The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 5 (of 9) / Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private

by Thomas Jefferson

TO MR. SMITH.

April 1, 1808.

I approve of your letter to Commodore Murray entirely, and in order to settle what shall be our course for the summer (now that we are tolerably clear, that no rupture with England is likely to take place during the summer), I propose, the first day that I can be well enough, for a couple of hours to ask a meeting of our colleagues to determine these questions.

Shall the proclamation be renewed or suffered to expire?

Shall the harbors of ordinary British resort (say New York, Lynhaven, and Charleston) be furnished with their full quota of gun-boats, with their navigating crews?

Shall the residue of the 170 gun-boats be distributed among the other ports, with their navigating crews, or be laid up or left on their stocks?

Shall the frigates and Wasp be unmanned?

Affectionate salutations.