July 14th, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/14/2011
Pair of Autograph Letters Signed by R.S. Smith, from Gothenburg, Denmark, to his brother James Smith in Philadelphia, pertaining to his criticism of Madison’s foreign policy, dated November 23 and December 22, 1811, they read in part: “...I wish that your business had been of any other nature than ‘preparing Assignments & investigating the affairs of broken merchants’ As you observe, ‘the situation of those engaged in trade’ with you, tends in some degree to reconcile me to my banishment, but still it is a melancholy & a selfish consideration & it were much better I should suffer all the privations incident to a situation like mine, than by such comparison be in any degree able to make it more tolerable...From some observations you make I fear very much that there will be no change in the policy of our government - I shall really be astonished if they still continue in their paltry system of restrictions. it is a most humiliating thing, for an American in Europe to be asked ‘What measures are your Government about to take, to obtain the return of your property seized by the French or that captured & condemned by the Danes?’ & again instead of applying to the English for protection, why does not your Government send out two or three of your Frigates to give you protection? Should even a war with Denmark be the consequence the cost of such a war would not equal the amount of property now plundered from you’ To all this we have to anser, they are about to lay an embargo, for they have sent out a minister or they will pass a non intercourse act &c - all of which are as much laughed at as would be the Emperor of Haiti should he do the same...” Mcuh more. Very good condition.
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