1To John Adams from Alexander Coffin, Jr., 4 July 1814 (Adams Papers)
Be pleas’d to accept the inclosed little Poem, presented by the Author, as a small testimonial, of the respect He has for you, and to whom he has taken the liberty to make the dedication;—The Poem you will perceive attempt to celibrate an important & glorious event of the Revolution. In fact it my Justly be call’d the opening scene of the Drama. I will now Sir, make a Poets apology for the...
2To James Madison from Alexander Coffin Jr., 25 May 1813 (Madison Papers)
On my arrival lately at New York from England, on Parole, in the Cartel Ship Robinson Potter I was inform’d by some of my friends that, in all probability, one or two new appointments would shortly be made in that City, in the room of the present incumbents Viz. the Marshall & Surveyor of the District. They therefore advisd me to apply personally to your Excellency for the appointment to one...
3To James Madison from Alexander Coffin Jr., 31 October 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Alexander Coffin Jr. 31 October 1805, Hudson. “I Yesterday received a letter written by Mr. Jacob Wagner by your direction expressing your Opinion of the expediency of my prosecuting an appeal from the sentence of the Vice admiralty Court of Colombo in the case of the Penman, but Sir I apprehend that you must have forgotten to return the papers I left with you, as without them we can do...
4To James Madison from Alexander Coffin Jr., 11 October 1805 (Madison Papers)
I have only been able to obtain one Of the nuts of the Vegetable soap, which I inclose, & which I hope will prove acceptable. The manner the Javanese use it is, to cut the nut in two, then wet the Cloth, & rub it on ’till the Soapy Quality of the nut be totally extracted, which it will by this friction. By a Chemical Analises the Quantity, & Quality of each component part might doubtless be...
5To James Madison from Alexander Coffin Jr., 3 October 1805 (Madison Papers)
Altho’ a painful task to me to be Oblij’d to address you on a subject so very distressing to my feelings yet beleiving it a duty which I owe to myself, my owners, & my Country, I could not forego the unpleasant task. I am sensible, Sir, that I am addressing one of the first officers of the freest, & one of the greatest nations on Earth, & I Know also that I do not possess the power to express...