1From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Smith, 27 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of July 13. covering a petition on behalf of the Lowries did not get to my hand till the 4th. instant. I immediately took measures to obtain information of the case. the result of these came to my hands only by our last post, & I this day write to mr Dallas to obtain for me a copy of the judgment under which they are held in confinement and which is necessary to be recited in the...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Smith, 21 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Our friend Kosciuzko, and your antient fellow souldier, on leaving this country requested me to appoint & superintend his agent for remitting to him the proceeds of his property in our funds. mr Barnes whom I appointed, is too ill at present to do business, and we wish to avail ourselves of the public vessel going from Baltimore to remit the General 1000. D. as he is in want, presuming on the...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Smith, 15 March 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson requests the favor of Genl. Smith to dine with him on Saturday the 19th . at half after three, or at whatever later hour the house may rise. The favour of an answer is asked. Privately owned.
4From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Smith, 5 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Would it not be better to leave out of the Naval militia bill all the passage beginning ‘And in time of war either actual or imminent Etc. and ending ‘shall have the immediate command of them.’ it would be much more likely to pass if confined for the present to harbor defence, and if hereafter there should be a visible necessity of extending the duties of the Naval militia to our ships of war,...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Smith, 9 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your favor of the 5th. and am truly sorry that my error in addressing the answer to the Master mariners of Baltimore was the cause of any uneasiness. I now inclose the correction you are so kind as to recommend, open for your perusal, & hope it will be satisfactory. will you be so good as to seal & deliver it? mr Nicholas and his family left this neighborhood on the day...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Smith, 30 July 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I kept up your letter of the 23d. till the return of Genl. Dearborne enabled us to give to the question of lending arms a serious consideration. we find that both law and expediency draw a line for our guide. in general our magazines are open for troops, militia or others, when they take the field for actual service. besides this a law has expressly permitted loans for training volunteers who...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Smith, 20 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor on the subject of the brig Lucy has been recieved. I regretted extremely the trouble which my letter of the 15th. had proposed to you in a moment when your afflicted state was not known here. the knolege of your unfortunate loss came here in the evening after my letter had been put into the post office. I was instantly sensible how ill-timed it had been. the philosophy which would...
8From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Smith, 15 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The selection of a successor to mr Purviance was made before the claims of other competitors were known. it was made without enquiry, because none was necessary where the person was so well known. I return you mr Lowry’s letter. nothing can be more inveterate than the discord at St. Louis. if it were lawful to remove every officer that has been appointed, I believe it the only step which could...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Smith, 4 May 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved your favor covering some papers from Genl. Wilkinson. I have repented but of one appointment there, that of Lucas, whose temper I see overrules every good quality & every qualification he has. not a single fact has appeared which occasions me to doubt that I could have made a fitter appointment than Genl. Wilkinson. one qualm of principle I acknowledge I do feel, I mean the union of...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Samuel Smith, 13 November 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 5th. has been recieved, and not to keep under suspence the person who has offered the gun-powder, I observe that I have from my first coming into office recommended to the Secretary at War never to buy powder ready made, because it will not keep, but to lay in as great a stock as possible of salt petre and sulphur. he assures me our present stock of these articles are equal to any...