This latter sensation I endeavored to suppress as much as possible, and tho' our meeting was not very propitious, we parted most excellent friends. On handing him your letter, he observed in the presence of a Senator from the State of Tennessee, that the claims of the Commonwealth of Virginia were not very strong on the General Government in consequence of the Executive's having called into actual service a portion of the Militia before they had consulted the President, and because they had retained three companies in service at Norfolk when they were only authorized to retain two. He expatiated on the consequences which might flow from the State Government's calling the Militia into the field at their own will and pleasure; thereby charging the United States with the payment of expenses which might be very unnecessarily incurred. To the first charge I replied that the Executive had merely anticipated the measures recommended by the President that the steps taken by them were precisely such as the President directed in his answer to your letter conveying intelligence of the attack upon the Chesapeake and the subsequent blockade of the port of Norfolk. That the Executive of Virginia had only exercised a constitutional and natural right in repelling the invasion of their territory and a violation of their sovereignty at the moment when it occurred; that this was a right reserved to the States by the Constitution; was one which they neither did nor could surrender, and was the last which Virginia would relinquish to any power upon earth. With respect to the charge of our having kept up three companies when we were only authorized to retain two, I observed that he was incorrect in point of fact. That after the President had been consulted, no greater force had been employed than what was either expressly authorized by the President or came within the discretionary power delegated by him to the Executive of Virginia. To-morrow I shall examine the carriages adopted by the General Government for the mounting of cannon which are now deposited at the Navy Yard. Perceiving that you have not as yet corresponded with the Secretary at War in relation to the best models, I shall endeavor, if possible, to obtain them. He has given me a letter of introduction to the chief architect, and has-requested his immediate attention to my request. The models approved by the General Government are a combination of whatever was deemed most useful in the modern system. From what I have learnt, I believe there will be no difficulty in procuring a supply of timber from the United States to mount all our cannon, and from the present aspect of our affairs, I believe there is not a single moment to be lost. The Secretary at War informed me that the General Government had it in contemplation to erect immediately a fortification at Hood's, on 1808. Feb. 28, Washington 1808. James River, and requested to know whether the property in the scite Feb. 28, belonged to the State of Virginia or to individuals. On this subject I Washington was not prepared to give him the necessary information. I could only say that I did not know, that it belonged to the State, nor could I tell to what citizen it belonged. He will address a letter to you on the subject. In the mean time, if you could collect information, it would be doing a public service. As the original vouchers must be produced on the settlement of our accounts against the United States, it might be advisable to request the Auditor to copy them all as soon as possible. If I can close my business to-morrow I shall set out immediately for Richmond. I am, &c. JOSEPH LEWIS TO THE GOVERNOR. Feb. 29, I have had the honor to receive your Excellency's letter covering a Washington Resolution of the General Assembly of Virginia, proposing that the Constitution of the United States shall be so amended "That the Senators in the Congress of the United States may be removed from office by the vote of a majority of the whole number of the members of the respective State Legislatures by which the said Senators have been or may be appointed;" and a copy of an act of the last Assembly, entitled "an act for the defence of the Eastern frontier of this Commonwealth." It will always give me pleasure to contribute my aid in carrying into effect any measure sanctioned by the Legislature of Virginia conformably to my convictions of right. The timely protection of the State must command the applause of all true Virginians, and I trust Congress will now hasten their preparations of defence, in as much as the last advices from our Ministers at London and Paris indicate that we may soon be called to defend ourselves. I have understood that General Lee, in his quality of General in our Militia, addressed a Letter to your Excellency in the course of the past summer on the subject of defence of our State, and particularly of York River. I shall be much obliged if your Excellency will have the goodness to direct a copy of that letter to be sent to me. I am, &c. Feb. 29, Navy Department ROBERT SMITH TO THE GOVERNOR. I had the honor this day of receiving your letter of the 25th inst., & now enclose an order upon the Navy Agent at Norfolk to deliver to your order the necessary timber for carriages for the Guns mentioned in your letter. I have stated to the agent that such timber will be returned by the Government of Virginia as early as may be practicable. I am, &c. 1808. Feb. 29, Navy Department WM. W. HENING TO THE Governor. It was my intention to have left this place to-day on my return to March 1, Richmond, but I found it impossible to arrange all my business at the Washington public offices till it was too late. In the morning I expect to set out so as to reach home on Friday night. Every thing which could be done by me in relation to our account against the United States has been effected. Yesterday I visited the Point at which all the United States Artillery is mounted. The Architect demanded $120 for a model and drawing of a carriage for a field piece. . Believing that an expense of this kind was not contemplated when the Executive advised me to procure proper models before any contract should be entered into, and firmly impressed with a conviction that we have not a moment to lose, I have undertaken at my own responsibility to obtain from the Secretary at War the loan of any field piece which we may require now lying at Norfolk, and which were made upon the very model for which such a sum was demanded. The carriages can be brought up with the timber, which the Secretary of the Navy assures me was lent with great pleasure, and on which subject he has advised you. I have also obtained from the Secretary at War two volumes of plates, &c., &c., on the construction of field Artillery on the new French Model. All these things combined will give us a more accurate idea of the subject than any thing which could be collected from a written correspondence. As it certainly will be important to act upon several communications which I shall make, I could wish that the members of the Council would consent to meet on Saturday. It was very much my wish to have gotten to Richmond on Thursday night, but such is the difficulty of doing business in the public offices, that I never could complete mine till to-day. I am, &c. David I. Burr's Bond as Agent for the Penitentiary in the penalty of Fifteen Thousand Dollars, dated March 1, 1808, is filed. 1808. March 3, Norfolk WM. SHARP TO THE GOVERNOR. Asking permission to have the new Arms held by the 54th Regiment properly proved before any further use is made of them. March 12, LEMUEL CORNICK TO THE GOVERNOR. Recommending Thos. Cornick as commissioner of Wrecks in Princess Anne County in room of Wm. White, dec'd. March 13, Washington THOS. JEFFERSON (PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES) TO THE I received last night your favor of the 10th. There can certainly be no present objection to the forwarding the letters therein mentioned according to their address. We have nothing new of importance except that at the last reading of an amendatory bill a few days ago, the H. of R. were surprised into the insertion of an insiduous clause permitting any merchant having property abroad, on proving it to the Executive, to send a ship for it. We are already overwhelmed with applications, and there is real danger that the great objects of the Embargo in keeping our Ships & Steamers out of harm's way will be defeated and every vessel and seaman sent out under this pretext and placed in the prise of the belligerent tyrants. I salute you with friendship and respect. March 19 HANCOCK EUSTACE TO THE GOVERNOR. Reporting the amount of Tobacco due to the Commonwealth by the Tenants on the Bristoe Tract of land in Prince William for the year 1806 to be 26,200 lbs., and asking instructions as to its collection. March 20, Alexandria HENRY LEE (MAJOR-GENERAL) TO THE GOVERNOR. Mr. Lewis lately sent me your Excellency's Letter committed to his care. I thank you, Sir, for your polite attention to the claims of my Aids, and will, as soon as I return, transmit the requisite documents. The negotiation at Washington, so long the object of National Solicitude, is off. Mr. R. will return re infecta. The obstacle which proved insurmount able commenced at the threshold of the negotiation—namely, that the 1808. March 20, King of G. B. having disavowed the act of his Admiral, the proclama- Alexandria tion thereupon must be revoked, after which complete reparation would be made. Mr. Madison offered to revoke the proclamation and receive the reparation, dating the two acts on the same day, but this attempt to accommodate was not deemed admisible. I lament from my heart that the negotiation did not succeed, yet I trust war will not follow. Permit me to ask your Excellency to give to the enclosure safe conveyance by some private opportunity. I am, &c. A. LEWIS TO THE GOVERNOR. I hope in case a war with any power, and it is necessary to raise March 20 Troops, you will, if you think me a proper person, remember my early application to you. A war cannot be the wish of any friend to his country, but if we should be driven into that measure, I feel a strong desire to bear my part in the struggle. I am, &c. R. CORBIN TO THE GOVERNOR. The Field Piece which the Company I have the honor to command March 23, promised to furnish themselves, has just got to hand-viz., a double Laneville fortified brass 3-Pounder, with its carriage, Limbers, &c., compleat, the whole perfectly new and remarkably strong. Having done so much for themselves, they now thro' me earnestly request that his Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Council will please to direct that they be immediately furnished with proper swords; and this solicitation, Sir, I beg you will urge in the name of the Company with that delicacy and zeal which you think their patriotism merits. Regardless of the consideration that the services of the company have been accepted, perhaps there is not a district of country in the whole State that it would be more proper to arm agreeable to the Law passed the last session of Assembly. Your friendly attention to my former letter on this subject induces me to hope that I shall soon receive an answer to this. In the mean time, I remain, Yours, &c. |