President made; and, in the course of the day, the manner was settled, which was afterwards adopted, to end the business.

Mr. Burr, probably, might have put an end sooner to the election, by coming forward and declaring that he would not serve, if chosen; but I have no reason to believe, and never did think, that he interfered, even to the point of personal influence, to obstruct the election of Mr. Jefferson, or to promote his own.

APPENDIX NO. XX.-VOL. II. p. 639.

Sketch of the Life of General Smith.

General Samuel Smith, an officer of the Revolution, was born in Carlisle, Penn., on the 27th July, 1752. His grandfather, of the same name, was a large landed proprietor in Lancaster county, and having disposed of his estates, removed to Carlisle. There, in conjunction with his only son, John, he engaged, successfully, in mercantile pursuits. The latter was repeatedly elected a member of the legis lature of Pennsylvania.

In 1760, his father having retired from business, he removed to Baltimore, finding the sphere of Carlisle too limited for his enterprises. Here, with his energy and sound judgment, he not only rapidly added to his capital, but contributed largely in giving a more invigorating impulse to the commerce of that town. It is not too much to say, that he, with several gentlemen of like character, who emigrated from Pennsylvania about the same time, were the founders of the commercial prosperity of Baltimore. He was a member of the convention, which, in 1776, framed the first, if not the best constitution that Maryland has enjoyed. Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, said: "I have John Smith on my committee for shaping the Senate, and it will be the safeguard of liberty and order."

Mr. Smith was, for several years, a member of the legislature, under the new constitution, and during nearly the whole of the war, was chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, in the House of Delegates. Noted for his sound judg ment and devoted patriotism, he was not the less distinguished for his probity, piety, and great simplicity of habits.

General Smith obtained the rudiments of his education at Carlisle, then he was a pupil in a school in Baltimore, and afterwards at another in Elkton. But, at a very early age, he was recalled, to enter his father's counting-house. In this situation he continued until 1771, when his father sent him in one of his own vessels to Europe. Whilst abroad, he travelled through Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, and England. Soon after his return, he became a partner in his father's mercantile house. On his voyage home, Major André was his companion, and a sincere friend. ship existed between them until the unhappy death of the latter.

Participating in the general feeling, that a resort to arms could alone secure the liberties of his country, he at an early period joined a volunteer company. This was the school in which he acquired such military knowledge as he possessed. In January, 1776, Smallwood's regiment was raised for the defence of the State. In this he had conferred on him the rank of captain. The regiment was soon after taken into the service of Congress, and marched in July to Long Island. It did eminent

service, in the memorable battle there, losing one-third of its men, and being the last to quit the field. He was alike distinguished at Harlaem, and White Plains, where Captain Smith was slightly wounded. On the harassing retreat through New Jersey, it, in conjunction with the Delaware battalion, covered the rear, and was the last of the army that crossed the river to the Pennsylvania shore.

He was then, December, 1776, greeted with a major's commission, and ordered to Baltimore, on the recruiting service. When the seven Maryland regiments were embodied, in 1777, he received the commission of Lieutenant-Colonel of the fourth regiment, there being but a brief interval between the two commissions.

He was with his regiment at the attack on Staten Island, and in the hapless affair of the Brandywine. Immediately after this, he was detached by Gen. Washington, to the defence of Fort Mifflin. In this naked and exposed work, of mud and palisades, he maintained himself, under a continued fire from the land batteries and shipping of the enemy, from 26th September to the 11th November. On that day, he was so severely wounded as to make it necessary to remove him to the Jersey shore. For this gallant defence, Congress voted him thanks and an elegant sword. Not entirely recovered from the effects of his wound, he yet took part in all the sufferings of Valley Forge. From thence he was again ordered to Baltimore, on the recruiting service, and joining the army early in the spring, took an active part in the battle of Monmouth.

He went into the army a man of fortune. After a service of three and a half years he was reduced to poverty, by means of the suspension of commerce, continental money, the worthlessness of shipping property, and hopeless country debts. These causes brought his father's commercial business to a ruinous end, whilst they drove Colonel Smith to the painful necessity of resigning his commission. He did not, however, refrain absolutely from military duties. The command of a militia regiment was conferred on him, with which he continued to do duty, when its service was required, until the end of the war.

A few years after the peace, he was elected to the Legislature of Maryland, where he remained until he was chosen a member of Congress, in 1792. In that body, either in the House or in the Senate, he continued until 1833, having served forty years, in the national councils, with an interval of but six weeks during that long period.

When Mr. Jefferson was forming his first Cabinet, he tendered to Gen. Smith the Secretaryship of the Navy, and most urgently pressed it on him. He felt himself, however, constrained to decline the honor from considerations entirely private, and connected with his commercial house. He nevertheless, consented to serve, and did so, until the post was filled by Mr. Robert Smith, it having previously to the acceptance of it by the latter, been offered to Mr. Langdon, and to Mr. William Jones of Philadelphia.

On all important occasions, connected with mercantile or financial matters, he was consulted by the administrations of Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Adams and Jackson, and he very frequently gave his opinions in writing. He was repeatedly chosen Vice-President pro tem. of the Senate, and generally was at the head of its Committee on Finance, as, in the House, he had been usually Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means.

As a brigadier-general of militia, he commanded the Maryland Contingent on the Western Insurrection, known as the "Whisky Expedition," and as major-general of the same description of troops, he commanded in the defence of Baltimore in the war of 1812.

The knowledge he had acquired at Fort Mifflin, admirably adapted him to the task now imposed on him. As was the former, in 1777, so was Baltimore in 1812, wholly defenceless, with the exception of a miserable fort, having neither a bombproof magazine or a casemate to protect the men. Everything was to be done, and that too, on a brief notice; yet, with the hearty coöperation of his fellow-citizens, of all classes, whether in money, labor, supplies, counsel, or subordination, he succeeded in placing the city in as strong an attitude of resistance, as under the circumstances could well be. It suffices to say in this brief memoir, that the enemy, flushed with his triumph at Washington, was repulsed from Baltimore. This signal success, was as grateful to the patriot heart, as it was honorable to the commander and his gallant followers. It may be remarked that so untiring was his energy, and so wary his arrangements, that not an assailable point was left unprotected.

In his 83d year, a committee of his fellow citizens called on him at his country residence in the summer of 1835, to put down a fearful mob which had possession of the city, and was setting all law at defiance. With his native diffidence he expressed the belief that he had been forgotten, and did not possess the influence ascribed to him, by the committee. However, he immediately entered their carriage, and drove to the city.

He found a number of people collected at the Exchange, and soon after he was introduced, a series of resolutions was offered to the meeting. He at once rose up and said: "Resolutions!-we want no resolutions; let us have arms, and those who are ready to use them, follow me!" The result was, that from the moment, the mob may have been deemed as quelled. Before six o'clock of the evening of that day, every prominent point of the city was under the protection of armed men, and such artillery and cavalry as could be brought out. So intense was the feeling of gratitude, that he was elected Mayor, almost by acclamation. He continued in that office until a few months before his death. This event took place on the 22d of April, 1839.

Baltimore gave him a public funeral, which was attended by all the authorities, civil and military, as well as by the President of the United States, and his Cabinet. He retained his mental and physical faculties to the hour of his decease.

It may be added, that Col. Benton, who knew him well, having served with him many years in the Senate, has portrayed his character with masterly skill and signal justness. In the 2d vol. of his Thirty Years in the U. S. Senate, he says of Gen. Smith: "He was thoroughly a business member, under all the aspects of the character; intelligent, well informed, attentive, upright; a very effective speaker, without pretending to oratory; well read, but all his reading subordinate to common sense and practical views; . . was particularly skilled in matters of finance and commerce, to which his clear head, and practical knowledge, lent light and order, in the midst of the most intricate statements. . . . . Patriotism, honor, and integrity were his eminent characteristics, and utilitarian the turn of his mind, and beneficial results the object of his labors. . . . He was a working member; and worked diligently, judiciously, and honestly, for the public good." In adverting to his services to Baltimore, Col. Benton adds: "As having defended her, both in the war of the Revolution, and in that of 1812; and as having made her welfare and prosperity a special object of his care, in all the situations of his life, both public and private."

The above sketch was drawn up at our request by an authorized hand; and we have presented it without any alterations. The following letters are published in neither edition of Mr. Jefferson's works:

WASHINGTON, March 9, 1801.

DEAR SIR: By the time you receive this, you will have been at home long enough, I hope, to take a view of the possibilities, and of the arrangements, which may enable you so to dispose of your private affairs, as to take a share in those of the public, and give us your aid as Secretary of the Navy; if you can be added to the Administration I am forming, it will constitute a mass so entirely possessed of the public confidence that I shall fear nothing. There is nothing to which a nation is not equal where it pours all its energies and zeal into the hands of those to whom they confide the direction of their force. You will bring us the benefit of adding in a considerable degree, the acquiescence at least of the leaders who have hitherto opposed us; your geographical situation, too, is peculiarly advantageous, as it will favor the policy of drawing our naval resources towards the centre, from which their benefits and protection may be extended equally to all the parts; but what renders it a matter not only of desire to us, but permit me to say, of more duty in you, is, that if you refuse, where are we to find a substitute? You know that the knowledge of naval matters in this country is confined entirely to persons who are under other absolutely disqualifying circumstances. Let me then, my dear sir, entreat you to join in conducting the affairs of our country, and to prove by consequences, that the views they entertained in the change of their servants are not to be without effect; in short, if you refuse, I must abandon, from necessity, what I have been so falsely charged of doing from choice-the expectation of procuring to our country such benefits as may compensate the expenses of their Navy. I hope, therefore, you will accede to the proposition. Everything shall be yielded which may accommodate it to your affairs. Let me hear from you favorably and soon. Accept assurances of my high and friendly consideration and esteem.

GEN. SAM'L SMITH.

TH. JEFFERSON.

WASHINGTON, March 18, 1801.

DEAR SIR: The circumstance of my intended departure induces me to press the promised answer to my last letter at the first possible moment, because whatever it be, some important measures must be adopted relative to the Navy before I can go away. In the wished for event of your acceptance, it would seem necessary you should be with us for three or four days to form those leading determinations which the laws and existing circumstances require respecting the Navy. In hopes, therefore, of hearing from you soon, as well as favorably, I tender you assurances of my high and affectionate esteem.

GEN. SAM'L SMITH.

TH. JEFFERSON.

WASHINGTON, March, 24, 1801.

DEAR SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 20th. The appointment of Secretary of the Navy was immediately, on receipt of your letter declining it, proposed to Mr. Jones of Philadelphia. I cannot have an answer from him till the night of the 26th, but I have great reason to expect a negative. In that case, I will gladly, for the public, accept your offer to undertake it for a time; besides, that it will comprehend important operations to be immediately carried into effect, it will give us time to look out for a successor. I mention it now in hopes that in the moment you receive notice from me of Mr. Jones's refusal, if it takes place, you may be so good as to be in readiness to come here for a few days. If I receive Jones's refusal on Thursday night, you shall hear from me Friday night,

630

and may be here, I hope, yourself on Saturday night. Sunday and Monday will probably suffice for the first decisions necessary, so that I may get away on Tuesday, which now becomes very urgent.

I inclose you the answer to the address you forwarded me. Though these expressions of good will from my fellow-citizens cannot but be grateful to me, yet I would rather relinquish the gratification, and see republican self-respect prevail over movements of the heart, too capable of misleading the person to whom they are addressed. However, their will, not mine, be done.

Be pleased to present my respects to Mrs. Smith, and to accept yourself, assurances of my high consideration and esteem.

GEN. SAM'L SMITH.

TH. JEFFERSON.

DEAR SIR: According to what I had augured, I have this moment received WASHINGTON, March 26, 1801. Mr. Jones's refusal of the Secretaryship of the Navy. In mine of two days ago, I mentioned to you this fear, and that in that event I must avail the public of your kind offer to accept the office for awhile. I now take the liberty of repeating my request that you will be so good as to come on, on Saturday, that we may have a consultation on the measures immediately to be taken. The urgency arises not only from the state of sufferance in which the department is, but from the necessity of my departure immediately, lest the assembling of our Administration at the time agreed on should be delayed, which would be very injurious to the public. Accept assurances of my great respect and esteem.

GEN. S. SMITH,

TH. JEFFERSON.

WASHINGTON, July 9, 1801.

DEAR SIR: After the trouble you have been so good as to take with the Navy Department, and the complete disposition you have made of everything in it which was pressing, it is impossible for me to press anything further; on the contrary, it becomes my duty as a public officer to return you thanks in the name of our country for the useful services you have rendered, and the disinterested footing on which they have been rendered. You have done for us gratis, what the emoluments of office have not yet been sufficient to induce others to undertake, and it is with equal truth and pleasure I testify that you have deserved well of your country. Mr. Langdon having ultimately declined, I must look into some other line of profession for a Secretary; and by this mail propose the office to your brother, Mr. Robert Smith. It is not on his reading in Coke Littleton, that I am induced to this proposition, though that also will be of value in our Administration; but from a confidence that he must, from his infancy, have been so familiarized with naval things, that he will be perfectly competent to select proper agents and to judge of their condact. Let me beseech you, my dear sir, to give us the benefit of your influence with him, to prevail on his acceptance. You can give him the necessary information as to the state of the office, and what it is like to be; and I hope, through your intercession and his patriotism, that this is the last time the commonwealth will have to knock at the door of its children to find one who will accept of one of its highest trusts. Accept yourself assurances of my constant and affectionate esteem and respect. TH. JEFFERSON.

GEN. SAM'L SMITH.