Benjamin Joy to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr., 4 November 1795
Benjamin Joy to Bartholomew Dandridge, Jr.
Boston 4th Novr 1795
Sir
In the month of Novr 1793 I received onboard the Ship John Robt Folger master from J. M. Pintard Esqr. at Madeira a pipe of wine for account of the President of the United States and was requested by him to take it on to India and from thence Ship it by a very safe opportunity to some part of America:1 no one offering after my arrival in India until nearly the time I was about leaving that Country and knowing the risk wine runs of being stolen and perhaps adulterated by sailors onboard Ship, if not particularly looked after I thought it most advisable to retain it under my own inspection—I have now to inform you that I have brought the pipe of wine on the Sarah Capt. Jackson and in good order have delivered it to Thos Russell Esqr. of this town, according to a memorandum I received from Mr Pintard:2 of this I have to request that you will inform the President. I am Sir with much respect Your most Obdt Hble Servt
B: Joy
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. For the shipment of this wine from Madeira, see John Marsden Pintard to GW, 20 Nov. 1793.
2. The ship Sarah arrived at Boston on 29 Oct., 216 days after leaving Bengal, India (Political Gazette [Newburyport, Mass.], 3 Nov.). The memorandum has not been identified.
After receiving this letter, Dandridge evidently wrote to Thomas Russell (letter not identified), who replied on 26 Nov.: “This day I received your favour of 16 Instant—previous to which, I had Shipped the pipe of madeira wine for His Excellency the president on board the Schooner Nancy Nathan Young Master, as by the Enclosed bill of Loading—to the care of my Friend Robert Morris Esqr. er’e this reaches you, it will I hope have Arrived—I have no letter from Mr Pintard, on the business—I mentioned to Mr Morris, the expence I paid for duties & Truckage fifty five Dollars” (DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters).
Dandridge responded to Russell on 23 Dec., enclosing $55 and adding, “The President directs me to present you his thanks for your obliging attention to this business” (ViMtvL). Dandridge having requested that Russell would “be so good as to let me know if you get this safe,” Russell replied on 2 Jan. 1796 that he had received the money and that he was “glad to find” that the wine had “arrived safe—I am happy in this, as I shall ever be, in every opportunity to Evince my Esteem & regards for His Excellency the president of the United States to whom please to give my Duty” (DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters).