1To James Madison from William Jones, 11 February 1811 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed circular is I believe the only one of the kind received here this day and as none of our papers have published it although it was here before noon, I deemed it of some importance to put it in your possession as soon as possible. I know not whether the translation be correct, but it appears to me necessary to enclose in a parenthesis the words “the vessels taken or detained before...
2To James Madison from William Jones, 21 February 1811 (Madison Papers)
As information from respectable private sources may in the absence of Official intelligence serve to throw some light upon the equivocal policy of france in her professed cessation from the violation of our neutral commerce, I take the liberty of enclosing an extract from a letter recd by a gentleman in this city, by the Osmin lately arrived here from Rochelle, which letter was not delivered...
3To James Madison from William Jones and Others, 30 April 1812 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
30 April 1812, Philadelphia. Recommend John Dayton, merchant of Philadelphia, for the position of consul at a “Port in South America.” RC ( DNA : RG 59, LAR , 1809–17, filed under “Dayton”). 1 p. Signed by Jones and twenty others, including Clement Biddle, George Latimer, Henry Pratt, and Robert Patton.
4To James Madison from William Jones, 22 May 1812 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
22 May 1812, Philadelphia. Transmits the proceedings of a meeting of the citizens of the first congressional district of Pennsylvania held in the statehouse square on 20 May. Assures JM that the “enclosed address and resolutions were adopted with the utmost unanimity zeal and determination.” 20 May 1812, Philadelphia. “The friends of the United States and of their Constituted authorities, …...
5To James Madison from William Jones, 22 July 1812 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to enclose to your Excellency a Resolution of the General Assembly of this State pass’d on the 8th Inst and in conformity therewith permit me to request your Excellency to give orders to the proper officer to furnish me with two thousand stand of arms & six pair of Field peices vizt two pair of six pounders & four pair of four pounders with such quantities of ammunition &c for...
6To James Madison from William Jones, 22 August 1812 (Madison Papers)
Upon a presumption that my letter of July 22d must have miscarried I now do myself the honor to forward you a Copy thereof, observing to your Excellency that a supply of Arms &c &c as a part for which an Annual appropriation was made by Act of Congress April 2d 1808 is highly necessary, the reception of which would be highly gratifying to the State & very pleasing to me. I have the honor to be...
7To James Madison from William Jones, 28 September 1812 (Madison Papers)
As it is possible my letters of July 22d & of August 22d may not have reached your Excellency, I am advised by the Council of War of this State to forward a triplicate & to inform your Excellency that in consequence of an Alarm by the appearance of three British Frigates near point Judith on the 13th Inst the Citezens of the Island of Rhode Island with a promptness that does them very great...
8To James Madison from William Jones, 14 January 1813 (Madison Papers)
I am honored with your letter of the 12th Inst enclosing my Commission as Secretary of the Navy for which mark of your confidence I pray you to accept my sencere acknowledgements. Having seen my nomination in the public prints I had given to the subject the consideration due to so weighty and important a trust, and although I feel the full force of the responsibility proposed to be vested in...
9To James Madison from William Jones, 10 February 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to lay before You, the proceedings of a Court Martial, held at Fort Norfolk, on the 1. aug: 1812—with the sentence of Death, pronounced by said Court, upon George Allen, a private of marines. And a reference to a similar sentence, by another Court Martial upon … Potts a private of Marines the proceedings of which, are not to be found, either in the War or Navy Departments; but...
10To James Madison from William Jones, 19 February 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have this instant received a hand Bill from the press of the Wilmington Del. Watchman enclosed to me by the Collector of that place announcing circumstantially the capture and destruction of the Java (a British Frigate Mounting 49 Guns) by the Constitution Commodore Bainbridge off the coast of Brazil. The Java was bound out to Bombay with Lieutenant Genl Hislop and other officers onboard. 60...
11To James Madison from William Jones, 26 February 1813 (Madison Papers)
The existing instructions from this Department rendering the Naval Commanders on certain stations subordinate and obedient to the Military Commanders is in my judgement fraught with consequences extremely injurious to the service and to the public interest. The first direct effect is that officers of talent character and spirit will not submit to the degradation and will decline or resign. The...
12To James Madison from William Jones, 27 March 1813 (Madison Papers)
You will perceive by the enclosed letters that the note you sent for my perusal was written under a mistaken idea that the firing of the British Barges on the schooners captured in the mouth of James River was an action between our Gun Boats & the enemy Frigate. I am satisfied that the object of an attempt to ascend James River is solely with a view to draw the Gun Boats from Norfolk. I shall...
13To James Madison from William Jones, 1 April 1813 (Madison Papers)
If water alone is their object they can get it with facility in the Potowmac without hazard, but I think the greater probability is that being correctly informed of the state of preparation of our ships at New york they may have gone to the Hook and to the East end of the sound in order to watch their movements. In the last New york paper it is said a Spaniard spoke a 74 with 7 other ships of...
14To James Madison from William Jones, 17 April 1813 (Madison Papers)
I returned at 6 this evening much fatigued having overset but without injury. The roads are intolerably bad. My visit has produced a good effect—our friends at Baltimore are particularly gratified by the arrangements I have made, and those who are not of that character appear satisfied. It happened very opportunely as the enemy anchored off the mouth of the river yesterday, sent their Barges...
15To James Madison from William Jones, 26 April 1813 (Madison Papers)
I feel that as a member of your Cabinet I ought to avoid adding to the number of solicitors on the subject of appointments and I promise you not to tresspass often. Permit me to say that I believe the appointment of Doctor James Rush as successor to his illustrious father would give as general satisfaction as that of any other; both on account of the merits of the candidate and the profound...
16To James Madison from William Jones, [ca. May 1813] 1813 (Madison Papers)
Will the President please to say what answer I may give to Mr Gray and if the prayer of his petition cannot be granted what reasons I may assign. I recollect that the distinction in Gerards case was that he had entered the waters of the US not knowing of the War and was taken and detained there until ransomed. I do not recollect the merits of the other cases to which Mr Gray alludes, but I...
17To James Madison from William Jones, 11 May 1813 (Madison Papers)
Agreably to a Resolution of the Legislature of this State, pass’d at their Session the last week, I do myself the honour to forward you the enclosed Memorial, and beg leave to observe— That as the War in which the United States are engaged is particularly distressing to this State, and as the danger of an Invasion most certainly increases as War progresses, and the distressing privations of...
18To James Madison from William Jones, 12 May 1813 (Madison Papers)
It is probable you may have seen the attack upon Commodore Murray in the Democratic Press and as he is the senior officer in the Navy of the U. States I deem it but just that he also should be heard and therefore enclose his letters and its enclosures for your perusal. The gentlemen to whom he alludes as being present I know very well they are worthy men and our political friends. Murrays...
19To James Madison from William Jones, 15 May 1813 (Madison Papers)
I return the proceedings of the Court Martial at Sackets Harbour for your decision on the Sentence of dismission, of sailing master Hutton which forms an exception to the power vested in the commander of the fleet. See act. April 23. 1800 Vol. 5. page 121. art. XLI. I believe the Sentence to be perfectly correct. I am very respectfully Sir your Obdt Servt Permit me to observe that the sentence...
20To James Madison from William Jones, [18–20 May] 1813 (Madison Papers)
Extract from a letter of Capt. Sinclair dated Norfolk. May 16. 1813. I was yesterday evening at the Capes—where there were 4–74s. 5 Frigates—1 Ship, apparently a merchantman—2 Brigs of War—and armed Schooners, making in all 22 Sail. They are moored, forming a line up the Bay Channel and also a line across the Channel to Hampton Roads—just at the tail of the Horse shoe. These are the Squadron...
21To James Madison from William Jones, 28 May 1813 (Madison Papers)
I enclose 11. letters received by the mail of this day from Commodore Chauncey. Nos. 17. to 27. The most material are Nos. 22 to 27. inclusive some surgeons and mates have gone on and others are going. Captain Sinclair is here and goes on in the mail tomorrow to take the command of the New Ship at Sacketts Harbour. We have had no Marines to send on and have not succeeded in recruiting any on...
22To James Madison from William Jones, 6 June 1813 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed report is prepared in consequence of a call from the Chairman of the Naval Committee of the Senate for a return of the number of Gun Boats in service and their Stations, with a view as I understood him in conversation to propose an additional special defence for Baltimore of a number of Barges or Galleys which the City of Baltimore during the late excitement built and now wish to...
23To James Madison from William Jones, 6 June 1813 (Madison Papers)
I send the enclosed letters for your perusal. James T Leonard was next in command to Com Chauncey until arrested upon charges of misconduct and is now under arrest waiting the investigation of a Court martial. I know not who was the commanding naval officer that so precipitately destroyed the stores, nor is it possible to anticipate the consequences as it respects the equpment of the New Ship....
24To James Madison from William Jones, 8 June 1813 (Madison Papers)
I enclose for your perusal the official letters of Commodore Chauncey 27, 28, 29. June which the bearer will take to the printers after you have perused them if you think proper. I also enclose a letter from Com Bainbridge covering Commodore Brooke Challenge which I am happy Captain Laurence did not receive as the post mark is the day after the Battle. I also enclose Com. Decaturs letter. The...
25To James Madison from William Jones, 21 June 1813 (Madison Papers)
I have pleasure in sending the enclosed letters which show that com. Chauncey has determined upon the course which you were so solicitous he should have done, and has thereby in my mind greatly elevated his Character as perhaps there are few Naval officers who would have resisted the temptation to exalt their fame! Have the goodness when you have perused to send the letters to my Lodgings....
26To James Madison from William Jones, 15 July 1813 (Madison Papers)
At 4 AM I received the enclosed from Captain Morris and immediately came to this place to order the three scows armed with 32 & 24 pounders to take a position at Greenleaf Point and to order some heavy Cannon from the Yard to that place with every other means of defence in preparation. My opinion is that though the force is formidable the real object is to menace this place and to get Water...
27To James Madison from William Jones, 21 July 1813 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
21 July 1813, Navy Department. “The appointments, & nominations on the enclosed paper, are required to fill existing vacancies.” Letterbook copy and letterbook copy of enclosure ( DNA : RG 45, LSP ). Letterbook copy 1 p. The copy of the enclosure (5 pp.) lists 122 promotions and appointments in the navy. Notes near the end of the list read: “Transmitted to the President 23. July 1813” and “The...
28To James Madison from William Jones, 24 July 1813 (Madison Papers)
My duty to the Nation, solicitude for the prosperity of your administration, for yourself a sincere personal regard, and anxiety for my own reputation; demand of me to state to you frankly my conviction of the absolute impracticability of my discharging the high and responsible trust of acting Secretary of the Treasury combined with the duties of Secretary of the Navy. The accumated [ sic ]...
29To James Madison from William Jones, 11 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed is copy of a letter received this morning from Capt Perry. Thus Sir you see the vessels that were “built in a pond from whence they could not be removed” are afloat in safety on the broad Lake having passed the Bar in the presence of the enemy without interruption which I take to be an acknowledgement of inferiority. You will observe that the eight vessels which had passed the Bar...
30To James Madison from William Jones, 12 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
Last night Coll Duval of Annapolis came up from that place in haste to see the Secretary at War who had left this place the preceding day. Col D. states that the enemy in great force are approaching Annapolis with the evident intention of attacking it and that Colonel Carbery had received orders from Gen Smith to repair immediately to Baltimore the execution of which had been suspended merely...