To James Madison from William Jones, 14 November 1814
From William Jones
Navy Depmt Novr. 14. 1814
Dear sir
In exhibiting to you the list of proposed promotions from Masters Commandant to Captains I omitted to explain the circumstances of the Case of Master Commdt. Leonard who stands first upon the list and is omitted in the list I submitted to you for promotion.
The Enclosed Naval General orders will exhibit his case.
He has not been since employed and you will determine whether the public interest or his own merits dictate his promotion. The sentence has appeared to me to be mild. Very respectfully and truly yrs.
W Jones
RC and enclosure (DLC). RC docketed by JM: “Wm. Jones Novr. 14. 1814”; dated 14 Nov. 1813 in the Index to the James Madison Papers. The enclosure, a printed naval general order dated 15 Jan. 1814 and signed by Jones, stated the charges preferred against Master Commandant James T. Leonard at his December 1813 court-martial and “publickly reprimanded” him in accord with the sentence imposed by the court. For Leonard’s case, see Jones to JM, 6 June 1813 (second letter), 6:374 and n. 1.