21From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 26 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I hereby request you on the 1st of June, or whenever Mr. McHenry shall leave the war office, to take upon you the charge of that office, and I hereby invest you with full power and authority to exercise all the functions of secretary of the department of war, and charge you with all the duties and obligations attached by law to that officer, until a successor regularly appointed and...
22From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 20 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
Questions 1. Among the three Criminals under sentence of death is there any discrimination in the essential Circumstances of their Cases which would would justify a determination to pardon or reprieve one or two and execute the other? 2. Is the Execution of one or more, so indispensably demanded by public Justice and by the Security of the public Peace, that Mercy cannot be extended to all...
23From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 9 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have considered your report of the 25 of April & concur with your opinions in general & pray you to carry them all into execution as fast as may be prudently done, excepting with regard to Portsmouth & Rhode Island, which will require some further consultation with you. The lands at Charleston I wish you to purchase immediately & that to the amount of 45 or 50 acres marked in the plan & to...
24From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 31 March 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President of the United States requests the Secretary of the Navy to take immediate measures for carrying into execution the resolution of congress of the 29th, for presenting to Capt Thomas Truxton, a golden medal emblematical of the late action, between the United States frigate Constellation of thirty eight guns & the French ship of war La Vengeance of fifty four, in testimony of the...
25From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 31 March 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President of the U.S. requests the Secretary of the Navy to employ some of his clerks in preparing a catalogue of books for the use of his office. It ought to consist of all the best writings in Dutch, Spanish French & especially in English, upon the theory & practice of naval architecture, navigation, gunnery Hydraulicks, Hydrostatick & all branches of mathematicks, subservient to the...
26From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 18 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I beg the favor of your ideas of the information and recommendations necessary or proper to be made to congress at their approaching session. Your observations on the mission to France, the rebellion in Pensylvania, the negotiations with St Domingo, the interuption of the board of commissioners & every other subject will be agreeable, but particularly every thing you judge proper to say on the...
27From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 16 October 1799 (Adams Papers)
I request you to transmit immediate orders to Captain Barry to receive on board his frigate and convey to France, and such port of France, as they shall desire, our envoys to the French republic, with directions to touch at any other ports which they may point out, & to sail by the first of November or sooner if consistent with their convenience. I need say nothing of the respect to be paid or...
28From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 26 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return you Mr. Reads letter & the note inclosed in your favor of the 19th From a long intimacy with Mr. Izard, and a knowledge of his worth & from some accquaintance with his son, I assure you that nothing of the kind could give me more pleasure, than the appointment of Ralph Izard, the son of Ralph Izard of S. Carolina to be a midshipman in the Navy. I wish it had been my fortune to have a...
29From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 21 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have read over and over again your letter of the 13th. I regret extreamly another blunder, of the post office, by which it has been sent to the Southward, & returned to me only last night. You needed not to have apologized for its length. There is not a word in it to spare. You may not write me any more letters, which are to reach Quincy or Boston, after the 29th of Sept. I will be at...
30From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 20 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a request from Edward Brewer, to be an officer in the army or marines. The certificates and recommendations are from good authority. I pray you to make him a Lieutenant of Marines. He will be likely to recruit for you as fast as any man. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.