51From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 1 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am much pleased with your project for the employment of the United States and Constitution explained in your favor of the 25 June & am willing you should unite the Boston with them but mean not to enjoin it. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
52From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 1 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
According to your request in your favor of 24th June, I return to you the commission for Timothy Newman to be a master commandant in the navy MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
53From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 1 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return signed all the blank warrants inclosed in your favor of 25th. June, and pray you to use them as you have done the former ones. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
54From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 1 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have sent your letter, with the commission inclosed, signed to Capt Talbot as you proposed in yours of 25 June. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
55From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 3 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from the president & professor of divinity of our university recommending William Frothingham to be a chaplain on board of some frigate. I know not whether the commanders of our ships have given much attention to this subject—but in my humble opinion we shall be very unskillful politicians as well as bad christians & unwise men if we neglect this important office in our...
56From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 3 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed the commission for Saunders, to be a lieutenant in the Navy, & sent the letter to him inclosed in yours of 26 June to Mr Jones to be conveyed to him MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
57From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 3 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Capt Nicholson having a desire to converse with the Secretary of the Navy, concerning several subjects, relative to the public service, some of which he thinks personally, interesting to himself, has my permission to go to Philadelphia for that purpose. I am Sir with great esteem your most / obedient & humble servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
58From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 5 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
We shall never get the constitution to sea, by any means that I know of. After much enquiry I found no body particularly accquainted with Talman, tho many knew him. All agreed that he was a man of property & respectable character. I accordingly sent on by the post your letter to him with his commission. Now I find he is not liked. I desired Talbot to make enquiry—the result you have in the...
59From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 8 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
The constitution employs my thoughts by day & my dreams by night. Capt. Talbot has written to you in his letter of the 7th of June, which I return. His candid & impartial opinions, according to the information he received. But Beale was absent by the advice of his physicians & Hull was present. I mean no insinuation by this against Mr. Hull, whose character is in my mind fair, & his conduct...
60From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 10 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your two favors of the 3d. The constitution shall not be delayed by me. If Talbot cannot go, I will appoint Sever. Tis a choice of difficulties. Unpopularity, censure and reproach must attend every thing I do. Talbot in my opinion ought to rank from his appointment by Gen. Washington, but whether I shall risk a declaration of this opinion or risk an equal & more just censure,...
61From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 19 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received your letter of July fourth by Mr. Hudson, & immediately signed & delivered his commission & sent him down to the Ship. The ship has been three days detained by dead calms & contrary winds. She has fallen down as far as she could & will sail at the first fair breeze. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
62From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 20 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your two favors of the 13th & 15th, & thank you for the very satisfactory information you give me of our naval affairs, & your plans for future operations, which appear to me to be very judicious. I return Capt Tingey’s letters, which I esteem very much, & agree in wishing his commission was of an earlier date. My resolution is irrevocable, that Talbot shall go in the...
63From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 22 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a recommendation from the Mayor & Alderman of New Haven of David Phipps Esqr to be a Captain in the navy. We shall not probably appoint more Captains till the Senate meets. I recommend to your consideration & enquiry, Samuel Tucker of Massachusetts as another candidate for the commission of Captain MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
64From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 23 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
It always gives me pain, when I find myself obliged to differ in opinion from any of the heads of department, but as our understandings are not always in our own power, every man must judge for himself.—In the case of Capt Talbot, I am perfectly clear in my own mind, that he has been a Captain in the Navy of the United States, from the time of his appointment in 1794 to this hour—that a legal...
65From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 23 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the regulations of the navy & your report on the naval establishment, received in yours of 17th, which I received last night. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
66From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 5 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Your two letters of the 29th & one of the 30th of July are before me. I know not who are meant by G & C in Capt. Perrys letter, but I think there ought to be some enquiry into the justice of his insinuations.—I fear that the offices & crew of the Gen. Green were too long on Shore at the Havanna, & there caught the infection, which has obliged him to leave his station, & bury so many The news...
67From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 8 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received last night your favor of the 2d of this month. I am sincerely sorry for the resignation of Capt Truxton. Although you have not explained to me his motives, I presume the decision which gave rise to them, was founded in principles of sound policy and eternal justice, as it was made upon honor & with conscientious deliberation. If it were now to be made, it would be the same, tho my...
68From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 8 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I enclose you copies of letters this moment received from Mr. McNeil brought up to me by Dr Welch, from a passenger on board a vessel just arrived, which he has been obliged to compell to perform quarantine. I will send you more on the subject tomorrow. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
69From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 9 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are the original letters copies of which I sent you yesterday—one from Turell Tufts Esqr. our consul at Surrinam of the 9th of July to Capt McNeil, the other of the 11th July from him to me. I pray you to expedite Talbot & still more force to that quarter as soon as possible. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
70From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 12 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed the commission for Dr. Edward Field of Enfield & sent it on in your letter to him. Dr. Cogswells letter to Mr. Wolcott I return to you. Knowing, esteeming & loving Dr. Cogswell I could not hesitate a moment to credit his recommendation. I hope every exertion will be made to get the congress to see. I have as good & as high an opinion of Capt Sever as you have expressed in a late...
71From 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.
72From 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.
73From 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.
74From 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...
75From 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...
76From 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.
77From 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.
78From 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...
79From 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...
80From 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....
81From 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.
82From 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...
83From 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.
84From 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...
85From 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.
86From 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.
87From 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.
88From 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...
89From 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.
90From 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.
91From 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.
92From 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...
93From 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...
94From 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...
95From 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...
96From 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...
97From 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...
98From 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...
99From 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...
100From 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...