{"value"=>"<p> William Smith Jr.’s correspondence and documents chiefly relate to his professional work as an historian and lawyer, and as royal Councillor and Chief Justice in New York City and Quebec. His time in the New York countryside under parole, 1776-1778, is also represented. The collection contains only a few items written during this stay in England, pertaining to American and Canadian affairs.</p> <p> Correspondence (1750s-1793, items 1-94) consists of letters and documents received by Smith, and Smith’s drafts and copies of letters and memoranda sent, chiefly in his hand. Unless otherwise stated, letters are written to or from Smith, and documents are written by him. There is also original and copied correspondence between third parties.</p> <p> Documents (1683-1793, items 95-234) include drafts and copies of his own professional writings as well as documents written by others. The latter were either sent to Smith, or collected or copied by him for professional or historical purposes. In his professional work, Smith often drafted material (e.g., letters, petitions and proclamations) for use or consideration by others. Pertinent notations by Smith to this effect are noted in the container list. Smith’s endorsements sometimes contain brief memoranda providing further context.</p> <p> Correspondence and documents are each listed in chronological order. Additional correspondence and documents are recorded or interleaved in his <span class=\"title\">Historical Memoirs</span>, found in volumes 2-8, Writings.</p> <p> Smith’s importance as a provincial official and influential policy advisor to a succession of British administrators is reflected in his correspondence with those officials and drafts written on their behalf, and in memoranda, written for himself or others, on the state of political and military affairs, particularly during the military occupation of New York. Smith’s correspondence with revolutionary committees and New York State governor George Clinton regarding his political status, 1776-1778, and documents relating to his parole, are among the items demonstrating his political principles and rejection of the Revolutionary cause. Memoranda written by others to Smith include Peter R. Livingston’s 1776 statement of principles for a New York state constitution (item 176).</p> <p> Smith’s adherence to the Presbyterian Church and his opposition to an Anglican establishment are evident in correspondence regarding the founding of the College of New York, charters of colleges and churches, and drafted petitions for New York counties requesting relief from financial support of the Anglican church (1750s-1760s). His personal land interests, especially in the Kayaderosseras patent in New York, are also represented.</p> <p> Notable journals or minutes of meetings kept by Smith concern the New York-Massachusetts boundary commission meeting at Hartford, Connecticut, 1773, and Provincial Council meetings related to proroguing the Assembly, 1775.</p> <p> His legal career is illustrated by a New York Law Society agreement signed by Smith, Livingston, Scott, and others, 1764 (item 115); pleadings in the case of Attorney General vs. Cadwallader Colden, 1770s (items 153-158); legal opinions and notes on various trials; and legislative acts and dissenting opinions drafted in New York. A few items concern legal and government affairs in New Jersey (1750s-1760s). Smith’s role in the shaping of Canada’s government and legal system during his tenure there, from 1786 to 1793, is notably represented in letters and drafts prepared for Lord Dorchester regarding the Canada Bill (Constitutional Act of 1791), as well as documents concerning the compatibility of English and French law, land tenure, government revenues, and other matters.</p> <p> Source material for his work and historical writings includes collected original correspondence of Jacob Leisler, dated 1689 to 1690 (items 96-99); copied colonial charters and records defining provincial boundaries; and copied correspondence of Provincial agent Robert Charles (item 107).</p>"}