1From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Fulton, 15 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Immediately on the reciept of your letter of the 5th. I wrote to the Secretary of the Navy recommending a compliance with your request of the workmen. although no public servant could justify the risking the safety of an important seaport solely on untried means of defence, yet I have great confidence in those proposed by you as additional to the ordinary means. their small cost too, in...