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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.

Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) to John Mason

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04076 Author/Creator: Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 April 1806 Pagination: 1 p. : address ; 20.1 x 12.6 cm. Order a Copy

Asks General Mason to serve as one of three disinterested commissioners for the Cumberland Road, two of which should come from "this quarter." A post script indicates he was also asking Thomas Moore, who accepted. Mason apparently declined, since Eli Williams of Maryland became the second eastern commissioner (Joseph Kerr, the other commissioner, was from Ohio).

Notes: Not in Bergh, but compare Bergh 7: 418, 11: 401 and 12: 189, all to General John Mason, who is otherwise unidentified. Mason apparently declined the position since he was not one of the commissioners chosen.

Th: Jefferson to Genl Mason

Congress have passed an act for opening a road from Cumberland to Ohio, which is to be laid off by 3. Commissioners. a desire of having it done, uninfluenced by any local motives has induced me to endeavor to get one Commissioner in the state of Ohio, and two in this quarter. would it suit you to undertake this journey? the emolument to be sure is trifling (4. D. a day) but the public interest in it's being well directed is very considerable. wishing to give in the nominations tomorrow, if I can, to the Senate, I ask the favor of an answer
friendly salutations.

Apr. 11. 06.
P. S. I have proposed the same thing to Thomas Moore.

[address leaf]
Thomas Jefferson
No 19
Genl. Mason

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
Mason, John, 1766-1849
Moore, Thomas, fl. 1806-1808
Williams, Eli, fl. 1806-1808

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