1From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, Henry Dearborn, and Robert Smith, 5 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson asks the favor of the Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary at War & Secretary of the Navy to carry into execution the inclosed resolution of the H. of representatives of May 3. 1802. desiring a statement of expenditures from Jan. 1. 1797. by the Quarter Master Genl. the Navy agents, for the Contingencies of the Naval & Military establishments and the Navy contracts for timber &...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 14 May 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Th: Jefferson presents his friendly salutations to the Secretary of the navy and incloses him a letter from mr Page asking a furlough for a son of Genl. Spotswood . if it be within rule it is worth while to oblige the Genl. (tho’ a true federalist) as well as mr Page PrC ( DLC ). Recorded in SJL with notation “furlough for Spotswood.” Enclosure: probably Mann Page to TJ, 9 May 1802, recorded...
3From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 9 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday the inclosed copies of letters from Simpson & Commodore Morris forwarded from your office. the demand of the emperor of Marocco is so palpably against reason and the usage of nations, that it bespeaks either a determination to go to war with us at all events, or that he will always make common cause with any of the Barbary powers who may be at war with us. his having...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 17 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter from a mr Isaac Mansfield as attorney for the representative of James Mugford , who was killed in an action on board a vessel which he commanded whereby, under the then existing regulations, his widow became entitled to a bounty . I inclose it to you because, if entitled by the existing laws, the [inquiries] first come to your office for it’s sanction before it could be...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 20 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favors of the 16th & 17th were recieved last night; but neither the commissions or Warrants mentioned in the last to be forwarded have come. I suppose they have been put into the post office after the hour and will [be on] by the next post. I recieve by this your opinion & those of the Secretaries of the Treasury & War on our Barbary affairs. I had before asked & received that of mr...
6From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 22 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just returned from Mr. Madison’s, where I have had conferences with him on the subject of our Barbary affairs & on consideration of the opinions of yourself & the Secretaries of the Treasury & War. there is an entire concurrence of opinion among us in every material point. the amount of these opinions is, and consequently the decision on them as follows. The hundred guncarriages, and...
7From 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....
8From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 30 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of the 27th. was recieved yesterday. the host of commissions had come to hand and been signed & sent back by the last post. those now recieved are therefore returned: as are also the instructions to Commodore Morris with the suggestion of a small alteration or two. I doubt too whether it might not be proper to say something on the conditions of peace with Tripoli & Marocco; to wit that...
9From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 3 September 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Your two favors of Aug. 31. are recieved. the printed instructions are signed & accompany this. I presume the instruction as to the procuring gunboats is right, tho’ I can judge here from reason only and not information. we ought to rely also in the discretion of our officers so far as that they will not commit our men in these small vessels to an unequal or even equal fight. we ought above...
10From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 6 September 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
We have now authentic information from mr Simpson that the Governor of Tangiers has by letter informed him of the Emperor of Marocco’s permission to him to return for six months. this is a clear enough expression of his object, which is presents, and peace. on these we have time to consider. but this change in the state of things renders it proper that we should change our purpose of sending...