To James Madison from Albert Gallatin, 21 July 1812
From Albert Gallatin
Philada. 21 July 1812
Dear Sir
It is said that the Consulship of Lisbon is vacant. If so, permit me to recommend with more than common earnestness Pemberton Hutchinson the son of my former friend Doctr. Hutchinson.1 The name is dear to every republican in this State both in city & country. And I am assured that the son by his talents & standing deserves the appointment. In one respect he has an advantage, that of being already on the spot, connected with one of the most respectable houses in this city. I had not intended to write until I could give you some account of my success; but understanding that one of the Mifflins goes by to day’s stage to Washington to solicit the office,2 would not let the mail go without writing in favour of Hutchinson for whose appointment I feel truly anxious.
We have arrived here safe & intend to proceed to New York as soon as I have done what can be effected here with respect to money.3
Mrs. G. presents her best respects to Mrs. Madison.
Do you still want volunteers? I could easily have set the thing going here. Respectfully Your obedt. Servt.
Albert Gallatin
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.
1. Gallatin referred to Israel Pemberton Hutchinson, who received the consulship in Lisbon on 15 Jan. 1813 (, 2:313, 316). He was the son of Dr. James Hutchinson, who died in the Philadelphia yellow fever epidemic of 1793, leaving Gallatin to raise funds to support his widow and children (Harry Marlin Tinkcom, The Republicans and Federalists in Pennsylvania, 1790–1901 [Harrisburg, 1950], 53–54).
2. Gallatin probably referred to Samuel Mifflin of Philadelphia, who had sought appointment to the consulate in Malta on 5 May 1811 and had recently been introduced to JM by Anthony Morris (DNA: RG 59, LAR, 1809–17, filed under “Mifflin”; Morris to JM, 20 July 1812 [second letter]).
3. Gallatin had embarked upon a trip to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York to meet with businessmen and bankers to raise war loans (Raymond Walters Jr., Albert Gallatin: Jeffersonian Financier and Diplomat [New York, 1957], 254–55).