1To James Madison from William Willis, 9 March 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 March 1801, Norfolk, Virginia. Arrived on 8 Mar. after departure from Spain in mid-December, passing through Paris, London, and Martinique en route. Nothing new reported from Barcelona before his departure, and American squadron in Mediterranean will keep sea-lanes safe. Spoke with Talleyrand in Paris and learned of his support for amicable Franco-American relations. On subject of a general...
2To James Madison from William Willis, 9 March 1801 (Madison Papers)
I arrived at this place last Evening from Spain, France, England and Martinique Having left Spain about the Middle of Decr., Paris the latter End of Decr., London the begining of Jan’y. and Martinique the 18th. of Last Month. And altho I presume I have but little information that will be any ways interesting or that will be later than the information you must have had from the different places...
3To James Madison from William Willis, 22 April 1801 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed copy of a circular letter from Consul OBrien at Algiers, will explain to you the unpleasant state of our affairs in this quarter. There is no doubt that the Dey of Tripoli has in some measure been prompted to declare war against the United States by European influence, as all the powers that are concerned in commerc⟨e⟩ are desirous of amas[s]ing the golden harvest of the...
4To James Madison from William Willis, 17 June 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
17 June 1801, Barcelona. Transmits a letter received by an express vessel dispatched by Eaton, reporting on “unhappy State of our affairs” in Tunis. Has received no information yet on arrival of any U.S. warships “in these Seas.” Twenty-five vessels are in port or on coast waiting for protection. The U.S. now has the opportunity to gain a commercial ascendancy over all North Sea powers by the...
5To James Madison from William Willis, 17 June 1801 (Madison Papers)
I Enclose you a letter Rec’d by an express Vessell dispatch’d by Mr. Eaton our Consul at Tunis, The Contents of which will shew you the unhappy State of our affairs in that Quarter. We have no information yet of the arrival of any American Ship of war in these Seas but expect them daily. There are now twenty-five Vessells in this Port, and the Coast; this must wait for some Vessell to arrive...
6To James Madison from William Willis, 28 June 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 June 1801, Barcelona. “The Bashaw of Tripoli having declared war against the United States, the Government no doubt will early as possible attend to the defense of the Commerce of the Mediterranean, and no doubt it will be satisfactory to the people of the United States to know that their money is expended for a purpose so interesting to them, & so conducive to their interest. “There is no...
7To James Madison from William Willis, 18 July 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 July 1801, Boston. Seeks clarification on his account, which was not accompanied by vouchers. Obtaining such papers is difficult, and the sums involved were often trivial. The whole amount is only about $500 for maintaining a consulate five years in Barcelona. Few U.S. ships touched there until his arrival—now about eighty come each year. When Tripoli declared war on the U.S. he tried to...
8To James Madison from William Willis, 18 July 1801 (Madison Papers)
I have Rec’d a letter from the secretary of the treasury; informing me, that my account was referred, to the accounting officers of the treasury, but that the allowing it depended on their having authority from you, Sir. I have therefore to request the favor of you Sir, to inform me whether it is agreeable to you to give directions for their allowing me those small accounts. It seems the...
9To James Madison from William Willis, 4 May 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 May 1802, Washington. “From some of the remarks you made, in the Conversation I had the honor to have with you this day; I have reason to beleive that some misinformation has been given you, of my leaving Barcelona.… When I left Barcelona, I had hopes of finding some property in Europe, belonging to James Muirhead & Co of Charleston, for whom I had made very large advances.… Even with all my...
10To James Madison from William Willis, 4 May 1802 (Madison Papers)
From some of the remarks you made, in the conversation I had the honor to have with you this day; I have reason to beleive that some misinformation has been given you, of my leaving Barcelona. With this impression I beg leave to state to you some of the leading causes of my leaving it at the time I did. When I left Barcelona I had hopes of finding some property in Europe, belonging to James...