Don Francisco de Menezes de Brita do-Rio to Richard H. Bayard in response to the above letter expressing his bafflement of the decision to terminate the engagement and stating that he had done all he could but he must respect their decision., 1848 April 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.