Elliott, Jesse Duncan (1782-1845) to Isaac Mayo
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04604.23 Author/Creator: Elliott, Jesse Duncan (1782-1845) Place Written: Pensacola Bay, Florida Type: Letter signed Date: 13 November 1830 Pagination: 2 p. ; 31.6 x 19.4 cm. Order a Copy
Written in clerical hand and signed by Captain Elliott as commander of the West India Squadron to Lieutenant Commander Mayo as commander of the U.S.S. Grampus. Orders Mayo to take provisions for a four month cruise off the coast of Mexico. Says he needs to use economy in stocking the ship. Asks Mayo to leave him the triplicates of the list of requisitions. Says Lt. Rinker has been ordered to join the Grampus to replace Lt. Rick Morris. Says Morris is to have permission to return home and to report to the Secretary of the Navy by letter when he arrives. Mayo is to make an appearance off Vera Cruz, Tampico, and Campeche. Says he is to offer lawful protection to American ships claiming "In your intercourse with foreign public authorities, I would recommend a mild and conciliatory yet firm Course." Says he has enclosed a circular from 22 June (not included here) relative to consuls. After the cruise is over, Mayo is to report to Pensacola and await further instructions. Postscript says there is a new set of sails waiting for the Grampus, made of American cotton duck. Small piece of the letter is missing causing minor text loss.
The U.S.S. Grampus was involved in the Amistad incident in 1840. The ship was ordered by President Martin Van Buren to New Haven, Connecticut's harbor in January 1840 to smuggle the captive Africans back to the Spanish in Cuba. The ship did anchor in the harbor, but the plan was never implemented.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.