To James Madison from William Willis, 23 July 1806 (Abstract)
From William Willis, 23 July 1806 (Abstract)
§ From William Willis. 23 July 1806, New Bedford. “I herewith Enclose you the original as well as a coppy of a Certificate of my Character1 from all the justices of peace in this town of my Nativity and request the favor of you to cause the Coppy to be deposited in the office of State with the documents which my Enemies have causd to be lodged against me as every instrument of this kind is in a degree a negative proof of the falsity of their aspersions and altho, I have a confidence, that these aspersions, from their absurdities, and contradictions; have left no impressions, either, on the Presidents, or your mind, against me, yet as they might at a future day injure me; I hope it will be agreeable to you Sir, to comply with my request.
“You no doubt Sir are appriz’d that I was appointed Consul of the United States for Venice, previous to my appointment for Barcelona. But the changeable state of things at Venice, has prevented me in some degree from executing my commission. The state of things have now assumd, a more permanent appearance and it is probable that in a short time, I can arrange my business so as to go out to that Country. And I request the favor of you Sir, to inform me, whether it will be agreeable to the President, and you Sir, for me to execute that Commission.”
Adds in a postscript: “I request the favor of you sir, to return me the original certificate after you have read it and found it to agree with the Enclosed coppy.”
RC and enclosure (DNA: RG 59, CD, Bremen, vol. 1). RC 1 p. For enclosure, see n. 1.
1. The enclosure (3 pp.; docketed by Wagner, with his signed note: “I compared the enclosed certificates with their originals”) consisted of a copy of a 3 Feb. 1806 certificate signed by nine New Bedford justices of the peace, stating “that William Willis late Consul of the United States of America for Barcelona is a Citizen of this place and that his Parents who are respectable persons are still living here and that the said William Willis supports the Character of a Sober, peaceable, Honest & industrious Citizen, and that we have never been inform’d of his ever having been married to any person but his present wife Josephine who as we are informd now resides in Barcelona in Spain”; a copy of a certificate of Massachusetts governor Caleb Strong, dated 11 Apr. 1806 and signed by his secretary, John Avery, confirming that all of the above signatories to the 3 Feb. certificate were justices of the peace in New Bedford; and an undated letter from Willis to JM, repeating the substance of the first paragraph and postscript of his letter above.