Secretary of State James Buchanan informs Moses Y. Beach that President James K. Polk has appointed him as a Confidential Agent to the Republic of Mexico. "You ought never to give the slightest intimation to any person, either directly or indirectly, that you are an agent of this Government," as...

Richard Rush, United States Minister to France, asks Benjamin B. French when the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution adjourned and if French has heard about a pair of spectacles Rush lost. French is Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and serves on the Smithsonian's board of...

Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to W. P. Preston, responding to his request "to have an authenticated copy taken of documents relating to the debt due by the late Republic of Columbia to Lalung Montrop, recently of Baltimore, deceased." Buchanan claims that this request cannot be...

Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to R. B. McAfee regarding McAfee's request to publish old diplomatic correspondence. While President James K. Polk "feels himself obliged to decline a compliance with your request," Buchanan suggests that McAfee might be able to go through Congress....

Pennsylvania Attorney Andrew Gregg Curtin (Class of 1837) warns L. M. Smith, Esq., "to be cautious not to say to Mr. Ullman that Mr. Clark would or had any designs of making any arrangement in relation to the Philips estate."  Transcript included.

Henry Clay Dallam (Class of 1848) asks William Boyd Williams "to procure for me 'a literal translation of the Plays of Sophocles'" and to mail it to Dickinson. "I have a large amount of extra study to do" and, as Dallam explains, "I am anxious to have every facility." Transcript included.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney writes to J. Mason Campbell, an attorney, about a political and legal matter related to Maryland's constitution. While Taney brings up several questions and arguments to consider in regard to the matter, Taney also counsels Campbell to not provide...

Secretary of State James Buchanan writes to Mr. Osna regarding Peru's request that US Navy ships "abstain from entering the ports and harbors of Peru not open to foreign commerce." Mr. Osna is Peru's representative in the United States. Transcript included.

Spencer F. Baird (Class of 1840), the Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, publishes "General Directions for Collection and Preserving Objects of Natural History" in 1848. Baird, who is responsible for the Natural History Department, also includes an overview ("Special Desiderata...

Representative David Wilmot, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, writes to Reah Frazer and asks for certain information that could be used to discredit Secretary of State James Buchanan politically. "Your letter shall be confidential if you desire," as Wilmot notes. Transcript included.

Secretary of State James Buchanan writes Asbury Dickins, Secretary of the United States Senate, and requests access to several letters held by the Senate. "To enable [President James K. Polk] to answer the call of the House [of Representatives]," Buchanan asks that a Mr. Appleton be allowed "to...

Samuel Henry Reynolds, a member of the Class of 1850, writes to his Mother about his health, conditions in Carlisle, and asks that his father send money for medicine. Despite "not feel[ing] very well," Reynolds notes that "I have considerable of studying to do this morning." Reynolds also admits...