91To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 8 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the honor to enclose a Letter from Doct. Mason F. Coggswell, recommending Doctor Edward Field for the appointment of a Surgeon’s Mate—Also a Letter to Doctor Edwd. Field, covering his Commission, which will require your signature, should you think fit that the appointment should be made—There have been very few appointments from the state of Connecticut, comparatively—This young...
92To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 11 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose the copy of a letter from Capt Truxtun of the 16h. March, with the late correspondence between him & Genl. Des fourneaux. With respect to the Schooner taken by him—his course should have been, to have sent her to America—or, if he could not spare men to navigate her, he should have laid her up at St. Kitts, until his own return. The Laws, & his Instructions, direct...
93To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 29 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have sent to the Secy at War, the letter you honored me with, of the 22nd. instant, inclosing the application & recommendation of the Revd. Samuel Sargeant—to be a Chaplain. The application is, to be a Chaplain in the Army. If the Navy would be as agreeable to him, He could, I presume be appointed to the Congress, Capt Sever. I have the honor to be / with the highest respect / & esteem sir...
94To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 26 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor of your direction of this Days date, for me to take upon myself the charge of the War Office, and to exercise all the Functions of Secretary of the Department of War, from the first Day of June, or from the time Mr. McHenry shall leave the office, until a successor regularly appointed & commissioned, shall appear to relieve me; which I shall attend to with great cheerfulness,...
95To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 30 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am honored with your letter of the 23d. Inst.—The alteration directed, shall be made in the Register of Capt Talbotts commission—and I beg leave to add, without any regrets arising from my opinion on that subject being over-ruled. I never doubted that Talbot had merit equal to any man in our Service, notwithstanding his unwarrantable suspicion of my want of confidence in him, nor shall my...
96To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 28 May 1800 (Adams Papers)
Mr Marshalls letter of acceptance arrived this morning. Mr Lee has written, but lest one letter should not overtake you, & knowing you will be anxious on this subject, I have taken the liberty, to address one note to you, at York Town, another at Fredk. Town. I have the honor to be / with the highest respect / and esteem sir yr most / Obed Servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
97To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 12 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a letter Just recd. from Capt. Tingey. I have the honor to be / With the highest respect & esteem / sir Yr most Obed Sert. MHi : Adams Papers.
98To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 29 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am honored with your letter of the 24h. Inst—In consequence of which I now enclose a letter I recd. from Capt Talbot on the subject of his Officers— Not deeming it proper to send on a second Captain to Act on board the Constitution—and not having the power of sending on to Act as first Lt., a fit person older in comn. than Lt. Beale. I saw no way of getting things right in that Ship, but to...
99To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 31 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Ebenezer Bushnell of Lebanon in Connecticut, is recommended, is recommended by Mr. Swift of Windham—and by Mr Wolcott, as a very deserving man, and well qualified to be a purser in the Navy. A purser is wanted for a ship at Baltimore—and another for one building at New London. I have the honor to enclose a letter to him, covering a Warrant, which will require your signature, if you approve of...
100To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 5 November 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have done myself the honor, in pursuance of your instructions, to throw together, in the enclosed paper, a few Ideas, which appear to me to be proper, in the Presidents Speech to Congress. Other matters – particularly our relations with the other Powers of Europe besides France – the state of Agriculture; the prosperity of our Commerce; – & the situation of the Revenue, are so much better...
101To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 5 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a Letter from Genl. Hamilton, recommending Mr. Frederick N. Hudson for the Appointment of Midshipman in the Navy—Capt. Talbot is desirous of having this young Gentleman with him—I have therefore, enclosed his Warrant, which will require your signature, if you think fit that the Appointment should be made. I have the honor to be, sir / with the greatest respect &...
102To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 21 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the honor to enclose a Letter to Joseph Whitmore, covering his Warrant as a Sailing Master in the Navy, which will require your signature, should you think fit that the Appointment should be made. He is well recommended by the letters enclosed—and is wanted for the ship Warren. I have the honor to be, with the / greatest respect & esteem, sir, / your most obedt. servt. MHi : Adams...
103To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 9 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the honor to enclose a Letter to Mr. Lemuel Little, covering his Warrant, as a Sailing Master, which will require your Signature, should you think fit, that the appointment should be made— This Gentleman is intended for the Frigate Congress, Capt Sever, by whom he is strongly recommended—He is brother to Capt. George Little, of the Boston. I have the honor to be, with / the...
104To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 20 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have not yet recd official accounts of the capture of the French 20 Gun Ship by Nicholson—But the account comes so well authenticated from different quarters, that the fact is not to be doubted. I hope this Ship will prove a useful addition to our Navy. I have the honor to be / with the highest respect / & esteem sir Yr. most / Obed. Servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
105To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 13 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am honored with your letter of the 8th. Inst. Having sent by yesterdays mail all the papers relating to Talbotts claim of Rank—I will not add further on that subject. If Talbott will not continue in the Constitution, Sever, I would risk my life, would be found equal to the Command of her.—I am sorry for the prejudices which prevail against him, which arise in part from the his efforts to...
106To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 3 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose the copy of a letter just recd. from Capt Fletcher.—Capt Little of the Boston, ought to have arrived at Cape Francois, at the date of this letter. Capt Perry in the Genl Greene will be directed to proceed thither from Rhode Island, and when they are joined by Capt Talbot which will be about the 10h. of Octor.—our force will certainly be sufficient to protect that...
107To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 25 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Not having the Honor to hear from you on the Subject of my Letter of the 30th Ultimo, I have presumed that you did not disapprove of the Arrangement therein proposed of our Vessels, and having good Information that about 80 American Vessels with Cargoes to the amount of two Millions of Dollars were blocked up at the Havana by a few French Privateers, and had little chance of escaping without...
108To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 27 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I am honored with your two letters of the 18. Instant: and am happy, that your wishes on the subject of a convoy for the Vessels at the Havanna, had been anticipated. The enclosed copy of a letter from the Captain of a British sloop of war, to the British Consul at Charleston, affords no very honorable testimony of the courage of Capt Cochran, Commander of the Revenue Cutter. I am glad he was...
109To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 23 April 1800 (Adams Papers)
The Secretary of the Navy, in obedience to the order of the President, respectfully submits the following observations on the matters of reference to the heads of Departments. The proposed letter of the Secretary of State, in answer to Mr. Liston’s notes of the 2d and 4th February, demanding the restitution of American vessels captured by British ships, and rescued by their own crews, appears...
110To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 16 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose a letter from J C Jones, Chairman of the Committee for building a Ship at Boston; recommending Capt George Little, for the Command of that Ship. Presuming that you Sir, will think it proper to indulge the Committee at Boston, as has been the case in all similar instances, with the selection of the officers—I take the liberty to enclose in the letter for Mr Jones, a...
111To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 30 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am honored with your letter of the 25th Inst.—The Herald sailed on Tuesday last, from New Castle, to cruise on the Coast, until the 10th. of July, when she is to return to Boston—Mr. Beale can then be changed from the Herald to the Boston. I have the honor to be / With the highest Respect & / Esteem sir Yr. most / Obed Servt. MHi : Adams Papers.
112To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 13 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
The Frigate United States arrived on Friday—The Montezuma Murray, the Herald, Russell, and the Revenue Cutters General Greene, & Scammel, have since come into the Delaware. The copy of Capt Murrays letters which I have the honor to enclose, contains every thing of importance by these Vessels.—Capt. Tingey has sent in a prize, a small Vessel, not yet come up to the City, tho she is, I...
113To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 30 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I do myself the honor to enclose the copy of a letter from our Consul at the Havanna, to the Secty of State. It shews that a state of things which you have long foreseen, is commencing in the West Indies; & forebodes that the American Commerce may have more to apprehend from unauthorized Piracy, than any other. The spot upon which these Fellows have fixed themselves lies about sixty miles from...
114To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 1 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
The paper No. 1. will exhibit a view of the Ships already in Service, & those which are building in different parts of the United States, and their Commanders. Of the Ships building, to which Commanders have not been appointed, those of Newburyport, Middleton & Norfolk, are in the greatest forwardness—and are in a situation to require the attention of their Captains. But as Capt Tingey is...
115To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 15 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
In my letter of to Day on the subject of appointments—I omitted to mention Mr Benjamin Strother, (Who was an Officer in the Army & resigned on accot of pecuniary embarrassments, under circumstances honorable to himself)—as a Lieutenant of Marines. I now beg leave to mention him for that appointment—He is recommended by the Secy at War, & is spoken of by the officers with whom he served as a...
116To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 15 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I now do myself the honor to enclose letters from Capt Tingey—who appears to be a Judicious, attentive, active officer. I wish his commission was of older date. The Merrimack, Capt Brown, must have joined him very soon after the date of his last letter—she might have joined him before.—The Pickering sailed from New York, to join him, the 27. June—and the Delaware is now proceeding down the...
117To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 15 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
In consequence of the permission contained in the letter with which you honored me, of the 27th. Ulto. and expecting that the Constitution will arrive at Boston in a few Days, if she is not already there; I take the liberty to enclose a letter for Nicholson—If it meets with your approbation, it may be forwarded to him. Barry speaks favorably of Nicholsons conduct, in the West Indies. But as he...
118To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 6 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have the honor to enclose copies of letters this Day recd. from Capt. Murray,—being the only information I have recd. for several Days past, from our Vessels in the West Indies. Barry has a considerable force under his Command at Dominica—and I am mortified to find, that so late as the 18th March, no part of it had Visited Curacoa; a place particularly pointed out to his attention by his...
119To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 9 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
Col Pickering thinking that cases might occur, to make, it necessary to shew that it was your pleasure he should execute the duties of my Office in the absence you have done me the favor & honor to permit—I have taken the liberty to enclose a paper to that effect. He does not think it necessary that I should remain here, ‘till he receives this paper. Mr Pennock, the Navy Agent at Norfolk,...
120To John Adams from Benjamin Stoddert, 19 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I am honored with your letter of the 19th. April—and in consequence have enclosed in a letter for Capt Parker, his commission as a Lieutenant in the Navy, which requires your signature. I have the honor to be / with the highest respect / & esteem sir yr. most / Obed Sevt. MHi : Adams Papers.