411From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 31 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you Commodore Preble’s letter which gives us time enough to consider on his mission. he proposes a longer one than I had supposed necessary. the hogshead of wine was yesterday brought here. it is really a painful & embarrasing thing. to reject may be supposed to imply impure motives in the offer. to recieve leads to horrid abuse. the former however has been my rule, where the thing is...
412From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 17 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have recieved a letter from the Secy. of state informing me that the Dey of Algiers refuses to [accept?] the money offered him in commutation for the naval stores [due] him and consequently it becomes necessary to send the stores immediately. as it is [certainly?] better for the public that the purchase of naval stores should [be in?] the hands of one set of agents, not only to avoid...
413From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 9 October 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Capt Truxton’s idea of a [gradual] relief of our frigates [presents] advantages. in addition to what he [mentions], the frigate going out [might] always carry supplies; the frigate relieved may always be any particular one which may have got damaged & need repairs. it puts it in our power to shift the officers at our will & without offence. [it] might, on the arrival of the one & before the...
414From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 12 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 6th. was recieved yesterday. on the 7th. inst. I had recieved one from Mella Menni declining going in the Franklin for reasons which were evidently not the genuine ones. at the same time I recieved a letter from mr Madison informing me that he had authorised Cathcart to charter a vessel at Boston, & in the mean time had taken advantage of one sailing from Alexandria to Boston...
415From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 19 June 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
I have had under consideration the letter of Lieutt. Smith commander of Gun boat No. 1. from Charleston, respecting the capture of the Two friends, a registered ship, at the bar of Charleston. his idea, if that be his idea, of having a 16. gun brig with a regular officer to do the duty of the revenue cutter, is condemned by our own experience. the qualities which make a good officer of the...
416III. Robert Smith’s Opinion on the Common Law and Hardin’s Case [ca. 11 November 1802] (Jefferson Papers)
Mem. If in a Case of Criminal jurisdiction there be not a Statute of Congress, defining the offence and prescribing the punishment, the prosecution cannot be sustained in any Court of the United States. If the federal judge does not find such an act of Congress, he cannot resort to the common or Statute law of the State. An action, which Congress may constitutionally declare to be an Offence,...