Thomas Jefferson Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Smith, Robert" AND Period="Madison Presidency"
sorted by: recipient
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-03-02-0190

Robert Smith to Thomas Jefferson, 19 December 1810

From Robert Smith

Washn Dec. 19. 1810—

My dear Sir

Knowing the interest, you take in the state of our foreign relations and the solicitude, you feel for your old and sincere friends, I hasten to transmit to you a copy of the documents, which accompanied the late message of the President. They shew the Course, we have been steering in a sea of difficulties. As the principles, which I have feebly endeavoured to maintain, are, in truth, but a part of your well digested system, I feel myself, as it were, amenable to you, as well as to our inestimable friend, your worthy successor.

Accept, I entreat you, my ardent wishes for your health & happiness

R Smith

RC (DLC); dateline below signature; at foot of text: “Mr Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 29 Dec. 1810 and so recorded in SJL.

Smith enclosed some or all of the supporting documents transmitted with President James Madison’s 5 Dec. 1810 annual message to Congress, also printed in the Washington National Intelligencer on 6, 8, 11, 13, and 15 Dec. 1810 (Madison, Papers description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, John C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, 1962– , 29 vols.: Congress. Ser., 17 vols.; Pres. Ser., 5 vols.; Sec. of State Ser., 7 vols description ends , Pres. Ser., 3:49–56).

Index Entries

  • Congress, U.S.; J. Madison’s messages to search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; works sent to search
  • Madison, James; annual message to Congress by search
  • National Intelligencer (Washington newspaper); prints J. Madison’s annual messages search
  • Smith, Robert; letters from search
  • Smith, Robert; secretary of state search