1From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 15 December 1814 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Jones having retired from the Secretaryship of the Navy, my thoughts have been turned to you as a desireable Successor; and I have this day sent in your name to the Senate for the appointment. I hope you will excuse my doing it without your consent which would have been asked, if the business of that Dept. had less urged an avoidance of delay. The same consideration will apologize for my...
2From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 23 December 1814 (Madison Papers)
My letter of 15th will have informed you that I had taken the liberty of naming you to the Senate for the vacancy in the Secretaryship of the Navy. I have now the pleasure to inclose a Commission by which you will see that the Senate have sanctioned the appointment. I repeat my hope that it will not be inconsistent with your views to undertake that very important service, and that its urgency...
3From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 3 January 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 28 Dcr. communicating the agreeable result of your reconsideration of your first determination on the subject of the Secretaryship of the Navy. It only remains to say that no obstacle has been created by another nomination to the Senate, and to repeat my hopes that you will be with us as soon as possible. Accept my friendly respects RC ( MSaP ). See Crowninshield...
4From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 20 April 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 17. inclosing a copy of instructions for Commodore Decatur; which I presume you wish to decide finally on without delay. They appear to embrace all the essential points. It occurs however that it may be proper to apprize him, that as several nations, particularly the Dutch, are understood to be at war with Algiers, and will probably have armaments engaged in it,...
5From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 10 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have requested the Secy. of State to bring into consultation at Washington several subjects, which you will of course learn from him. Among them is the expediency of discontinuing the suspension of the Algerine expedition; with perhaps a reduction of the force to a minimum. The stake & the temptation being thus diminished, the objections to the departure of Commodore Decatur wd. be...
6From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 12 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 10th. inclosing one from Come Decatur of the 5th. now returned. My last has anticipated & provided for the object of the latter. I cannot conveniently consult the laws for the increase of the Navy. If the practice of the Dept. and the Opinion of the Atty. General, admit the purchase of the Prize Ship Cyane The purchase of such a vessel on the terms probable will...
¶ To Benjamin W. Crowninshield. Letter not found. 20 May 1815. Extract printed in Stan. V Henkels Catalogue No. 1379 (1925), item 4.
8From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 27 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. your two letters of the 23 & 24. instant inclosing the correspondence with the Navy Board. This institution being without a precedent in our political System, and the definitions of the act of Congress not being as precise and as full as under other circumstances they might have been made, some difference in the construction of particular passages might well happen. But I had not...
9From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 12 June 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have given to the questions growing out of your letter and communications of the 23rd. of May., and others from the Commissioners of the Navy Board, the consideration due to them. The following remarks convey the result of it. The Law which establishes the Board, containing provisions entirely new, and rendering the Constitution of the Navy Department, more complicated, at the same time that...
10From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 27 August 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 14th. inclosing the letter of Com: Chauncy declining a seat at the navy Board. Notwithstanding the merits which may distinguish the two officers you name, and the consideration particularly favoring the appointment of Sinclair, I think it will be most eligible on the whole not to pass by Capt: Steuart. You may therefore direct the Commission to be sent to him; or...
11From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 18 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 11th. I hope you will soon learn the decision of Capt: Stewart, that in the event of his refusal we may be turning our thoughts elsewhere. The peace with Algiers offers two points for decision. 1. What precautionary force ought to be continued in the Mediterranean. It will be best to leave this to the judgment of the naval Commander there. 2 What ought to be done...
12From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 27 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have recd. yours of the 25th. and return the letter from Mr. Kerr, who I presume is the former Senator from the State of Ohio. Not being acquainted with all the circumstances, which would throw light on the subject, among which is “the unfortunate circumstance mentioned in the Envelope,” not accompanying your letter, I cannot appreciate properly, the representation made to you. It is due to...
13From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 6 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have recd yours of——. I regret that you could not gratify my hopes of the pleasure of a visit before your departure for Salem. Should your return to Washington afford an oppy. before the date of mine, perhaps the loss may be repaired. On our landing from the Boat of the Washington, I ask’d the favor of you to offer on my account some pecuniary present to the Rowers. I did not fail to give...
14From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 20 August 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have just recd. yours of the 13th. The information given by Mr. Gardner’s letter inclosed in it, is agreeable. It may nevertheless be advisable to continue the equipment of the Congs. for the Pacific Ocean. You will keep us apprized of the progress, and of the time as nearly as it can be fixed, when she will be ready to sail. Capt: Morris will be a very fit Commander; and it is not proposed...
15From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 22 August 1816 (Madison Papers)
You will be furnished from the Department of State with copies of the translation of the letter from the Dey of Algiers, and of the answer to it; with the letter of the Secretary of State to Mr. Shaler, and the instructions to him & Commodore Chauncey as Commissioners to accomodate matters with the Dey. As their negotiations may issue in a commencement of hostilities on the part of Algiers, it...