1From 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.
2From 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.
3From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 2 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received last night yours of the 28th. On the 21st I wrote you approving of Talbot to command the Constitution, and shall think the days and hours long, till he arrives in Boston, where he will be liked. I depend much on him for the dispatch of the ship. McNeil will loose no time in obeying your orders. It has been difficult for Perry to get men nearer than Boston. With great regard MHi :...
4From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 23 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a Letter from Jesser Lewis which I recommend to your Consideration. General Marshall can probably give you more Information than the Letter contains or is known to your affectionate sert DNA : RG 45--Naval Records Collection.
5From 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...
6From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 8 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
The combination of a very few ideas has been sufficient to excite apprehensions that the West India islands would soon become a scene of pyracy. The dissolution of all principles, of morals, government & religion the formed repeal of the ten commandments by which it is become as lawful by which it is become as lawful to covet, steal, kill as it is to profane the sabbath or commit adultery—the...
7From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 9 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have read the proceeding against Lt. Mariner of the frigate Adams, inclosed in your favor of the 30 Aug, & upon due consideration of the whole, have approved of the justice sentence of the Court martial. I cannot however omit to express my anxiety, that so much irregularity should have occurred, as I fear from too much indulgence in the harbor of St Kitts. I pray you to impress upon all our...
8From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 11 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from John Davis Esqr, District Attorney at Boston, recommending Charles Angier to be a midshipman, & a letter from Charles Angier himself, requesting an appointment. I desire you would send him a warrant. You may inclose it to Mr Davis— With high regard MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
9From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 27 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed the warrants inclosed in your letter of the 15th & sent them to J.C. Jones. His letter to you, I return & suppose you will comply with his request. I am &c MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
10From 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.
11From 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...
12From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 25 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 15th. Privateers manned by Spaniards with French commissions are intollerable. Remonstrances ought to be made to the Spanish govenors & to the Court of Madrid in a serious tone.—The Warren is arrived in Nantaskett Road, but I have nothing from any officer. The Captain, Col. Pickerings nephew, Newman is dead. I know not the character of the ship. If our ships...
13From 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.
14From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 8 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I forgot in my letter of this day to acknowledge the receipt of yours of 27 Ult. The attention our vessels experience from the British officers is very agreeable. The sentiment of Beauvarlet, that it is incumbent on all Europe to unite for the purpose of checking the progress of the United States, no doubt he thought very profound. It is true, there is an European jealousy against America, but...
15From 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.
16From 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...
17From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 5 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are recommendations of Joseph Williston & Habijah Savage, to be midshipman to whom I pray you to send warrants. If they can be admitted on board the Boston I shall be glad—if not they may be appointed to some other ship MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
18From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 28 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Lieut Cordis which I recommend to your consideration MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
19From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 2 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of Sept. 27 & with pleasure agree to your plan of a visit to your family, whom I hope you will find in perfect health and remove to Philadelphia, when that city shall be healthy. I am assured glad that Mr Pickering can find time to do the business in your absence. The plan of naval opperations which you have suggested is quite agreeable to me. We must not suffer our...
20From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 8 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
The plan of operation in the naval service projected in your second favor of the third of June I like very well.—We must open the intercourse with St Domingo on the best terms we can provided the accounts from Steevens and Maitland will admit of it. I will not dissappoint those islandlers if I can help it. My greatest fears are that Maitland & Toussaint will not agree. The Constitution will...
21From 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....
22From 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...
23From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 27 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed the commission for Lieutenant Parker which was inclosed in your favor of the 19th & sent it to him with your letter & its inclosures. Your other favor of 19th contains matter of more importance. I own that the Navy has not afforded to our commerce that compleat protection which might have been expected from it, considering the vast inferiority of all the French force, both of...
24From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 30 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I rejoice that Captain Truxton is gone to Guadaloupe. But what shall we do with Capt Talbot & the constitution? Your orders to Capt Little, I will transmit to him by the first opportunity. His officers are all appointed & commissioned. This in answer to your favor of the 21st from your most obedient MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
25From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 29 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I enclose for your consideration, letters from Mr Reed member of congress, Doc Orr and Doc Dunbar recommending Mr Oliver Dunbar to be a surgeons mate. Their testimonials are respectable, and if you have no objection to the young gentlemen’s appointment there is none on the part of your humble servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
26From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 19 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favor of the 13th & the copies of Murrays letters, with the perusal of which, I have been highly delighted. I pray you that every exertion may be made to get to sea not only the vessels in the Delleware, but the Constitution & the Merrimack which are arrived in Boston Harbor. It will be ruinous to the crews & the reputation of the officers to lie long in port. Those that...
27From 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...
28From 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...
29From 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...
30From 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.
31From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 6 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Capt Seymour Potter of Boston with recommendations from several respectable characters for a lieutenancy in the Navy, from his appearance & behavior & the character I hear of him, I believe he will be a good officer, & if there is a vacancy, you may appoint him. Inclosed is a letter from lieutenant Haswell recommending his brother John Montresor Haswell to be a...
32From 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...
33From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 31 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
I received last night the letter you did me the honor to write on the 25th. I had before received those of 30. 31 of July & 3d August & notwithstanding the heat of the weather my own ill health and the dangerous sickness of Mrs. Adams, I should not have failed to answer them, if I had perceived any thing in them to disapprove, or thought of any thing to improve your plans. I am equally well...
34From 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.
35From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 23 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
I received this morning your favor of the 12th, & thank you for the summary of the stations, & destinations of the Navy. At the same time, I received your other letter of the same date, & have read all its inclosures, which I return with this. Nothing affects me so much, as to see complaints against officers who have distinguished themselves by their vigilance, activity & bravery, in the...
36From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 15 October 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 5 with its inclosures. I must leave the Niger to the justice & impartiality of our tribunals & the conduct of Capt. Nicholson to the judgment of the world; but I lament & deplore the misfortunes of his people. The orders you have given him are the most prudent & humane immaginable. Inclosed are letters from Gov. Fenner and old comodore Hopkins recommending...
37From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 18 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Mr. William Gray of Salem, a capital Merchant of that place called on me to request a Convoy, for an hundred sail of American vessels now at the Havanna, watched by twenty or thirty French Privateers. I desired him to write to you and to pray you to afford them a Convoy, if possible. Mr. Simmons of Charleston SC on a visit to me Yesterday informed me, that Dispatches & Petitions to Government...
38From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 18 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Mr. Otis & another from Mr. Bussey, recommending Mr. Payton Gay of Dedham to be an officer of marines. Enclosed also is a letter from Dr. Charles Blake requesting to be a surgeon in the army or navy. Dr. Blake served on board the constitution untill he was promoted in the army. I submit them all to your consideration With sincere esteem MHi : Adams Family Papers,...
39From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 28 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Elijah Brewer petitioning for a first lieutenancy in the navy and recommendation from Col Wadsworth and two other respectable gentlemen. It is His experience in service appears to demand deserve attention. I am Sir your most obedient / Servant MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
40From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 25 July 1800 (Adams Papers)
Sometime ago, Capt. Nicholson made me a visit in order to lay before me some complaints against the conduct of the naval agent at Boston, Mr. Stephen Higginson. I told him, that complaints of that kind, if made to me at all, ought to be made in writing. In consequence of which, he has sent me the inclosed letter of July 21st, and a copy of a memorandum, signed by himself & copies of extracts...
41From 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.
42From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 12 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed are recommendations of Henry Jackson Knox to be a lieutenant in the Navy & a petition for liberty to Capt. Brown to take some merchant vessels under convoy, which I granted—This petition you may file away. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
43From 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.
44From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 20 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
The letter you sent me is from Mr. Murray of the 1 of May at Paris. I return it inclosed to you, that you may consider the recommendation of Mr. Dan. Murray of Anapolis his relation, who is a midshipman on board the insurgent. If this young gentlemans merits will justify his promotion, of which you are better judge than I can be, my disposition to consent to it need not be doubted. With great...
45From 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...
46From 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...
47From 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.
48From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 5 October 1800 (Adams Papers)
Enclosed is a letter from Samuel Wales requesting an appointment in the Marines. A certificate in his favor signed by many respectable characters in Bridgewater is also inclosed much in his favor. From the knowledge I have of him & his connections I believe him a good appointment if there are any vacances MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
49From 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.
50From 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...