1To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Truxtun, 18 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to enclose for your Excellency’s perusal and amusement a Sketch I have drawn of the late action off Cape Trafalgar between the combined fleet of France & Spain and that of England. I have the honor to be most respectfully Your Excellency’s very Obt huml servant. DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
2To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Truxtun, 25 September 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed* may not be unworthy the serious attention of Government, inasmuch as a cultivation of marine science is much wanted on this side of the atlantick, from the Yet to be expected deficiency of our sea Officers, I have therefore done myself the honor to Transmit you the several documents herewith Not only as the Cheif majistrate of the Union, but as a Gentleman of science who will see...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Truxtun, 25 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to enclose You herewith Copys of a Note transmitted by me to the Grand Jury, Now in Session. Its Object was a vindication of my own character, in consequence of the Cyphered letter produced by General Wilkinson to the Grand inquest of the Nation, and another curious tale of a vessel belonging to New Orleans—Speaking some other vessel from Jamaica and one of the Crew having...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Truxtun, 1 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The enclosed Sheet, is one of a few copies of a letter I wrote in answer to one received from Mr Pickering, and had printed in consequence of Several other Gentlemen in various parts of the United States, having made Similar inquiries of me, and for the sake of Uniformity, and to prevent any mistake, or, misconstruction of my Opinion, and to Save me the trouble of writing almost daily on the...
5To John Adams from Thomas Truxtun, 10 July 1802 (Adams Papers)
Permit me to present you with a Copy of the medal voted me by Congress, and executed agreeable to Your directions (to the Secretary of the Navy) as President of the United States, and I pray you good Sir, to receive it as a Small token of the veneration, Respect and Esteem I bear towards you. May you live long and enjoy health and happiness in the Sincere prayer Dear Sir of Your sincere friend...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Truxtun, 20 August 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
Amidst the pain I have experienced since the present administration of the Government of the United States by an unprecedented course being pursued towards me—I cannot but beleive that some insidious foes or little minded Myrmidons have excited in your breast an encreased enmity towards me, which seemed at first to have taken root from my labours and toils in faithfully executing my duty...
7[To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Truxtun], [22 March 1802] (Hamilton Papers)
Copy, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress; JCH Transcripts John C. Hamilton Transcripts, Columbia University Libraries. , Columbia University Libraries. In JCHW John C. Hamilton, ed., The Works of Alexander Hamilton (New York, 1851–1856). , XI, 533, this letter is incorrectly addressed to H. Actually, it is a copy in Truxtun’s handwriting of a letter which Truxtun wrote to Aaron Burr and...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Truxtun, 10 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I feel it an irresistible duty to our Common Country to trouble you again with a letter, and the enclosed Copy, for Your own perusal , on the Subject of the Gun-boats. The enclosed however is little more than a post Script to the Copy I Sent you, also on a printed Sheet , dated the 27th. Ult. The Gunboat System is adopted in good Sence, and very long Since, and uniformly considered by me, as...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Truxtun, 23 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Having been informed by letters that my name has been mentioned in certain dispatches received at Washington with reproach—I am compelled by a Sacred duty which I owe to my Character and to Society, to pronounce the instigator, the very basest of the human race, be him Aaron Burr or any other man, either in a Civil, military—navy or private Capacity, without exception of standing. It is with...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Truxtun, 10 July 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
on leaving New York for my present residence here a friend on whom I called to take leave put into my hand a newspaper published by Major Jackson in Philadelphia . In this paper some person either from ignorance or Jealousy which I deem worse—has undertaken to make a Comparative statement between the Cost of materials and expence of labour in building the frigates United States and...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Truxtun, 18 May 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I have taken the liberty of addressing you personally as to my situation in the establishment of the Navy—a member of which I became, not from any pecuniary consideration, but from motives of Patriotism, and a pure love of Country and the Service. In the year 1794 when the first attempt was made towards a marine armament under the present Government of the United States—an act of Congress (as...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Truxtun, 4 December 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I have the honor to enclose to yourself herewith a plan of Counteraction, Should there be any serious designs against the Union of States.—This is done by me as a faithful Citizen, and for your own use alone; as you will perceive Some Suggestions that can only be considered confidential. My feeble efforts are always well intended, and no man in this Country desires more fervently the happiness...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Thomas Truxtun, 23 July 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
In the present state of our disturbed Society, by late and uncommon Circumstances, it behoves me, estimating character as the first object of life, to gaurd against the current of side winds , and more especially as the Needle of my Compass, has heretofore pointed out My Course, with truth and precision, and forever conducted me to the port of my destination in Safety. These circumstances in...
14To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Truxtun, 10 July 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
I pray you to accept a Copy of the medal voted me by Congress as a Small token of the great Respect and esteem with which I have the honor to be Dear Sir Your very obt. st. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Truxtun was appointed a captain in the United States Navy in 1794 and ranked fifth among the six captains appointed at that time. During the undeclared war with France, he...
15To James Madison from Thomas Truxtun, 6 May 1808 (Madison Papers)
After You read the enclosed hasty Scrawl, you will do me the Justice to Appreciate My disposition and Motive, and then put a Wafer in it, and Cause it, to be put in the post office for Tingey. I am not guided in any Action of My life, by half way measures, and I have pointed out A great Mistake, by the Editor of the N I, the Effects of Which, I have Seen here. My candor will Serve more than...
16To James Madison from Thomas Truxtun, 7 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
The public have been Troubled with a Correspondence between Mr. John Randolph and General Wilkinson, and I think it possible that every endeavour will be made to procure testimony, however irrelevant to the charge made against the latter. It is at all times extremly unpleasant to a man of feeling and Sensibility, to be called upon to give testimony, in Such Affairs, More particulary Against...
17To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Truxtun, 15 December 1803 (Hamilton Papers)
In a conversation we had at new York on the Subject of the threatened invasion of England by Bonaparte—you expressed a wish that oppertunity had offered So that you could have had the map of England and France &c before you. I now do myself the honor of transmitting my opinion as then Stated to you in a letter to Mr Pickering and after you have examined it with the map, I shall be greatly...
18To John Adams from Thomas Truxtun, 5 December 1804 (Adams Papers)
It was under Your administration of the Government of the United States that pirates ceased to insult us and to Scorn our prowess and Skill on the Ocean, It is under the administration of Mr Jefferson that our energies have ceased—our Character stained—millions lavished in marine affairs without judgment or to any good purpose, and those very picaroons who Stood Appald at the sight of our flag...
19To James Madison from Thomas Truxtun, 17 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed written in honesty & truth, I forward open under this cover for my friend Captain Tingey. I know too much of what is going on to be Silent. I directed Tingey to Shew it to you, but as delay would be occasioned by his first receiving it, I enclose it to You at once, confidentially, and ask the favour of your putting a wafer in it, and causeing it to be dropt in the post office when...
20To James Madison from Thomas Truxtun, 6 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
As it is possible you are not Acquainted with all the important Naval Transactions at Norfolk, that may hereafter come unexpectedly before You, as connected with Your functions, as Secy. of State, I have taken the liberty to give herein an Extract of a letter lately received by me from one of the Most Correct and respectable Gentlemen in the borough of Norfolk. I do not make any observations...
21To James Madison from Thomas Truxtun, 15 September 1805 (Madison Papers)
Mr Robert Smith Secy of the Navy and myself have lately had a private correspondence explanatory of a misunderstanding or misconception between us, in consequence of my not having a Captain, or as I first proposed to him knowing that the Law for the peace establishment limitted the Number to Nine—a Lieutenant Commandant to Command under the Commodores broad pendnant [ sic ] his Ship, as Morris...
22From Thomas Truxtun to John Randolph, 23 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Life is only desireable and Can only be tolerable to Me, so long as I can Justly Sustain that Character, in Support of which, I have made very many sacrifices to Serve My Country and fellow Citizens—I there fore trust I shall be excused for addressing this Note to your honourable body, in consequence of a liberty that has been taken with My Name in a letter written, by god knows whom (though...
23From Thomas Truxtun to Timothy Pickering, 27 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have received your letter of the 23d current, accompanied with a report of the committee, on the subject of Gun Boats, in which you desire my opinion of their utility, that part of the message of the President of the United States, which relates to the defence of the sea port towns and harbours. I am now, as I ever have been of opinion, that a great commercial marine, such as the merchants...
24To James Madison from Thomas Truxtun, 15 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
I am Sure you will excuse the liberty I take in writing You this letter, because I know you can Appreciate My Motives in doing it. Being a Considerable holder of Insurance Stocks, I have pretty accurate Means of Ascertaining the State of our commercial concerns, tho in No other way Concerned in adventures beyond the Sea. Sometime Subsequent to Berkeleys Outrageous order and the Consequent...
25To Alexander Hamilton from Thomas Truxtun, 26 March 1802 (Hamilton Papers)
As an officer Sacrifised by party Spirit & in the hope of a favourable change in the affairs of our once free and happy Country, I think it a duty to address you as one of the remaining honest political fathers of it. The present administration finding as I verily believe, that it was not possible to Succeed in bringing me over to prostitute my principles by forsaking the federal cause and...