Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 30 August 1805
To Robert Smith
Monticello Aug. 30. 05.
Th:J. to mr Smith
If your honor can make any use of his honor mr Hunt writer of the inclosed, I dare say he will have the honor of thanking1 you very sincerely.
I desired mr Madison to send you the papers relating to our negociation with Spain. I have asked the favor of the other gentlemen, as I do of you, to write me your first thoughts on the measures most proper to be pursued. when I shall have recieved all these, I can from their general tenor make out specific questions for your final consideration.
Mr. Gavino has given information of the arrival there of all the gunboats except No. 7.
Accept Affectionate salutations.
PoC (DLC). Notation in SJL: “Hunt. Span. affrs.” Enclosure: Walter S. Hunt to TJ, 23 Aug., not found, regarding a position in the navy (see Appendix IV).
At the time of writing to TJ, Hunt was in the process of discharging his unpaid debts through bankruptcy (Baltimore Telegraphe and Daily Advertiser, 13 Apr. 1805).
I desired: see TJ to James Madison, 25 Aug.
On 22 June, John Gavino wrote to Madison about the arrival of the navy’s gunboats at Gibraltar (, 9:488-9).
1. TJ wrote “dare say he will thank” before altering the text to read as above.