Thomas Jefferson Papers

To Thomas Jefferson from Rufus Low, 5 June 1801

From Rufus Low

Boston 5th. June 1801

Sir.

I hope you will pardon me for troubling you by letter, when you Consider the Cause of it. I went Sailing master of the Essex frigate to Batavia; and back again to New York with Capt. Preble. which you will see by the enclosed letter a coppy of which I wrote to Mr. Stoddert Secretary of the Navy at that time dated at New-York. without Receiving any answer since. The cause of it might have Risen [from] Capt. Preble’s unfriendly disposition towards me; Which will appear from his Reducing the wages of Cerille Felice near forty dollars, who belonged to me as an apprentice. To prove the same I enclose a Certificate given me by the purser of the Essex Frigate Relating to the same. I hope you will please to order the balance to be paid which was faithfully Earned by Cerille Felice. So far as Relates to myself, I have been Ready to Return on board any Ship in the Navy, where I might have been wanted; ever since Jany. last, Altho Capt Preble did not prove friendly to me in procuring my warrant. I hope you will please to deal with me in the Same Manner as you do with the other Officers who have been in the Navy. I must Request you to forward to me your determinations at Boston, where I shall Readily await your orders.

Sir with the greatest Respect I have the honor to be your most obedient [and] very humble Servant

Rufus Low

RC (ViW); torn at seal; addressed: “Honble. Thomas Jefferson Esqr. President of the United States Washington”; endorsed by TJ as received 13 June and so recorded in SJL with notation “N.”; also endorsed by TJ: “refd. to Secy. of Navy Th: Jefferson June 13 see S. Smith’s lre. June 13.” Enclosures not found.

Prior to the outbreak of the Quasi-War, Rufus Low was a merchant captain who had made several voyages to India. In the fall of 1799, the secretary of the navy directed Low to take charge of the frigate Essex at Salem, Massachusetts, and oversee its preparation for sea. Impressed by Low’s experience, the commander of the Essex, Captain Edward Preble, made Low acting sailing master of the vessel and requested that the secretary issue a warrant to make his rank official. Low never received a warrant, however, but continued to serve as acting sailing master until the Essex returned from the East Indies in December 1800, at which time he was discharged by Preble (NDQW description begins Dudley W. Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the Quasi-War between the United States and France, Naval Operations, Washington, D.C., 1935–38, 7 vols. (cited by years) description ends , Feb. 1797–Oct. 1798, 30; NDQW description begins Dudley W. Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the Quasi-War between the United States and France, Naval Operations, Washington, D.C., 1935–38, 7 vols. (cited by years) description ends , Aug.-Dec. 1799, 370, 495; NDQW description begins Dudley W. Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the Quasi-War between the United States and France, Naval Operations, Washington, D.C., 1935–38, 7 vols. (cited by years) description ends , Dec. 1800–Dec. 1801, 46, 338).

Cyrille (Cerille) Felice was rated in 1800 as an ordinary seaman by the purser of the Essex, William Mumford (NDQW description begins Dudley W. Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the Quasi-War between the United States and France, Naval Operations, Washington, D.C., 1935–38, 7 vols. (cited by years) description ends , June-Nov. 1800, 415, 417).

TJ forwarded Low’s letter to Samuel Smith, who replied to TJ on 13 June. Smith stated that Low had been considered as out of the navy since the previous December and had no claim to the four months extra pay allotted to officers discharged under the Peace Establishment Act. Regarding the reduction of Felice’s wages, Smith assumed it was because Low had represented him as a half seaman, but that “on trial he proved only fit for the lowest grade” and had his pay adjusted accordingly. Smith promised to write to Low on the subject (RC in DLC, at foot of text: “The President of the United States,” endorsed by TJ as received 13 June and “Rufus Low’s case” and so recorded in SJL; FC in Lb in DNA: RG 45, LSP).

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