Burwell S. Randolph to Dolley Madison, 24 September 1823
Burwell S. Randolph to Dolley Madison
24th September 1823
Madam
It is a source of sincere regret that I have not the pleasure of being personally acquainted, with the two Individuals, who of all on earth besides, have been, the most bounteous friends, of my dear Mother and her children, and to whose patronage we owe every advantage we enjoy: for had it not been for Mr: Madison and yourself Madam, I cannot conceive what would have been our fate,1 the happiness of being virtuous would now be our only consolation and support: but gratitude Madam is the only return I can make for so much benificence, and which I can never cease to feel, even in the utmost adversity, against which, we are defended by your liberal support alone. Flattered with the fairest promises of the President and Mrs: Hay2 (by whose request I left my vocation in Virginia) we have lived to see how faithless they are, and receive our only reward, mortification! Else, I would point out to them opportunities, of which they might avail themselves to promote our welfare, but it would be in vain to do so, at this time, it is reported, that there are some new arrangements to be made in the Navy Department on the 1st next month, by turning out some of their worthless Clerks, & it is thought Charles Hay3 will be made chief Clerk in that Department; so that if these changes are actually made, and they have been anticipated long before Mr: Thompson resigned, there will be two vacant Clerkships at 1400 dollars and one at 1000 dollars, and as I have every confidence in my capacity to fill either of them, I would apply to the President to aid me obtaining one of these appointments, but it would be useless, the like opportunities have repeatedly occurred, but he is always deaf to my intreaties, and completely inexorable: I should feel reproached by making this statement, if you were to think it was done with a view to solicit Mr: Madison’s influence in a positive manner; No Madam! I have to much regard and esteem, to excite his patient forbearance by making a direct application to him; but I hope you will pardon me in the request that you will use these suggestions, if you think they may not be inconsistent with my more primary wishes, of not putting Mr: Madison to any inconvenience, or trouble. I requested Commodore Rodgers4 by letter two days ago, to exert his influence in our behalf, but have not received an answer. Believe me to be, with sentiments of the warmest gratitude, and affectionate regard for my kind Benefactors, Madam most respectfully Yours truly,
Burwell S. Randolph
Present my regards to Mrs: Cutts & Mr: Todd.
RC (owned by Mr. and Mrs. George B. Cutts, Brookline, Mass., 1982).
1. For the repeated solicitations for office from the family of Mary (Molly) Randolph, see JM to James Monroe, 15 Mar. 1820, , 2:37–38 and n. 1, and JM to William B. Randolph, 23 Nov. 1824, and n. 2.
2. Elizabeth (Eliza) Kortright Monroe Hay (1786–1840) was the daughter of James Monroe and wife of George Hay, and served often as hostess at the executive mansion during her father’s administration (Meghan C. Budinger, “The Domestic Life of James Monroe: The Man at Home,” in A Companion to James Madison and James Monroe, ed. Stuart Leibeger [Malden, Mass., 2013], 474–75).
3. Charles Hay (ca. 1793–1833), the son of George Hay and Eliza Monroe Hay, began as a clerk in the Navy Department in 1819, was promoted to chief clerk in 1823, and held that position until his removal by President Jackson in 1829 (Richmond Enquirer, 23 Apr. 1833; Daily National Intelligencer, 1 Dec. 1823; Baltimore Patriot & Mercantile Advertiser, 3 Apr. 1829; George Hay to Andrew Jackson, 16 Apr. 1829, Smith et al., Papers of Andrew Jackson, 7:161–62 and n.).
4. John Rodgers (1773–1838), of Havre de Grace, Maryland, apprenticed as a seaman in his youth and by 1793 was captain of a merchant ship. In 1798 Rodgers was appointed second lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and served during the Quasi-War aboard the Constellation; in 1799 he was promoted captain. From 1802 to 1806 he served in the Mediterranean in the campaigns of the Barbary Wars, three times as commodore of the squadron. He was captain of the President when in 1811 it vanquished the British sloop Little Belt. During the War of 1812 he was the ranking naval officer and made several cruises; he later was involved in turning back the British assault on Baltimore in 1814. In 1815 JM chose him to head the board of naval commissioners. He also served as secretary of the navy ad interim in 1823. His last tour of duty was as commodore of the Mediteranean squadron, 1825–27. The Rodgers family lived for many years in Washington and were friends of the Madisons. In later years they lived near Dolley Madison on Lafayette Square (Mattern and Shulman, Selected Letters of Dolley Payne Madison, 235, 236, 355).