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.

Elliott, Jesse Duncan (1782-1845) to Isaac Mayo

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04604.16 Author/Creator: Elliott, Jesse Duncan (1782-1845) Place Written: Havana Harbor, Cuba Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 10 April 1830 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 24.5 x 19.6 cm. Order a Copy

Written by Elliott on board the U.S.S. Falmouth as commander of the West Indian Squadron to Lieutenant Commander Mayo. Orders Mayo to assume command of the schooner U.S.S. Grampus. Says Lieutenant James G. Boughan will provide him a copy of his general instructions (GLC04604.14). Says Boughan will get him acclimated to the ship and give him further orders.

The U.S.S. Grampus was involved in the Amistad incident in 1840. The ship was ordered by President Martin Van Buren to New Haven, Connecticut's harbor in January 1840 to smuggle the captive Africans back to the Spanish in Cuba. The ship did anchor in the harbor, but the plan was never implemented.

Elliott, Jesse D. (Jesse Duncan), 1782-1845

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