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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC02437.07279 |
| From Archive Folder | The Henry Knox Papers [0140] May-August 1799 |
| Title | Silas Talbot to John Adams declining the commission of Captain of the Navy |
| Date | 3 July 1799 |
| Author | Talbot, Silas (1751-1813) |
| Recipient | Adams, John |
| Document Type | Correspondence; Government document; Military document |
| Content Description | Talbot thanks President Adams for receiving the commission of Captain of the Navy and "also another to Cotton Thayer as Second Lt. of Marines." Talbot has difficulty accepting this commission because he fears he will be a junior officer to someone who does not deserve to be ranked ahead of him, citing [John] Barry, [Samuel] Nicolson, and [Thomas] Truxton. "I consider a commission only as a certificate or evidence of an appointment, why then have I not untill this day been furnished with the Evidence of my first appointment under the present Government as well, or instead of the Letter." Talbot does not have "confidence" in the Navy Department. Talbot respectfully declines the commission and wishes to retire from the service. Noted at the top as a "copy," though written in Talbot's hand and signed by him. Originally enclosed with GLC02437.07282. |
| Subjects | Navy Military History USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) President Government and Civics |
| People | Talbot, Silas (1751-1813) Adams, John (1735-1826) Thayer, Henry A. (fl. 1863) Barry, John (1745-1803) Nicholson, Samuel (1743-1811) Truxtun, Thomas (1755-1822) |
| Place written | On board the Frigate Constitution |
| Theme | Naval & Maritime; The Presidency; Government & Politics |
| Sub-collection | The Henry Knox Papers |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |
| Related documents | Letter from Henry Knox to William S. Shaw requesting that his son Henry, a lieutenant in the Navy, be assigned to the Frigate Constitution Letter from Silas Talbot to Henry Knox telling Knox he has returned his commission and expects to leave the Frigate Constitution |