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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.

Forsyth, John (1780-1841) to William S. Holabird

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05636.21 Author/Creator: Forsyth, John (1780-1841) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Letter signed Date: 25 March 1840 Pagination: 1 p. ; 25.5 x 20.5 cm. Order a Copy

Encloses a letter from the Spanish minister at Washington, D.C., a translation of the letter, and the printed copy of a treaty (not included) from 1835 between Great Britain and Spain intended to enforce restriction of the slave trade. Intends for Holabird to use the documents at the upcoming Circuit Court Amistad trial. Instructs Holabird to return the treaty to the State Department on the request of the Spanish minister.

Forsyth was Secretary of State 1834-1841. Holabird was District Attorney for the State of Connecticut during the Amistad trial.

Forsyth, John, 1780-1841
Holabird, William S., 1794-1855

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