May 5, 1814 To: Oliver H. Perry Dear Sir, In about six days I am promised the prize money. I have agreed to take Treasury notes for all except 100,000 dollars. I expect to hear from you soon on the subject of the 5,000 dollars. I requested Mr. Duvall to ask the Secretary to send you a warrant for it, or to direct the Navy agent to pay you. He did so; but nothing has been done. I think it will be as well to get Mr. Taber to pay you without further ceremony. The passage of the Law is a matter of public notoriety. If he has any money in his hands that he could apply to such an object no orders are necessary. I have submitted a statement of your acct. to the Secretary of the Navy. If he agrees to allow you double Rations I will endeavour to prevail on Turner to pass the account. Yesterday Turner came into the Room where I am settling my accounts & read part of a Letter from Conmodore Sinclair, complaining of the want of system at Erie &c — wishes a good Purser sent — says that Magrath is under arrest and , as he beleives, is deranged. Now this may be very true; but it appears to me not a very just way of proceeding. If he is deranged it is a great misfortune — and it is not necessary to add to it by making an official communication of it, without he was certain of the fact. Turner, with his usual promptitude run up stairs with the pleasing news — the Secretary promised to cast about for a suitable character. I thought this a good chance to put in for Mr. Breese, & immediately wrote him a note on the subject. I think it highly probable he will be appointed..... Your last letters (dates not recollected) have been received. I hope you will continue to write occasionally. Breese informs me that the arrival of Sinclair was quite unexpected, & deranged all the great plans in that quarter. It turns out that, notwithstanding the smoke at Long-point last winter, there were no Troops there, nor Boats built — all the improbable and foolish stories about building vessels on Lake Huron are put down. I do not know what the Secretary intends to do with me. I feel a good deal inclined to quit. The prize business will occupy my time for the summer Yr. affectionate friend S. Hambleton Washington
Posted on: Mon, 05 May 2014 13:00:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015