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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.

Wayne, Anthony to James Wilson re: Wilson's role in ratifying Constitution, appointment

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04865 Author/Creator: Wayne, Anthony Place Written: Richmond, Ga Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1789/05/20 Pagination: 3 p. 22.5 x 18.4 cm Order a Copy

Wayne congratulates Wilson on the adoption of the Federal Constitution: "permit me to add that it was to a display of the perfect knowledge you entertained, & the plain elucidation you gave of the components of the System, which caused it to be approved by the [Ratification] Convention of Penna being the first that met...." Also congratulates Wilson on being appointed to the Chief Justiceship of the US (sic), and seeks a judicial appointment for himself.

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