11From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 19 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of the 13th. has been recieved, and mr Goldsboro has forwarded to me the state of the gunboats in building, & the stations of those in commission. the discretionary power given to mr Gallatin as to those at New York was I think the best step to be taken. under the appearances of present peace no great number need be in the harbour of New York. presuming that the inclosed application...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 12 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of July 30. came to hand only yesterday. it has consequently loitered somewhere two posts. I am glad to learn the prompt aid you have afforded the Treasury department; to let you further understand the importance of giving all the aid we can, I pass through your hands my letter of this day to mr Gallatin, with those it incloses, which I will pray you, after perusal, to seal & put into...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 9 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The letters of Trenchard, Williamson & Leonard, which I recieved from you the last week, I forwarded to mr Gallatin for his information, & desired him to return them to you. that of a person of Boston whose name I cannot decypher is reserved for a similar purpose. I inclose you a letter to mr Gallatin covering some others, which I will ask the favor of you to read & hand on to him with such...
14From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 16 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Complaints multiply upon us of evasions of the embargo laws by fraud & force. these come from Newport, Portland, Machias, Nantucket, Martha’s vineyard Etc Etc as I do consider the severe enforcement of the embargo to be of an importance, not to be measured by money, for our future government as well as present objects, I think it will be adviseable that during this summer all the gunboats...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 15 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I have considered the letter of the Director of the Mint stating the ease with which the errors of Commodore Truxton’s medal may be corrected on the medal itself, and the impracticability of doing it on the die. in my former letter to you on this subject I observed that to make a new die would be a serious thing, requiring consideration. in fact, the first die having been made by authority of...
16From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 31 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you Capt. Truxton’s letter. the only difficulty in the case is to concieve how such anachronisms could have taken place as to dates so recent and easily to be ascertained. if you will be so good as to address a letter either directly to mr Patterson, or through the Secretary of state, the errors will be rectified. it will not I suppose be necessary to make a new die. that would be...
17From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 20 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I thank you for the information contained in your’s of the 17th. and as it has not yet got into the papers I take the liberty of inclosing the papers to mr Madison with a request to return them to you. I inclose to yourself a letter from Dr. Waterhouse to Dr. Rush, sent me by the latter with a request that you also would read it and see to what lengths respecting him medical par alogism ,...
18From 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...
19From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 20 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I nominate Joseph Tarbell—now a Lieutenant in the Navy—to be a Master Commandant in the Navy—to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of George Cox late a Master Commandant . Words in italics in Robert Smith’s hand [ Postscript in TJ’s hand: ] Will mr Smith be so good as to say what is the appointment vacated by Cox & to which Tarbell is to be promoted, as that must be specifically...
20From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 1 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I approve of your letter to Commodore Murray entirely, and in order to settle what shall be our course for the summer (now that we see tolerably clearly that no rupture with England is likely to take place during the summer) I propose, the first day that I can be well enough for a couple of hours, to ask a meeting of our colleagues to determine these questions Shall the Proclamation, be...