Navy Register John H. Sherburne Defends His Conduct in Testimony against Jewish Naval Lieutenant, 1821
U.S. Navy
Washington, DC, November 7, 1821
Navy Register John H. Sherburne Defends His Conduct in Testimony against Jewish Naval Lieutenant, 1821
ALS
[U.S. NAVY.] John H. Sherburne, Autograph Letter Signed, to [Smith Thompson?], November 7, 1821, Washington, D.C. 6 pp., 8" x 10". Moderate soiling; light staining; some loss on corner, affecting two lines of text on three pages.
In this letter, Navy Register John H. Sherburne defends his conduct and refutes allegations against him. Although the letter is unaddressed, it was likely directed to Secretary of the Navy Smith Thompson. The issues seem to have arisen around the court martial of Lt. Uriah P. Levy (1792-1862), who later became the first Jewish commodore of the U.S. Navy. During his tenure in the Navy, Levy was court-martialed six times and twice dismissed from the Navy but reinstated. A great admirer of Thomas Jefferson, he purchased Monticello in the 1830s and began its restoration.
In this letter, Sherburne criticizes Lt. William A. Weaver of Maryland, and his brother Midshipman George F. Weaver of Virginia, as well as Lt. Henry Henry of Virginia for their testimony against him. He also mentions Lt. Purser Edward Fitzgerald of Pennsylvania, and "Mr. Watson," who may have been acting chaplain Joseph Watson of Massachusetts. Sherburne appeals to Major Samuel Miller of the Marine Corps and an unidentified Major Myers for support of his statements.
Sherburne's letter refers to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story and Congressman and future Governor William Eustis of Massachusetts for knowledge of his character. He also named President James Monroe, Founding Father and Signer of the Constitution Rufus King of Massachusetts, and Navy Chief Clerk Benjamin Homans as references for his family.
Complete Transcript
Washington 7 Nov 1821
Honoured Sir,
The papers I had the honour to receive from you on the 6 inst I have perused attentively and with silent astonishment, to attempt to prove a negative would be superfluous. I have therefore merely taken them up to answer each in as brief a manner as possible, and in plain respectful language. I was in N York from 12 oclock the 8th Sept. till Eight the next morning Mr Fitzjerald on meeting me asked where I was mound &c. I informed him to Boston, and Portsmouth to see my Father & friends whom I had not seen for a number of years, and I then intended (if time would admit) to go to the Lakes & come down the North River to N.York; he then said "I suppose you mean to put down black marks against some of the Officers who can be spared." I only replied, that I intended to have the "Register" for 1822 correct if possible and should endeavour to know all the Officers on the different stations, to be able on my return to answer any enquiries that should be asked he then said "I suppose some of the Officers will be put upon furlough by next session of Congress" my answer was that, that depended altogether upon the reports, after the Register came out," as for the words "dismissed" & appendages I never mentioned, nor did I directly or indirectly mention your name and my saying that I intended visiting the Lakes, [? ?]. I had your orders and if he was now here, he would hesitate as to the words "your orders" the Conversation I had with Lt. Henry was much in the same language and which he has construed in the same manner. As respects Mid. Weaver I only saw him for about five minutes; and on his enquiring, I only informed him I was going to Boston he asked me if I had seen Com. Stewart, I replied I had just seen him, at Mis Keys on the door conversing with a Lady of my acquaintance, and had been speaking of the Officers attached to the Franklin, &c. He asked me, "if those Midshipmen who had reported twice for Examination, would be allowed to come forward again, and said "he did not think it right as it was putting others back, I only replied that if a Midshipman did not pass in twice trying he ought not be allowed
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U.S. Navy
Washington, DC, November 7, 1821
Navy Register John H. Sherburne Defends His Conduct in Testimony against Jewish Naval Lieutenant, 1821
ALS
[U.S. NAVY.] John H. Sherburne, Autograph Letter Signed, to [Smith Thompson?], November 7, 1821, Washington, D.C. 6 pp., 8" x 10". Moderate soiling; light staining; some loss on corner, affecting two lines of text on three pages.
In this letter, Navy Register John H. Sherburne defends his conduct and refutes allegations against him. Although the letter is unaddressed, it was likely directed to Secretary of the Navy Smith Thompson. The issues seem to have arisen around the court martial of Lt. Uriah P. Levy (1792-1862), who later became the first Jewish commodore of the U.S. Navy. During his tenure in the Navy, Levy was court-martialed six times and twice dismissed from the Navy but reinstated. A great admirer of Thomas Jefferson, he purchased Monticello in the 1830s and began its restoration.
In this letter, Sherburne criticizes Lt. William A. Weaver of Maryland, and his brother Midshipman George F. Weaver of Virginia, as well as Lt. Henry Henry of Virginia for their testimony against him. He also mentions Lt. Purser Edward Fitzgerald of Pennsylvania, and "Mr. Watson," who may have been acting chaplain Joseph Watson of Massachusetts. Sherburne appeals to Major Samuel Miller of the Marine Corps and an unidentified Major Myers for support of his statements.
Sherburne's letter refers to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story and Congressman and future Governor William Eustis of Massachusetts for knowledge of his character. He also named President James Monroe, Founding Father and Signer of the Constitution Rufus King of Massachusetts, and Navy Chief Clerk Benjamin Homans as references for his family.
Complete Transcript
Washington 7 Nov 1821
Honoured Sir,
The papers I had the honour to receive from you on the 6 inst I have perused attentively and with silent astonishment, to attempt to prove a negative would be superfluous. I have therefore merely taken them up to answer each in as brief a manner as possible, and in plain respectful language. I was in N York from 12 oclock the 8th Sept. till Eight the next morning Mr Fitzjerald on meeting me asked where I was mound &c. I informed him to Boston, and Portsmouth to see my Father & friends whom I had not seen for a number of years, and I then intended (if time would admit) to go to the Lakes & come down the North River to N.York; he then said "I suppose you mean to put down black marks against some of the Officers who can be spared." I only replied, that I intended to have the "Register" for 1822 correct if possible and should endeavour to know all the Officers on the different stations, to be able on my return to answer any enquiries that should be asked he then said "I suppose some of the Officers will be put upon furlough by next session of Congress" my answer was that, that depended altogether upon the reports, after the Register came out," as for the words "dismissed" & appendages I never mentioned, nor did I directly or indirectly mention your name and my saying that I intended visiting the Lakes, [? ?]. I had your orders and if he was now here, he would hesitate as to the words "your orders" the Conversation I had with Lt. Henry was much in the same language and which he has construed in the same manner. As respects Mid. Weaver I only saw him for about five minutes; and on his enquiring, I only informed him I was going to Boston he asked me if I had seen Com. Stewart, I replied I had just seen him, at Mis Keys on the door conversing with a Lady of my acquaintance, and had been speaking of the Officers attached to the Franklin, &c. He asked me, "if those Midshipmen who had reported twice for Examination, would be allowed to come forward again, and said "he did not think it right as it was putting others back, I only replied that if a Midshipman did not pass in twice trying he ought not be allowed
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