61From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 1 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I return signed all the blank warrants inclosed in your favor of 25th. June, and pray you to use them as you have done the former ones. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
62From 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.
63From 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...
64From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 3 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed the commission for Saunders, to be a lieutenant in the Navy, & sent the letter to him inclosed in yours of 26 June to Mr Jones to be conveyed to him MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
65From 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.
66From 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...
67From 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...
68From 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...
69From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 10 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have received your two favors of the 3d. The constitution shall not be delayed by me. If Talbot cannot go, I will appoint Sever. Tis a choice of difficulties. Unpopularity, censure and reproach must attend every thing I do. Talbot in my opinion ought to rank from his appointment by Gen. Washington, but whether I shall risk a declaration of this opinion or risk an equal & more just censure,...
70From 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...
71From 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.
72From 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...
73From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 22 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a recommendation from the Mayor & Alderman of New Haven of David Phipps Esqr to be a Captain in the navy. We shall not probably appoint more Captains till the Senate meets. I recommend to your consideration & enquiry, Samuel Tucker of Massachusetts as another candidate for the commission of Captain MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
74From 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...
75From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 23 July 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for the regulations of the navy & your report on the naval establishment, received in yours of 17th, which I received last night. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
76From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Stoddert, 29 July 1799 (Hamilton Papers)
A pressure of various business has delayed a reply to your favor of the 19th. instant. The principle you suggest for my consideration, though if it could be introduced it would work well, cannot in my opinion be put into practice. It would contravene too much, pretensions rooted as well in the human heart as in unconquerable prejudices of the military State, by which expression I include the...
77From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 5 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Your two letters of the 29th & one of the 30th of July are before me. I know not who are meant by G & C in Capt. Perrys letter, but I think there ought to be some enquiry into the justice of his insinuations.—I fear that the offices & crew of the Gen. Green were too long on Shore at the Havanna, & there caught the infection, which has obliged him to leave his station, & bury so many The news...
78From 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...
79From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 8 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I enclose you copies of letters this moment received from Mr. McNeil brought up to me by Dr Welch, from a passenger on board a vessel just arrived, which he has been obliged to compell to perform quarantine. I will send you more on the subject tomorrow. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
80From 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.
81From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 12 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have signed the commission for Dr. Edward Field of Enfield & sent it on in your letter to him. Dr. Cogswells letter to Mr. Wolcott I return to you. Knowing, esteeming & loving Dr. Cogswell I could not hesitate a moment to credit his recommendation. I hope every exertion will be made to get the congress to see. I have as good & as high an opinion of Capt Sever as you have expressed in a late...
82From 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.
83From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 14 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have sent your letters to Jonathan P. Hitchcock & William H Williams, with their commissions inclosed, signed to be midshipman. I return you Mr. F. Fosters letter. This in answer to yours of the 8th. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
84From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 15 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I have transmitted a commission to Mr. Lemuel Little to be a sailing master & a warrant to Mr. Moses M. Bates to be a midshipman as you proposed in your two letters of the 9th. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
85From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 16 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a request of Dr Amos Windship to be a surgeon in one of our vessels of war. I was in the year 1779 near three months for the most part on board the Alliance Captain Sanders in which Dr Windship was surgeon. I well remember that this gentlemen appeared to me of a humane disposition & attentive to the health of the people. If there is any opportunity I have no objection to his...
86From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 22 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your favor of the 14th. I am very well satisfied to send Capt. Barry with the envoys, & with all the arrangements you have made of the navy. Your letter to Capt. Truxton communicated the appointment of Talbot & his rank, with all possible delicacy, both towards them & me. Inclosed is a letter from Mr. Sheafe, communicating the information of the launching of the Congress on the...
87From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 22 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed is a letter from Mr Senator Foster, recommending Dr Mason of Newport. Another from Mr Cabot, one from Dr. Tappan & another to him from Dr. Osgood, recommending the Rev. Mr. Samuel Sargeant to be a chaplain. Tappan & Osgood are divines of the highest characters among us. Mr Sargeant appears very worthy. MHi : Adams Family Papers, Letterbooks.
88From 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.
89From John Adams to Benjamin Stoddert, 23 August 1799 (Adams Papers)
My thoughts and feelings are exactly in union with yours, expressed in your favor of the 17th. I would propose that our envoys be landed at Lisbon & take an overland journey to Paris, through Madrid. This will give them an opportunity of gaining much information, useful to their Country. In this case, the frigate may take Mr. Smith & carry him to Constantinople, or the envoys may be landed at...
90From 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...