Richmond, January 18^th 1781

Mr. William Smith

Sir, You will be pleased to proceed into the County, and engage eight good gun smiths, and one good Black Smith (a white man) to come immediately to work with Wm. Anderson in the repair of arms. Should you be able to find any good and faithful hands, who tho’ unwilling to come here, would undertake to repair such arms as should be sent to them, you will be pleased to engage them and to know what number of arms we may send them for the first month, at the end of which they shall be sent for and others carried. In this case, I think it necessary that some good gentleman in the neighborhood be applied to to superintend their proceedings, to keep them to the public work, and to report to us from time to time what progress they make; whether they do their work faithfully, and whether they do so much as to make it worth our while to continue to employ them. Those who come here shall receive a liberal hard money pay by the day. Those who undertake to repair at their own shop, shall be paid by the piece at the old hard money prices, according to the rate of Exchange. It will be best for you to proceed first to Col. Wood at the Barracks and get those he expected to furnish.

Signed T. J.

Executive Department

Richmond, Va 13 August 1832

The forgoing is copies from a book in this department containing letters from Mr. Jefferson when Governor of Virginia to different persons. __ __ __ signed in full by Mr. Jefferson is undoubtedly a copy of a letter addressed by him to Mr. Wm. Smith.

Hon. A. Richards _ _ ?