-1799) Place Written: Mount Vernon Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1792/08/20 Pagination: 1 p. + 2 dockets 24 x 20 cm

Written as President to Trumbull, Speaker of the House of Representatives, concerning the petition of American prisoners in Algiers which Trumbull forwarded.

Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

Mount Vernon Augt. 20th: 1792.
Dear Sir,

Your letter of the 26th. Ulto - enclosing one from Mr. Barclay
containing the petition of our prisoners in Algiers, came duly to hand.
Every thing that my powers and means will enable me to do consistent with justice & policy shall not be wanting to the relief of these unfortunate captives - and I would fein hope they will not be ineffectually employed.
With sincere esteem and affectionate regard.
I am always - Yours
Go: Washington
The Honble.
Jonathn. Trumbull

Trumbull, Jonathan, 1740-1809
Washington, George, 1732-1799
The New Nation, 1783-1815
President
Prisoner
Global History and US Foreign Policy
Global History and US Foreign Policy
Petition
Africa
Government and Civics
Congress
Barbary Coast
Barbary Pirates
Barbary Wars
Pirates
Maritime
The Early Republic

Order a CopyCitation Guidelines for Online Resources

The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.