21From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 9 July 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
When it became necessary for me to name a successor to Mr. Stoddart, as Secretary of the Navy, my attention was naturally first called to those gentlemen whose line of life led them to an intimacy with ship-building & navigation. the place was therefore proposed to your brother, to mr Langdon & to Capt Jones. they have all declined it. it becomes now necessary to find one in some other line....
22From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 9 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Soon after my arrival here I recieved a letter from Govr. Cabell requesting me to give such instructions for regulating the intercourse with the British squadron as might enable the officers to act correctly. I accordingly undertook to digest the rules of practice as to flags as well as I could, & so as to meet all cases, in a letter to the governor, a copy of which I now inclose you. soon...
23From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 3 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letters of Aug. 23. 27. 29. 30. have all been recieved. the two last came yesterday. I observe that the merchants of New York & Philadelphia think that notice of our present crisis with England should be sent to the streights of Sunda by a public ship, but that such a vessel going to Calcutta or into the bay of Bengal would give injurious alarm; while those of Baltimore think such a...
24From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 9 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved last night the inclosed petition from the Walleboght company to build a bridge across the pond of our navy yard at New York, to which they ask a prompt answer. will you be so good as to state to me your opinion to enable me to answer them. in general I think it just and useful for the General government to give all possible facilities to state accomodation. I would consider too the...
25From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 7 August 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The communications from the Mediterranean recieved from your department, I have inclosed to mr Madison with a request to return them to you after perusal. they place the understanding of Commodore Barron on a much higher shelf than I had before done. tho’ Eaton has surmounted considerable difficulties, the talents and influence of the ex-Bashaw, still unknown, can alone decide the utility of...
26X. To Robert Smith, 14 February 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Will you be so good as to give the inclosed a strict revisal, and to suggest on a separate paper any alterations which occur to you as for the better. the sooner you can return it the more thankfully will the kindness be acknoleged. RC ( CtY , 1944); on verso of an address sheet with canceled “The President of the U. States” in Jacob Wagner’s hand; addressed: “The Secretary of the Navy.” Not...
27From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 10 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Smith of Ohio, who has undertaken the building of two gunboats, having employed his hands & got into readiness to begin, but not being furnished with drawings, has come on to this place express to obtain them. learning from your letter that they still are expected from Commodore Preble, I have in consideration of the uncertainty when they may come on, & the urgency of the work, advised him...
28From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 15 June 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The calls for our gunboats at Charleston, Savanna, Mobille & N. Orleans are very imperious. the late insult to our peace officers at Savannah should never be permitted to be repeated a second time. Capt Casson tells me mr Fox is engaged in making the drawings for the lighter gun boat. but while the drawings are preparing to be sent to the several places of construction, could not your orders...
29From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 8 July 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
It is really wonderful how compleatly our countrymen, after staying sometime in Europe, forget the constitution, the laws, & the spirit of their own country. mr Cutting’s propositions are evidences of this fact. I would wish however to put them by with a civil answer. this will, I believe, be most effectually done by a reference of the inclosed to you, with a request of an answer which I may...
30From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 23 January 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Reibelt, bookseller, St. Patricks’s row, Baltimore having sent me a box of books to select such as I should chuse, I observe one which I think would be useful for your office or for our young eleves. tho the French are behind the English in the practice of the Nautical art, they are, from the excellence of their institutions, far before them in the theory. The price of the book is 10 D. 8....