Americana Interest: two lettters from Rt.Rev Robert Smith (1732- 1801), first Bishop of the Diocese of South Carolina. The first dated 1758 from Charlestown to Dr. Mason describes "the town in which I live as large as Yarmouth, well fortified, spacious streets, good size buildings inhabited by wealthy merchants. The letter refers to the country as "pleasant though flat with a great quantity of game and stock of deer." He refers to his stipend of £200pa as "better than strarving in England. Letter goes on to note "one thing which I find disagreeable and great confinement is excessive caution in regard to my behaviour: no assembly, no card playing and no shooting but shoot I do and shoot I will. Letter goes on suggest that a reply can be delivered to the Carolina Coffee House, Birching Lane, London.

The second letter dated 1761 addressed to "Most Noble Captain" informs the recipient of the arrival of Lieut Charles Brown " who arrived from Jersey in December 1760, sent to humble the Indians, who have committed most unheard of cruelty upon our settlers." he goes on " Poor Devil, I know not how this fightiing scheme will agree with him. He marches 60 miles a wild wilderness presents itself ever after - Pine Trees his only meditation and fear of being scalped his olny dread - an enemy destitute of all humanity continually alarming and contributing to make it disagreeable. Provenance; the Mason family archive.