From James Madison to Benjamin W. Crowninshield, 23 December 1814
To Benjamin W. Crowninshield
Washington Dcr. 23. 1814
Dear Sir
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.1
I repeat my hope that it will not be inconsistent with your views to undertake that very important service, and that its urgency will prevail on you to lose not a moment in repairing to the Seat of Govt. Accept my friendly respects
James Madison
RC (MH-H: Frederick M. Dearborn Collection, Part I).
1. JM nominated Crowninshield for the position in a message dated 15 Dec. 1814, and the Senate confirmed the appointment on 19 Dec. ( 2:595, 597). Richard Cutts had told JM that he thought Crowninshield would accept, based on a conversation in which Crowninshield had “expressed [his] disposition to serve [his] Country in any capacity the present administration should think proper.” Cutts wrote Crowninshield on 14 and 20 Dec. 1814, reminding him of this statement and urging him to accept the appointment (MaSaPEM: Crowninshield Family Papers, 1697–1909).