To James Madison from John Ricaud, 10 October 1816
From John Ricaud
Baltimore October 10th. 1816
Sir
I now take the liberty of addressing you a few lines, which I hope you will excuse and if there is any thing improper in them, you will please attribute it to a man that has been in Goal for near 12 months and his anxiety to get reliesed; I am in hopes you will be able to have me reliesed, for Sir I do not owe the United States more than 3000.$ which they hold me in Goal for locked up in a close Room like a criminal that has robed on the high way; The United States claim at first was about $6200—and I have paid over or caused to be paid over to Mr Glenn money long since which has reduced it to the first sum and if Mr Glenn would do his duty he might have recovered of a Gentelman in this place more money than would pay what I owe the United States. He commenced suit against the Gentelman, allured to two months since and let it stand so, when he ought to make him pay and let me be reliesed, but Sir I believe both the District Attorney and the mast⟨er⟩ all delights in keeping me here, (for what god only knows), unless it is owing to my speaking my mind too freely to them, but thank god who gave me spea⟨ch⟩ it is a liberty I take, and will as long as he grants unto me the power,
I do not owe the amont that now stands against me, but owing to my not having proper vouchers I am compeled to be charged with it, and not the liberty allowed me to obtain those proper vouchers. I also understand that it has been represented by Major Stua⟨rt⟩ who was one of my securities that I had a Plenty of money, but Sir permit me to say it is false. If I had can any reasonable man think I would lay here for a year for the paltry sum of $3000—no, but Major Stuart had motives in this which he accomplished. It was to injure me, and get himself reliesed, when he at this time owes me $500—of the very money I am now laying in Goal for, which I lent him while in the army and which I can prove. Col. Carbry1 owes me near $2000. advance and lent him for to advance the soldiers which he was to give me vouchers for, but my being sick at the time and very ill, I could not take the vouchers, and here I must lay a poor distressed man with a young family and no friends to aid me to any thing.
I am sure the United States will not be paid by keeping me here locked up, but are only ⟨at?⟩ a grate expence. I have been sick for three months and am sure if I am not des[…]ed before long I shall not be able to suppor⟨t⟩ my poor Wife when I am reliesed;2 now sir be pleased to permit me to beg your interfearence in my behalf and if I am not set at liberty be pleased to order me the Goal bounds so that I can walk about and breath fresh air, but if any thing within your honors reach can done order my discharge from Prison, and the blisings of God for ever rest on you and your family shall be the prairs of your obt. Sert.
John Ricaud3
late paymaster 36th Regts
Mr. Falls will hand you this.
P.S. [canceled] I am sure that there is persons that …
RC (DNA: RG 107, LRRS, R-132:9). Damaged by removal of seal.
1. Ricaud undoubtedly referred to Col. Henry Carberry of the Thirty-Sixth Regiment of Infantry (, 1:281).
2. On 20 Oct. 1816, Ricaud’s wife, Mary, wrote to Dolley Madison (DLC; 3 pp.; docketed by JM; printed in ), relating how her husband’s difficulties had compelled her to move into the Baltimore jail to care for him. She described the condition of her husband’s failing health at length, adding that she would soon be forced to deliver a child within the prison’s walls. She implored Mrs. Madison to use her influence with JM, and with the Secretary of the Treasury, to secure her husband’s discharge. She mentioned that John Ricaud had written “sevral letters to the president on his own behalf,” but only the one printed above has survived.
3. John Ricaud was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the Thirty-Sixth Regiment of Infantry in 1813 and served as its paymaster until September 1814, when he was dropped from the army roll. On 22 Jan. 1817 JM signed an act to release Ricaud from imprisonment, provided that before being discharged, he secure to the district attorney “all and any property or credits he may now have, or be entitled to, for the payment” of the judgment against him “and all property he hereafter may have or acquire shall be and remain liable for the payment of the said judgment” (, 1:826; , 6:184).