From Thomas Jefferson to Robert Smith, 11 June 1805
To Robert Smith
Washington June 11. 05.
Dear Sir
You will recieve from Capt Tingey information of the capture of our late store ship by a Spanish privateer, which seems too probable to be neglected. I presume it will be necessary for you immediately to order a duplicate supply for the Mediterranean. but will it not be worth while to send a swift sailing pilot-boat with an officer on board in pursuit of the captor & captured vessel? I presume she will be carried into St. Augustine or some port of Cuba. an impudent capture by two Providence privateers which had taken the mouth of the Missipi for their cruising grounds, adds proofs to the necessity of our protecting our coasts from these pirates, & consequently of getting our 2. brigs to sea with all the dispatch possible. the taking of uncommissioned vessels whereever found, and the bringing in for the purpose of harassing, under the delay & expences of adjudication all privateers found cruising on our coast, will greatly relieve our commerce without at all endangering our peace. Accept affectionate & respectful salutations.
Th: Jefferson
PoC (DLC); at foot of text: “The Secretary of the Navy.” Notation in SJL: “Huntress.”
capture of our late store ship: on 10 June the Aurora General Advertiser announced the capture of an American ship three days after its departure from Alexandria. The ship matched the description of the Huntress, a storeship laden with supplies for the navy’s Mediterranean squadron. On the 11th, Thomas Tingey wrote to Smith regarding the capture and reported on a conversation with TJ regarding the immediate outfitting of a relief ship for the Mediterranean (, 6:72-4, 110; , 9:452-3, 460).
The Spanish privateer La Maria, captained by Antonio Lobo, was based in Puerto Rico (, 6:72).
impudent capture: on 27 May the New-York Evening Post printed an extract from a letter written by an officer serving on board the New Orleans revenue cutter, who recounted the rescue of the schooner Felicity at the mouth of the Mississippi River from two British privateers from New Providence.