121From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 28 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed the commission for Joseph Whitmore, to be sailing master in the navy & have sent it in your letter to him, as requested in your favor of the 21st. I return his letter & recommendation—I thank you for the details in your other favor of the 21st, which are very agreeable to me. Curacao, Cayenne & Surrinam must be watched with great care. Inclosed is a letter from the supervisor of...
122From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 10 August 1798 (Adams Papers)
Instructions to the Commanders of Armed Vessels belonging to the United States:—given at Philadelphia, the tenth day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand, seven hundred and ninety eight, and in the Twenty third Year of our Independence In pursuance of the Acts of Congress passed the twenty eighth day of May, the twenty eighth day of June, and the ninth day of July. You are hereby,...
123From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 20 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your two favors of the 13th & 15th, & thank you for the very satisfactory information you give me of our naval affairs, & your plans for future operations, which appear to me to be very judicious. I return Capt Tingey’s letters, which I esteem very much, & agree in wishing his commission was of an earlier date. My resolution is irrevocable, that Talbot shall go in the...
124From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Stoddert, 29 August 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Your obliging letter of the 24 instant duly came to hand. The very polite ground on which you give me to expect your cooperation in procuring an appointment for Capt Hamilton has a very strong claim to my acknowlegement. In consequence of the information in your letter, I have seen Capt Talbot. He seems to expect an official notification from your department to ascertain and fix his own...
125From George Washington to Benjamin Stoddert, 4 October 1799 (Washington Papers)
Your polite attention to my recommendation of a Son of General Spotswood to be a Midshipman in our Navy; has opened the door for another application of a similar kind in behalf of Mr John ⟨Henley nephew⟩ to Mrs Washington. In April last, Mr Bassett, ⟨one of⟩ our Senators, and Cousin german to this young Gentleman, presented a letter from me to you respecting ⟨a younger⟩ brother of Mr Henley’s....
126From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Stoddert, 3 September 1798 (Hamilton Papers)
Considering the great length of time before the Frigate here will be ready for sea—I have concluded that it may be expedient, if it can be effected, to have Capt. Hamilton appointed & assigned to some Southern Vessel which will sooner be ready. I imagine Cap Talbot will be glad hereafter to have him as an associate. If this can be conveniently managed in the proper time, it will give me...
127From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 3 August 1800 (Adams Papers)
I know not whether the inclosed letter from Lady Catharine Duer has not excited too much tenderness in my feelings, but I cannot refrain from inclosing it to you & recommending it to your serious consideration. If it is possible without material injury to the discipline of the Navy, to accept of the resignation of this unhappy youth, I pray you to do it. I had almost said that this letter, at...
128From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Stoddert, [8 August 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
Capt. Robert Hamilton , a first cousin of mine, is desirous of entering into our naval service. He is regularly bred to the sea which he has followed since he was fourteen years old. His opportunities have been of the best, among others that of voyages to the East Indies. I feel myself warranted in recommending him as an able well informed seaman—who adds to this qualification the sentiments...
129From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 19 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 10th & read Mr Sewals letter of 25 April & your answer. The reasoning in the latter is so satisfactory that I have determined to send it on to Mr Sewall tomorrow. Nevertheless I think with you that some of our fast sailing vessels might be employed to advantage in a cruise on the coasts of Spain & France during the hurricane season in the West Indias. Nor do I...
130From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 21 May 1799 (Adams Papers)
I last night received yours of the 15th & have read your letter to Capt. Nicholson, inclosed in it which as I acquiesce in it I have sealed and shall send to him to day.—All things considered I think Talbot must be the Captain to succeed in the command of the constitution. Mr Crawleys letter mentioned in that of Gen. Smiths was not inclosed to me. The commerce with Guadeloupe will be opened by...
131From George Washington to Benjamin Stoddert, 10 July 1799 (Washington Papers)
When I quitted the Chair of Government it was my full determination not to apply to the Executive in behalf of any person for an appointment, knowing the trouble and inconvenience which I must experience myself as well as give to othe[r]s without forming this resolution. In some instances I have, however, been obliged to depart from this rule, where, from particular connexions or circumstances...
132From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 7 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the details in your favor of the 29th May Captain Truxton has deserved well of his country and will as he ought, have their thanks, as well as yours and mine. But I should have been much easier on account of the safety of our commerce, if he had remained longer in the West Indies. The Merrimack has been detained by contrary winds but I believe is now gone. Talbot has arrived...
133From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 31 March 1800 (Adams Papers)
The President of the U.S. requests the Secretary of the Navy to employ some of his clerks in preparing a catalogue of books for the use of his office. It ought to consist of all the best writings in Dutch, Spanish French & especially in English, upon the theory & practice of naval architecture, navigation, gunnery Hydraulicks, Hydrostatick & all branches of mathematicks, subservient to the...
134From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 16 April 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received yesterday your favour of the 6th. and thank you for Captain Murray’s letters. I am also mortified to find that Barry has not given more attention to Curacoa. We must think of Surrinam and all the Dutch Possessions or we shall repent the Oversight. I am happy to learn that there is nothing to lead to an opinion that there will be any opposition in Northampton. I thank you for yours...
135From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 24 June 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your letters of 17 & 18th. Lieutenant Beale it is true is a young man of 26 or 27, but he has been fourteen years at sea. His conduct, since the ship arrived here, has been very attentive & faithful to his duty. If Talman and Dobell are appointed what are you to do with Hull & Hamilton. Do you give Talman & Dobell rank before them? Neither Hull nor Hamilton are older than Beale...
136From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 14 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I received last night, your favor of the 5. The gentleman you mention is a native of Boston and well known. I shall make no observations on his character. None of the suspicions of the Americans in France; which the Gentleman of Maryland mentioned to you, will surprize the federalists in this quarter. But the popularity of the French has so dwindled away that no impression can be made to any...
137From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 4 September 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your kind letter of the 29th. of August, & I thank you for the friendly sentiments expressed in it, in your private character.—You urge me to join you & the other public officers at Trenton, before our ministers depart from France, & this from considerations, which relate more immediately to myself, as well as others of a public nature. For myself I have neither hopes nor...
138From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Stoddert, 4 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hudson who will deliver you this is desirous of the place of Midshipman on board of our Navy. This Gentleman completed his Studies in the law with me. He possesses talents and animation and I have no doubt will succeed in the naval career. An active temper joined to the pressure of pecuniary circumstances has determined him to embrace this course. I interest myself in his success as far as...
139From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 6 September 1800 (Adams Papers)
The inclosed letters from Mr H. G. Otis Mr. James Sheafe in favor of Mr. George Boyd were brought to me yesterday by himself. He is a very genteel young man, a fine figure & person & well bred as far as I could perceive. His ancestors were honorable & his connections are respectable. If you know of no objection I know of none to making him a lieutenant. If you have anything to urge against...
140From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 10 September 1798 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favor of the 1st of this month and thank you for the paper No. 1 which exhibits a view of the ships in service those which are building and their commanders. I return you the blank commissions signed and approved of the appointment of Capt. Tingey and Capt. Chapman, as you propose, and leave it to your discretion to appoint the other officers in the list, if nothing should...
141From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 8 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
The constitution employs my thoughts by day & my dreams by night. Capt. Talbot has written to you in his letter of the 7th of June, which I return. His candid & impartial opinions, according to the information he received. But Beale was absent by the advice of his physicians & Hull was present. I mean no insinuation by this against Mr. Hull, whose character is in my mind fair, & his conduct...
142From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Stoddert, [21 August 1798] (Hamilton Papers)
I, about a fortnight since, wrote to you on the subject of a relation of mine desirous of entering into our Navy and recommending him as a first Lieutenant; to which letter not having received an answer, I am apprehensive it may have miscarried. You will oblige me by your opinion as speedily as convenient how far there is a prospect for him. I anticipate that there may be scruples from his...
143From George Washington to Benjamin Stoddert, 26 September 1798 (Washington Papers)
It will afford me pleasure to give you any information in my power, and any opinion, so far as I am able to form one, on the subject of your letter of the 16th instant; which did not come to my hands till the 24th. I cannot entertain a doubt, but it will be the policy of this Country to create such a navy as will protect our commerce from the insults and depredations to which it has been...
144From 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...