41From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 5 September 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of the 28th. came to hand on the 2d. inst. expecting mr Madison daily , I deferred writing till I should confer with him. this is the first post after his arrival, & I write to Genl. Dearborne to contribute his agency with you in such way as may be convenient for both towards carrying into execution the engagement of our predecessors to furnish the hundred gun carriages to the...
42From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 23 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I had yesterday written & committed to the post office a letter in answer to yours of the 16th. on the measures to be pursued with respect to our Barbary affairs. this was grounded on the supposition that we might still be at peace with Marocco. your’s of the 20th. was recieved yesterday evening, and informs me of the declaration of War by the Emperor of Marocco. it was not very unexpected....
43From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 29 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your’s of the 17th. suggesting the sending into the Mediterranean the Constitution or the Philadelphia to overawe the Barbary powers. our plan of keeping one or two frigates there with 4. schooners was concluded on great & general consideration, on the supposition that war with Tripoli alone would go on. your letter suggests no new fact changing the state of things. I...
44From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 4 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I have no doubt that we ought to do here every thing which time will permit us to do; and consequently approve of building a brig and two gunboats here. There are weighty reasons requiring a gun boat in Lake Pontchartrain immediately. it is thought too that No. 1. tho not suited to the current of the Missisipi, may be well adapted to the lake, and being a stouter sea-boat than any we may build...
45From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 17 September 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
The object of the present is merely to acknolege the reciept of yours of the 14th. and to mention that I have recieved a letter from mr Gallatin disapproving of the first order for the sailing of the John Adams, on general grounds & also on the special ground that the appropriations for that object were exhausted: further that mr Madison will be with me tomorrow, and that I will then take the...
46From 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...
47From 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...
48From James Madison to Robert Smith, 29 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
It being thought proper that $30,000 should be transmitted to the Consul at algiers, by the ship General Greene, I request that you will please to give the proper instructions to Lt. Chauncy to receive that sum from the orders of the secretary of the Treasury, and deliver it at algiers to the American Consul there, with a further instruction to receive the money back from the Consul, if not...
49From James Madison to Robert Smith, 6 April 1804 (Madison Papers)
Mr. James L. Cathcart, who is now at Leghorn, informs me, by letter of the 15th. of December last that he had given a credit of three thousand dollars or more to the Danish Consul at Tripoli, to enable him to relieve the wants of the Officers and crew of the Frigate Philadelphia. He also informs me that he is preparing two suits of Clothes for each individual of that crew. Mr. Lear, the Consul...
50From James Madison to Robert Smith, 9 June 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inform you that the President has determined to send to the Dey of Algiers ten brass twenty-four pounders, and five brass eighteen pounders, with Carriages and the necessary apparatus complete. They are to be long guns fit for batteries. He also wishes the Cargo of the Ship Sally, lost off St. Lucar, be repeated and another Cargo to be shipped to the Dey to consist of plank...