To Thomas Jefferson from Robert Smith, 28 February 1803
From Robert Smith
Nav. Dep
28 Feb 1803
Sir!
There are eight vacancies in the Navy, of Lieutenants—The Gentlemen mentioned in the accompanying List, are the eldest in rank of the Midshipmen—
I have the honor to be respectfully, Sir, your mo ob: st:
Rt Smith
RC (DLC); in a clerk’s hand, signed by Smith; at foot of text: “President of the United States”; endorsed by TJ as received from the Navy Department on 28 Feb. and “Nominns” and so recorded in SJL. FC (Lb in DNA: RG 45, LSP). Enclosure: undated list addressed to the “Gentlemen of the Senate,” nominating Michael B. Carroll of Maryland, Abner Woodruff and Theodore Hunt of New Jersey, James Decatur and George W. Reed of Pennsylvania, Benjamin Smith of Rhode Island, Samuel Elbert of Georgia, and William Mallet Livingston of New York to be lieutenants in the navy (MS in same; in a clerk’s hand; endorsed by TJ).
TJ included the names on the accompanying list in his nominations to the Senate of 1 Mch. 1803.