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Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

TO B. STODDERT, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY. - John Adams, The Works of John Adams, vol. 8 (Letters and State Papers 1782-1799) [1853]

Edition used:

The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: with a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations, by his Grandson Charles Francis Adams (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1856). 10 volumes. Vol. 8.

Part of: The Works of John Adams, 10 vols.

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TO B. STODDERT, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.

Quincy, 8 July, 1799.

Sir,—

The Constitution1 employs my thoughts by day and my dreams by night. Captain Talbot has written to you in his letter of the 7th of June, which I return, his candid and impartial opinions, according to the information he received. But Beale was absent by the advice of his physicians, and Hull was present. I mean no insinuation by this against Mr. Hull, whose character is in my mind fair, and his conduct irreproachable. No lieutenant in the service stands fairer in my mind.2 But I see no reason for discouraging Beale, by turning him out of the ship, for I believe him to be equal to Hull in every respect, even in age. I believe Beale to have had great injustice done him by little passions and a miserable caprice, which I will not explain at present, because I shall probably, though not certainly, consent to his removal, more because he, and his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, have been my neighbors, and to avoid suspicion of partiality for that cause, than for any other reason.3 Mr. Knox I have made a lieutenant, with an express condition, that he should not serve on board this ship. Mr. Pitt’s resignation I have requested Captain Talbot to accept, so that the midshipmen will now be according to his mind. I would have no great difficulty with midshipmen or lieutenants. There is not one among them I would not instantly remove, if the service could be benefited by it. But the refusal of Talbot to accept his commission is a serious affair. It was wholly unexpected to me. I supposed he had his commission before, and that all was settled. You have not laid the papers before me. I can only judge of the pretensions of Truxtun and Talbot, or Talbot and Truxtun, by the general idea I have of the times and circumstances of their appointments, in some of which I may be mistaken. Talbot says, there are captains at hand. I know not to whom he alludes, unless they are Sever and Little. But the devil has been at work with his malignant whispers about Sever as well as about Beale, and the merchants of Boston expect that Little will be the Nelson of the United States, and they will be very loth to release him. Pardon the impunity1 of the expression. Talbot is very satisfactory to officers and men, to the merchants and politicians of Boston and the State, and the loss of him will occasion a very serious alarm. I would go on board the ship every day and converse with Talbot, but custom requires that the welkin must be rended, and the world alarmed, if I set my foot on board; and Talbot cannot leave the ship. As to Dobel, I have not yet found one human being who reports in his favor. I have employed as independent and impartial men as the world affords, to sound the opinions of merchants and others, and not one word of approbation of his appointment has yet reached me. Talman, although he has his appointment of lieutenant, shall not go on board of this ship against the judgment of the officers. His character is respectable, but his talent for command is doubted by others, as well as those who spoke of him to Talbot.

With great anxiety on account of this ship, I am, &c.

John Adams.

[1 ]Frigate.

[2 ]Isaac Hull, afterwards celebrated as the commander of this ship.

[3 ]Mr. Stoddert had recommended his removal to another vessel, on account of personal difficulties among the officers.

[1 ]So in the copy, but obviously an error.