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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.

Laurens, Henry (1724-1792) to Caesar Rodney

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04804.01 Author/Creator: Laurens, Henry (1724-1792) Place Written: York, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 May 1778 Pagination: 1 p. ; 31.4 x 19.6 cm. Order a Copy

Written by Laurens as President of the Continental Congress to Rodney as President of Delaware. Says he sent a packet on 9 May 1778 by General William Smallwood. Says it contains 20 copies of an address by Congress on the regulation of armed vessels. Hopes Rodney will distribute them as he sees fit.

I had the honor of addressing you the 9th Inst. - my Packet conveyed through Gen. Smallwood
This will be accompanied by 20 Copies of an Addr[text loss] by Congress to the Inhabitants of these United States. [Text loss] of a Proclamation for regulating the conduct of [illegible] Commanders of American Armed Vessels. which your Excellency will be pleased to dispose of in such manner as shall be most conducive to public benefit, the great end which Congress have view.

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

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