51To James Madison from William Willis, 9 November 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William Willis. 9 November 1805, New Bedford. “I have to request the favor of you to enclose me one of the authenticated coppies of the affadavit of Benjamin B Mumford and Willm. B Bouen before Mr. Cathalan at Marseilles, the 5th of Feby. 1802. respecting the sailing of the Ship Pomona in my absence to France &c. “I suppose there are two of those Coppies in the office of State,...
52To 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...
53To James Madison from William Willis, 9 September 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
9 September 1802, Barcelona. Encloses a copy of a letter just received from O’Brien. Believes U.S. shipping would be safeguarded by “a regular System of Convoy” but as yet there is none. Suggests that U.S. ships of war are too large for the mission of suppressing the Tripolitans; “but had we a few Schooners of 14 to 16 Six pnd. they would be of sufficient force to defeat any one of the...
54To 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...
55To 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...
56To 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...
57To James Madison from William Willis, 27 June 1806 [letter not found] (Madison Papers)
¶ From William Willis. Letter not found. 27 June 1806. Acknowledged in JM to Willis, 1 July 1806 , as having to do with a claim on the Spanish government.
58To James Madison from William Willis, 20 June 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 June 1804, Boston. “I have had the honor of Receiving your two letters of the 9th & 13 instant, the first giving your reasons for not accepting my draft, as well as refusing that in favor of Mr Montagut. And also your reasons for declining to furnish me with the coppies of documents furnish’d by my accusers against me, and altho regreet [ sic ] much there being any reason to debar me from...
59To 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...
60To James Madison from William Willis, 12 October 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
12 October 1802, Barcelona. “Imediately after writing my Letter to you upon the Subject of the insolent Letter from Lewis I thought it best to summons 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...
61To 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...
62To James Madison from William Willis, 21 June 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
21 June 1804, Boston. “Since I had the honor of writing you yesterday I have seen the first account sent you with an order on it in the hands of Mr Willm Sterling formerly a Clerk in my house at Barcelona. It is extremely mortifying to me, to see an account of moneys, advanc’d some years ago, on accot. of the United States; with an order on it pass through so many hands—I trust that the...
63To 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...
64To James Madison from William Willis, 24 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
24 January 1804, Barcelona. Has drawn on JM for $203.47 in favor of John Montague for consular advances made by William Willis and Company. As his total advances “do not amount to four hundred dollars, exclusive of Commissions, in the course of about five years, I hope and trust that this small draft will meet due honor.” “I am yet at a loss to know the will of the Executive respecting me. Mr...
65To 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....
66To James Madison from William Willis, 23 July 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From William Willis. 23 July 1806, New Bedford. “I herewith Enclose you the original as well as a coppy of a Certificate of my Character 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...
67To 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...
68To James Madison from William Willis, 1 June 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
1 June 1802, New York. Has terminated his business and found a passage to France. Hopes to be in Barcelona in forty days. “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 source of a great part of the Clamor rais’d against me, and such an opportunity no doubt will be very...
69To James Madison from William Willis, 25 August 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
25 August 1803, Barcelona . “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...
70To 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...
71To James Madison from William Willis, 15 September 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
15 September 1802, Barcelona. Encloses copies of letters “giving information of the affairs of Tripoli, with the objects the Triplins Seem to have in view.” Commodore Morris in the schooner Enterprize passed within sight of Barcelona on 12 Sept., “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.”...
72To 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...
73To 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...