31To 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...
32To James Madison from William Willis, 6 July 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
6 July 1803, Barcelona . Has received two affidavits from Cathalan, one made by Thomas Lewis and the other by William Baker, “almost every sentence of which is false.” Is “astonish’d at the easy manner in which they swear to the most attrocious falsehoods.” Encloses an affidavit made by Benjamin B. Mumford and William B. Bowen “which contradicts some of the assertions of Lewis & Baker.” “My...
33To 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...
34To James Madison from William Willis, 13 July 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
13 July 1803, Barcelona . Has heard nothing from Tripoli. The Algerines have captured a number of British ships “On account of their Papers not agreeing with the forms Last sent out.” Has ordered Capt. James Mills to deliver his ship’s papers, “but he has absolutely refus’d to do it.” Benjamin B. Mumford has set out for Bordeaux, “Leaving Baker & Ogden & Schwartz their agents” in Marseilles....
35To 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...
36To James Madison from William Willis, 6 August 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
6 August 1803, Barcelona . Has just learned “that an English master of a Vessell here has a Set of American Papers.” Will try to acquire them and find out where the captain got them if the report is true. Suspects “the English Vice-Consul who is a Catalan, may have furnish’d” them, or “he may have got them from Mills, as he is very intimate with him.” Will apply to the authorities “on monday …...
37To 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...
38To James Madison from William Willis, 9 August 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 August 1803, Barcelona . “It appears to be Certain that the Tripoline Ship So long detaind in Gibralter has been taken by the U S frigate Adams and carryed into Malta.… The English have a fleet off Toulon, so that it appears that they suspect Bonaparte wishes to play them another such trick as he did before when he pretended he would invade England the[y] seem to suspect that he has a design...
39To James Madison from William Willis, 9 August 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 August 1803, Barcelona . “I have duly Rec’d your private favour of the 28 of May and altho the subject is very afflicting to me yet I cannot withhold my gratitude to you for your information & advice. My Opinion is the same with yours that the forging papers with the seal of the United States on them is a very serious crime. And It gives me real pain to find that the President has been so...
40To James Madison from William Willis, 20 August 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 August 1803, Barcelona . Announces the arrival of John Leonard to take over the duties of the consulate. Has “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 hard to be accus’d of acting against the interest of my Country,...