To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 12 March 1803
From Robert Smith
Washington Mar. 12. 1803
Sir,
In consequence of the Conversation I had with you some days since respecting the Compensation to be allowed to Capt Tingey I have Offered to him the same pay & emoluments which he would have been entitled to receive, if he had remained a Captain of the Navy. This he does not consider sufficient. Herewith you will receive Copies of my Letter & his answer.
I find that in the hurry of your departure hence you had omitted mentioning to Mr Madison that the idea of sending the Gun Carriages to the Emperor of Morocco was relinquished and that money was to be substituted. I take the liberty of recalling this to your recollection, because there ought not to be any delay in forwarding the money.
As soon as I shall receive your instructions respecting the stipulated Articles for the Dey of Algiers they shall be forwarded with the utmost expedition.
It may be proper to remind you that the Shipping Articles of the Crews of the Vessels now in the Mediterranean expire at the several times stated as follow
| Enterprise | Feb. 17. | 1803 | |
| Constellation | March 14. | ||
| Chesapeak | April 27. | ||
| Adams | June 10. | ||
| N. York |  |
Oct. | |
| Jno. Adams |
With great respect & Esteem I am Sir, Y H S.
Rt Smith
RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received from the Navy Department on 18 Mch. and “Tingey. gun carriages. Algiers. Mediterrn. crews” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosures: (1) Smith to Thomas Tingey, dated Navy Department, 11 Mch., acknowledging Tingey’s letter of 1 Mch. and informing him that the president has authorized Tingey to receive for his future services the pay and emoluments of a navy captain, $1,784 per annum (Tr in DLC). (2) Tingey to Smith, dated Washington, 12 Mch., stating that he is willing to continue as superintendent of the Washington Navy Yard, but that he would “betray my duty to my Family” if he accepted the amount tendered; Tingey again asks Smith to use his “good offices with the President” to augment the sum to $2,500 per annum, otherwise Tingey “shall reluctantly be necessitated to resign—in which case it will oblige me, by appointing a successor as speedily as can be effected” (same).
For the most recent discussion among TJ and his cabinet regarding the gift of gun carriages for Morocco, see Vol. 39:493, 494n.