George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Thomas Ridout, 15 August 1788

From Thomas Ridout

Montreal 15 August 1788

Sir—

I presume that your Excellency has heard that I had the misfortune to be taken by a party of Indians on my way to the Falls of the Ohio—although I lost every thing I was possessed of, I may reckon myself fortunate in having my life preserved—after remaining rather more than three months amongst the shawanese, I was brought into Detroit and there given up to a Trader for a debt of 340 dollars which I have obliged myself to pay at this place, and where I must remain at least for some months, perhaps the winter.

I have presumed to trouble your Excellency with this letter, to sollicit your recommendation to any vacant office under the Federal Government of the U. States which I may be thought adequate to, and if there be any that would suit me, that you would be so obliging as to advice me thereof by way of New York directed to the Care of Messrs Todd & McGill Merchts at this place.1 I have the Honor to be very respectfully Your Excellency’s most obedient servant

Thos Ridout

Present if you please my best respects to your Lady.

ALS, DLC:GW.

On 23 Dec. 1784 GW wrote a letter to Charles-Louis de Secondat de Montesquieu introducing Ridout, a Marylander engaged in the French trade, and Ridout had written to GW from Bordeaux as recently as 10 Sept. 1786.

1No answer to Ridout’s letter has been found.

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