RC (DNA: RG 46, EPEN, 7th Cong., 1st sess.); addressed: “The honourable The President of the Senate”; endorsed by a Senate clerk. PrC (DLC).

Alexander McFarlan of Virginia was recommended to Robert Smith by former Virginia congressman John Nicholas, whose letter to Smith of 7 Feb. 1802 stated that McFarlan’s “manners and temper” were well suited “to the station which he solicits” (RC in DNA: RG 59, LAR, endorsed by TJ with notation “McFarlan to be chaplain Navy”; Biog. Dir. Cong. description begins Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–1989, Washington, D.C., 1989 description ends ). The nomination was presented to the Senate on 19 Feb. and approved 1 Mch. On 2 Mch., Smith sent TJ a brief letter requesting the president’s signature on McFarlan’s commission (RC in DLC, in a clerk’s hand, signed by Smith, at foot of text: “The President,” endorsed by TJ as received from the Navy Department on 2 Mch. and “McFarlan chaplain” and so recorded in SJL; FC in Lb in DNA: RG 45, LSP; JEP description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States … to the Termination of the Nineteenth Congress, Washington, D.C., 1828, 3 vols. description ends , 1:407–8).