Autograph Letter Signed ('Saml. Smith') from the Whig poltician and barrister Hon. Samuel Stevens, asking the Adjutant General of the State of New York, L. Ward Smith, to be one of the 'groom's men' at his wedding.

Stevens married Mary Frances Smith (d.1890; second husband John Fowler Butterworth), daughter of Silas O. Smith of Rochester, and two of their children were the novelist Augusta de Grasse Stevens (1852-1894), and Marie de Grasse, Lady Evans (d.1920), wife of the English Liberal politician Sir Francis Henry Evans (1840-1907). 2pp., 4to. 35 lines of text. In good condition on lightly-aged paper. Addressed on reverse of second leaf, with postmark, to 'Mr L Ward Smith | Rochester | N.Y-'. The letter begins: 'My dear Ward | How affectionate & familiar a man is, when he is about to ask a favor. Now although such is the object of the present writing, yet I beg leave to assure you it is not the cause of my affection or familiarity. On the contrary my affection is the cause both of my familiarity & of my requesting of the favor which I am about to ask. | You know there are situations in which a man may be placed, that require all the preliminaries to be settled by a friend - now dont start - I am not about to fight a duel. To the end that you may fully comprehend the nature of the service with which I am about to task your kindness, I must disclose to you a verry [sic] great secret. I am to be married on the last tuesday of July next to the verry [sic] Dearest and best girl in the world - Miss Mary Frances Smith of your city - perhaps you know the young lady - If you do, I know you will approve of my choice, whatever you may think of her's. [sic] On that occasion I shall require the service of four friends as groom's men & I hope my Dear Sir I may rely upon you as one'. The letter continues for another eleven lines in much the same tone. From the Evans papers.