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.

Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) to Charles W. Dumas

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07104.01 Author/Creator: Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 2 February 1793 Pagination: 1 p. 19.4 x 23.5 cm Order a Copy

Sends Dumas plans for the construction of Washington, D.C. "with a desire that they may be exhibited" in Europe. Accompanied by a 1792 Andrew Ellicott Map from "Columbian Magazine" (GLC 7104.02).

Philadelphia Feb. 2. 1793.
Dr. Sir
Taking for granted that before the arrival of the vessel by which this goes, mr. Short will have left the Hague on a temporary mission to Madrid, I have take the liberty of addressing to you a packet of plans of the city of Washington on the Potomac, with a desire that they may be exhibited (not for sale) but in such shops, houses, or other places, where they be most seen by those description of people who would be the most likely to be [struck] attracted to it, & who would be worth attracting. The sea-port towns are the most likely to possess persons of this description.
With every wish for your health and happiness, I am with great esteem, Dear Sir

Your most obedt. Humble servt

Th: Jefferson

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
Dumas, Charles Guillaume Frédéric, 1721-1790

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