1To George Washington from William Loughton Smith, 17 July 1790 (Washington Papers)
New York, 17 July 1790. Recommends Peter Bounetheau and Daniel Stevens as loan commissioner for South Carolina under the funding bill; Edward Trenot, Col. John Mitchell, Daniel Stevens, and Peter Bounetheau as revenue inspectors should the excise bill pass; and captains William Hall and Jacob Milligan as commanders of revenue cutters. AL , DLC:GW . Daniel Stevens (1746–1835), a Charleston,...
2William Loughton Smith to Tobias Lear, 19 February 1791 (Washington Papers)
As the Revenue Bill now under consideration contemplates a Supervisor of the Revenue in each State, I beg to recommend to the President Mr Daniel Stevens, as a very proper person for that Office. He is the gentleman whom I formerly recommended as Marshall of the District & as my Letter on that occasion enumeratd the qualifications & pretensions of that gentleman I will not here repeat them,...
3To George Washington from William Loughton Smith, 5 September 1791 (Washington Papers)
New York, 5 September 1791. Encloses for GW’s perusal a letter from Arnoldus Vanderhorst, the intendant of Charleston, recommending his uncle Elias Vanderhorst as consul for the port of Bristol—“I beleive the Intendant would not recommend any person unworthy of the Station”—and calls “attention to Col. Motte, as Successor to Mr Hall, & to Mr Bounetheau for the place of Naval Officer: From my...
4[The Politicks and Views of a Certain Party, Displayed], [1792] (Hamilton Papers)
In 1886 Paul Leicester Ford listed this pamphlet among the works which had been erroneously attributed to H and suggested that it was probably written by William Loughton Smith (Ford, Biblioteca Hamiltoniana [New York, 1886], vi, 39). In 1887 Joseph Sabin attributed the pamphlet to H (Sabin, A Dictionary of Books Relating to America [reprint, Amsterdam, 1961], VIII, 28). In 1914 Charles Evans...
5[Scourge], [22 September 1792] (Hamilton Papers)
Df , in the handwriting of William Loughton Smith, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; [Philadelphia] Gazette of the United States , September 22, 1792. Philip Marsh, in discussing “Scourge,” wrote: “… there can be no doubt as to authorship, for the manuscript, in Hamilton’s hand, is in the Library of Congress, among his papers” (“Further Attributions to Hamilton’s Pen,” The New-York...
6To Thomas Jefferson from William Loughton Smith, 18 March [1793] (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Smith requests the favor of Mr. Jefferson to inform him of the annual amount of the following items, viz. RC ( DLC ); partially dated; endorsed by TJ: “Smith Wm. (S.C.).” William Loughton Smith (1758–1812), a staunchly Federalist congressman from South Carolina, 1789–97, and minister to Portugal, 1797–1801, authored vitriolic pamphlet attacks on TJ in 1792 and 1796 ( Editorial Note on...
7From Thomas Jefferson to William Loughton Smith, 18 March 1793 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his compliments to Mr. Smith. Supposing his enquiries to go to the ordinary foreign establishment (not to the extraordinary respecting the Barbary powers) he has the honor to inform him that the salary of our Min. Plenipo. is 9000. D. per ann. and their secretaries 1350. D. That of a Minister Resident is 4500. D. and no secretary allowed, because the fund not sufficient....
8To Alexander Hamilton from William Loughton Smith, 24 April 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
Allow an old acquaintance to interrupt for a few minutes your attention & to divert it from the great affairs of State to a hasty Epistle written from the back woods. Availing myself of a little repose at this place after a long & fatiguing Journey, I have determined to give you some account of the Situation in which I found affairs on my arrival in the State because I conceived the Detail...
9To Alexander Hamilton from William Loughton Smith, 22 August 1793 (Hamilton Papers)
I have read, my dear Sir, with much satisfaction, your circular Letter & I am happy to find that it is in general very acceptable to the Citizens of this Place; Mr Izard, with his best Complimts. desires me to inform you that it has afforded him peculiar pleasure, & that he is glad to find that the President has at length taken his Ground & resolved to maintain it. We are both convinced that...
10[Speech by William Loughton Smith], [13 January 1794] (Hamilton Papers)
Annals of Congress The Debates and Proceedings of the Congress of the United States; with an Appendix, Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents, and All the Laws of a Public Nature (Washington, 1834–1849). , IV, 174–209. John C. Hamilton states that Smith’s speech “was from the pen of Hamilton as appears from his autographed draft” ( Hamilton, History John C. Hamilton, Life of...
11From Alexander Hamilton to William Loughton Smith, [10 March 1796] (Hamilton Papers)
I observe Madison brings the power of the House of Representatives in the case of the Treaty to this Question Is the Agency of the House of Representatives on this subject deliberative or Executive? On the sophism that this Legislature and each Branch of it is essentially deliberative & consequently must have discretion will he, I presume, maintain the freedom of the House to concur or not....
12From Alexander Hamilton to William Loughton Smith, [19 January 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
Mrs. De Neufville widow of Mr. De Neufville formerly of Holland is on her way to Philadelphia to solicit the Kindness of Congress in virtue of services rendered the American cause by her husband. You probably Know their history as South Carolina was particularly concerned. From what I have heard it seems to me her pretensions on the score of her husband to the Kindness of this Country are...
13To Alexander Hamilton from William Loughton Smith, [2 April 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Philadelphia, April 2, 1797. On April 5, 1797, Hamilton wrote to Smith : “I have received … Your letter of the 2d April (97).” Letter not found. ] Smith was a Federalist member of the House of Representatives from South Carolina, a close friend of H, and one of the leading advocates in the House of the policies which H had introduced as Secretary of the Treasury.
14From Alexander Hamilton to William Loughton Smith, 5 April 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
I have received My Dear Sir Your letter of the with your little work accompanying it, which I shall read with the interest I take in the author, the first leisure hour. I have cast my eye over it and like very much the plan. Our affairs are indeed very critical. But I am sorry to find that I do not agree with several of my friends. I am clearly of opinion for an extraordinary mission and as...
15From Alexander Hamilton to William Loughton Smith, [10 April 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
Since my last to you I have perused with great satisfaction your little work on our Governments. I like the execution no less than the plan. If my health & leisure should permit, I would make some notes, but you cannot depend on it, as I am not only extremely occupied but in feeble health. I send you My ideas of the course of Conduct proper in our present situation. It is unpleasant to me to...
16Enclosure: [Notes on Conduct with Great Britain], [10 April 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
It must be acknowleged by all who can comprehend the subject that the present situation of the UStates is in an extreme degree critical, demanding in our public councils a union of the greatest prudence with the greatest firmness. To appreciate rightly the course which ought to be pursued it is an essential preliminary to take an accurate view of the situation. That the preservation of peace...
17To Alexander Hamilton from William Loughton Smith, 1 May 1797 (Hamilton Papers)
I shod. sooner have acknowledged the receipt of your interesting communication, had I not been informed of your Journey to Albany. I coincide perfectly in opinion with you as to the expediency of measures of defence, & an extraordy. mission. But I see very considerable difficulty in the measure of a Commission, & still greater in its’ including Jefferson & Madison. From the former plan I...
18From Alexander Hamilton to William Loughton Smith, [10 June 1797] (Hamilton Papers)
I received your letter of the ——. Though I do not like in some respects the answer of the house to the Speech; yet I frankly own I had no objection to see it softened down. For I think there is no use in hard words & in public proceedings would almost always unite the suaviter in modo with the fortiter in re . But I much regret that there is no prospect of the fortiter in re . I perceive...
19From Alexander Hamilton to William Loughton Smith, 11 March 1800 (Hamilton Papers)
You will probably have heard before this reaches you that I had appointed Captain Izard one of my aids. I part with him to you with all the reluctance that a strong impression of his merit can inspire. Yet I do not resist his going because our military prospects in general, and mine in particular are very uncertain. Though we have had no communication since your departure you may be assured...
20To James Madison from William Loughton Smith, 7 March 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
7 March 1801, Lisbon. Reports that Spain has declared war on Portugal and embargoed its ships. Believes that “the present System of France” is “to force Engd. into a peace by excludg. her from all the ports of Europe.” Encloses copy of treaty shutting British out of Tuscany. Recounts rumor that a secret treaty grants France Spanish territory north of Ebro River (Biscay, Navarre, Aragon, and...
21To James Madison from William Loughton Smith, 16 March 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
16 March 1801, Lisbon. No. 45. Encloses translation of Spanish declaration of war against Portugal. The counter-declaration is expected daily. Reports on Portuguese preparation for war. Notes that the best protection against invasion by France has always been the French fear of throwing Portuguese colonies into the hands of the British. Transmits dispatches from Tunis that he has just...
22To James Madison from William Loughton Smith, 17 March 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
17 March 1801, Lisbon. Encloses a letter from Humphreys, which was left open for his reading but which he found himself unable to decipher because their codes differ; “as many inconvens. may arise from the Minrs. in Spain & Portugal not being able to correspond in cypher at this period , I submit to your Judgmt. whether I ought not to be furnished with that which Col H. has.” Predicts closing...
23To James Madison from William Loughton Smith, 18 March 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 March 1801, Lisbon. Relays news from England of George III’s illness and Prussian hostility against Great Britain. Observes that Portuguese now are less hopeful of receiving British aid either in peace negotiations or military preparations. Portugal “seems abandd. to its fate, like Leghorn, Naples &c.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, DD , Portugal, vol. 5). 1 p.; marked private; docketed by Wagner as...
24To James Madison from William Loughton Smith, 27 March 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
27 March 1801, Lisbon. Reports that recent packets from Britain contain no mention of a British plan to aid Portugal. Speculates on reasons for delays in French or Spanish invasion: French may hope Spanish will begin and bear brunt of it, or in the interval Portuguese cabinet may succeed in maneuvering British out of the country without provoking them. RC ( DNA : RG 59, DD , Portugal, vol. 5)....
25To James Madison from William Loughton Smith, 1 April 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 April 1801, Lisbon. Relays reports that Spanish and French are soon to make peace with Portugal, demanding that Portuguese exclude British ships of war and prizes from their ports and pay reparations. Presumes that on these terms peace will result. Notes some of the considerations that prompted Naples to seek an accommodation with France. RC ( DNA : RG 59, DD , Portugal, vol. 5). 1 p.;...
26To James Madison from William Loughton Smith, 7 April 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
7 April 1801, Lisbon. Conveys news of British blockade of Toulon and discusses different accounts of Abercromby’s expedition. Reports that Portuguese church patriarch had published a vehement attack on Spanish and called for defense of the country before government realized no British aid would be available to it; the statement now has been suppressed. Portuguese prefer to negotiate peace with...
27To James Madison from William Loughton Smith, 14 April 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
14 April 1801, Lisbon. No. 46. Encloses copy of correspondence with Portuguese government concerning the “outrage” committed by some of the crew of British frigate [ Diane ] in the port of Lisbon. Plans to transmit copy of protest to Rufus King. Speculates that Portuguese patriarch’s pastoral (copy enclosed), an unofficial call to arms, was meant to be a test of public opinion and notes the...
28To James Madison from William Loughton Smith, 23 May 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
23 May 1801, Lisbon. No. 47. Reports that Portugal is attempting to treat for peace, preferably with France, but that Portuguese minister of foreign affairs now is meeting with Godoy at Badajoz. Relays accounts that Spain is incapable of sustained campaign, “being destitute of pecuniary ressources, magazines, and public spirit,” but observes that French threat to Portugal and to its colonies...
29To James Madison from William Loughton Smith, 24 May 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
24 May 1801, Lisbon. Relays information from Humphreys in Madrid that pasha of Tripoli sent his cruisers out for American ships, probably beginning in early March, and that Humphreys sent word of this action to JM some time ago. “He coincides with me & our Consuls in Barbary in opinion that sending a naval force into the Meditn. is the only means of keeping peace with those Regencies.” Reports...
30From James Madison to William Loughton Smith, 1 June 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 June 1801, Department of State. Recalls Smith for reasons of economy; requests him to assure Portuguese government of American friendly sentiments. Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 59, IC , vol. 1). 2 pp. Virtually a copy of JM’s letter of the same day to William Vans Murray.