51To James Madison from William Lee, 14 February 1807 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to transmit you herewith copy of a correspondence, relating to a very ridiculous letter written by a thoughtless young man by the name of Hackpole of Boston, and made p ublic by the inconsiderate Mr. I. C. Barnet. I sh ould not have troubled you Sir with this pitiful a ffair had it not been suggested to me in a le tter I have this day received from a respectable friend of mine at...
52To James Madison from William Lee (Abstract), 20 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
20 April 1805, Bordeaux . “I beg leave to transmit you a copy of my correspondence with Mr Skipwith respecting the Imprisonment at this port of disorderly American Seamen.” RC and enclosures ( DNA : RG 59, CD , Bordeaux, vol. 2). RC 1 p.; docketed by Wagner. For enclosures, see n. 1. The enclosures (7 pp.) are copies of (1) Fulwar Skipwith to Lee, 28 Mar. 1805, stating that he had received a...
53To James Madison from William Lee (Abstract), 12 February 1805 (Madison Papers)
12 February 1805, Bordeaux . “I have put on board the Brig Lyon Capt. Coursell bound to Baltimore two small boxes for yourself and the President of the United States containing each a ‘ Patté de Perigueux ’ composed of Partridges and Trufes. These pies are in great estimation in Europe and are to be served up cold. They are eaten of sparingly and will keep some time after being open if the top...
54To James Madison from William Lee, 25 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
Since my last official respects under date of the 6th Aug: I have been absent from Bordeaux having by the advice of my Physicians taken a trip to the Mineral Waters of the Pyrenees from whence after a residence there of six weeks I a short time since returned having almost intirely recovered my health to the astonishment of all my friends. Shortly before my departure for the waters I forwarded...
55To James Madison from William Lee, 27 June 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
27 June 1803, Bordeaux . Encloses a packet from Monroe received “the day before yesterday” and a copy of his last letter. Has been much troubled by American seamen; the crews of ten ships now in port, a total of about ninety men, all deserted to take service in privateers. Of these, sixteen had already sailed downriver with the Blonde . Arrested sixty and imprisoned them with the assistance of...
56To James Madison from William Lee, 8 March 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William Lee. 8 March 1806, Bordeaux. “I have thought it my duty to transmit to you, the enclosed extracts, of the arrangements made with my partner, and Creditors, to shew to the Administration that I have surmounted all the difficulties, & distresses, which th[e] stoppage of my mercantile house occasioned. The closing of this painful affair, and the present embarrassments of some of my...
57To James Madison from William Lee, 16 May 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
16 May 1804, Bordeaux. “I have the honour to enclose you copies of my last respects under date of the 11 Ulto. and 12 inst. “The Contestations with the Custom house which I mentioned in my last have nearly ceased and the several failures which took place in this City about the begining of January being long since known in the UStates no further difficulty of that nature is to be apprehended....
58To James Madison from William Lee, 3 August 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
3 August 1803, Bordeaux . “The annexed is a copy of my last pr the Mary carrying your wine which I hope has by this time arrived. My partner Mr Perrot tells me that the wine was of the first quality particularly the Barsac which came from his own estate. I have drawn on you this day at thirty days sight for 645 francs in favor of Wm Booth which please to accept & pay.” RC and enclosure ( DLC...
59To Thomas Jefferson from William Lee, 21 August 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter you did me the honor to write me under date of the 20th of April I received but a few days since, and meeting with a good opportunity to place the draft you desire me to pass on you, I have this day drawn it in favor of Mr. Penn Townsend, at thirty days sight for the sum of 1157 fs. say eleven hundred and fifty seven francs.—At foot is the note of the Wine and charges, Mde. Chabot...
60To James Madison from William Lee, 3 October 1801 (Madison Papers)
From all the Accounts which have been received here, these two days past, there is no doubt but that peace between this country and England, either is a lready or will be shortly concluded on. The enclosed copies of two letters from a respectable and influential banking house in Paris to my friends in this City will serve to shew what con fidence they place in this news. In addition I give you...
61To James Madison from William Lee, 10 July 1804 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed is a copy of my last pr. the Maria Capt Hatton by whom I sent you ten Cases Wine. & pr. the Sheffield Capt Cooper bound to Norfolk I have sent 4 Cases old Sauterne Wine five Cases of Fro[n]tegnac and two Cases of Liqueurs amounting with charges to the sum of nine hundred and ninety nine francs which when added to the Invoice pr Capt Hatton makes the sum of three hundred and twenty...
62To James Madison from William Lee, 8 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
The enclosed is a copy of my last respects. The Consignees of two of our Vessels under seizure in this port have received advices from their correspondents at Paris that the Emperor instead of deciding on their cases as it was expected he would do on the 2d. inst had on that day ordered them laid over for further consideration. I believe this information correct. We have no intelligence...
63To James Madison from William Lee, 20 December 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William Lee. 20 December 1805, Bordeaux. “Since my last respects of the 7th inst the flattering prospects of a peace, being about to take place on the continent, have been diminished. It appears that at the moment Austria, was making through her Envoys pacific proposals, she was also collecting her scattered forces, to join the newly recruted armies of Russia, in order to strike a...
64To Thomas Jefferson from William Lee, 10 August 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty to enclose the Moniteur of the 6th inst containing the new Organization and have the honour to remain with much respect your humble servant RC ( DLC ); endorsed by TJ as received 5 Oct. and so recorded in SJL . Enclosure: Gazette Nationale ou le Moniteur Universel , 18 Thermidor Year 10 (6 Aug. 1802), containing the text of the sénatus-consulte organique of 16 Thermidor (see...
65To James Madison from William Lee, 10 April 1807 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty to enclose you an article which appeared in this days journal and has excited great surprise. The Porte it is said has been forced to a treaty offensive & defensive with Russia & England. If this is true and Austria as is conjectured should abandon her neutrality in favor of those powers the french Army will be unpleasantly situated. A new conscription is called out which...
66To James Madison from William Lee, 20 July 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William Lee. 20 July 1805, Bordeaux. “I have the honor herewith to transmit you a return of the Vessels, that have entered and cleared at this Consulate, from the 1st. of January to the 30th of June [not found]; together with a list, of those Vessels that have been expedited under the Consular Certificate, accompanied by my account current with the United States [not found]. “You will...
67To James Madison from William Lee, 1 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
By the Ship Charleston Packet Capt. Connell I have sent home eighteen distressed mariners as per list inclosed. I have furnished them with provisions, and government has nothing to pay for their passages it having been agreed on between Capt. Connell & myself, that if I procured the release of his Vessel he was to give them their passages. At the time I made application to this Government...
68To James Madison from William Lee, 9 March 1807 (Madison Papers)
The last battle contained in the 60e. Bulletin of the grand Army which I have the honor to transmit herewith has cost very dearly to the French. Two or three such Victories would destroy the briliancy of the Campaign. I have seen private letters from the neighbourhood of the Army which state their losses at 40,000 men killed wounded and prisoners. The Russian losses it is said were more...
69To James Madison from William Lee, 31 October 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William Lee. 31 October 1806, Bordeaux. “The reports which I stated to you in my respects of the day before yesterday were circulating in this City are fully confirmed and the successes of the Emperor even surpasses those of his last campaign. I have made a collection of the Bulletins which I have the honor to enclose. In the Paris journal du soir of the 26th it is asserted that the...
70To James Madison from William Lee, 20 January 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 January 1805, Bordeaux. Refers to his letters of 20 Dec. and 15 and 16 Jan., in the last of which he enclosed a letter to Gallatin regarding the affair of the Easter of New York, details of which he here states. “Some time in the month of July 1803 Captain Booth of New York purchased of Strobel & Martini of this City a French Ship called the Easter which he put under American Colours and...
71To James Madison from William Lee, 23 July 1807 (Madison Papers)
By the enclosed article which I have cut out of the paper of this morning & the ringing of Bells which are now sounding in my ears, Peace it appears is concluded on. The Treaty it is reported is not to be promulgated until the 16 August. It is said that the two Emperors have divided Europe. Alexander is Emperor of the East & Napoleon of the West. The old family of Naples is to be re-instated....
72To James Madison from William Lee, 22 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
Since my last respects I have been obliged to leave the Consulate for six weeks owing to the failure of John Fry Junr. of London with whom the House of Perrot & Lee were closely connected. Nothing but business of the most urgent nature upon which my existence as a Merchant depended, would have induced me to have deserted my family and Post and I trust the necessity of the case will be a...
73To Thomas Jefferson from William Lee, 1 October 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
I find an error in the amt. I had the honor to transmit you on the 21 Augt. of 42 francs in your favor having overcharged that much on the charges of recg. paying duties &c. on the two Casks of Cahuzack wine. I will take the liberty of sending the amount in some small article which I think may be acceptable. With great respect I have the honor to remain Your Obt Servt. MHi : Coolidge Collection.
74To James Madison from William Lee, 8 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to transmit w ith the return of entrances & clearances at this port from the 1st July, to the 31st December 1807. With great respect I have the honor to remain Your obt Servt. DNA : RG 59—CD—Consular Despatches, Bordeaux.
75To James Madison from William Lee, 11 December 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 December 1804, Bordeaux. “I had the pleasure to address you by duplicates on the 14: 20: and 26 of last month. “The present is merely to forward you a few Gazettes and to state to you that mr. Monroe was to leave Paris on Saturday last (the 29th) on his way to madrid and I shall expect him here the day after tomorrow. “The corronation went of[f] with great eclat as you will perceive by the...
76To James Madison from William Lee, 9 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
The official article which I have the honor to inclose appeared in the moniteur of the 5th and will be found to merit your attention. In my respects of the 6th I mentioned the names of six of our Vessels which had been taken by french privateers under the two Imperial decrees. Several others have been captured but have not yet arrived. Several privateers are fitting out in the neighbouring...
77To James Madison from William Lee, 16 December 1807 (Madison Papers)
The importance of the enclosed state paper and its genuiness has induced me to forward you by different conveyances six copies. With great respect I have the honor to remain Your obt. Servant DNA : RG 59—CD—Consular Despatches, Bordeaux.
78To James Madison from William Lee, 27 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to transmit to you an extract of a letter I have this day received from General Armstrong under date of the 22nd inst. in answer to letters I had written him respecting the seizure of several of our vessels, and the captures of others particularized in my respects to you of the 6th and 16th which went by triplicates. "I have assurances that the capture of our vessels under the...
79To James Madison from William Lee, 25 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have the honour to transmit you a copy of a Decree of the King of Holland under date of the 16th inst. Rumor says that new restrictions on commerce are shortly to be promulgated from the Emperor. Speculations in Colonial produce to an immense amount have been made in this and other ports of the Empire, on account of some of the Bankers and leading men of the Capital, which induces one to...
80To James Madison from William Lee, 30 July 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William Lee. 30 July 1806, Bordeaux. “It appears by a letter from the minister of marine, to the Commissary of marine for this port, that a Treaty of peace, between Russia, and France, was signed at Paris on the 20th of this month. It is also very currently reported and generally believed, that Preliminaries of Peace were signed at Paris, on the 25th, between France and England, and it...
81To Thomas Jefferson from William Lee, 23 December 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
The return of Captain Davis from the mouth of the River just gives me time to enclose the President of the United S. a file of the Argus containing the acct of the late decisive battle between the French & Russian armies & the relation of the interview between the Emperor Napoleon & Francis.— With great respect I have the honor to remain the Presidents most humble St. MHi : Coolidge Collection.
82To James Madison from William Lee, 20 April 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 April 1804, Bordeaux. “Your favor of the 7th Feby: came to hand by Lt. Leonard who arrived here in forty five days from NYork charged with dispatches &c. for Mr Livingston —I regret not recg. your letter a few days sooner two or three Vessels having lately sailed for Norfolk by which I could have sent the wine you order. “Before this gets to hand you will perhaps have heard of the...
83To James Madison from William Lee, 26 September 1802 (Madison Papers)
Since my last respects under date 10 Ulto. the following vessels have discharged their Crews Ship Portland of New York 6 men Ship Olive Branch 10 " Barque Galen of Baltimore 5 " Ship Susan of Norfolk 11 " Brig Amity of do. 9 " Ship Julia of Charleston 13 " Ship John of do. 5 " Ship Angel of Boston 4 " Schooner Hope of Haddam Cont. 6 69
84To James Madison from William Lee, 25 December 1802 (Madison Papers)
A severe indisposition will just permit me to say that I have again been under the necessity of sending home to their own Country pr. the Ploughboy Captain Jones, forty-three distressed seamen and I beg leave to refer Captain Jones to you for such a compensation as you may judge fit to make. I have furnished them with provisions amounting to Four thousand eight hundred and forty francs, and I...
85To James Madison from William Lee, 4 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
I inclose you an Invoice and bill of lading of part of the articles you sent for: the Cream of Mint & Jupiter I have not been able to find. At the approaching fair I will procure them. The Nutts it is yet too early to ship. The Brandy not having arrived in time from Cognac to go by this vessel, I have put on board the Washington Capt. Adams, who sails for Newyork in a day or two. I ordered it...
86To James Madison from William Lee, 18 February 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have been under the necessity of sending home by the Ship Thames, bound to Philadelphia a number of distressed, and invalid seamen who are particularized in the annexed document. I did not feel myself authorized to make any arrangement with Captain Wood for the passage of these men without the consent of Mr. Livingston, and as it would take some time to consult him on the business and...
87To James Madison from William Lee, 30 November 1801 (Madison Papers)
I take the liberty to enclose you an extract from the Register Book of this Consulate. It relates altogether to Mr. Barnet, but I thought it my duty to send it to you, and permit me to say, that had Mr. Barnet been contented with the Certificate from his countrymen, it would have been as well, for the manner in which those from the constituted authorities here were procured, is not very...
88To Thomas Jefferson from William Lee, 25 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The box of Seeds for Madame de Tessé I have recd. and have written her as you directed me in your favor of the 21 Feby. The instructions she may send me respecting it shall be carefully followed.—We have a great dearth of news, and no intelligence from the armies—Letters from Paris say, that Preliminaries of Peace have been signed with Prussia but this information is not generally credited.—...
89To James Madison from William Lee, 29 October 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William Lee. 29 October 1805, Bordeaux. “I had the pleasure of addressing you on the 18th giving you a short sketch of the movements of the French Army in Germany. Since then the accounts have been so contradictory, that it has been impossible to come at facts. For several days past we have been led to believe that the French had received a great check, were retreating in confusion,...
90To James Madison from William Lee (Abstract), 1 March 1805 (Madison Papers)
1 March 1805, Bordeaux . “In one of my former letters I mentioned to you that I had refused to grant Gadiou & Co. of this City a Consular Certificate which they demanded of me for a Vessel they had purchased here by virtue <o>f a power of Attorney from Joseph Kaumann of <N>ew York to James Dupy of Nantz. Mr Thos. Irwing who I believe is interested in the house of Podière & Co. <h>aving lately...
91To James Madison from William Lee, 1 November 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 November 1804, Bordeaux. “I had yesterday the pleasure to forward you pr the Jefferson Capt Hull for NYork, a letter from Mr Cathalan of Marseilles, containing some interesting information on our affairs at Tripoly. “Herewith I have the honour to transmit you four packages, handed me this morning by a gentleman from Paris who, at the same time informed me of the arrival of Genl. Armstrong,...
92To James Madison from William Lee, 29 December 1807 (Madison Papers)
The few opportunities which now present for the Uni ted States, has induced me to forward you the inclosed decree by way of Bayonne, St. Sebastians and Bilboa. We are without ar ri vals from America, which leads us to suppose an embargo has been laid on by Congress. Our City continues full of troops. One hundred thou sand at least have passed thro’ the last two months. We have nothing new in...
93To James Madison from William Lee, 15 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
I think it my duty to inclose you a copy of a letter I received the day before yesterday from Genl. Armstrong. I ha ve advised all the American masters, to get home as fast as they can, and this in a manner not calculated to alarm them very much. It is m y firm beleif, that if our affairs are adjusted with England, that som e restrictions will be laid on our Commerce by this Government. I f...
94To James Madison from William Lee, 10 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to inclose you a copy of a le tter from Col. Lear, which has been forwarded to me by Mr. Erv ing at Madrid. A Privateer belonging to a Mr. Lacombe of this place under Spa nish Colours, has captured and conducted into St. Sebastian’s one of our Vessels bound from Virginia to London with Tobacco. The name of the Vess el and Capt. I have not yet learnt. The same privateer has...
95To James Madison from William Lee, 26 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to transmit you a dispatch from General Armstrong, and to inclose you the Imperial Decree creating a new nobility with a tremendous one against the Jews. Both are thought necessary by the nation and appear to be highly approved of. Notwithstanding our vicinity to Spain we are as totally in the dark respecting the destination of the immense army which the Emperor still...
96To James Madison from William Lee, 1 March 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 March 1804, Bordeaux. “I have the honor to transmit you ⟨enc⟩losed the returns of the Vessels which have entered ⟨an⟩d cleared at this Office from the 1st. July to 31 Decr 1803. “The numerous and heavy failures in this City have ⟨c⟩aused great distress among the Americans at this ⟨p⟩ort, the Custom house having seized several of their ⟨C⟩argoes which were in the hands of the Bankrupt...
97To Thomas Jefferson from William Lee, 14 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The letter you did me the honor to write me under date of the 25th June reached me but a few days since. I have written to Mr. Callier Regisseur of Mde. de la Rochefaucaults Estate for the wine you desire. If he cannot conveniently put it in bottles I will have it bottled here.— I have written several times to Madame de Tessé of Aunai respecting the box of seeds &c. you sent her and which now...
98To Thomas Jefferson from William Lee, 10 October 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty to enclose you the declarations of two Gentlemen of veracity, which I hope will tend to expose a part of that system of intrigue which, has been carried on against me from the first moment you honoured me with the appointment to this Consulate. The object of these machinations is I understand, to effect a change in this office, in favor of a Mr Cook, or a Mr Morton , who are...
99To James Madison from William Lee (Abstract), 1 May 1805 (Madison Papers)
1 May 1805, Bordeaux . “I have frequently taken the liberty to mention to you that it appeared to me the indulgence accorded by our Government to its citizens in permitting them to purchase abroad foreign vessels operated greatly to the prejudice of the owners of regular Ships. At no one period since my residence here has there been so many of these vessels fitting out at this port as at the...
100To James Madison from William Lee, 10 December 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have just received intelligence from Mr. Lannes my agent at Bayonne that the Brig Hypsa and James of Salem bound to this port has arrived there after having been visited by the British Squadron at the mouth of this river who made the following endorsement on her papers "Warned from entering any port in France and all her dependencies, Portugal, Spain, Italian & Mediterranean Ports, and the...