These letters mainly discuss Ridley's business interests as manager of the Maryland branch of Stewart and Campbell, a London mercantile firm. The Revolutionary War is also discussed, mostly in terms of how it is affecting commerce.

These letters were written when Matthew Ridley moved from London to Paris. Of interest are the letters Matthew wrote to his contacts in America upon his relocation to France, describing the hostile conditions in England that prevented him from writing earlier and repeatedly asserting his allegiance to America. Ridley was concerned with an American law involving penalties for those who left the colonies after August 1775. He also wrote of his interest in securing an appointment as U.S. consul in Nantes. The letters focus mainly on business and the war. This volume is housed with Vol. 3, which contains duplicate letters covering most of this time period.

These letters were written when Ridley was living in Baltimore. They primarily relate to his personal business, and after March 1781, they pertain to his position as agent for the state of Maryland.

These letters discuss personal business and cover the time when Ridley was in Paris and Amsterdam. While Ridley was in Amsterdam, this letterbook was kept by someone else, possibly Mark Pringle. Many of these letters are in French.

This book contains multiple copies of letters related mainly to business. They cover the time of Mrs. Ridley's death, but make very little mention of it. This volume is housed in Box 4 and is not on microfilm.

This book includes letters both from and to Ridley, primarily during the time he spent in Amsterdam securing a loan for the state of Maryland.

Although these dates overlap with Vol. 6, the two volumes contain different letters. Some are written on the same day as those in Vol. 6. Some of these letters are in French. They include both personal and official business.

These letters were written while Mr. Ridley was in England, after his wife's death. They are mostly related to Ridley's personal business. In September, Ridley discussed his plans to return to America in the spring.

This book starts upon Ridley's arrival with his son and sister in Baltimore, a year after he planned. In April 1787, he wrote of his marriage to Kitty Livingston, and soon after of his sister's death. These letters are more personal in nature, and convey a feeling of depression on the part of Mr. Ridley. He also wrote of being ill.

These letters involve both business and personal matters. Of interest is one letter to someone who is to sell three people enslaved by Ridley. Reasons for the sale are given, as are evaluations of the enslaved individuals' characters. Ridley's illness is discussed throughout these letters.

The majority of this diary consists of updates about the Revolutionary War, which Ridley gets from copies of an American newspaper. There are some entries that involve business, as well.

This diary includes more details about Ridley's everyday life, such as the day's weather or his dining companion. The entries describe traveling through France and mention some meetings with Benjamin Franklin. The war remains the primary subject, and he writes more about business, including his efforts to secure a loan for Maryland.

This diary covers the time period when Ridley was in Amsterdam securing the loan for the state of Maryland from Nicolaas and Jacob van Staphorst. The entries revolve mainly around those efforts. The diary also describes his return to Paris in August of 1782.

This diary includes both personal and business information. Entries discuss Ridley's son's birth in September of 1783 and death in January of 1784. It was important to both Mr. and Mrs. Ridley that the child be buried in a Protestant burying ground. He writes of his wife's death the day she died and of his having been there at the time. His last entry is the day she was buried, 23 Jan. 1784.