31From 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...
32From 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...
33From 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...
34From 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...
35From 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...
36From 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....
37From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 14 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you Chancey’s letter. I am sorry to see the seamen working for rations only, & that we cannot allow even them, and further indeed that we shall be under the necessity of discharging a number of those we have. this is so serious a question that I propose to call a consultation on it a day or two hence. our 64. gunboats & ketches may certainly be reduced to 10. seamen each; at least I...
38From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 3 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a petition from a woman (Mary Barnett) who complains that her son of 13. years of age, is detained against her will in the Naval military service. having never before received an application of the kind in that department, I know not what are the rules there. but in the land service we have had many cases of enlistment of infants, and there the law is considered to be, and our...
39From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 6 September 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
We have now authentic information from mr Simpson that the Governor of Tangiers has by letter informed him of the Emperor of Marocco’s permission to him to return for six months. this is a clear enough expression of his object, which is presents, and peace. on these we have time to consider. but this change in the state of things renders it proper that we should change our purpose of sending...
40From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 30 August 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
If your honor can make any use of his honor mr Hunt writer of the inclosed, I dare say he will have the honor of thanking you very sincerely. I desired mr Madison to send you the papers relating to our negociation with Spain. I have asked the favor of the other gentlemen, as I do of you, to write me your first thoughts on the measures most proper to be pursued. when I shall have recieved all...