570 



APPENDIX. 



official evidence that such was the case. There are in existence authen- 

 tic and reliable documents which seem to prove conclusively that some 

 of the records were torn and others obliterated by erasures. It has been 

 said that a copy of the Constitution of the United States was burned, 

 and this nuiv be correct, and may have given rise to the statement that 

 other papers were destroyed in the same way." 



No. XIV.— Page 543. 



Hon. Charles Smith. 



Charles Smith, the //i/n/ son of Rev. William Smith, D. D., and 

 Rebecca Smith, was born at Philadelphia, on the 4th of March, 1765, 

 and was baptized by the Rev. Mr. Sturgeon; John Moore, Esep, and 

 Mr. Charles Smith, both of London, being sponsors. 



His early education was under the care of his father, in Philadelphia, 

 and subsequently at Washington College, Maryland, where he grad- 

 uated at the commencement held on the 14th day of May, 1783, deliv- 

 ering the valedictory oration on that occasion.* 



Having completed his collegiate education, he commenced the study 

 of the law with his eldest brother, William Moore Smith, at Easton, 

 Northampton county. Pa., and was admitted to the bar in Philadelphia 

 in June, 1786. 



After his admission to the bar he opened his office in the town of 

 Sunbury, Northumberland county. Pa., where his industry and rising 

 talents soo! nrocured for him the business and confidence of the people. 

 He was elected a delegate, with his colleague, Simon Snyder, to the 

 convention which framed the constitution for the State of 'Pennsylvania, 

 adopted in 1790, and was looked on as a very distinguished member 

 of that talented body of men. Although differing in the politics of that 

 day from his colleague, yet Mr. Snyder for more than thirty years after- 

 wards remained the firm friend of Mr. Smith, and when the former 

 became the Governor of the State for three successive terms, it is well 

 known that Mr. Smith was his confidential adviser in many great State 

 matters. 



Mr. Smith was married on the 3d day of March, 1791, to Mary, 

 daughter of Jasper Yeates, one of the Supreme Court judges of the 



* See Maryland Journal, jxi^^ Baltimore Advertiser, July 8, 17S3. 



