To Thomas Jefferson from Charles Biddle, James Gamble, and John Douglass, 25 May 1804
From Charles Biddle, James Gamble, and John Douglass
Philada. May 25. 1804
Sir
We are urged by our feelings, to address you on a Subject, which is to us most interesting and important
we had each a son on board the late United States’ Frigate Philadelphia, at the time of her capture by the Tripolitans, and by the latest intelligence received from them, we have too much reason to feel an extreme solicitude and apprehension for their personal safety—under these Impressions we are induced to request your Excellency to give such information of the intentions of Government, in regard to the mode of procuring the liberation of this unfortunate crew as it may be thought proper to communicate.
We confidently believe, that the measures pursued by the Government, whatever they may be, are such as will conduce most to the general good, and that at all events it is not for us to question or interfere with the arrangements which they may make—But as our view is neither to interfere with the designs of Government nor to ask any information which the Government may think proper to keep secret, we trust we shall be indulged with the information we desire and that your Excellency will not think it improper on this Occasion to Comply with a request dictated by the strongest feelings of paternal Concern. which, if not gratified, will at least we hope be an apology for the present application
With the highest respect. we are your Excellencys. Most Obedt. Servts.
Cha Biddle
James Gamble
John Douglass
P.S. By letters from Tripoli we are informed that on the appearance of our armd Vessells off there all the Americans except those with Capt. Bainbridge were Obliged to serve in their Batteries
RC (DLC); in Biddle’s hand, signed by all; at foot of text: “His Excellency Thos. Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 28 May and so recorded in SJL.
Born in Philadelphia, Charles Biddle (1745-1821) went to sea at the age of 17 and became a shipowner and captain. Elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council in 1784, he was its vice president from 1785 to 1787, prothonotary of the common pleas court of Philadelphia from 1791 until 1809, a frequent member of the state legislature, and a longtime director of the Bank of Pennsylvania. Biddle was a close friend of Aaron Burr and the father of Nicholas Biddle, last president of the Second Bank of the United States (John W. Jordan, ed., Colonial Families of Philadelphia, 2 vols. [New York, 1911], 1:165-9).
John Douglass (1750-1840) was a lifelong resident of Philadelphia who served as a city alderman beginning in 1802 and later as high sheriff. Douglass was a veteran of the American Revolution and also served in the War of 1812. His military experiences were such that a “large concourse of citizens” attended his funeral, including Vice President Richard M. Johnson (same, 2:1631-2; John C. Lowber and Clements S. Miller, Digest of the Ordinances of the Corporation of the City of Philadelphia; and of the Acts of Assembly Relating Thereto [Philadelphia, 1822], 270; Philadelphia North American and Daily Advertiser, 13 July 1840; Lineage Book: National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, 39 [1902], 321).
For James Gamble, see Vol. 41:606-7n.
each a son: midshipmen James Biddle and Robert M. Gamble, and sailmaker Joseph Douglass (, Register, 5, 16, 19-20).