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.

Carroll, Charles (1737-1832) to James McHenry

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00374 Author/Creator: Carroll, Charles (1737-1832) Place Written: Annapolis, Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 12 December 1796 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 23 x 18.5 cm. Order a Copy

In response to McHenry's letter of 9 December 1796, which commented on Washington's last State of the Union address of 7 December 1796. Carroll, a member of the Maryland Senate, was particularly pleased with the condemnation of Pierre Adet, the French Minister to the United States. Adet was ordered by his government to encourage dissent and revolution after America refused to join the French in their wars in Europe. Discusses the presidential election and conjectures that Thomas Pinckney of South Carolina will win if the northern electors voted for him. Says a Pinckney Administration would be more accepted than an Adams Administration. Ultimately hopes peace will prevail with France.

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