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Smith, William Steuben, 1787-1850. William Steuben Smith diary, 1814.

Title: William Steuben Smith diary, 1814.

Diary of William Steuben Smith, kept in St. Petersburg, Russia from 24 Jan.- 22 Sept. 1814. Smith accompanied his uncle, John Quincy Adams, while Adams was serving as the first American minister to Russia. Smith's entries note current events related to the War of 1812; social engagements; and family news, including the birth and baptism of his daughter, Caroline. Smith also notes British and American attempts to negotiate a peace treaty to end the War of 1812, including the formation of the American negotiation delegation, led by John Quincy Adams. The final entries in Smith's diary note his travel from St. Petersburg to Amsterdam and Ghent. Also included in the collection is a manuscript copy of a portion of Thomas B. Adams's will, dated 25 Jan. 1869.

ArchivalResource: 1 folder.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50306177 View

Smith, William Steuben, 1787-1850. William Steuben Smith diary and letterbook, 1809-1821.

Title: William Steuben Smith diary and letterbook, 1809-1821.

Diary of William Steuben Smith, kept on a trip to St. Petersburg, Russia, as private secretary to John Quincy Adams, U.S. minister to Russia, 16 July-29 Oct. 1809, and a letterbook containing drafts of Smith's outgoing correspondence, 19 July 1811-14 Apr. 1820. The diary describes the activities of Smith and Adams; preparations for the trip to Russia; Smith's impressions of various people, including John Adams and other members of the Adams family; details of the trans-Atlantic voyage, including encounters with other ships; and landings at Kristiansand (Norway), Helsingor (Denmark), and Kronstadt (Russia). The letterbook portion of the volume consists of copies of Smith's personal correspondence from St. Petersburg and Washington, primarily to his father William Stephens Smith, his mother Abigail Adams Smith, his brother John Adams Smith, and his sister Caroline Amelia Smith (later de Windt). Subjects include family news, the diplomatic activities of John Quincy Adams, the political situation in Europe, the French invasion of Russia in 1812 and other news of the Napoleonic Wars, Smith's impressions of Napoleon, causes and campaigns of the War of 1812, the British practice of impressment, negotiations for peace, and the death of Abigail Adams in 1818. Includes a memorandum about a business matter, Apr. 1811, and a loose letter to Smith from his brother John Adams Smith, 28 Dec. 1821, inserted into the volume.

ArchivalResource: 1 vol. in a narrow box.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/670239831 View

Smith, William Steuben, 1787-1850. William Steuben Smith letter, [manuscript], 7 September 1825.

Title: William Steuben Smith letter, [manuscript], 7 September 1825.

Holograph letter (1 leaf ([1] p.)) signed, W.S.S., concerning a visit with Lafayette at the conclusion of his second (and last) grand tour of the United States. Smith reports that he had asked Lafayette to authenticate a manuscript copy of his 1784 address to Congress (as recorded in vol. 27 (not v. 4 as Smith writes) of the Journals of the Continental Congress (p. 684-685).

ArchivalResource: 1 item (1 leaf) ; 16 x 11 cm.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/779188650 View