To James Madison from William Willis, 25 August 1803
From William Willis, 25 August 1803
Barcelona August 25st. 1803
Respected Sir,
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 attrocious Violation of duty. I am however ready to meet the result and am With Respectfull Esteem Yr Hble Ser
Willm. Willis
If after my tryal on my inn⟨o⟩cence being establish’d the preside⟨nt⟩ should think me from my Services an object of Confidence I should be happy in being reinstated in th⟨e⟩ Consulate of this place. I am as before With Respect
Willm. Will⟨is⟩
The preceding is the full transcription of a document that was previously abstracted in The Papers of James Madison, Secretary of State series. The original abstract contains additional annotation and source information.