Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Ridgely, John Certification that Lieut. David Porter received a gold watch

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02794.102 Author/Creator: Ridgely, John Place Written: [s.l.] Type: Manuscript document signed Date: 1805/09/05 Pagination: 2 p. + docket 22.3 x 18.7 cm Order a Copy

Certification from Ridgely, the U.S. Naval agent in Tripoli, that Porter received a gold watch to be given to Hadge Mahomet for his friendship to American prisoners in Tripoli. Porter received the watch via Tobias Lear. "Consular Seal of the U.S. of America--Tripoli" affixed to second page. Docketed on verso.

I hereby certify that I David Porter Commanding the United States Schooner Enterprize [sic] now in this Port shaved me an Elegant gold repeating Watch set around with Brilliants of Valur a I supposed about four hundred Dollars, the Aforesaid Watched he informed me he had received from Tobias Lear Esqr. Consul General for the United States to the States of the Barbay to whom he had given a receipt for the same and had obligate himself to a liver it as a march of rational gratitude to cadge Mahomet a man who had particularly distinguished himself by his vision as interested friendships, benevolence and humanity to the Officers who unfortunately fell into the hands of the Bashaw of Tripoli and who (Hadge Mahomet) had formerly in the most honorable manner refused to accept any [illegible] for his aforesaid attention. The Said I David Porter expressed to me his aislike on the score of delicacy to ask a receipt of the aforesaid Watch and requested delivery that I would be presented at the delivery of the same which request I complied with, and saw L Porte with considerable persuasion, prevail on Hadge Mahomet to receive the said Watch, and Witnessed his delivering it into his (Hadge Mahomets) hands. -
In witness whereof I hereinto
place my signature and
and Sealed of Office at Tripoli
this 5th day of September 1805

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources