Jas. Nicholson.
To His Excellency. the Presidt. & the Honble. the Members of the
United States in Congress Assembled.
The Memorial of Jas. Nicholson, Cap. in the Navy of the United States
Respectfully Shewith,
That your Memorialist has by accident been informed that the
Chevalier Paul Jones hath Petitioned Congress & in consequence
thereof a Committee has been appointed and are now actually siting
for the Purpose of considering his claim of Prior Rank to your
Memorialist, and as your Memorialist conceives any alteration in
the rank of the Navy as at present established will be doing him
a very sensible injury he begs leave to call the recollection of
Congress to their resolves of the 17th Ap. & the 10th Ocbr. of 76
by the latter of which the rank of every Cap. or Commander in the
Navy was established. Your Memorialist therefore prays that Congress
will not deprive him of the rank he has always held in the Navy of
the United States without a sufficient cause (which he presumes does
not exist) as it will convey to the Public at large a suspisian that
your Memorialist has forfeited that rank with which he has been so
long honored by some misconduct. As your Memorialist has not been
informed, certainly, upon what particular grounds Cap. Jones founds
his Claims of Prior Rank, your Memorialist can only refer to the
above mentioned Solemn Acts of Congress which sets forth the rank
that Honble. body fixed for every Cap. & Commdr. in the Navy. Your
MemorIt. has good reason to suppose it must be from his Early Service
should that be the Case. Your Memorialist begs leave to observe what
in his oppinion would be the Absurdity of Cap. Jones' claims viz;
That two of your Memorists. Lieutts. now under his immediate Command
onbd. the Trumbull would take the Commd. from your Memorits. & will
every Capn. Lieutt. that where in the Commodrs. fleet.
If it is thought necessary or proper to call the Congress from their
more Important business, your Memorits. has prepared and will furnish
a history of his services as a Public Off. prior to the Establishment
of rank, but he presumes that it is not necessary and depends
upon the Justice & Candor of Congress. Your Memorilst. therefore
begs leave to subscribe himself with profond respect & Esteem yr.
Excellency, most obedt. Humble. Servt. &ca.