Papers of John Adams, volume 21
Informed bÿ the Resolution of the House of
Representatives that our Government intends to arm Six frigates,1 I find me Self obliged, to make
your Excellency acquainted with a worthÿ American, to whom, if known,
perhaps maÿ be adjudged the command of one of them—at least—He will come in
consideration if an excellent character, a prudent and manlÿ behaviour,
experience in the art of navigation and cool intrepidity can entitle Him to
it. His name is Capt.
Benj. Weeks. In the American War, he commanded
a Privateer—after the peace he was continually, employ’d by Mr̃. John Ross
& Co and we crossed with Him the Atlantic in the Frigat L’Henriette— He
lives in Philadelphia, and the mercantile house of Ross in that city—Shall
provide Him with more favourable testimonies if theÿ are required.2
A warm wish for America’s glorÿ—a conviction of your Excellency’s powerfull influence, and the knowledge of your Excellency’s principles must justifÿ these lines.
Permit me to assure your Excellencÿ, that I am with
Sentiments of the highest consideration and respect / Sir! / Your
Excellency’s most obedt. / humble Servant
P.s. Capt. Weeks is not
acquainted with my intercession—
RC (Adams Papers).
Largely responding to Barbary depredations against
U.S. shipping, Congress on 6 Feb. narrowly passed a resolution
recommending the establishment of the U.S. Navy. Debate centered on the
availability of natural resources to build the fleet, the potential cost
of such an endeavor, and how a naval buildup might be interpreted abroad
in light of U.S. neutrality. Questions arose about debt and government
overreach, but news of several more Barbary captures prompted Congress
to pass the Naval Act on 27 March, and the president signed it into law
the same day. Over the next few years, six frigates launched the U.S.
Navy: United States, Constellation,
Constitution, Congress, Chesapeake, and President (Michael J. Crawford and Christine F. Hughes, The Reestablishment of the Navy, 1787–1801:
Historical Overview and Select Bibliography, Washington, D.C.,
1995, p. 4–6;
U.S. Statutes at Large
,
1:350–351).
This was likely Capt. Benjamin Weeks (Wickes),
originally from Baltimore, whom JA dined with in Bilbao,
Spain, in 1780. John Ross was a former American commercial agent in
Nantes. Van der Kemp sailed for the United States via Weeks’ frigate,
L’Henriette, in 1788 (vols. 5:311, 18:501;
JA, D&A
, 2:432; Franklin, Papers
, 40:244; Van der Kemp, Autobiography
, p. 111).
I trust you will excuse the liberty I take in introducing
to your acquaintance Mr. Talleyrand de Perigord
who is preparing to seek an asylum in America.1 As you are no doubt acquainted
with his family and with the distinguished part he acted in the Constituent
Assembly of France it is unnecessary for me to say more than that he has
recieved an order to quit this country in consequence of a power vested in
Ministers by the Alien Bill passed last sessions. This bill has been made in
a variety of instances subservient to purposes of private pique, and of
unmerited persecution; I believe in no one case more clearly so than in that
of Mr. de Talleyrand who is required to depart
not upon account of any conduct imputed to him here, but at the instigation
of a foreign court.
He will I am well convinced meet with a more liberal
reception in the United States than he has experienced here with every claim
to attention which high birth, uncommon talents, and accomplished manners
can bestow. He is accompanied by Mr. Beaumetz
likewise a 266 distinguished member of the
Constituent Assembly, whom I also beg leave to reccommend to your notice. It
is unnecessary for me to say how ready I shall at all times be to recieve
your commands on any similar occasion or how truly I am / Dear Sir / Your
Obedient & Obliged Humble Servant
RC (Adams Papers); endorsed: “Earl of Wycombe / March 1. Ansd / May 3. 1794.”
John Henry Petty, Earl Wycombe (1765–1809), wrote on
behalf of Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754–1838), formerly
the bishop of Autun, who had served as the French ambassador to Great
Britain since 1792. The French diplomat toured North America seeking
business opportunities and traversed Maine and western New York before
returning to France in 1796. His travel companion was Bon Albert Briois
de Beaumez (b. 1759), who briefly served as president of the French
National Assembly in 1790 and sought to reform the nation’s criminal law
code (
AFC
, 10:162, 163;
Madison, Papers, Congressional Series
,
15:259; Washington, Papers, Presidential Series
,
16:17).