To James Madison from Elijah Mix, 8 January 1814
From Elijah Mix
Washington 8th. Jany 1814
Sir
Permit me to inform you that When those papers Were presented to the War Dept—In the absence of Genl. Armstrong—Mr. Parker caled on the secretary of the Navy and he informed him that my Claim would be payed out of the fund aluded to—(passed 13th. of July 1813).1
I then caled on Mr. Jones and he advised me (Should Mr Parker Offer) to pay a part of my Claim) not to take It—by Observing that when General Armstrong arived that he would proverbly pay the Whole.
Excuse me Sir for again Intruding upon you but I find myself so much Imbarased In consequenc[e] of the advances that I have made on those Machines, together with One hundred and Twenty Dolls expended In seacking payment, that It Obliges me to intrude thus frequent upon you. I have the Honor to be Sir With the highest respect your Very Obd. Servant
Elijah Mix
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.
1. No appropriations legislation related to Mix’s claim was adopted on 13 July 1813, but three days later JM signed “An Act providing for the further defence of the ports and harbours of the United States,” which appropriated $250,000 for the sinking of “hulks, or other means of impediment” to British warships ( 3:4–18). Mix wrote John Armstrong on 17 Feb. 1814, repeating his request for payment (DNA: RG 107, LRRS, M-289:7). For his earlier efforts to destroy British ships with torpedoes, see Mix’s letters to JM of 8 and 15 Apr. 1813, 6:182–83 and n. 1, 202 and n.