Alexander Hamilton Papers
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To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Smith, 20 November 1801

From Robert Smith1

Washington Nov. 20. 1801

Sir

Your application to me2 in favor of Capt Du Buisson3 was highly acceptable and required no kind of apology. His case has had all the attention which under existing Circumstances could consistently be given to it. I have given him a sum of Money which will accomodate him for the present.4

Be persuaded, sir, I shall at all times be happy in receiving from you any Communications with which you may be pleased to favor me.

With great respect, I am, sir, Your Obed servt

Rt Smith

ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.

1For background to this letter, see H to Jedediah Huntington, November 12, 1801, note 2.

Smith, a brother of Samuel Smith who was a member of the House of Representatives from Maryland, was a member of the Maryland Senate from 1793 to 1795 and of the Baltimore City Council from 1798 to 1801. On July 15, 1801, Thomas Jefferson informed Smith of his nomination as Secretary of the Navy (ALS, letterpress copy, Thomas Jefferson Papers, Library of Congress), but Congress was in recess and did not confirm the appointment until January 26, 1802 (Executive Journal, I description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate (Washington, 1828), I. description ends , 400, 405).

2Letter not found.

3Joseph Buisson.

4In February, 1802, Smith submitted to the House Committee of Ways and Means an account of expenditures made in connection with French prizes during the undeclared war with France, which contains the following item: “in the year 1801 … the sum of 200 to the Captain of the Peggy” (Smith to John Randolph, chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, February, 1802 [LC, RG 45, Naval Records Collection, Letters to Congress, Vol 1, December 24, 1798–February 16, 1811, National Archives]).

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