1From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 31 March 1801 (Adams Papers)
On the evening of the 18, a few minutes after my Arrival at this place commenced a violent Equinoxtial Gale of Wind, accompanied with a flood of rain, from the North East, which has continued with very Short intervals to this day and confined me to my house. This is So old fashioned a storm that I begin to hope that nature is returning to her old good nature and good humour and is substituting...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Stoddert, 14 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to enclose an account of the French Prisoners in the United States, shewing where they are and in whose custody. A Vessel has been provided at Newyork by Mr. Letombé, to carry away Prisoners. I know not how many the Vessel will carry.—Application has been made, to have those at Boston sent to Newyork to go in this Vessel, which I have directed to be done at the expense of the...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Stoddert, 14 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I understand from the letter with which you honored me, of yesterdays date, that I am not to send the letter I proposed, to Mr Marbury—but that, as it makes a part of my representation to you, it may be recorded in the books of the office, which I will have done. I confess it would have been more agreeable to me, to have sent the letter to Mr Marbury, because the contractors have been taught...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Stoddert, 17 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr Dawson a member of the late Congress is appointed to be the bearer of the Convention with France, and will be ready to leave this place, within two days, for Baltimore & thence to proceed immediately for Havre, which I think the most eligible port for him to land at. I have therefore to ask the favor of you to give the necessary orders & instructions to the Commander of the Maryland to...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Stoddert, 30 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
In your letter of Feb. 18. you were so kind as to tender your continuance in office till I could provide a successor, expressing a [wish at] the same time to be relieved as early in this month as should be p[ossible to do.] it has not been in my power to do this as early as you wished. Genl. Smith is now arrived to take charge of the department, at such particular moment as you may think...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Stoddert, 18 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Knowing that the Comrs. of Washington, were about addressing you on a subject in which I have an Interest, I sent to them a letter, the copy of which I take the liberty to lay before you; as I find they had made up their dispatches before the rect. of the letter. Mr White, the Comr. alluded to, as not Joining in the engagement to the State of Maryland, informs me, that I have mistated his...
7From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Stoddert, 13 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your claims on my time need no apology certainly when the subject relates to the affairs of the government. to direct the conduct of these with the aid of the heads of departments constitutes the duties precisely for which I am placed here, & to which I cheerfully devote my whole time and faculties. The subject of your letter received yesterday, respecting the contracts for ship timber would...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Stoddert, 25 January 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I cannot apologize as I ought, for the freedom of this letter—and therefore I will not apologize at all—but trust that I shall be forgiven for the sake of the motive; and indeed, I do not doubt it. It cannot, I am entirely convinced, be your wish, that this Country should be involved in the European War—still less, that the Union of these States should be destroyed. Most sincerely believing,...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Stoddert, 18 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 25. had been duly recieved, and I was waiting in the hope I might find a moment of less pressure in which I might answer it somewhat in detail, when that of the 14th. instant came to hand. finding that instead of any relaxation of business it crouds more on me as I approach my departure, I can only indulge myself in a very brief reply. as to the rights of the US. as a...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Stoddert, 30 August 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 18th. is duly recieved. before it’s reciept however, the letter from the Commrs. to which it referred had been recieved and answered. it contains some facts I had not been before informed of, and which I am glad to learn; but on a review of the subject I do not percieve that a previous knowlege of them could have changed the general answers I gave to the general questions...
11To James Madison from Benjamin Stoddert, 26 March 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a list of the French Vessels, captured since the 1st Octr last, & brought into the ports of the United States. There are no documents in this office to shew whether these vessels have been condemned in our courts, or otherwise, except the Berceau, which has been condemned, sold, & purchased by the Public, & is now ordered to be restored, under the Treaty. I have...
12To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 18 May 1801 (Adams Papers)
I have been for sometime past honored with your letter from Quincy, which afforded great gratification to my feelings, because it convinced me, you thought of me, & was not indifferent to my reputation. My first wish is to Act my part in life, with propriety & honor—my second, that minds like yours, should think I do so Act it. The attack made upon me in the wretched paper of Lyon, which no...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Stoddert, 20 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The pressure of business & of ceremony at the commencement of a session rendered it impossible for me to peruse the inclosed till yesterday evening. I sincerely wish well to whatever may contribute to give growth to the city, under which term I include Georgetown also: for I consider that & Washington as standing in the same relation to the general government, & as constituting on[ly]...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Stoddert, 12 October 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The attention the City of Washington has constantly experienced at your hands, leads me to hope, that any honest plan which promises advantage to the City, and which can injure nobody, will have your countenance. Washington suffers more than any other place, for want of active capital. Men of money, have not shewn a disposition to move to Washington with their money; nor is it probable they...
15From Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Stoddert, 9 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 8th . is duly recieved. not having here a copy of the act of Congress for the resale of the lots, it is out of my power to decide [how far that act] [. . .] discretionary power over the sale. but I have by this post written to mr J. T. Mason, our ordinary counsel in the city affairs, to consider & advise mr Monroe as to the extent of our discretionary power over the sale of...
16To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Stoddert, [11 March 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
The Ship Ganges Captain Mullowny, of 24 Guns, sailed the 26th Jany. 1801 for Batavia , to cruise a few months in the Straits of Sunda for the protection of our East India trade the principal danger being from Privateers from the Isle of France, and to return with as many vessels under Convoy as could be collected. It was always intended to send after her, the Ship Connecticut , of the same...
17To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Stoddert, 14 February 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
Conscious that I have no unworthy motive for giving you so much trouble—I trust you will believe it—and that I shall be thought of no worse, than being too officious, & perhaps, vain. The non-intercourse bill, before Congress, will operate most unfavorably for this Country, and more favorably for England, than the Embargo has done.—for, besides other great injury as to ourselves, it will sweep...
18To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Stoddert, 12 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I fear you will think me too great an intruder on your attention—at a time too, when your mind must have full occupation. In order to reduce the cost of the frames of ships, I introduced a method of getting the frames which had often been recommended, but never practised in England. There the method is to transport the logs to the ship yards, & at the ship yards to cut out of the logs, pieces...
19Enclosure: Account of French Prisoners, 14 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
French Prisoners At Boston, under the care of S. Higginson & Co. 150 At New London, Norwick, Middletown & Hartford Connt. under the care of Philip B. Bradley Marshal. 100 At Providence (R I) under the care of Wm. Peck Marshal. 25 At Frederick Town (Maryland) under the care of Mountjoy Bayley 94 At Charleston. S.C. under the care of Wm. Crafts 8 At Newyork under the care of A. Giles Marshal. 8...