281To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 8 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed I forward to you merely because Mr Mitchell has sent them to me with a request to do so. My own Opinion is that the Office ought to be Offered to Capt Jones; Because the duties of the Office would by him be well & faithfully performed and because a respectable section of Republicans would thereby be happily conciliated. Affy. & Respectfy DNA : RG 59—LAR—Letters of Application and...
282To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 13 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 9h. I have had the honor of receiving. To Mr Gallatin I forwarded the enclosure immediately with the requisite instructions for Com: Rodgers and an explanatory letter for Mr Gallatin. The same arrangement had indeed been some time since made by me. No gun Boats could be put upon the proposed service but such as could be spared from New York and I have submitted to M Gallatin...
283To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 14 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
From the nature of the service I have been under the necessity of giving the command of the gun Boats to young Officers. Many of the duties to be performed required more sense & discretion than some of them possessed. The News papers state the misconduct of two Officers commanding gun Boats—the one here—the other at New York. No complaints have been made to the Navy Dept. However, I lost no...
284To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 24 September 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Before I had received your favor of the 16h., covering the papers in the case of the demand of Governor Grand Pre, I had forwarded to you, for your instructions, papers received by me upon the same subject. It would be proper that the War & Navy Departments should pursue precisely the same course, and that no step should be taken, that would not be perfectly consistent with the principles, we...
285To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 1 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
This Government cannot, in honor or in respect to the permanent interests of the U. States, retreat one inch from the Ground it has so solemnly taken in relation to France & England in the view of all the World and with a show of persevering fortitude. On the Contrary, the substance & tone of the last despatches incline me to think, that the honorable and manly feelings of the American people...
286To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 1 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
8th. Sect— The Blank to be filled up with 103 —of which three are for the lakes—The State as set forth in the enclosed paper— The words—“having the materials in readiness”—to be struck out—There were no instructions to have such materials in readiness. The materials that had been provided before the last session of Congress, have been noted in the building of the Gun Boats above mentioned. DLC...
287To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 3 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The accompanying papers exhibit another melancholy instance of the remark of Erasmus—“Homo homini lupus”— As, however, these unhappy men, Hansen, Tingey and Cassin, in their mutual accusations, have asked for a Court of Enquiry they are, I presume, as is usual in such cases, to be indulged. Although many of the allegations, thus brought by these men against one another, may not be established,...
288To James Madison from Robert Smith, 17 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
Resolutions, somewhat like the enclosed, ought, I think, to be introduced into Congress by one of our friends, connected with and preceding the Non-intercourse resolution. Respectfully DLC : Papers of James Madison, Rives Collection.
289To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 29 November 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed is the report of the Accountant of the Navy upon the case of mr Geo Blount— I have only to remark that I myself saw the sample of the Phila or Cartouch box, & the one made by mr Blount—& that that made by mr. Blount was greatly inferior to the other. I have the honor to be with great respect Sir yr ob St DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
290To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 9 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
If any papers had been sent to me in Neale’s case, they, according to the established forms of the Dept., must have been transmitted to Col Wharton.—To him I have made the necessary application. The result, when received, will be communicated to you without delay. With great Respect DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
291To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 12 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed are the only papers that have been sent to me in the Case of Neale. If there had been others, they would of course have been filed with the letter of the 30h. Sep. Respecty DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
292To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 16 December 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The extent of our Coast, the prevailing winds during the winter, the length of the nights and the inclemency of the winter, making it impossible for our publick vessels cruising on our Coast to repress the violations of the Embargo law, I would submit to your Consideration the propriety of stationing one or more of the gun boats in each of our principal ports and of ordering the Cheasapeak,...
293To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 14 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to enclose herewith for your nomination to the Senate a list of officers for the Marine Corps and of Surgeons mates for the Navy. The marine Officers are indispensable for that Corps under its present regulations, & the surgeons mates are wanted immediately for actual service, that Corps being reduced by deaths & resignations. I send also a few blank warrants to fill up...
294To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 21 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Gunboats. 21 Jany ’09 Portland 10 Connecticut 2 Rhode Island
295To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 26 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
The proceedings of the Court not having been yet transmitted to me by Mr Jones the Judge Advocate no notice can at present be taken of the Note of Mr. Hanson—Respecty DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
296To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 30 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Presuming that you have not received correct information as to the political character of Thomas Robertson, I deem it proper to state to you that he & his family are among the prominent opposers of the Republicans in the State of Maryland— Respectfully DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
297To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 30 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I will wait on for you tomorrow to know your determination as to the service of the frigate Chesepeek—She is completely prepared for any service— Respecty DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
298To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 8 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Gentlemen of the Senate I Nominate, Humphrey Magrath —at present a sailing master Charles C. B. Thompson } at present midshipmen James P. Wilmer
299To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 14 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
With respect to young Drayton the midshipman—it is proper to state to you, that there are now in the Navy upwards of sixty midshipmen, who are senior to him in appointment—many of whom rank with the first young men in the country—these would all feel themselves degraded if any junior officer should be placed over them—A reversion of the order of antecedent relations, especially among military...
300To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 21 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
As the order mentioned in the enclosed letter may eventually produce a state of War between the U. States and G. Britain, I have to request from you a special instruction as to the answer proper to be sent to Captain Porter— Respectfully DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
301To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 22 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
The Act intituled “An Act for procuring an additional number of Arms, and for the purchase of salt petre & sulphur” passed 11 March 1808— appropriates “for the purchase of salt petre & sulphur” 150,000 dollars— During the session of 1808, I received from genl Smith, chairman of a committee of the Senate, a letter asking information as to the additional quantity of salt petre & sulphur which it...
302To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 28 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed list of surgeons and Surgeons mates is sent to you for nomination to the Senate should it be approved by you.— The Surgeons are required for the vessels now in commission under the act of the 31 Jany; the surgeons mates are also required for these Vessels, and for the Norfolk and New Orleans station. It may be proper to state to you that of the 6 surgeons mates nominated to the...
303To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 2 March 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Dr. Shaw who was nominated as a Surgeon in the navy has withdrawn his application. I beg leave to mention to you the name of Doctor Jasper Hand in his place. Doct. Hand was nominated a surgeon’s mate at the same time that Doct Shaw was nominated a Surgeon: tho’ by a mistake in his name made by the gentlemen who recommended him, his name was written Jesse instead of Jasper Hand his real name.—...
304To James Madison from Robert Smith, [15 April] 1809 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed sketch of my proposed answer to Mr Erskine I yesterday morning gave to Mr Gallatin for his consideration—And last Evening I gave him in a short note the intimation which Mr Erskine gave me yesterday at your house. Unexplained there is no understanding it. But I presume he means to say this morning, that he has authority to fix with us the day , when the orders in Council shall...
305Robert Smith to Thomas Jefferson, 15 July 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Your very friendly letter of the 10 h I have had the pleasure to receive. A nd most sincerely do I thank you for this additional instance of your goodness and for the interest you so kindly take in whatever concerns me personally. I am happy in learning that your rural occupations afford you so much gratification. After having so usefully devoted to your Country so many years, you are...
306To James Madison from Robert Smith, 24 July 1809 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed papers shew the temper of the B. Govt. with respect to our late arrangement with Mr Erskine and induce a strong presumption that no adjustment consistent with our interest or our honor can be made with that infatuated nation. It would seem that Erskine is to be superseded by Mr Jackson, who may every day be expected. You will be pleased to state to me what answer, as to time, I am...
307To James Madison from Robert Smith, 26 July 1809 (Madison Papers)
The papers by the Northern Mail of this day just received I hasten to forward to you. They are interesting and further evince the necessity of our being all here. Mr Erskine, it is expected, will be here this Evening. For our satisfaction and for his own justification, it is probable, he will shew me his instructions. He and Mr Canning appear to be fairly at issue and, strange to imagine, upon...
308To James Madison from Robert Smith, 31 July 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have received your favor of the 27h. It would seem that Mr Erskine has taken great liberties with his instructions. Of this I had not the slightest suspicion when I was writing my two last letters. And a knowledge of this diminishes the necessity of your return or of the Call of Congress. One of his reasons for not Communicating in Extenso this instruction is now apparent. It was a...
309To James Madison from Robert Smith, 6 September 1809 (Madison Papers)
You will perceive that the enclosed papers from Gov. Claiborne state a Case, which has not been provided for by the Act of Congress. It is to be hoped that it will not occur. If it should, as is apprehended by the Governor, what instructions ought to be sent to him? Ought any to go in anticipation of such an event? I have acknowledged the receipt of the enclosed letter from Genl Turreau and...
310To James Madison from Robert Smith, 8 September 1809 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed is the only Original despatch which has been received by Mr Jackson. Not having time to have a Copy of it I send the Original. It indicates, as far as mere Conversation with Mr Canning can indicate, something like a change of temper on the part of the British Govt. To judge from the extent of his establishment it would seem that Mr Jackson was disposed to remain a long time among...