SMITH WILLIAM SIDNEY: (1764-1840) British Admiral and intelligence officer who served in the American and French revolutionary wars and the Napoleonic Wars. A.L.S., with his initials W S S, one page, 8vo, n.p. (Paris), n.d. ('Lundi au soir'; 18^th October 1818), to Chevalier Jullien, in French. Smith thanks his correspondent for their invitation and adds that he is very sorry not to be able to take advantage of it, remarking 'l'Eveque Luzerne et le Chevalier de St. Clair sont aussi engages. J'aurais ete tres content de rencontrer l'estimable amiral Bergeret' (Translation: 'Bishop Luzerne and the Knight of St. Clair are also engaged. I would have been very happy to meet the estimable Admiral Bergeret'). With integral address leaf in Smith's hand. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG

Cesar Guillaume La Luzerne (1738-1821) Roman Catholic cardinal, a minor statesman of the French Revolution and an important figure of the Bourbon Restoration.

Jacques Bergeret (1771-1857) French Admiral who was captured by the British on the French frigate Virginie in April 1796. Bergeret was brought to England and after two years was sent on parole to Paris to negotiate his own exchange for William Sidney Smith, himself held in the Temple prison in Paris at the time. The exchange was refused and Bergeret returned to London. Smith later escaped and upon his return to England Bergeret was released, the British government considering the prisoner exchange as completed.

During his later years in Paris Smith amused himself with a fictious order of 'Knights Liberators', which he had founded and of which he was president. The main aim of the organisation was the liberation of Christian slaves from the Barbary pirates, although any efforts appear to have been limited to correspondence.