51To James Madison from William Willis, 1 June 1802 (Madison Papers)
I have at length terminated my business and met with a passage to France as the nearest place to Barcelona and hope to be there in 40 days. I should have solicited a passage in the Frigate now here had I not feard a long quarantine. I am inform’d (indirectly) that one of the Mr Montgomerys of Alicant were about to apply for the consulate of Barcelona, and from this I am led to conjecture the...
52To James Madison from William Willis, 31 July 1802 (Madison Papers)
I arriv’d here on the 23d inst and on the following day wrote to our minister at Madrid a Coppy which letter I now enclose to you as it contains something respecting the Clamor that has been rais’d in my absence which as I expected has ceas’d and those that have been so active in their Clamor begin now to be sensible that their reward will be nothing but shame and disgrace and some of the most...
53To James Madison from William Willis, 9 September 1802 (Madison Papers)
I herewith enclose you a Coppy of a letter which I have just Rec’d from Consul O’Brien. We have nothing new here, respecting the Tripotins, and as yet I have not heard of but one of our Vessells being taken, and if a regular System of Convoy is adopted perhaps years may pass without our loosing another but as yet none has taken place and many of our Vessells put to sea which would remain...
54To James Madison from William Willis, 15 September 1802 (Madison Papers)
I enclose you with this Copies of Letters giving information of the affairs of Tripoli, with the objects the Tripolins Seem to have in view. Comodore Morris passed this Port on the 12th. inst. in Sight with the Schooner Enterprize and I Extremely regret his not Calling, because but three or four days before, there was a Tripoline Cruiser of About thirty Tons on this Coast, and the Schooner...
55To James Madison from William Willis, 19 September 1802 (Madison Papers)
Since my last of the 15th. inst. I have found in possession of Capn. Thos. Lewis of the Ship Pomona a false Register and Mediterranean pass which I have demanded of him, and he has delivered me, which I now inclose to you. I am trying by All means in my power to find out to a Certainty the Author of this fabrication. I have already strong presumptive proof, and it is very probable that Capn....
56To James Madison from William Willis, 29 September 1802 (Madison Papers)
I herewith Enclose you Copies of my Last of the 19th. inst., Since which nothing New has taken place. I have not yet been able to get the Papers and Plate Promised me from the Person who has told me he has them, as he has removed them out of the Gates, and when I have been for them, he has either been absent or he had Company; but I am Confident he will make no bad use of them. As Soon as I...
57To James Madison from William Willis, 12 October 1802 (Madison Papers)
Imediately after writing my Letter to you upon the Subject of the insolent Letter from Lewis I thought it best to sommons both Lewis & Baker, In order that they should appear together and to answer to the interrogations that I should put to them and, to commit Lewis for his insolent Letter, Lewis remaind silent; but Baker returnd the following insulting reply, I inclose you the sumons and...
58To James Madison from William Willis, 20 October 1802 (Madison Papers)
I herewith Enclose you another Blank Conterfeit Register and Mediteranean Pass No. 2. I have not yet been able to find any thing more respecting the Plate of the Register Seals &c. My Vice Consul Mr. Stirling having disobey’d my orders in this investigation I shall dismiss him tomorrow. Had he acted as I orderd him the other Plate if in this Place would probably have been found. I have not yet...
59To James Madison from William Willis, 18 November 1802 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Charles Pinkney the United States Minister at Madrid left this Place on the 8th. for Italy, Since which I have had no letters from him, but have heard he got on Expeditiously as far as Montpellier, and was ready to Set out for Marseilles on the 14th. I have been Much Occupied of Late, and at Every moment, that I can find for the Purpose, I am Occupied in investigating the business of the...
60To James Madison from William Willis, 15 December 1802 (Madison Papers)
The principle object of thi s letter is to transmit you the within Coppy of a Circular letter Rec’d from Tunis by way of Italy and also to Enclose you the Coppy of an aff i davit of Mumford & Bowen befor e Mr. Cathalan the Object of which is expressed at the bottom of it. I have no late information of the Cruising Ground of the Pyrates of Tripo ly but Some time in October they wer e off Malta...
61To James Madison from William Willis, 6 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have Rec’d from Mr. Catalan Two affidavits, one made by Thomas Lewis and the other by William Baker almost every sentence of which is false and altho I was before acquainted with many acts of Vilainy of these men yet I cannot but be astonish’d at the easy manner in which they swear to the most attrocious falsehoods. I herewith enclose you an affidavit of Benj. B Mumford and Willm. B Bowen...
62To James Madison from William Willis, 13 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
Since my last Via Lisbon nothing very remarkable has occurr’d here: we have no late news from tripoly but the Algerines have taken a number of Brittish Merchant Ships, On account of their Passes not agreeing with the forms Last sent out. I have lately demanded of Captain James Mills to deliver into this office his ships papers but he has absolutely refus’d to do it. Benjamin B Mumford who with...
63To James Madison from William Willis, 6 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have just had a that an English master of a Vessell here has a Set of American Papers. I shall try to them from him if I find it true, that he has them and Endeavour to find where he got them. My suspicions are that the English Vice-Consul who is a Catalan, may have furnish’d him with them or that he may have got them from Mills, as he is very intimate with him. It is late this afternoon...
64To James Madison from William Willis, 20 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
John Leonard Esqr. has arriv’d and as it appears to be the Wish of the president that he should take charge of the Consulate I offer’d it to him the moment of his arrival and have aided him in being Rec’d here. I have private information that he is authoriz’d to arrest me as soon as he takes the office which will be on Monday. This I must submit to as to all other Evils. My fate is peculiarly...
65To James Madison from William Willis, 25 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
Mr. John Leonard has arrived here. As it seem’d to be the wish of the Government that I should give up the Consulate to him I have done it and shall attend the Orders of the president. I have secret information that Mr. Leonard has power to arrest me and send me to America. This I submit to. It has been my fate to love and Serve my Country with Zeal, and to lay under the imputation of a most...
66To James Madison from William Willis, 27 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
My last inform’d you that Mr. Leonard had arriv’d here and that he was soon to take possession of the Consulate and have done all in my power to aid him in the commencement of his office. He says he was appointed to supercede me in office and that you informd him the office was vacant. In consequence of this I have given up the office to him, but as I wrote you some time past that I wished to...
67To James Madison from William Willis, 3 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have deliver’d up the office to Mr. Leonard who assur’d me, that you told him that I was displaced on account of a suspicion of my knowing, or having been active in passing false papers. It is impossible for me to avoid suspicion, that there has been so many arts, made use of to raise against me. But millions of dollars would not even have tempted me to permit any such thing. Mr Leonard...
68To James Madison from William Willis, 7 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have been much afflicted with many anonymous letters some of them very threatning. But I am more at a loss respecting your private favor of the 28th. of May than any other, as there has been a frigate here from the Squadron and altho I Spent part of my Time with the officers Especially with the Captain Rogers, Nothing was said to me on the subject of your letter These things seem very...
69To James Madison from William Willis, 11 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have been about five weeks confin’d to my bed with a malady caus’d by the bad medecine given me last winter to destroy me but am now on the recovery and hope to recover in 2 or 3 weeks more. I with difficulty write: but as the subject is very interesting to the U S I suffer a little pain to serve my Country. I understand the French government have it in view to obtain the Floridas from Spain...
70To James Madison from William Willis, 22 October 1803 (Madison Papers)
My last of the 11th. instant inform’d you that I had reason to believe the french Government have an intention of procuring the Floridas from spain. I am confident this is the case, and if they procure it, they will have a situation which will Enable them in case of a rupture to distroy our trade with the Mississippi by have a large extent of coast between our other cost and that river. In the...
71To James Madison from William Willis, 23 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
To unravil so deep, and complicated Vilany, as that, which has been practis’d, to rob me of my property, and ruin my character; would be a task as tiresome as it would I presume be useless. Some of the characters, among this combination are already known to you, Sir, and I trust they stand in so infamous a light, that accusations from them are the only commendations they are capable of. I...