1From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 10 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
The enclosed very respectable recommendations from Mr Senator Green, Mr Edmund Trowbridge Ellery, & Capt Chris. Raymond Perry of Mr Robert Greenleaf to be a lieutenant of Marines. I recommend to your serious attention in case of a vacancy. With great respect &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
2From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 9 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Mr Joseph Woodward & another from Mr Thomas Amory. The first requests employment & the second recommends Mr Willliam Haswell to be a lieutenant in the navy. This is a brother of Mr Haswell already in the navy. I am with great esteem &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
3From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 5 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Samuel Wales requesting an appointment in the Marines. A certificate in his favor signed by many respectable characters in Bridgewater is also inclosed much in his favor. From the knowledge I have of him & his connections I believe him a good appointment if there are any vacances MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
4From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 4 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Col. Hunnewell & another from Major Rowe recommending Mr Daniel Bell of Boston late Lieut in the 15th regiment to be a first Lieut. of marines. If there is a vacancy I wish he may succeed I am Sir with very great regard &c. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
5From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 25 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 15th. Privateers manned by Spaniards with French commissions are intollerable. Remonstrances ought to be made to the Spanish govenors & to the Court of Madrid in a serious tone.—The Warren is arrived in Nantaskett Road, but I have nothing from any officer. The Captain, Col. Pickerings nephew, Newman is dead. I know not the character of the ship. If our ships...
6From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 23 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a Letter from Jesser Lewis which I recommend to your Consideration. General Marshall can probably give you more Information than the Letter contains or is known to your affectionate sert DNA : RG 45--Naval Records Collection.
7From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 20 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
The letter you sent me is from Mr. Murray of the 1 of May at Paris. I return it inclosed to you, that you may consider the recommendation of Mr. Dan. Murray of Anapolis his relation, who is a midshipman on board the insurgent. If this young gentlemans merits will justify his promotion, of which you are better judge than I can be, my disposition to consent to it need not be doubted. With great...
8From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 18 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Mr. Otis & another from Mr. Bussey, recommending Mr. Payton Gay of Dedham to be an officer of marines. Enclosed also is a letter from Dr. Charles Blake requesting to be a surgeon in the army or navy. Dr. Blake served on board the constitution untill he was promoted in the army. I submit them all to your consideration With sincere esteem MHi : Adams Family Papers,...
9From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 9 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have read the proceeding against Lt. Mariner of the frigate Adams, inclosed in your favor of the 30 Aug, & upon due consideration of the whole, have approved of the justice sentence of the Court martial. I cannot however omit to express my anxiety, that so much irregularity should have occurred, as I fear from too much indulgence in the harbor of St Kitts. I pray you to impress upon all our...
10From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 6 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letters from Mr H. G. Otis Mr. James Sheafe in favor of Mr. George Boyd were brought to me yesterday by himself. He is a very genteel young man, a fine figure & person & well bred as far as I could perceive. His ancestors were honorable & his connections are respectable. If you know of no objection I know of none to making him a lieutenant. If you have anything to urge against...
11From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 30 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I rejoice that Captain Truxton is gone to Guadaloupe. But what shall we do with Capt Talbot & the constitution? Your orders to Capt Little, I will transmit to him by the first opportunity. His officers are all appointed & commissioned. This in answer to your favor of the 21st from your most obedient MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
12From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 24 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter of the 21st of this month from his Excellency Govenor Monroe, which I request you to consider & report to me the result of your examination A marine hospital at Norfolk, I suppose is necessary for the United States. With high esteem &c P.S. The constitution arrived in Boston harbor yesterday. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
13From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 18 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from John Frederick William Stintt as he says a Prussian requesting to be sett at liberty. If you see no impropriety in it, you may write to the commander of the castle to examine into the facts, & if he finds them true, sett the man free. With great regard MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
14From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 11 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from John Davis Esqr, District Attorney at Boston, recommending Charles Angier to be a midshipman, & a letter from Charles Angier himself, requesting an appointment. I desire you would send him a warrant. You may inclose it to Mr Davis— With high regard MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
15From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 6 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Capt Seymour Potter of Boston with recommendations from several respectable characters for a lieutenancy in the Navy, from his appearance & behavior & the character I hear of him, I believe he will be a good officer, & if there is a vacancy, you may appoint him. Inclosed is a letter from lieutenant Haswell recommending his brother John Montresor Haswell to be a...
16From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 3 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I know not whether the inclosed letter from Lady Catharine Duer has not excited too much tenderness in my feelings, but I cannot refrain from inclosing it to you & recommending it to your serious consideration. If it is possible without material injury to the discipline of the Navy, to accept of the resignation of this unhappy youth, I pray you to do it. I had almost said that this letter, at...
17From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 31 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a list of grounds, which I have determine to purchase for the United States for a Ship yard & a dock yard. Inclosed also is a platt of those grounds, & a letter from Aaron Putnam Esqr of the 29 of July. I pray you to authorize him, to purchase all the lands, according to the list & platt, & to transmit him the ten thousand dollars, to enable him to fulfill immediately the...
18From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 25 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
Sometime ago, Capt. Nicholson made me a visit in order to lay before me some complaints against the conduct of the naval agent at Boston, Mr. Stephen Higginson. I told him, that complaints of that kind, if made to me at all, ought to be made in writing. In consequence of which, he has sent me the inclosed letter of July 21st, and a copy of a memorandum, signed by himself & copies of extracts...
19From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 23 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received this morning your favor of the 12th, & thank you for the summary of the stations, & destinations of the Navy. At the same time, I received your other letter of the same date, & have read all its inclosures, which I return with this. Nothing affects me so much, as to see complaints against officers who have distinguished themselves by their vigilance, activity & bravery, in the...
20From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 15 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is an essay on a naval academy, which Dr. Morse put into my hand yesterday, in a letter to him from Captain Robert Haswell. It deserves some attention. I direct it to you at Washington city, though as I have no letter from, you, since your arrival, I am not informed whether you are there or in Georgetown. Wherever you are I wish you health & happiness With great regard I am Sir yours...
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.
31From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 18 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 11, & have signed the commissions & Warrants inclosed, which I now return to you MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
32From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 18 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
You never send me a letter from Capt Tingey, but you give me a high entertainment & the best details of the conduct of an active intelligent & vigilant officer—His letter of 19th of Aug &c inclosed in yours of the 12th of this month received last night I return. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
33From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 14 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received last night, your favor of the 5. The gentleman you mention is a native of Boston and well known. I shall make no observations on his character. None of the suspicions of the Americans in France; which the Gentleman of Maryland mentioned to you, will surprize the federalists in this quarter. But the popularity of the French has so dwindled away that no impression can be made to any...
34From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 13 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed & return inclosed all the blanks which came with your favor of the 5th. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
35From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 9 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for yours of the 3d and Capt Fletchers letter inclosed in it. I wish as you do that the trade to St Domingo may turn out to be worth the cost To speak in the style of a Frenchman I have never felt any very sublime enthusiasm on that subject. If ten merchantmen are expected at St Domingo from France it is ten thousand pitties that our cruisers have not authority to avail themselves...
36From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 9 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
The blank commission inclosed in yours of 2d I return with my signature, that you may fill it with Capt Geddes, if you persist in your opinion concerning him. The gentlemen who recommend him, are respectable & I know of nothing to excite a question concerning the validity of their testimonies. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
37From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 9 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed the commission for Mr. Ebenezer Bushnell of Lebanon, & sent it on in your letter to him, inclosed in yours of the 31st Aug. to MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
38From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 5 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I enclose you a letter from McNeil of August 1st & 3d with two inclosures. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
39From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 4 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed the commissions for Lee, Folsom Varnum Cushing, Homan, Wadsworth & Woodward to be midshipman, and sent them in your letter to Capt James Sever, as you proposed in your favor of 28 ult. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
40From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 4 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind letter of the 29th. of August, & I thank you for the friendly sentiments expressed in it, in your private character.—You urge me to join you & the other public officers at Trenton, before our ministers depart from France, & this from considerations, which relate more immediately to myself, as well as others of a public nature. For myself I have neither hopes nor...
41From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 30 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Talbots arrival at Hampton road on the 15 & his determination to sail for Cayenne in two or three days give me great pleasure.—As I see neither wisdom nor duty nor courage in exposeing yourself family and clerks to unnecessary danger, I am very well satisfyed with your removal to Trenton.—Inclosed is a letter from McNeil of the 1st with a copy of his letter to the Govenor of 28 July. T. T....
42From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 28 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed the commission for Joseph Whitmore, to be sailing master in the navy & have sent it in your letter to him, as requested in your favor of the 21st. I return his letter & recommendation—I thank you for the details in your other favor of the 21st, which are very agreeable to me. Curacao, Cayenne & Surrinam must be watched with great care. Inclosed is a letter from the supervisor of...
43From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 23 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed the warrant for Mr. George Barrell to be a midshipman & inclosed it to his uncle Joseph Barrell Esqr. to be transmitted to him. This in answer to your favor of the 16th. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
44From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 23 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
My thoughts and feelings are exactly in union with yours, expressed in your favor of the 17th. I would propose that our envoys be landed at Lisbon & take an overland journey to Paris, through Madrid. This will give them an opportunity of gaining much information, useful to their Country. In this case, the frigate may take Mr. Smith & carry him to Constantinople, or the envoys may be landed at...
45From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 22 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favor of the 14th. I am very well satisfied to send Capt. Barry with the envoys, & with all the arrangements you have made of the navy. Your letter to Capt. Truxton communicated the appointment of Talbot & his rank, with all possible delicacy, both towards them & me. Inclosed is a letter from Mr. Sheafe, communicating the information of the launching of the Congress on the...
46From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 22 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Mr Senator Foster, recommending Dr Mason of Newport. Another from Mr Cabot, one from Dr. Tappan & another to him from Dr. Osgood, recommending the Rev. Mr. Samuel Sargeant to be a chaplain. Tappan & Osgood are divines of the highest characters among us. Mr Sargeant appears very worthy. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
47From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 16 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a request of Dr Amos Windship to be a surgeon in one of our vessels of war. I was in the year 1779 near three months for the most part on board the Alliance Captain Sanders in which Dr Windship was surgeon. I well remember that this gentlemen appeared to me of a humane disposition & attentive to the health of the people. If there is any opportunity I have no objection to his...
48From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 15 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have transmitted a commission to Mr. Lemuel Little to be a sailing master & a warrant to Mr. Moses M. Bates to be a midshipman as you proposed in your two letters of the 9th. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
49From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 14 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have sent your letters to Jonathan P. Hitchcock & William H Williams, with their commissions inclosed, signed to be midshipman. I return you Mr. F. Fosters letter. This in answer to yours of the 8th. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
50From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 13 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed recommendation of George Barrel from his uncle Joseph Barrel Esqr. to be a midshipman concurs with that of Mr. Thatcher and I request that you would send him a warrant. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.