The Trials of William S Smith and Samuel G Ogden for Misdemeanors..

1807. New York: Printed by and for I. Riley, 1807. New York: Printed by and for I. Riley, 1807. Trial of the Leaders of the Ill-Fated Miranda Expedition [Trials]. Smith, William S. [1755-1816], Defendant. Ogden, Samuel G. [1779-1860], Defendant. Lloyd, Thomas [1756-1827], Stenographer. The Trials of William S. Smith and Samuel G. Ogden for Misdemeanours had in the Circuit Court of the United States for the New-York District in July, 1806. With a Preliminary Account of the Proceedings of the Same Court Against Messrs. Smith and Ogden in the Preceding April Term. New York: Printed By and For I. Riley, 1807. xxxiii, 287 pp. Octavo (8" x 5"). Contemporary sheep, blind fillets to boards, calf lettering piece and blind fillets to spine. Light rubbing and scuffing to boards, moderate rubbing to extremities with wear to head of spine, joints starting at heads, corners bumped and somewhat worn. Moderate toning and light foxing to interior, early owner signature (Severyn Bruyn) to head of title page. $250. * Only edition. Francisco de Miranda hoped to become the George Washington of South America. This led him to assemble a group of mercenaries that included William S. Smith for an unsuccessful invasion of Venezuela, a violation of United States law. Colonel Smith was the son-in-law of John Adams. Samuel G. Ogden was a merchant who had furnished ships and supplies for the expedition. The counsel for the defense attempted to show that Smith and Ogden, though they had taken part in the affair, had not actually begun it, that members of the government, including even Thomas Jefferson, were cognizant of Miranda's plans, and that Spain and the United States were on the brink of war at the time of the expedition. Smith and Ogden were acquitted. They attracted great public sympathy because they were seen as heroes in a noble war against Spanish tyranny. This copy appears to have been owned by a member of the Bruyn family, influential New Yorkers from Ulster County. Many of the Bryuns served in the state assembly. Sabin, A Dictionary of Books Relating to America 84904. Cohen, Bibliography of Early American Law 13615.