The John Levett Harris papers consists of bound photostats of correspondence between Harris and John Quincy Adams, the United States Secretary of State, relating to a dispute over consulate fees for landing certificates to be charged to a Captain Bowditch. All of the letters are in connection with an incident that occurred on July 8 and 13, 1817 when a representative of Captain Bowditch's struck Harris on the nose in a public place. Some of the letters are written in French.