41From William Stephens Smith to Abigail Smith Adams, 30 November 1812 (Adams Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 5th. inst. with its enclosures, to and from the Secretary. I thank you for the interest you have taken in in the promotion of my wishes, relative to military command, but I at present think it is almost too late—If my profered Services had been accepted, in the first instance, I am conscious I could have rendered material Service, but as affairs are now...
I received your letter of the 6th instant, and mourn most sincerely with you for the loss your brother and sister have met with in the death of their amiable child. You wonder why it was sent to entwine itself around your hearts, and then to be thus snatched away, is amongst the mysterious ways of Providence. Read Parnell’s Hermit: “Be taught by these, confess the Almighty just, And where you...
I received your very affectionate Letter (dated the 20th. of August, post mark 2d inst.) on Wednesday; in my Letter of August 12th. I may have expressed myself with too much Solicitude and given my opinion too decidedly in Opposition to that of professional men—they will have liberallity , enough, to excuse me—I fully agree with you that it would be best, having advised with Surgeon’s and...
44From William Stephens Smith to Abigail Smith Adams, 12 August 1811 (Adams Papers)
I have received your affectionate and interesting Letter of the 23d. of July you have conversed with the Doctor, but omit to mention his name, you say it is his opinion “that no outward application should be made, and that mrs: Smith’s general state of health is so good as not to threaten any present danger , he does not pronounce it to be a cancer, tho he cannot say, but that it may terminate...
45From William Stephens Smith to Abigail Smith Adams, 29 June 1811 (Adams Papers)
I was much gratified by the receipt of a few lines from you under date of Feby. 11th. enclosing a Letter from my Son William whose improvement I notice with pleasure— my Son John attends his dear mother and Sister on a visit to you, I proposed to attend Mrs: S. the last fall, and again pressed her to visit you in the Winter being confident both you and herself would feel more at ease than...
46From William Stephens Smith to John Quincy Adams, 24 March 1807 (Adams Papers)
The post from Philadelphia this morning, brings Letters, stating that, after Colo. Burr, was dismissed by the Court, he was arrested by a Troop of Horse, and was actually under guard at fort Stoddard on the 22d. ulto. on his way to the seat of Government, with a military Escort— Yours, My Son William was well on the 27th. of February at Trinadad MHi : Adams Papers.
47From William Stephens Smith to Morgan Lewis, 3 February 1807 (Adams Papers)
With the highest respect I take the Liberty of presenting myself as a Candidate for the office of Sheriff of the City and County of new York. my pretentions to your favour I feel some diffidence in stating, but from the variety of applicants for this important post, whose claims to your favourable consideration I am informed are minutely detailed, I flatter myself, that the statement I shall...
48From William Stephens Smith to John Quincy Adams, 18 April 1806 (Adams Papers)
The Bearer of this Mr. Edward Dartnell will do Mr. Samuel G. Ogden and myself the honor of presenting to you our memorials, addressed to The Senate and House of Representatives, fully stating the circumstances, relative to General Miranda’s visit to the Caraccas, who sailed from this Port in the Ship Leander on the second day of February last,—a Copy is also addressed to Colo. Quincey of the...
49From William Stephens Smith to John Quincy Adams, 29 March 1806 (Adams Papers)
By your letter of the 26th inst. just received, I am first informed of the appointment of Peter A Schenck, as Surveyor of this port. My enemies have long been struggling to remove me from this office. But I never supposed the President of the United States and Mr Madison capable of uniting with them for my destruction— If they had waited the public examination of the affair relative to the...
50From William Stephens Smith to John Quincy Adams, 23 March 1806 (Adams Papers)
I am informed that Mr. P. A Schenk is nominated as Surveyor of this port, and of course I am to be superceeded as is expressed in the public papers, for my secret connection with Genl. Miranda can it be possible that I am to be condemned unheard—Will my frinds in the Senate consent that I shall be sacrificed & my Wife and Children deprived of bread, to shelter men in higher station for their...
51From William Stephens Smith to John Quincy Adams, 28 November 1805 (Adams Papers)
The Bearer, my very intimate friend General Miranda, proposing to pass a few days at Washington, I must solicit for him, your friendly attentions and civilities. Mrs. S mith . and family are all well, and desire to be particularly remembered to you, Mrs. A, and her dear plump Sister— Should any thing of a public nature command attention; I should be happy to be made acquainted with it, as...
I believe that yesterday I answered your letter of the 27th, but did not particularly reply to the contents of yours of the 24th. Medial matter missing “All men,” says Knox, “are so much inclined to flatter their own pride, by detracting from the reputation of others, that, even if we were able to maintain an immaculate conduct, it would be difficult to preserve an immaculate character, for...
I have just recieved your favor of the 26th. ulto. I am content that you should act as you wisdom dictates relative to our Children with you. I expect a long letter giving an account of the great Commencement. I have written Caroline & shall write William. Inclosed is a Letter from our son John, all parts of the family are in health. After this I shall not trouble you with the News...
54From William Stephens Smith to Abigail Smith Adams, 10 August 1805 (Adams Papers)
Agreable to your wish, expressed some months past, Mrs: Smith, accompanied by Miss Caroline and Our son William, pay you a visit, I lament that it is not in my power to accompany them, but agreable to the old tune, I cannot leave my post, as Besides the paper War is recommencing, and as We are threatned with a broad side, I must recive it, & proceed to action, against the Clintonian...
55From William Stephens Smith to John Quincy Adams, 22 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the perusal of the Bill, For establishing rules and articles for the Government of the Armies of the United States— I think the 24th. article not sufficiently explicit—It furnishes the superior officer with an opportunity of punishing an inferior without redress, the arresting officer being the sole judge of what speaches are reproachful, and what gestures are provoking—He may...
56To Thomas Jefferson from William Stephens Smith, 7 September 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your goodness will pardon the Liberty I take in addressing a Letter particularly to you, at the moment perhaps, in which you are, more importantly engaged than to attend to my individual wishes and pursuits—The veneration however, that I have for you as the Cheif majestrate of my Country, connected with the particular respect I have for your private Virtues derived from the acquaintance I...
57To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 31 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 30th. informing me that Major Tousard is arrived for the purpose of recruiting six companies of Artillerists, and requesting me to give facility to the accomplishment of the object. If The Government requires six Companies of Artillerists from this Brigade, I believe they can be completely furnish’d by the evening roll-call—but...
58To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 28 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed I have the honor of Submitting to your perusal a Letter this day received from The President, with a Copy of one from The Secretary of War which I should thank you to return. I shall make no comments on the observations of The Secretary, tho’ there are great Grounds. I should be much flattered if in your communication to the President, I should, if it is only pro hac be charged with...
59Enclosure: William S. Smith to John Adams, 21 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
The brigade, which as Lieut. Col. commandant, I have had the honor to command, being on the point of dismissal, I take the liberty of suggesting, that the officers & soldiers are well instructed in the duties of their profession, & it would be of great public benefit, if as many of them, as might be requisite, should be taken to fill up the corps, government have concluded to retain in...
60To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 14 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you that such attention has been paid, to the soldier who I reported on the 2d. inst. as having broke out with the small-pox, that he is in a fair way of a speedy recovery—and that there is no appearance of the disorder having been communicated to others the attentions of Doctor Trowbridge of the 13th. are very conspicuous in this, as in most other cases, and...
61To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 14 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor of acknowledging the receipt of your Letter of the 9th. In addition to my report of the 7th. inst., and upon a personal examination of Cornwell, I find, that Lt. Cuyler gave him 3 dollars when he enlisted—he also gave him an order on Capt. White for four Dollars and fifty Cents, which he told him Mr. Hugh Daniels a store keeper would receive as cash, and supply him from his...
62To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 7 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge the receeipt of your Letter of the 3d. enclosing one from His Excellency Govr. Jay, stating in strong terms the complaints of Benjamin Cornwell and John Coles who have presumed to speak with indignation to His Excellency relative to their officers—who promised them 12 Dollrs. Bounty the one has received but seven Dollrs. & 50 Cents—of course 50 Cents are still...
63To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 2 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Lt. Dwight of the 2d. Regt. this morning presented your Letter of the 19th. of Feby. agreable to its contents I have arrested him—I am not furnish’d with charges against him, if you will do me the Honor of forwarding them, with the names of the Witness’s, his case can be proceeded upon Immediately, by the Court Martial whereof Lt. Colo. Comdt. Taylor is President— I have the Honor to be with...
64To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 2 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
It is my duty to inform you, that a Soldier of the 13th. Regt. broke out yesterday with the small-pox— There are a number of men in that regiment & some few in the others, who have not had it, would you wish those who have not had it, to be inoculated or would you prefer that attention should be paid, to check the spreading of it? On the first symptoms, the soldier was moved to the hospital in...
65To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 1 May 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have experienced several difficulties in the course of the Winter, in consequence of the lattitude given in the Contract, to the Contractor—I was in hopes to have got thro’, the spring, without troubling on the subject of his arrangements—But notwithstanding my influence with the troops, and my indulgence to the Contractor, founded on his Repeated promises to issue better provission’s—I am...
66To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 30 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Not having the honor of hearing from you on the subject, of Doctor Davis joining the Regiment as second mate, it becomes my duty to communicate to you the necessity of Doctor Douglass having an assistant, the Regimental duty in the medical Department, is really too weighty to rest on one Gentleman—Doctor Douglass has been very attentive to the duties of his station, & I should suppose him...
67To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 29 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 23d. relative to the General orders of the 11th. of March not being complied with by the 12th. Regt. I immediately wrote a note to Major Fondy demanding the reasons for this apparent neglect, the enclosed No. 1. is his answer, which is respectfully submitted, The Paymaster of the 12th. Regt. was in New York attending at the...
68To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 29 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Having had the Honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 23d. inst. and answering that part of it, relative to the Clothiers department—I have the Honor to inform you that the reason why the order of the 7th. relative to the returns for Camp equipage and utensils were not before this made out, proceeded from a want of a proper communication from the Quarter Master Generals...
69To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 29 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed I have the Honor of presenting the returns from the surgeons of the three Regiments under my Command, of the medicine wanted in each for immediate use, and those articles on Hand which are not fit for use You will observe by the dates of the returns it has not been in my power more promptly to attend to the communications on this subject which you were pleased to make under date of...
70To Alexander Hamilton from William S. Smith, 19 April 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Letters of the 11th. 15th. & 18th. of the present month, the returns for medicine shall be immediately forwarded—Hill will of course wait his Tryal, by a General Court martial—a few day’s after he was brought to camp, I sent the sergeant major of the 2d. Battalion in disguise to the place where, Hill informed me his comrade was, who enticed...