1To James Madison from William Lee, 17 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
After three or four battles which you will find detailed in the Several bulletins accompanying this, the Emperor has entered Madrid where it is said he is occupied in arrangements for the crowning of his brother. The Army of Genl. Junot left this City a few days since for Portugal having received orders to be at Lisbon on the 10th. of January. One other division of forty five thousand men are...
2To James Madison from William Lee, 10 December 1808 (Madison Papers)
The friends of Mr. William Bass of Boston, are about making application to you in his favor for the appointment to the Consulate of Antwerp, which it is said has become vacant by the resignation or retirement of Mr. Ridgway. As I presume testimonials in favor of candidates for public office, are acceptable, will you permit me Sir to state in favor of this amiable and deserving young man, that...
3To 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...
4To James Madison from William Lee, 1 November 1808 (Madison Papers)
A severe indisposition which has confined me to my bed for several days scarcely leaves me strength enough to apologize to you for the confused style of my letter of this morning and to say a few words on other subjects The things Mr. Ba ? ker purchased for you with the hogshead of White Wine & Brandy I hold in readiness to send, the Consignee and Captain of this Vessel, have refused to let me...
5To James Madison from William Lee, 21 June 1808 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Baker having put all the letters addressed to me into the possession of the Commissary General of Police at Lorient prevented my receiving the one you did me the honor to write me by that Gentleman under date of the 2d. of May until this morning. I feel much obliged for your goodness in leaving open the packet for Mr. Erving. I had before seen detached parts of those documents in the...
6To 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...
7To 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...
8To James Madison from William Lee, 1 March 1808 (Madison Papers)
The Journal of the day contains the following article, "Le Conseil des Prizes en execution de l’art: 8 du Decret Imperiale, du 21 Novre. 1806 a prononcé la confiscation au profit de L’etat du navaire sous pavillon Americain The Fame saisi par les preposes de Douanes de Bordeaux le 8. aout, 1808 pour en etre dispose conformement 8 du dit Decret." This is a sea letter Vessel partly owned I...
9To James Madison from William Lee, 25 February 1808 (Madison Papers)
Since my respects of the 13th nothing has transpired respecting the intentions of this Government, as relates to the numerous Vessels I then stated to you were detained in the ports of this Kingdom. Some of the Consignees of the Vessels under seizure in this port, are led to hope by advices from their friends at Paris, a favorable issue to their reclamations but, from General Armstrong’s...
10To James Madison from William Lee, 13 February 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to transmit you a letter, I received some days since from Genl. Armstron g. He announces, in a letter I have this day received fro m him, other dispatches, which he wishes sent by this Vessel, but the fear of an embargo, or the promulgation, of a decree, similar, to that of the King of Holland, will not permit the captain to wait for them. If they should reach me in the course...
11To James Madison from William Lee, 10 February 1808 (Madison Papers)
I have the honor to transmit you by triplicate a Decree of the King of Holland. Your obt. servant, DNA : RG 59—CD—Consular Despatches, Bordeaux.
12To 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...
13To James Madison from William Lee, 16 January 1808 (Madison Papers)
Ten days ago an order was received from Paris to embargo all neutral and allied vessels in this port, and by this days post the order has been revoked, which gives an opening for five of our vessels already loaded to depart. During this embargo I had the honor of writing you, via St. Sebastians, and Bayonne, enclosing copies of the decree of the 17th December and other interesting official...
14To 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...
15To 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...
16To 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.
17To 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...
18To 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.
19To 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...
20To James Madison from William Lee, 30 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
Enclosed I beg leave to forwd. you an Invoice of two barrels of Nutts & two doz. of Liquers, shipped on board the Lorenzo, Capt. Dill, to the address of Mr. Gelston of NewYork. I regret that your pipe of Brandy which I shiped in the Ship Susan, Capt. Howard has been detained in the river by an Embargo for upwards of 40 days & that your Cahuzas Wine has not yet reached me. The Presidents...
21To James Madison from William Lee, 29 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
I have this moment received a letter from Stephen Ca thalan Esqr. our Consul at Marseilles, enclosing the annexed copy of one he recd from the American Consulate at Naples, containing the disagreeable intelli ge nce of the Algerines having declared war against the United States. I at firs t doubted the news, as some of our Consuls in the Mediterranean deal a l ittle in the marvellous; but on...
22To James Madison from William Lee, 26 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
I beg leave to inclose you copies of my letters to Genl. Ar mstrong relating to an examination of all the American Vessels & Crews in this port. This measure has alarmed the Merchts. of the City, and alth ough it lasted but three days and our vessels are now permitted to depart it leaves a disagreeable impression on the minds of well-informed men who have their doubts respecting the future....
23To James Madison from William Lee, 9 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
It appears by the mail of to day, that a con spiracy has been discovered at Madrid, which had for its object the dethroning of the King and ruin of the leading nobles. The Prin ce of Asturias who headed the party has been arrested with all his adher ents, and the greatest confusion in consequence reigns throughout the kingdom. This accounts for the march of the French Troops towa rd Madrid,...
24To 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...
25To James Madison from William Lee, 19 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
Invoice of One Puncheon Best Champain Prime old Brandy, at least 15 Years old, from Cognac, augmented to 4th Proof, shipped on board the Ship Susan, Capt. Howard on acct of James Madison Esqr. Secretary of State; consigned to the Collector of NewYork, David Gelston. V. L V . 1 1 Puncheon. Brandy, containing 50 1/ 2 Velts @ 360 frs. pr. 27 Velts } 673: 33 Cognac } More value of 4 Velts Spirits...
26To 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...
27To James Madison from William Lee, 10 October 1807 (Madison Papers)
The Ship George Washington Captain Hidelius of Philadelphia arrived here on the 14 August from Plymouth in England where she had been conducted by a British Ship of War who captured her at the mouth of this river. Application was immediately made to the Director General of the Customs for permission to enter this Ship which was refused. Another application was made by my advice through General...
28To 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...
29To James Madison from William Lee, 15 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of the 28 June requesting a supply of wine cordials &c. reached me but yesterday. I will use all my endeavours to have the articles shipped by the 10th Octr as after that time I think it would be too late. The Brandy I have ordered from Cognac of fifteen years of age. With great respect I am Sir Your obt servt. DLC : Papers of James Madison.
30To James Madison from William Lee, 8 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
A rumour having been current here for some days past tha t the Emperor had said to Genl. Armstrong that if we let slip this favo rable opportunity of declaring against England, that he intended to s hut our Commerce out from all the ports of Europe untill the con test between France and England should terminate, I thought it my duty to state the same to the General, beleiving the report to...