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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.

Lear, Tobias (1762-1816) to Tristram Dalton re: voyage across the Atlantic and arrival at Glasgow

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03767.02 Author/Creator: Lear, Tobias (1762-1816) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 December 1793 Pagination: 2 p. + docket 18.4 x 22 cm Order a Copy

Written to his business partner.

Glasgow Decr. 12th 1793
Histram Dalton Esquire
My dear Sir,
I write to you from Greenock on the 10th instant informing of my having arrived as thus port on the preceding day, after apapaye of exactly four weeks from New York, during within we experienced as much stormy weather as perhaps ever fulls to the lost of one such in crossing the At Cantu. We however united safe.
As that letter was to take its chance in a [illegible] which was expected to fail from Greenock for Virginia in about 10 or 15 days, it is uncertain when it will get to hand; and when this will is equally uncertain is for I write America; but shall commit it to the care of Mr. Boume who sets off for London on tomorrow, with a reyvert that he will put it into the best way of getting forward, that may offer itself.
Having acached this peace this peace but yesterday, and the rain not having ceased to pour from the clouds [illegible] I have had no opportunity of seing or doing anything. -- Tomorrow I intend to deliver such letters as I have for this peace, and to be in purfuit of such information as may be useful to us. -- This prrbable I shall continue here, for 6 or 8 days- then proceed to Edinberg and from thence to London, where I shal probably be by the middle of January. -- In the mean time I shall not [illegible] to inform you of my doing if any opportunity offers. Lodging at the Hotel where the Coffee Room of the City is kept I have an opportunity of visiting that, not with standing the rain, and from what I can collect from the conversation there, the trade & manufactures of this peace have been for sometime pan very dull, owing to the war and the late great failures. -- Of Politiks I shall say nothing; for as this letter is to take its chance of getting to your hands without my having in view any which conveyance for it; what may be new now might be very old when this reaches you.
I write at this time to our friend Greenleaf; but in future I sall write to you jointly, as I may have much to say, and to write two letters will be but a repetition of the same thing. --
Give [illegible] & affectionate [illegible] to you good Mr. Dalton and amiable daughter, and to Mr. Debbois.--
Raying that you nay all enjoy health & happiness I am my dear sir
Your affectionae Friend & partner
Tobias Lear.

Lear, Tobias, 1762-1816

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