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.

Monroe, James (1758-1831) to Robert R. Livingston

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04822 Author/Creator: Monroe, James (1758-1831) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 9 May 1794 Pagination: 2 p. ; address : docket : free frank ; 24.6 x 20.4 cm. Order a Copy

Monroe, Senator from Virginia, urges Livingston, Chancellor of New York, to accept Washington's offer to succeed Gouverneur Morris as Minister Plenipotentiary to France. Tells Livingston it will be good for the party if he accepts. Says "the effect of you're. declining cannot be perceived." Ultimately, Livingston declined the honor because he did not want the Chancery Court to go to someone of differing political beliefs and because he did not think he could work well with the Washington Administration. Monroe himself was eventually selected to go to France.

Monroe, James, 1758-1831
Livingston, Robert R., 1746-1813

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