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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.

Prince, William to Tobias Lear re: lack of good fruit to send to President

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02794.005 Author/Creator: Prince, William Place Written: Flushing, NY Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1789/08/24 Pagination: 1 p. + address 19.5 x 7.8 cm Order a Copy

Unable to fulfill Lear's request to send a fruit basket to George Washington because of poor crop. Docketed on address leaf.

Mr. Lear
Sir
I received a letter from you on Saturday requesting me to send the President a Basket of fruit. I am very sorry to inform you I have no fruit ripe at Present as the reason has been so bad that every kind Generally ripe a this season has failed of the season and the season is so back ward this year that I do not expect to have any good fruit till after the 15th of Septr. After that I expect to have some that will be verry [sic] fine & shall [inserted: be] happy to supply the President with it -
I am Sir
Flushing Your humble
August 24th 1789 Servant,
William Prince

[Docket]
From
Mr. William Prince
August 24th. 1789

[Address]
Tobias Lear Esqr.
New York

Lear, Tobias, 1762-1816

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