I salute you with friendship and respect.
TO COLONEL TATHAM.
Washington, July 6, 1807.
Sir,—Your favor of the 1st instant has been received, and I thank you for the communication. Considering the mass of false reports in circulation, and the importance of being truly informed of the proceedings of the British armed vessels in the Chesapeake and its vicinities, I should be very glad, as you are on the spot, provided with a proper vessel and men, if you could continue watching their motions constantly, and giving me information of them. In that case it would be necessary you should journalize everything respecting them which should fall within your observation, and enclose daily to me a copy of the observations of the day, forwarding them to the post-office of Norfolk, by every opportunity occurring. Your allowance should be exactly on the same footing as when you were surveying the coast, and for current expenses you may draw on Mr. Bedinger, Navy Agent, at Norfolk, only accompanying each draught with a letter explaining generally the purpose of it, which is a constant and indispensable rule in all our departments. It will be necessary for me to ask the continuance of this service from you only until I can ascertain the course these officers mean to pursue.
I salute you with esteem and respect.
TO THE SECRETARY AT WAR.
Washington, July 7, 1807.
Dear Sir,—I enclose you copies of two letters sent by express from Captain Decatur. By these you will perceive that the British commanders have their foot on the threshold of war. They have begun the blockade of Norfolk; have sounded the passage to the town, which appears practicable for three of their vessels, and menace an attack on the Chesapeake and Cybele. These, with four gun-boats, form the present defence, and there are four more gun-boats in Norfolk nearly ready. The four gun-boats at Hampton are hauled up, and in danger, four in Mopjack bay are on the stocks. Blows may be hourly possible. In this state of things I am sure your own feelings will anticipate the public judgment, that your presence here cannot be dispensed with. There is nobody here who can supply your knowledge of the resources for land co-operation, and the means for bringing them into activity. Still, I would wish you would stay long enough at New York to settle with the V. P. and Colonel Williams, the plan of defence for that place; and I am in hopes you will also see Fulton's experiments tried, and see how far his means may enter into your plan. But as soon as that is done, should matters remain in their present critical state, I think the public interest and safety would suffer by your absence from us. Indeed, if the present state of things continues, I begin to fear we shall not be justifiable in separating this autumn, and that even an earlier meeting of Congress than we had contemplated, may be requisite. I salute you affectionately.
TO THE MASTERS AND OTHER OFFICERS SAILING TO AND FROM THE PORTS OF NORFOLK AND PORTSMOUTH.
Washington, July 8, 1807.