RODGERS' LETTERS
CORRESPONDENCE TO MINERVA
COMMODORE JOHN RODGERS, USN
First letter to Minerva Denison (later Rodgers)
Navy Yard
Washington Jany 2nd 1804
Ever Charming Girl
I arriv’d here on Sunday the First day of the present year, and now acknowledge with no less pride, than gratitude, that the Fair, chaste, unartful and Generous sentiments you express’d at our last parting can only be portray’d in your own likeness; and be assured that I shall forever set a Value on them such as Time, variety and a change of scenes, will assist me in appreciating with that unbounded respect and admiration which will always elevate you above every sordid View or earthly influence; and my Dear Minerva I do declare before the supreme altar of heaven that I would prefer ten thousand execrating Deaths sooner than knowingly subject myself to conduct which can in any way give you pain, or reason ever to repent your condescention to my wishes; I make those confessions, not only because it affords me pleasure, but to prove that I know how to estimate your Submission to my prayers; but I have still one request to make, which is, that you will have the condescention to consider whether it is necessary that a long twelve months should Elapse before I have the honor and happiness to receive your fair hand; If there is a real necessity for such postponement, I will patiently submit, yet permit me to entreat you to have compassion, as I now, Involuntarily, feel myself placed in the situation of a Fond lover with all the cares and anxieties of a doating husband when separated from a wife that is dearer to him than his own existence –Washington is, at present, very gay; yet I have been very little in the circle of gaiety since I saw you last, as all my leisure moments from my Duty (to my country) are solely engrosed by contemplations of you; every thing I do or hear becomes more and more indifferent when compared with the interest I feel in every thing that concerns you — I am so immersed in thought that I am scarcely able to write or, even, to speak; I therefore beg you to pardon this short scrawl and the next shall be better-
I am my Dear Minerva with all the Tender regards of a fond lover
yours Forever
Jn Rodgers
PS Pray present my best regards to your good Mother and I would request you to do the same for me to Kitty Thomas if it was not inconsistent, for I love Kitty because I believe she loves
Yours faithfully
R
Library of Congress