1From John Adams to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 25 October 1816 (Adams Papers)
A Lieutenant of the Navy under Commodore Bainbridge on board the Independence, is in a tender state of health, & thinks this climate is too severe for his Constitution in its present condition, he therefore ardently wishes to be ordered to some ship in the Mediterranean. If there is no national vessel Ship going there he would take passage in a Merchant Vessel. Though I have personal reasons...
2From John Adams to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 18 January 1816 (Adams Papers)
Samuel Tucker Esquire, a Member of our Massachusetts Legislature has a Petition to Government for Justice or customary favour to meritorious Officers which will be explained before the proper Judges. I cannot refuse his request to certify what I know of his Character and History. My Acquaintance with him commenced early in the Year 1776 when he was first appointed to a Command in the Navy in...
3Thomas Haliday to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 25 June 1815 (Madison Papers)
The Petition of the Subscriber respectfully showeth, that your Petitioner has served for Fifteen Years past as a Sergeant in the Marine Corps, & the best part of that time as chief Armourer to said Corps, at this place, under the superintendance of Colo: Wharton, in which capacity he has performed his duty to the best of his skill & judgment. Your Petitioner begs leave to represent, that at...
4Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 30 January 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Thomas Mann Randolph , the son of a neighbor and relation of mine is desirous of entering the naval service, and I am requested by his father to sollicit a midshipman’s warrant for him. I have known the young gentleman from his birth and can assure you he is of perfectly correct morals and demeanor, and of an amiable disposition. he is about 18. years of age, and had made some proficiency...
5Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 9 October 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed sollicitations for a midshipman’s place for William Henry Kennon of this state, are from his mother and uncle, both well known to me as persons of merit. the latter is Clerk of our House of delegates . the father Gen l Kennon was a valuable character, of whose services I wished much to have availed the public in instituting the new government at S t Louis . of the grounds which...
6From 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...
7From 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...
8From 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...
9From 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...
10From 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,...