To James Madison from Christopher Ripley, 10 November 1812
From Christopher Ripley
Washington Novr. 10th. 1812.
Sir,
The condescending attention with which you have heared what I have said respecting the affairs of our Country at London, has inspired me with the liveliest sentiments of gratitude, and, I know that I ask much, when I ask for more of your valuable time: but, believing as I do, that it is your wish to do perfect justice to all the public servants, and, knowing that this cannot be done without a complete knowledge of their cases, I beg leave to call your attention to the three Documents herewith transmitted: two of them are short,1 and the other (the Copy of Mr. Dickins’s letter to the Secretary of State dated Septr. 27th. 1811)2 perhaps you read last year, if not, I hope that you will now do it. I am, Sir, With the greatest respect, Your very humble Servant,
Christr. Ripley3
RC and enclosures (DNA: RG 59, LAR, 1809–17, filed under “Dickins”). For enclosures, see nn. 1 and 2.
1. Ripley probably enclosed two letters in support of Asbury Dickins’s candidacy for the London consulate: a copy of a 27 Sept. 1811 testimonial (1 p.) signed by William Vaughan and thirteen other American merchants in London and a 7 Apr. 1812 letter (2 pp.; in French) written by Capt. Joseph Louis de Beaulieu.
2. For Dickins’s letter to Monroe and additional correspondence recommending Dickins for the London consulate, see William Cobbett to JM, 12 June 1812, , 4:471–72 and n. 1.
3. Ripley was employed in the American consular office in London from April 1810 to August 1812. JM later nominated him to be a captain in the Thirty-seventh Infantry Regiment effective 30 Apr. 1813 (Ripley to Monroe, 17 Nov. 1812 [DNA: RG 59, LAR, 1809–17, filed under “Dickins”]; , 2:431).