Autographs
William Jones, Secretary of the United States Navy Signed 1813 Orders Regarding "Private Armed Vessels"
WILLIAM JONES (1760-1831). U.S. Secretary of the Navy (1813-1814); Served in the Revolutionary War, joining a Company of Volunteers at age 16, fighting in the Battles of Trenton and Princeton, later serving with the Navy at sea; Member of Congress from Pennsylvania, (1801-1803); also was the President of the Second Bank of the United States (1816-1819).
May 22, 1813-Dated War of 1812 Period, Very Rare Typeset Printed Naval Circular Signed, "W. Jones" as Secretary of the Navy, measuring 9-1/2" x 7-7/8" sent to U.S. Customs Collectors, Very Fine. This boldly printed Document regarding a recent Act of Congress, "Regulating pensions to persons on board private armed vessels". Here, Secretary of the Navy Jones orders that Collectors immediately: "transmit to this Department a transcript of such journals of vessels having letters of marque and reprisal as may have been reported to you on or before the 30th ultimo", and to provide them quarterly. Here, he also complains of lax compliance with an "Act of June 1812 - concerning letters of marque, prizes and prize goods". Prior old mounting stains show-through from the blank reverse with several small reinforcements on the outer edges as shown, all located well clear of the signature at bottom right. The very first example we have offered.
PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF
AMBASSADOR J. WILLIAM MIDDENDORF II