Uriah Tracy to John E. Howard with more recollections concerning the Smith issue. He described, as Mitchell had relayed to him, the conversation between John Adams and General Smith. Smith wanting to pay the French rather than go to war disappointed Adams greatly., 1798 August 18

The collection consists mainly of last will and testaments, land papers, business (political) papers, and correspondence of the Bayard, Eager and Howard families. The authors and/or receivers of these letters begin with John Eager Howard (1752-1827) followed by his sons William, George and Benjamin (predominately) and ending with Richard H. Bayard and his relatives. The subjects of these letters range from John E. Howard’s time as the United States Senator of Maryland, his involvement in the Battle of Hobkirk’s Hill, Robert Goodloe Harper to his constituents regarding various treaties and elections, and the case of W. David S. Barnum which Benjamin C. Howard was involved in. There are also a few letters written by United States Presidents George Washington, John Quincy Adams and Secretary of State Daniel Webster.