[ Totowa, New Jersey ] November 4, 1780 . Approves Smith’s decision to take the place of a retiring lieutenant colonel. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Smith was a lieutenant colonel in Spencer’s Regiment. In January, 1781, he became adjutant and inspector on the Marquis de Lafayette’s staff.
2From Benjamin Walker to William Stephens Smith, 19 April 1783 to 20 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am directed, in reply to your Letter of the 17 to inform you that Letters may in future be Sent direct from N. York to Elizabeth Town—I am Dr Sir Your very humble Ser. 20th Your Letter of the 18th just came to hand when the Commander in Chief Returns this Eveng. it Shall be answerd. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
3From Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. to William Stephens Smith, 15 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
Mr Smith has been to West point—and on Enquiry, finds that the two Men, Isaac Raymond & Thomas Lilleck, who he was seekg are now at the Provost. His Excellency therefore directs that you will be pleased to have them sent into N. York as soon as convenient—that they be accounted in Exchange for Henry Chiecester & Joel Smith, who are already sent out from the Enemy in that Expectation. I am &c....
4From George Washington to William Stephens Smith, 10 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your two favours of the 8th with the several Papers enclosed therein, & now send you the Passport requested—the Letters transmitted herewith you will be pleased to have forwarded to their respective addresses. I am Dr Sir. With great esteem Your Most Obedt Servt. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
5From John Adams to William Stephens Smith, 2 December 1814 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favour of the 23d.— Gerry is gone to joine his Copatriots in lamentations over the degeneracy of his Country; at least in Sagadahock, Nantucket and Alexandria. I am, left alone, to carry the last and worst tidings to the Skies. What Shall I? What can I say of Mr Gerry’s Family? An amiable Wisdom and nine amiable Children. I can say no more— MHi : Adams Family Papers,...
6From Benjamin Walker to William Stephens Smith, 17 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
His Excellency has reced the packet transmitted by you of the 14th. The Money you mention is for Genl Chattelleux and is the same that has been desired to be Sent to the Chev. de la Luzerne. Yrs &c. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
7From George Washington to William Stephens Smith, 6 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
It is not improbable, that as the Arrival of the Packet at N. York with the news of Peace, Sir Guy Carleton will send out an Officer with dispatches for me, containing that agreable intelligence—in such case, the Officer may be permitted to come to this place and you will send an Officer with him or accompany him yourself as you may think proper. DLC : Papers of George Washington.
8From David Humphreys to William Stephens Smith, 17 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
The General received yours of the 14th yesterday. We have no news but the promotion of Cols. Greaton, Dayton, & Putnam to be Brigadr Generals—and the death of that brave & verable Officer My Lord Stirling; who left the World the 14th inst. I am My dear Smith Yours sincerely MH : Dearborn Papers.
9From David Humphreys to William Stephens Smith, 9 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief desires you will send in to N. York the Naval Prisoners forwarded to you by the Adjt Genl & have proper Rects taken for them; unless there should be a Commissy of Marine Prisoners at Dobbs’ Ferry who will in that case negociate the business. Pray inform us whether there is such a Commissy residt there or not—I am Dr Sir Your Most Obedt Servt DLC : Papers of George...
10From George Washington to William Stephens Smith, 10 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
You will proceed immediately with a Flag to Paulus Hook and from thence to New York to make the necessary arrangements in your Department with the British Commissary of Prisoners at that place. One servant is permitted to attend you into New York, and the Officer and Party mentioned in the Margin to escort you to the British Out Posts. NjP : DeCoppet Collection.
11From David Humphreys to William Stephens Smith, 27 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief who has just gone to Poughkeepsie, has left it in charge with me to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 25th and to inform you that he has no objections to your coming to the Army for the purposes you Mention; at which time your friends will be very happy to see you at Head Quarters—Mrs Washington (who desires me to present her Complts to you) has often...
12George Washington to William Stephens Smith, 13 July 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved, since my return to this place, the letter which you were so kind as to write on the 6th. of June, and am now to make you my acknowledgements for the information it contained. Very soon after I came to the government, I took measures for enquiring into the dispositions of the British cabinet on the matters in question between us: and what you now communicate corresponds very...
13From John Adams to William Stephens Smith, 2 March 1814 (Adams Papers)
I have been sick a Month, and my eyes and hands incapable of writing otherise you would have heard more from me. Your favor of 18 Feby. arrived yesterday. Thanks for the Gazette. Well may you and I be perplexed in our calculations on post scenes and present unpleasant prospects, relative to the interior of the political state of Europe, and the interior & exterior aspect of our own national...
14From John Adams to William Stephens Smith, 4 March 1814 (Adams Papers)
I know not what to say to your Letter of 23rd. There are Men whom disaster haunts through life. Sinclair was one & Wilkinson is another. With apparent capacities and without any manifest guilt, nothing ever succeeds in their hands. To cover the blunders of the war, recourse must be had to the blunders and intrigues and corruptions in politics, from the commencement of the Revolution and long...
15From David Humphreys to William Stephens Smith, 2 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
Mr Merrit who has permission to go into New York with a Massachusetts sum of Money for theNaval Prisoners, with upon you in his route for your advice & assistance. If it shall be thought as small effort is necessary for the protection of the money he is possessed of, The Commander in Chief wishes you would provide one to attend him to Dobbs Ferry.I am Dear Sir with perfect respect Your Most...
16From George Washington to William Stephens Smith, 19 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
In conducting the common business, at the Post of Dobbs’ Ferry (of which you have the superintendance), You will cause the Orders & Regulations contained in the several written Instructions which will be delivered to you by the present commanding Officer, to be duly attended to & observed—but I have thought it necessary to give you this private Instruction, hereby authorizing you to take such...
17John Quincy Adams to William Stephens Smith, 4 April 1803 (Adams Papers)
The House of Bird, Savage and Bird, in London, had, when they failed, property, to the amount of nearly £4000 sterling, belonging to my father in their hands; for which I had drawn bills in October and November last— These bills are now returning protested for me to take up, with all the costs and charges upon them— I now write you, not with an expectation that you will find any property of...
18From John Adams to William Stephens Smith, 7 January 1814 (Adams Papers)
I go farther than you in your Glooms I expect Detroit and Michigan will be again taken and all Perry fleet taken or burned How far you go in your hopes of Peace I know not. Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes. Romans would not treat in adversity neither Gauls nor Hannibal, could intimidate Rome, nor terrify any one to pronounce the word Peace. America asleep and Britain awake thro the winter may...
19From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 17 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Monsieur de Tronchin, minister for the republic of Geneva at this court, having a son at this time in London, I take the liberty of introducing him to your acquaintance. A respect for the father induces me to this liberty, together with an assurance that the son merits it. He is young and may need a monitor, who, with the gay, may mix the serious, when it becomes necessary to keep him out of...
20From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel William Stephens Smith, 14 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I expected you would have been at Camp with the detatchment under your command before this time but I imagine the Weather and Roads have hindered you. I desire you will lose no time in marching after you receive this; and that you will bring with you all the Men of other Corps that are sufficiently recovered from the Hospitals and properly clad to do duty. I am &c. Df , in Tench Tilghman’s...
21From George Washington to William Stephens Smith, 14 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 22nd of April. Having been informed that Colonel Vose wished to return to the Northward, Colonel Tupper was ordered to relieve him previous to the receipt of Your Letter—Nothwithstanding the Marquis had suggested that your being appointed to that Command would be exceedingly agreeable to the Regt. I did not think it could possibly be done, without involving...
22John Quincy Adams to William Stephens Smith, 18 January 1802 (Adams Papers)
Two months having elapsed since I made the proposal respecting the note of hand due from your brother Justus to me, and being still without an answer from him, I presume either that the proposal was not agreeable to him, or that some accident has delayed or misdirected his answer, and prevented its coming to hand. I have now settled once more in this town, and resumed the practice of the law—...
23From George Washington to William Stephens Smith, 10 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed (one for yourself & the other for Major Clarkson) comes in consequence of Generl Knox’s application. To give you such Letters, was My first intention; but not knowing who was to command the Forces destined for the Invasion of Jamaica, I had resort to the Certificates with which you were furnished; conceiving it would appear odd to write, & not be able to direct. or to direct to...
24From George Washington to William Stephens Smith, 30 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I fully intended in my letter of the 14th to have desired you to return to this Army, but I might possibly in the hurry of Business have forgot to give the Gentleman who wrote it instructions to that purpose. Should this find you in Philadelphia, you will look upon yourself fully at liberty to return, or proceed to the southward, should your inclinations lead you to prefer that service to...
25From George Washington to William Stephens Smith, 24 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have this Moment received your Application to me requestg Liberty to join the combined Armies in the West Indies, for this Campaign. I applaud Gentlemen the noble & generous Ardor displayed on this Occasion—But having never taken upon me to grant Leave of Absence to Officers in the American Army, with out permission of Congress, your Application shall be conveyed to that Hono. Body—for their...
26From George Washington to William Stephens Smith, 1 May 1788 (Washington Papers)
I consider myself the more indebted to your obliging care in transmitting the letter of the Marquis de la Fayette, as by that means you have given me the double advantage of hearing from two of my distant, military friends at once. It is so long since I have had the satisfaction of holding any immediate intercourse with you, that I may be allowed to touch on a subject rather obsotute indeed,...
27From Abigail Smith Adams to William Stephens Smith, 25 January 1815 (Adams Papers)
It is sometime since I have written to you and I feel that I owe you a Letter; you do not like our state movement any better than I do the long and and numerous Speeches of your wordy Fraternity. yet I like to read them, and when the character of the Gentleman is preserved, and due respect paid to constituted Authorities, I listen to the opposite Parties with pleasure, but I must say too many...
28From George Washington to William Stephens Smith, 6 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your two Letters of the 2nd & 3d inst. & to inform you that the matter which has been in agitation is suspended for the present—Notwithstanding which, I wish you to continue your efforts to obtain the best & most particular information in your power. A Command from Hazens Regt will be sent in a few days to relieve the Light Infantry Company at Dobbs’ Ferry....
29From George Washington to William Stephens Smith, 13 July 1791 (Washington Papers)
I have received since my return to this place the letter which you were so kind as to write on the 6. of June, and am now to make you my acknowledgements for the information it contained. Very soon after I came to the government I took measures for enquiring into the disposition of the british cabinet on the matters in question between us: and what you now communicate corresponds very exactly...
30From Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 26 May 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
I find here the letter you were so kind as to leave for me and am truly sorry I did not arrive in time to have the pleasure of meeting with you here. I hope however you will take Paris in your way back, and indemnify my loss. I am to thank you as usual for favors, attention to the press, the mathematical instrument, books, letters &c. This done I will pass to a more pleasing subject still,...