As you have been pleased to express your approbation of my new process for Ropemaking, and are desirous to know upon what conditions I will cede the privilege of using such of my machinery as may be conveniently employed on board the Ships of War of the United States,—I shall now proceed to make you some propositions upon that subject:—but I beg your permission to state a few preliminary observations.—

I flatter myself that the lapse of years since I have had the honor to be personally known to you, has not been marked by anything that rendered me unworthy of those humble stations which I have heretofore occupied in public Service.

You, Sir, who have long had an important share in the Administration of the Government of the United States under their present Constitution, can bear witness that I have never solicited extraordinary compensation for services and expences of a Public nature, whether contemplated previous to their being performed and incurred, or not; and that I have never asked any public employment, though I have taken occasion to offer the exercise of my humble talents in my Country’s service.—

But an opportunity now presents where a reciprocity of interest seems to warrant my requesting from you an appointment under Government, which, at the same time that it will furnish me an occasion to utilize my talents for public benefit,—will afford me compensation for the Privilege that I propose to cede to the Naval Department.

I take it for granted that in compliance with the known wishes of a numerous and respectable proportion of American Citizens, the Naval Establishment of the United States will be continued,—and of course that the organization of that Department of the General Government will soon be completed upon a scale commensurate to the Political Character, Geographical position and Disposable Resources of our Country.—

In making this definitive arrangement, the Sage Administrators and Legislators of the United States will doubtless improve the advantage of selecting from the systems and usages of the Maritime Powers of Europe, such parts as may be beneficially adopted into the Constitution of the American Military Marine.

I presume it will be allowed on all hands that among the Regulations and Institutions of the British Admiralty, we shall find many things worthy of imitation and peculiarly well-adapted both to the progress and perfection of a National Marine Establishment.

There is one Post, or Office, of great utility, established in the British Admiralty system, which I believe is not yet introduced into that of the United States.—It is that of “Surveyor General of the Admiralty.”—The Gentleman who filled that office at the time I was last in England, was a Mr. Bentham;—who, as I was informed, was bred a Carpenter,—became an Inventor of ingenious machinery for divers purposes,—attracted the notice of Majesty,—was introduced into public service in the quality of a Civil Engineer,—and at length attained the honorable Station of “Surveyor General of the Admiralty.”—He is now stiled “General Bentham”;—I presume this Title refers to his rank in the Corps of Engineers.—

I shall not pretend to be thoroughly acquainted with the extent of his attributes or authority.—I am informed that part of the Duties attached to his Office consists in introducing into the Naval Department every useful combination of the mechanical powers whether applicable to the Dock-Yards or Ships; whether they regard the manufacture of Masts, Cordage, SailCloth, Carriages for Artillery, or other branches of Furniture less important. His attributes extend also to the erection and repairs of all the appropriate buildings; and his Superintendance in those matters is not confined to any one point of the Realm, but extends generally to every Naval Arsenal and Ship of War in Great Britain. I understand that he has engaged one of the Patentees of the improved method of making Cordage as practiced in England, to establish his machinery for Government accompts adding to it some improvements of his own with respect to the Building and Moving powers. An annual Salary of Two Thousand pounds sterling is attached to his office.—

I hope you will not charge me with too much presumption in aspiring to occupy a similar Station in the Naval Department of the United States.—I presume you recollect that in early life I embraced the profession of a Mariner: I confess I still cherish a predilection in favor of everything that bears a relation to it, and wish to see our National Institutions in this line carried to the highest degree of perfection. It is in the Naval Department that I think my humble talents might be most usefully employed.—In soliciting this appointment, I do not extend my views to an enormous Salary. I know that neither the Republican habits of the Country, nor the actual State of our Rising Navy, warrant the expectation of a Salary equal to the British Establishment; nor, perhaps, adequate to the Services to be performed:—but still it must be considered that, agreably to an old adage,—“the Labourer is worthy of his hire.” I shall therefore take the liberty of mentioning a Salary to be attached to the Office of Surveyor General of the Marine of the United States,”—which will probably only meet the expences necessitated by its Duties,—and perhaps may not be competent even to that object, whenever this Servant of the Republic shall be obliged to make excursions on Public Service to remote parts of the Union—The annual Salary at lowest ought to be Three Thousand five hundred dollars—In proposing this Sum, I have a view rather to the permanence of the office,—and of course to the compensation to be made to any Successor in it than to my own immediate pretensions or necessities:—because my intentions are to give the United States a “quid pro quo” in the first instance.

That is to say,—on the condition that you view the utility of the Office in question in the same point of light that I do, and think proper to honor me with the appointment to it,—I will in return cede to the United States the right of constructing and using on board their Ships all such machinery to which I have, or may hereafter acquire, an exclusive right,—as well that which may be found useful for laying Cordage,—as such as may be adopted to any other purpose.—It will also become my duty to be vigilant in discovering and [. . . .] in appropriating for the use of the Navy Yards and Ships of the United States whatever may be advantageous to them either under the heads of “Architecture,”—or “Mechanics.”—

Where any discovery or invention that may be useful in the Naval Department, is patented, it is understood that the Government must in justice make compensation to the Proprietor for the application of it to the public service. Of this nature is my “complete system of mechanical ropemaking.” I expect that the premium to be agreed upon between the Secretary of the Navy and [yourself.—I f[. . . .] Right in [. . . .] p[. . . .] ess as it regards the manufacture of Ropeyarns and all sorts and sizes of Cordage, shall always be considered as a thing totally separate and distinct from the particular Machines that are to be furnished to every Ship of War for the purpose of laying Cordage on Board Ship, up to a certain size, to supply the current expenditure while the Ship may be in actual Service.—the saving that would result to the Public from this measure cannot be easily estimated;—but it must be very considerable.—In the first place,—this supply being produced by the aid of hands whose labour belongs to the United States, the amount of the pecuniary consideration that would otherwise be paid to the Ropemaker for his manual labour and his profits upon the Capital he employs in the Supply, is, in effect, clear gain to the State.—In the 2d. place,—the improved quality of the Cordage thus produced, presents a very considerable economy, or, in other words, a gain,—which will be found the more advantageous as it relates not only to the quantity of real expenditure,—but to relieving the Masts and Yards from the pressure of a superfluous weight,—and to facilitating the manœuvres of the Ship.—Having no fixt data for this calculation, I cannot pretend to be accurate in valuing these benefits at the Sum of one thousand dollars per annum for each and every Ship of War in actual service.

It must be remembered that so much Cordage as the Sailors should thus manufacture on Ship-board, would proportionally diminish the premium I ought to gain upon that quantity if manufactured by my process elsewhere.—

From this view of the subject, then, it appears that in granting the free use of my machines to the Ships of War of the United States, the Salary which I propose to be attached to the office of “Surveyor General of the Marine,”—say, $.3,500. ought to be considered as but a partial equivalent for the cession of my Rights:—But such is my desire to render myself useful “in my day and veneration,” that I will chearfully wave any claim to a greater pecuniary compensation, so far as respects the appointment which I solicit; considering that Salary as being nearly adequate to the expences inevitably attached to it.

Thus, Sir, I have taken the liberty of stating to you explicitly my propositions. If they prove agreable to you, I shall be happy to devote my time and talents, so far as requisite, to the public service; and shall immediately take measures for establishing my permanent residence near the seat of Government.

The private business that recently called me to the City of Washington, I hope will not detain me here many days longer.—Allow me,—therefore, Sir, to beg you will be so good as to take the Subject of my foregoing letter into your Sage consideration as early as your important avocations will permit.

I have one other favor to ask of you;—that is,—that whatever your decision may be with respect to my present application, you will still continue to honor me with that place in your good opinion and amity which I ever have been, and ever shall be, ambitious to deserve.

I pray you Sir, to accept the sincere hommage of my highest respect and consideration.—