University of Virginia Library

TO WILLIAM H. CRAWFORD.[126]

Dear Sir,—I have received your two letters of
the 27th and 28th. The views taken by yourself
and your colleagues at Washington of the subject
presented by Col. Jesup's communication, and your
letters to the Secretary of the Navy and General
Jackson in consequence of them, were very proper.
The part of the precautionary arrangements involving
most delicacy is that of sending the naval
force into the Gulf of Mexico. Besides the unavoidable

delay, I fear the expense of equipment will be
considerable, under an appropriation known to be
deficient. It will be well to give him the earliest
notice of any change in the prospect releasing the
Navy Department from the call. The letter from
Mr. Erving goes far towards it, and further intelligence
from him may be daily expected. As
a communication of the contents of Col. Jesup's
letter to the Governors of Georgia, Kentucky,
Tennessee, and Louisiana, will lead to no immediate
expense, nor to any unnecessary public excitement,
it is recommended by the general policy of anticipating
danger and guarding against it. I am glad
to find General Jackson's views coinciding with
those transmitted to him.

I sent to the Attorney General the papers received
by the Navy Department from Commodore
Patterson, relating to the destruction of the Negro
fort, and the property taken in it, with a request
from the Commodore that a decision might be had
on the distribution of the property among the
captors. I referred Mr. Rush, also, to the report,
when received from Col. Clinch. Be so good as to
let him see the communications from that officer,
now returned. The case is novel, and involves
several legal questions.

I perceive that a part of the Negroes captured
were deserters from the Spaniards, who will therefore
be gainers by breaking up the establishment
on the Apalachicola. This is another consideration
which may prevent complaints from that quarter.

It may be recollected, also, that the Governor
of Pensacola declared that territory not to be within
Spanish jurisdiction.

Jameson's remarks in favor of making the seat
of the factory the seat of his agency have weight.
His pacific mediations among the Indians may
also be recommended by a humane policy. But
I think it will be best to discountenance the proposed
visit of some of them to Washington. We
complain at present of the reception of our Indians
even at British outposts, and we may find occasion
for making a point of putting an end to that sort
of intercourse.

Mr. Monroe has not yet arrived on his way to
Washington, and I cannot fix on the day of my
setting out until he does. Some other circumstances,
also, have been in the way. I fear I shall
not be able to put an end to the detention before
the last of the week; possibly not before Monday
next.

I have already mentioned to you the answer of
Mr. Clay, declining the offer made to him.[127] Altho'
Mr. Lowndes has not had occasion to manifest
particular qualifications for the War Department,
his general talents and public standing present him
in very favorable comparison with any other occurring
for consideration.

Cordial regards.