Thomas Jefferson Papers

To Thomas Jefferson from Charles W. Goldsborough, 18 May 1805

From Charles W. Goldsborough

Saturday, 18 May ’05

C W Goldsborough, for the secretary of the navy, respectfully requests the President’s signature to the enclosed instructions to the commanders of the bomb vessels, Spitfire & Vengeance, which vessels will probably be ready to sail on the 1st of the ensuing month.

RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received from the Navy Department on 19 May and “instructions to Captns” and so recorded in SJL, but as received 18 May. Enclosure: Robert Smith to Lieutenant Daniel McNeill, Jr., commanding the Spitfire, and Midshipman William Lewis, commanding the Vengeance, 18 May; instructing each officer to sail his vessel to the Mediterranean and join the naval squadron blockading Tripoli (FC in Lb in DNA: RG 45, LSO; NDBW description begins Dudley W. Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers, Washington, D.C., 1939-44, 6 vols. and Register of Officer Personnel and Ships’ Data, 1801-1807, Washington, D.C., 1945 description ends , Register, 31, 34).

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