1To John Adams from Jonathan Williams, 5 June 1809 (Adams Papers)
WITH a view to collect and preserve the Military Science, which must still exist among the Veterans of our revolutionary contest, and those of our Fellow-Citizens, who may have gathered scientific fruits in the course of their travels, the Corps of Engineers have, under the auspices of the President of the United States , commenced an Institution for the purpose of establishing and...
2To John Adams from Jonathan Williams, 6 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
As I believe there is no man in America who was more intimately acquainted with the late Capt John Paul Jones while he was in Europe than myself, I have thoughts of doing justice to the injured Character of that gallant Officer. There are two papers which would be of great use to my object, one of which is a letter written to you from Nantes by Capt Jones, stating the circumstances of an...
3To John Adams from Jonathan Williams, 17 March 1813 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for you favour of the 11th Instant although my object in writing appears to have failed. The Letter I alluded to was written by John Paul Jones and was addressed to yourself alone, he shewed it to me and asked my advice whether to forward it or not: I did advise him not to forward it, but I did not think that he would agree with me in that opinion: As the case may amuse you I will...
4To John Adams from Jonathan Williams, 10 September 1813 (Adams Papers)
The annual meeting of the United States’ Military Philosophical Society will be held in the City of New York on Monday the first day of November next: The time of the day and place of meeting will be made known through the daily papers of the preceding week. The business which will then come before the Society will be 1. To receive Reports relative to the affairs of the Society since the last...
5To James Madison from Jonathan Williams, 19 July 1809 (Madison Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me the honour to write on the 15th Inst. and immediately paid the $25 it contained to the Treasurer of the USMP Society: I beg leave to thank you in their name for the authority you grant to consider you their Patron, and in my own for the permission you give me of laying before you a Representation relative to the military Academy, to be disposed of as...
6To James Madison from Jonathan Williams, 13 January 1810 (Madison Papers)
Mr. D. Masson professor at the Military Accademy has presented to our Society a manuscript copy of his lectures on fortification. This work when compleated will be a transmission of all that is known in the french language into our own, in that condensed and simple shape which is best calculated for the Rudiments of instruction. I think it my duty towards you, as patron of the society, to...
7To James Madison from Jonathan Williams, 13 June 1810 (Madison Papers)
I took the liberty last fall of submitting to your inspection, as our Patron, Mr Massons Lectures on Fortification which he had presented to the U. S. Mily. Philo: Society. Besides the satisfaction of producing in our own Language the french improvements in this art, I was desirous of knowing whether you thought the Subject worthy of publication and dissemination. Brigadier General Morton of...
8To James Madison from Jonathan Williams, 27 February 1811 (Madison Papers)
The momentary, although faint, hope that the Military Academy Bill will be called up, induces me to attend in the House all day, and prevents me from stating to you verbally its almost forlorn situation. I am convinced that there is a sufficient Majority in the House to pass the Bill without Amendment, which is now the only way it can pass, for should it go back to the Senate the session would...
9To James Madison from Jonathan Williams, 17 November 1811 (Madison Papers)
Perceiving by your Message at the opening of the present Session of Congress that you entertain the same favourable Sentiments relative to military Seminaries, which you expressed to me last February, I feel emboldened to transmit a Copy of the form of a Bill drawn in consequence of a Council of Field Officers of my Corps, which I called for the purpose. The Bill, except in one Section, is...
10To James Madison from Jonathan Williams, 29 April 1812 (Madison Papers)
The Honourable Saml L Mitchill of the House of Representatives of the United States having transmitted to the State Committee of fortifications a printed Letter addressed to you signed Edward Clark containing a project of fortification for this Harbour, I think it my duty as chief Engineer of the United States, and author of the plans of fortification lately compleated & now progressing under...