Ritchie, William (1781-1842) to Aaron Hobart
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06313.04.091 Author/Creator: Ritchie, William (1781-1842) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 January 1821 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket : free frank ; 27.3 x 19.7 cm. Order a Copy
Mentions that Mr. Thorndike, who believes Ritchie has influence with Hobart, has requested another ship sent to the Pacific Ocean, for the protection of commerce. Notes that there may be "some danger of increasing our Naval force in that Sea, lest our commander should come in collision with some of the yet unsettled authorities of that part of the world."
William Ritchie, an 1804 graduate of Dartmouth College, was a Congregational minister in Massachusetts.
[Draft Excerpt:]
...call your attention to the subject of our Commerce in the Pacific, he wishes that another Frigate or a larger ship may be sent out immediately under the command of Capn. Biddle; your colleague Mr Fuller is said to be earnestly engaged in this scheme, which is peculiarly interesting to our state as most of the Whale Ships & Merchant Vessels in the Pacific are owned here...there is perhaps some danger to increasing our Naval force in that Sea, lest our commanders should come in collision with some of the yet unsettled authorities of that part of the world those immediately interested think their commerce needs protection & many are desirous that Lord Cochrane shd. be punished or overawed. -
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