1To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 22 February 1817 (Madison Papers)
I have the honour to enclose, herewith nominations for the promotions required by the Naval Service of the United States; as also a nomination of the Revd. Cheever Felch, for confirmation as Chaplain in the Navy, in which station he performed duty during the whole of the late War. I have the honour to be, &c. Letterbook copy and letterbook copy of enclosure ( DNA : RG 45, LSP ). In two...
2To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 27 January 1817 (Madison Papers)
I have the honour to transmit, herewith Nominations to the Senate of the United States of the Revd. Nathaniel Andrews and the Revd. John Ireland, to be Chaplains; and Ashton Y. Humphreys, to be a Purser in the Navy of the United States. I have the honour to be, &c. Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 45, LSP ). JM forwarded the nominations to the Senate on 29 Jan. 1817 ( Senate Exec. Proceedings...
3To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 30 December 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have the honour to transmit, herewith, Nominations to the Senate of the United States, on behalf of Shubael Butterfield, Thomas G. Chase, Robert Lyman, William Brown, Edwin B. Newton, John H. Duncan, Elijah I. Weed, and Augustus de Rumford, to be second Lieutenants in the Marin⟨e⟩ Corps. Very respectfully, I have the honour to be, &c Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 45, LSP ). JM forwarded the...
4To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 2 October 1816 (Madison Papers)
Your communication of Sept. 23, covering one from Col Jesup, relating to spanish affairs, was rec’d by this days mail; I Know not what to think of such folly. To protect us, our ships of war could cruise off N orleans, in the Bay of Mexico & round Cape Florida. To attack spain, thro her colonies, ship of war would be of infinite service to aid in landing men, & to protect an expedition against...
5To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 7 September 1816 (Madison Papers)
A visit to Dartmouth university to meet the Trustees, has prevented me from answering your favour of Augt. the 20th. The Frigate Congress is undergoing repairs, her state was worse than it was apprehended, but having commenced it was necessary to proceed with her repairs: she will be ready, in all probability, in 3 weeks. The instructions, with Mr Monroe, dispatches to Comr chauncey have gone...
6To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 13 August 1816 (Madison Papers)
Mr Coles your former Secy, arrived here yesterday, to proceed on his message to Russia. The Brig Prometheus, in which he is to go, was ready at Boston, & he probably has sailed this day, as the wind is fair. The enclosed letter from Mr Gardner of nantucket, a former member of Congress, shows that the ship Detained by the Spaniards at Valparaiso, has been set at liberty, does that supersede the...
7To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 16 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
your esteemed favor found me at Salem & with much regret & chagrin, that I had not paid you the visit that I promised you, & from which I expected so much pleasure, and I assure you that I have not abandoned the expectation; but at some other period mean to have the honor. The gratuity which was paid by me to the Boatmen of Come Chauncys Barge, was on your account, as you wished it ; the...
8To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 1 July 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 25th ultimo. A consultation has been held with Colonel Monroe and the other Secretaries, who concur with me in opinion, that the U.S. Naval Force, now within the Streights of Gibraltar, is amply sufficient to protect us against the Dey of Algiers, or, if requisite, to chastise his injustice. Instructions will, therefore, be...
9To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 23 June 1816 (Madison Papers)
The within dispatches were recd from the Medn. yesterday by the John Adams, and as Mr. Monroe is to be absent until Tue[s]day, I have taken the liberty to enclose his also. The Dey seems disposed to quarrel, but with the force there & to be there, I think he would be prevented from doing us any mischief. The part the Spaniards have pursued as relates to the Brig, is very reprehensible. A fast...
10To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 16 May 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have the honour to enclose to you herewith, the Kingston Gazette of the 4th: instant; also an Extract from a letter received by to-day’s mail, from Captain Woolsey, the Commanding Naval Officer at Sackett’s Harbour. I have the honour to be, with the highest respect, Sir, Your most Obedt: Servt. Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 45, LSP ). Crowninshield probably forwarded the 4 May 1816 issue of the...
11To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 29 April 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have the honour to enclose for your signature the Blank Commissions and Warrants herewith. With great respect, &c. Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 45, LSP ).
12To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 19 April 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have the honour to enclose, herewith, Nominations for the promotions and appointments required by the Naval Service of the United States. I have the honour to be, &c. Letterbook copy and letterbook copy of enclosure ( DNA : RG 45, LSP ). JM forwarded the nominations, listing forty-nine names, in two messages to the Senate on 20 Apr. 1816 ( DNA : RG 46, Executive Proceedings, Nominations,...
13To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 16 March 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have duly considered the subject of a letter from the Governor of Virginia, enclosing the Resolutions of the Legislature of that Commonwealth, which you were pleased to refer to the Navy Department. Availing myself of the experience and professional knowledge of the Commissioners of the Navy Board, I have requested their opinion upon the subject, which so fully accords with my own, that I...
14To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 23 February 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have the honour to transmit, herewith, Nominations to the Senate of the United States, on behalf of Charles R. Broome, to be a first Lieutenant; Erastus Loomis, Robert M. Desha, John S. Page, Henry E. Dix, and Augustus A. Nicholson, to be second Lieutenants in the Marine Corps. I have the honour to be, &c. Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 45, LSP ). JM forwarded the recommendations to the Senate...
15To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 13 December 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to enclose herewith a letter from Commodore Decatur, and a nomination to the Senate in his behalf to be a Commissioner of the Navy Board. I have the honor to be &c Letterbook copy and letterbook copy of second enclosure ( DNA : RG 45, LSP ); second enclosure ( DNA : RG 46, Executive Proceedings, Nominations, 14B–A1). Letterbook copy and letterbook copy of second enclosure. JM...
16To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 11 December 1815 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Benjamin W. Crowninshield. 11 December 1815, Navy Department. “I have the honor to enclose herewith a nomination to the Senate in behalf of John L. Storer of Portland, Maine, to be Navy Agent vice Samuel Storer deceased.” Letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 45, LSP ). 1 p. In a message dated 14 Dec. 1815 (1 p.; in John Payne Todd’s hand, over JM ’s signature), JM forwarded the nomination to the...
17To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 7 December 1815 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Benjamin W. Crowninshield. 7 December 1815, Navy Department. “I have the honor to enclose herewith, Lists of the Promotions & appointments made in the Navy & marine Corps of the United States, during the late Recess of Congress.” Letterbook copy and letterbook copy of enclosures ( DNA : RG 45, LSP ). Letterbook copy 1 p. The letterbook copy of enclosures (2 pp.) includes a list of two...
18To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 28 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
The within letter, is from Capt Charles Stewart of the navy, & contains his answer, to your offer to him, of a seat at the navy Board; he declines accepting it. To whom will you be pleased to offer it now? Decatur may be home soon from the medn.; I doubt some, if it would suit his activity; there is Capts Evans & Sinclair, the first is at NY, the latter gentleman has been ordered to the...
19To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 27 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
Your esteemed favour has been rec’d, dated 18 Inst. I wrote you, Capt Stewart had declined the honor of a seat at the Navy Board, & requested that you would instruct me farther on that subject. 1st. As to the “precautionary force that ought to be continued in the medin.?” you observe it would be best to leave it with the Coms. there, they were instructed as to that point; but when we hear from...
20To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 11 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
I rece’d your letter a few days past, directing me to make an offer to Capt Stewart, of the navy, a seat at the navy Board, which has been done, but no answer returned from him, I believe he is at Pha. Mr. Homans transmitted to me Despatches from Come Decatur, dated 19 Je. & 5 July, & states, the original of the 5 July was sent to you; by which it appears that, the Commissioners, have made a...
21To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 14 August 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have this day rece’d the enclosed letter from Come. Chauncey, declining the offer of a seat at the Navy Board, this I regret, as a better man could not be procured from among the officers of the navy, who shall now have the offer? shall it be Sinclair, or Angus? your opinion was, if my memory serves right, for reasons you then gave, that Come Sinclair was to be preffered, especially as he...
22To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 7 June 1815 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to state for your consideration, that there remains of the sum of four hundred thousand dollars limited by Law for the extent of the purchase of the fleet captured on Lake Champlain, a balance of about sixty five thousand dollars over the amount actually paid to the Captors, which balance, if you should approve, may be applied to the purchase of the Prize Ship Cyane, to be drawn...
23To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 23 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have the honour to enclose, for your consideration, sundry Copies of letters which have passed between this Department and the Commissioners of the Navy Board. These pretensions will produce unpleasant consequences to the Service; and I request you will be pleased to say, if the Board, which was created to assist the Department, shall control the Secretary, or the Secretary shall control the...
24To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 23 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
By yesterdays mail, I sent you copies of a corrispondence, which had taken place between the Coms of the Navy Board, & myself, which I thought extraordinary, because, I did not perceive what was the object of it, unless it was, to control the Dept., for I had consulted some one of them, upon every measure that was necessary, in my opinion, to ask their advise, & we was harmonising very...
25To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 10 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I submit to your consideration the enclosed letter from Com: Decatur. The anxiety he expresses to proceed on the expedition against the algerines, appears to be very general, through the commercial Community. It is evident that the change of affairs in Europe, has induced the British Government, to withdraw their troops from Canada, from Castine, & Nova-Scotia. The operations against Algiers...
26To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 1 May 1815 (Madison Papers)
I submit to your consideration the enclosed Copy of a letter to commodore Decatur, written with the advice and consent of Messrs: Monroe & Dallas—and I request your opinion and instructions upon the subject. I have the honor to be Very respectfully Your obedient Servt. RC and enclosure ( DLC ); letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 45, LSP ). RC in a clerk’s hand; signature parenthetically inserted by JM...
27To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 29 April 1815 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to submit for your consideration and opinion the enclosed papers relative to the fleet captured on Lake champlain. The Signers of the valuation were from the necessity of circumstances, all officers of our Navy, and may be considered directly interested in the transaction. Nevertheless I am of opinion, that if the objections be not too absolute against the valuation, and the mode,...
28To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 26 April 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note, with the proceedings of the Court martial on Dr: Roberts. I have this day issued an order to convene a new Court to try him upon the former charges and such additional ones, as may be exhibited against him, which according to Capt. Sinclairs letter will tend to produce a different result. I have the honor to be with great respect Your...
29To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 21 April 1815 (Madison Papers)
I would respectfully submit to your consideration the Enclosed papers, with a view to have your sanction to dismiss the man from the U.S. Naval Service. His character & qualifications are unfavourably spoken of by Captain Porter & others. I am very respectfully Sir Your Obedt Servt. RC ( DLC ); letterbook copy ( DNA : RG 45, LSP ). RC in a clerk’s hand, signed by Crowninshield; docketed by JM...
30To James Madison from Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 18 April 1815 (Madison Papers)
I respectfully submit for your consideration the subject of building the Steam frigate at Baltimore, which since the Peace has been entirely suspended. The amount of $150.000. originally subscribed for this object, by the Citizens of Baltimore, is to be reimbursed to them in United States’ Stock, upon the terms that the first loan shall obtain after the period. The actual expenditure for...