Autograph Letter (unsigned) by SMITH, John Spear (1786-1866)

The son of Revolutionary War patriot General Samuel Smith (who also served Maryland as U.S. representative and senator) served as his father's aide-de-camp during the defence of Baltimore in 1814 and as charge d'affaires in London in 1811-12; he was a noted Maryland politician, businessman and antiquary, the first and long-time president of the Maryland Historical Society and other historical organizations. Unsigned AL, 1p (lettersheet), 7¼" X 9", n.p. [London, England], 1811 November 8. Addressed to "Mr City Remembrancer." Very good. Binding traces along left edge. Formal third-person enquiry, reading in part: "The Charge d'Affaires of the U. States of America will have the honor of dining with the Lord Mayor tomorrow at Guildhall. He will with their permission take with him his friend Mr Heyward an American gentleman. He would thank Mr City Remembrancer to inform him whether he is to go direct to Guildhall at four o'clock or whether he is to meet the procession at any particular place...." November 9th was the traditional date on which the Lord Mayor (Matthew Wood, 1768-1843) took his insignia of office in a grand state procession together with other dignitaries from the palace yard, through London to Guildhall, where a grand feast awaited. Ironic that only months after writing this the U.S. and Great Britain would be at war and Smith would hightail it back to Baltimore to aid in the defense of his hometown.