To James Madison from Joshua Barney, 12 March 1809
From Joshua Barney
Baltimore, March 12th, 1809.
Sir:
Immediately after the affair of the Chesapeake (July 4th.) I went to Mr. Jefferson, making him a tender of my personal services.1 As our country seems yet to be menaced by foreign powers, I still hold it my duty to continue that offer, which I now do to you as President of the United States. I do it the more cheerfully because I am not unknown to you personally.2 I shall always feel a sincere pleasure in contributing my feeble abilities in any manner you please, for the good of our country and still more so when it is to support an Administration whose principles perfectly coincide with my own. I am, Sir, with due respect,
Joshua Barney.
Printed copy (Records of the Columbia Historical Society, 14 [1911]: 138).
1. Barney to Jefferson, 4 July 1807, in Hulbert Footner, Sailor of Fortune: The Life and Adventures of Commodore Barney, U.S.N. (New York, 1940), p. 244.