1William Lee to James Monroe, ca. 30 August 1813 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
Ca. 30 August 1813, Bordeaux. “Being at this moment very unwell and almost blind I have it not in my power to transmit to you copies of my correspondence with Mr. Crawford & Mr. Warden touching my controversy with the latter and the motives of my writing a certain letter to the Duke of Bassano on which the President has demanded explanations of me through the Minister. That explanation has...
2To James Madison from William Lee, 5 September 1814 (Madison Papers)
The lamentable news of the destruction of our Capitol has this moment reached us. Whilst I join the thousands of my countrey men in bewailing the humiliating and heart-burning castrophe, I shall not think my feelings lowered by offering my sincere congratula[ti]on the dangers you have escaped. In the prosecution of a savage war such as the enemy is now waging against us, all the means of...
3To James Madison from William Lee, 17 November 1816 (Madison Papers)
Some circumstances having occurred, since I had the honor to write you on the subject of the appointment, you had the goodness to offer me; I have thought it best after mature reflection, to accept the same, if you have not Sir before this gets to hand, selected another person. It will take me from ten, to fifteen days, to close all my concerns here and at the farthest, I can be in Washington...
4To James Madison from William Lee, 15 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have shipped for you on board the Schooner Manlius Capt. Young one barrel of Vinegar and one box of Sweet oil both of the first quality. Wines & Brandy are at a price never known in this country such brandy as I sent you last year which cost only 200 fr. is now at 600 fs the pipe & such wine as I sent you by the Blooming Rose is at 6 fr. the bottle. I am sure both articles can be had much...
5To James Madison from William Lee, 22 April 1812 (Madison Papers)
Having this moment arrived from an excursion in the country and finding Mr Barlow is to dispatch Mr Biddle this evening I have not time to say all I could wish to you upon the State of our affairs here which are by no means flattering. The fears and suspicions expressed in your private letter by the Wasp are too well founded and I regretted much on hearing it read that I had not sent a letter...
6To James Madison from William Lee, 12 April 1812 (Madison Papers)
At the earnest request of a distinguished french officer I have the honor to inclose you a letter from General Desfourneaux formerly Governor General of Guadeloupe. I have the honor to be With great respect Your devoted humble Servant. RC ( DLC ). The enclosure may have been one of the copies of Desfourneaux to JM, 1 Dec. 1811 .
7To James Madison from William Lee, 1 January 1812 (Madison Papers)
The answer to Mr Barlows note is not what was expected and most certainly is not what was intended to have been given for many days. What can have changed the Emperors opinion is not known. All the persons about the court of any influence have been of opinion that complete success would attend Mr Barlows mission. No one knows what answer Mr Barlow has recd. but it is feared it is not favorable...
8To James Madison from William Lee, 11 February 1811 (Madison Papers)
A friend of mine writes me, it has been represented at Washington, that I brought with me from France “a number of licenses, under which I have been expediting a number of Vessels.” As I have pointedly, and uniformly, refused to have anything to do with the French & English system of licenses, and as this insinuation is calculated to make impressions injurious to me, I hope Sir, you will not...
9To James Madison from William Lee, 24 May 1812 (Madison Papers)
In the letter I took the liberty of writing you in such haste by the Hornet when stating the impression your private letter to Mr Barlow had made on me I hope I conveyed no other idea when I mentioned having heard that letter read than that Mr B. had communicated confidentially its contents to me. You know Sir something of the intimacy that has subsisted between Mr B and myself for upwards of...
10To James Madison from William Lee, 23 January 1816 (Madison Papers)
Mr Espie, the President of the College at St Foy in this department, has sent me the packet accompanying this, to be forwarded to you. He has the reputation of a man of great science, and litterature, and being a great admirer of our institutions, he intends I am told dedicating one of his works to you. If you should think proper to reply to his letter, I will take care that it reaches him....
11William Lee to Thomas Jefferson, 25 October 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter you did me the favor to write me under date of the 24th of August after having travelled from Boston to Philadelphia and then back to Boston found me here a few days since which will account for my not having acknowledged the receipt of it before this. I have not forgotten Sir the great obligations I am under to you and that I have lived so much in your memory as to have merited...
12William Lee to Thomas Jefferson, 8 August 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I must beg leave to apologize to you for the state of the packet accompanying this— The boat in which I sent my baggage from S t Jean de Luz to the Ship Ann was upset in crossing the Bar of the harbour and my trunks were found full of water— with great care I preserved Gen l Armstrongs dispatches and this letter for you which happened luckily to be wrapped up in very thick paper.— RC ( DLC );...
13William Lee to Thomas Jefferson, 20 December 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty to send you a copy of a work which I have published here with a view to enlighten the people of France on the motives of our War and to help our good cause. I beg you will read it with indulgence particularly that part relating to the Bourbons which the authorities here insisted on my inserting before they would permit me to print it. It is very imperfect for want of...
14William Lee to Dolley Payne Madison, 20 March 1813 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 March 1813, Bordeaux. Promises to “send the President a good stock of wine, Brandy and liqueurs” by Ruth Barlow when she returns to the United States. “You will hear perhaps through the President and Mr Monroe of the ground I took while at Paris concerning the affairs of the Legation.… As there is a Secretary of Legation and a private Secretary to the late minister my desire was to preserve...
15To James Madison from William Lee, 6 September 1815 (Madison Papers)
I have of late recd. a letter from C. Hughes Junr of Baltimore who went home from this place in the Transit with the Treaty of Ghent mentioning that a box had been sent to his house from that Vessel containing some french lamps and the object of his letter is to inquire if I knew to whom this box belongs—as I had before learnt that the wine I sent you by that Vessel had been drank on the...
16Account with Joel Barlow, 12 June 1811 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 June 1811. Lists items “Bot. of Joel Barlow,” including seventy-three bottles of burgundy “called Clos de vegiot” at $1.50 per bottle; twenty-one dozen of porter and ale at $2.25 per dozen; eight bottles of “Old Chateaux Margaux this is the same wine as is usually sent to the President from Bordeaux with the difference that this has been in bottle 5 years,” at $1 per bottle; “2 Cases...
17William Lee to Thomas Jefferson, 11 May 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I beg leave to inclose you a letter from Mr. Gard , professor at the Deaf and Dumb College in this city . He is considered in this country as a phenomenon for though deaf and dumb he is familiar with every branch of Science and literature—he wrote the inclosed himself, and brought it to me to correct but I thought it best to make no alteration in it. There is no one Sir who can appreciate his...
18To James Madison from William Lee, 8 August 1810 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to apologize to you for the state of the packet accompanying this. The boat in which I sent my baggage from St Jean de Luz to the Ship Ann was upset in crossing the bar of the harbour and all my papers, dispatches and clothes were nearly lost. I am happy to find that this packet & Genl. Armstrongs dispatch have suffered less than I expected. Inclosed is a note of some things I have...
19To James Madison from William Lee, 8 November 1816 (Madison Papers)
By a confidential letter received yesterday from an obliging friend at Washington I learnt you had done me the honor to appoint me accountant to the War department and that the Commission had been directed to me at Philadelphia where I presume it still lies in the post office as it has never come to hand which I am a little surprised at as several letters directed to me in that City have been...
20To James Madison from William Lee, 27 February 1816 (Madison Papers)
By the copy of my correspondences with the authorities here, which I have this day forwarded to the Secretary of State, you will see how necessary it is for me to quit Bordeaux, if not for ever, at least for a time. My situation Sir, is so very unpleasant, that I really have at some moments, fears for my safety. I have seen such dreadful scenes in this country formerly, that I have no...
21To James Madison from William Lee, 10 November 1813 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to inclose a receipt for two cases containing one hundred bottles of the best Wine which I shipped for you on board the Schooner Engineer Capt. Dillingham bound to Newyork. The wines which I sent so long ago to Cherbourg to go in the Hornet Capt. Jones I have ordered here. The carriage of them from that place to this will cost but about 15. francs the hundred weight and I am in...
22To James Madison from William Lee, 28 January 1814 (Madison Papers)
Inclosed is an Invoice and Bill of Lading of one pipe of Brandy, two cases of wine, two baskets of oil, one box of cordials, one box of Prunes and one box of gloves which I have sent by the Brig Rambler Captain Snow who will enter them at the Custom house where he may arrive and will send you the account of the freight duties and other expences. I have consigned these articles to him in...
23To James Madison from William Lee, 16 February 1816 (Madison Papers)
I have been honored within these few days, by your letter of the 21st. December, to which I shall pay due attention. The confidence you have reposed in me, by continuing me for so many years in this Office, has been highly flattering, and has proved my greatest consolation, in all the painful occurrences, I have of late experienced in this city, which has now become peculiarly disagreeable,...