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.

Earl of Chatham (fl. 1776) "The following is a genuine Extract of a letter from the Earl of Chatham"

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03107.03341 Author/Creator: Earl of Chatham (fl. 1776) Place Written: [Hayes] Type: Letter Date: 1776/03/09 Pagination: 3p. + docket 24.5 x 18.8 cm Order a Copy

The Earl of Chatham condemns the American revolutionary goals of liberty and republicanism, and declares: "Whilst America retain'd her allegience, I was the Friend of America; whilst there was room for honorable accommodation, I was happy to propose the terms. That era is past, tis now too late to negotiate. . . . America must submit to the constitutional authority of Gr. Britain, and her submission must be absolute, unlimited and unconditional."

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