To James Madison from William Kirkpatrick, 22 March 1805
From William Kirkpatrick
Malaga 22d. March 1805.
Sir
The want of a conveyance direct to Washington, or any part of Virginia, has prevented a more early reply to your respected favor of the 20: May last year,1 as I wished at same time to give course to the Commission of Wine, and Fruit which you called for.
The Ship William & Mary, Captain Erasmus H. Tipling having called in here, in her way from Algiers to Norfolk, I have profited thereof to send you—
1 qr. Cask of Mountain Malaga Wine 10 years old
2 Boxes 12 ℔ each Muscatel Raisins
2 do do Bloom Raisins
1 Box 25 ℔ Jordan Almond Kernels
Which I have addressed to Daniel Bedenger2 Esq. Navy Agent, and requested his forwarding to you on arrival. I hope they may prove of a satisfactory quality, the Raisins are of the best that could be procured.
The Cost as ⅌ Note at foot you may, at your convenience, order to be paid to Mr. Joseph Gallego of Richmond3 who will receive the same for my account.
I would fain hope, you will on reconsideration, not insist on reimbursing equally the Cost of the articles formerly sent, being all out of my own Stores, and forwarded merely for the purpose of your tasting the Productions of this Country; If however you still are resolved thereon, you may order their Cost $80 to be paid Mr. Gallego on my account. I reiterate the assurance of respect, and Esteem with which I am Sir Your most Ob hble Servt.
Willm. Kirkpatrick,4
| JM | 1 qr. Cask cased Ten Years old Mountain Wine at $28. | |
| 2 half. Boxes Bloom Raisins | 2.50 | |
| 2 do do. Muscatel do. | 3. ” | |
| 1 Box 25 ℔s Jordan Almond Kernels | 9.50 | |
| $43. |
RC (DLC).
1. Letter not found.
2. Daniel Bedinger was appointed navy agent at the Gosport, Virginia, shipyard in April 1802 (Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, 19 Feb. 1995).
3. Joseph Gallego (1768–1818) was a native of Málaga, Spain, who came to America in the eighteenth century, became a successful merchant, and founded the Gallego flour mill in Richmond, Va. (J. Staunton Moore, “History of St. John’s Church, from 1884 to 1904,” Annals of Henrico Parish [Richmond, Va., 1904], 450).
4. William Kirkpatrick (1764–1837) was a Scottish merchant who traveled from America to Málaga, where he joined the fruit and wine exporting firm of Grivegnée and Company. Kirkpatrick flourished in the business, converted to Catholicism, rose in local society, and married Françoise de Grivegnée, daughter of his employer. Named consul by John Adams in 1800, he was removed by James Monroe in 1817, after being accused of misconduct, and was replaced by York, Massachusetts, native George G. Barrell, a former partner in the firm of Kirkpatrick and Company. The Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, was Kirkpatrick’s granddaughter (Edward A. Crane, ed., Memoirs of Dr. Thomas W. Evans: The Second French Empire [New York, 1905], 511–12; Jasper Ridley, Napoleon III and Eugénie [London, 1979], 139; Benjamin Joy to Richard Cutts, 24 Aug. 1817 [DNA: RG 59, LAR, 1817–25, filed under “Barrell”]; , 1:332, 333; 3:95).