1From Thomas Jefferson to John Smith, 15 August 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
I this moment recieve your favor of the 12th with Capt Saunders’s letter on the acquisition of a site for a battery at Norfolk. I think that, instead of acceding to the proposition to take the whole three acres at 1500.D. it will be better to accept the other alternative of mr Thompson to have the ground valued by proper persons. in this case too it should be attempted to restrain the purchase...