To James Madison from John M. Forbes, 20 August 1802
From John M. Forbes, 20 August 1802
Hamburgh 20th. Augt. 1802.
Sir.
I have at length the satisfaction to announce to you my arrival here and recognition by the Government of this City as Consul of the United States of America. Having announced my establishment here to a very extensive Circle of mercantile friends, I prefer encountering all the severities of this Climate to incurring the inconveniences which would attend a Change of residence. I beg leave, therefore, to relinquish the application I made from London for the Agency at Marseilles. for which there are, undoubtedly, many very meritorious applicants—I am with great Respect, Sir, Your obedient Servant
John M. Forbes
The preceding is the full transcription of a document that was previously abstracted in The Papers of James Madison, Secretary of State series. The original abstract contains additional annotation and source information.