g of some of those ships that he
and Colonel Forrest and Colonel Murdock sent out across the ocean.

On May 17, 1798, he was appointed Secretary of the Navy, being the first
to hold that position, and so remained until March 1, 1807.

On May 29, 1800, he wrote thusly from Philadelphia (where he was engaged
by his cabinet duties), to his near neighbor, John Templeman, on the
corner just one block west of him, the old house which stood for so
many, many years unoccupied:

Dear Sir:

The Pres. will be at Washington by the time you receive this, or a
day or two after. He proposes to stay but a little while. I wish he
would remain longer. This and other good things will depend on the
manner of employing his time. I request, therefore, that setting
Bashfulness at defiance, you will urge the Pres. to go to the balls,
to ride with you in your coach, and to get Mr. Scott at least to go
with you. Let the Pres. be pleased with the attention and with the
country.

I am resp. yrs.,

BEN STODDERT.

Barring accidents, I expect to be in Geo. Town the 14th of June.

After Benjamin Stoddert's death, this house was given by William Whann
as a wedding present to his only child, Anna Maria, on her marriage to
Benjamin Mackall, the son of Leonard Mackall. Their son, General William
W. Mackall, was a graduate of West Point in the class with General
Grant. He served with distinction in the Mexican War and later in the
Confederate Army. Shortly after the close of the Civil War, General
Grant gave a reception at the White House to the Aztec Society, composed
of officers who served in the War with Mexico and their descendants.
General Mackall went to it clad in his grey uniform and was most
cordially received by his old comrades.

Still later than the Mackalls, this house was occupied by Mr. Martineau,
Minister from the Netherlands, and then by the Pairo family.

To return to Mr. Templeman's house which he built about 1788. He was
president of the Bank of Columbia; also an owner of ships, and, as a
side issue, had:

For Sale--At John Templeman's Store.
Whisky, Firkin Butter, Linseed Oil, and Flour.
George Town June 20, 1800.

Those ships which carried tobacco across 3,000 miles of ocean didn't
fill their holds with bricks as ballast on the way back, as we used to
be told; there were too many better things needed here. And there was
plenty of clay right here to burn bri