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.

Ellery, William (1727-1820) to unknown

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05538 Author/Creator: Ellery, William (1727-1820) Place Written: Newport, Rhode Island Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 10 August 1784 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; 21.2 x 16.9 cm. Order a Copy

Asks his correspondent to deliver a letter. Requests that he be sent an act from his correspondent's state concerning interstate import duties. Discusses Rhode Island's opposition to impost duties called for by Congress under the Articles of Confederation. Remarks that he is looking to western territory for resources to diminish the public debt.

Ellery was then a congressman from Rhode Island. In 1786, he became the Continental Congress commissioner of the Continental Loan Office. In 1790, he was appointed collector of the port of Newport.

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

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