31To James Madison from William Willis, 15 December 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
15 December 1802, Barcelona. Notes that the principal object of this letter is to transmit the enclosed copy of a circular letter received from Tunis via Italy. Also encloses a copy of an affidavit [not found] of Benjamin Mum-ford and William B. Bowen sworn to before Cathalan, the purpose of which is expressed at the bottom of the affidavit. Has no recent information of the “Cruising Ground of...
32To James Madison from William Willis, 18 July 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 July 1804, Boston. “I have Rec’d a letter from the secretary of the treasury, informing me, that my account was referred to the accounting officers of the treasury, but that the allowing it depended on their having authority from you, Sir. I have therefore to request the favor of you sir, to inform me whether it is agreeable to you to give directions for their allowing me those small...
33To James Madison from William Willis, 20 November 1804 (Madison Papers)
I have duly Rec’d your letter of the 23d of October written by your direction by Mr Brent informing me that the Treasurer of the United States would remit me a draft on Boston for the Ballance due me of two hundred fourteen dollars & Eighty one cents. I have accordingly Received a draft for this amount from the Treasurer of the United States and return you my Very sincere thanks for the...
34To James Madison from William Willis, 31 July 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
31 July 1802, Barcelona. “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...
35To 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...
36To 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...
37To James Madison from William Willis, 17 June 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
17 June 1801, Barcelona. Transmits a letter received by an express vessel dispatched by Eaton, reporting on “unhappy State of our affairs” in Tunis. Has received no information yet on arrival of any U.S. warships “in these Seas.” Twenty-five vessels are in port or on coast waiting for protection. The U.S. now has the opportunity to gain a commercial ascendancy over all North Sea powers by the...
38To James Madison from William Willis, 9 March 1801 (Madison Papers)
I arrived at this place last Evening from Spain, France, England and Martinique Having left Spain about the Middle of Decr., Paris the latter End of Decr., London the begining of Jan’y. and Martinique the 18th. of Last Month. And altho I presume I have but little information that will be any ways interesting or that will be later than the information you must have had from the different places...
39To James Madison from William Willis, 18 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 January 1804, Barcelona. “From the tennor of your private favor of the 28th of May last and the arrest spoken of not taking place I have hopes that the truth has appeard and that my innocence is manifested. The Characters of my accusers Only need to be known to destroy any weight their accusation could have. I am notwithstanding much obligd to you for that letter as it manifested the...
40To James Madison from William Willis, 7 September 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
7 September 1803, Barcelona . “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.” Has heard nothing of the letter’s subject from the American officers, including Captain Rodgers, who visited here. “These things seem very strange to me … but I am still prepar’d to meet the...
41To James Madison from William Willis, 21 February 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
21 February 1804, Madrid. “Mr Leonard about fifteen days before I left Barcelona gave me to understand that he had a secret Commission to Execute independent of his Consular power and that it regarded me and as he had several times hinted as much on his arrival. I told him that if he had any thing to execute on me he must do it immediately as I was going away for this and other reasons I...
42To 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...
43To James Madison from William Willis, 19 September 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
19 September 1802, Barcelona. Encloses a false register and Mediterranean pass taken from Capt. Thomas Lewis of the Pomona . “I am trying by All means in my power to find out to a Certainty the Author of this fabrication.” Believes Lewis is involved; “I understand he has bought a vessel in Egypt & put her under American Colours, and Sold her in Malta, and what makes this Appear Stronger...
44To 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...
45To 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...
46To 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...
47To James Madison from William Willis, 20 October 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 October 1802, Barcelona. Encloses another blank counterfeit register and Mediterranean pass no. 2 [not found]. Is unable to find out anything 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 Stirling acted as ordered, the other plate “if in this Place would probably have...
48To James Madison from William Willis, 18 July 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 July 1801, Boston. Seeks clarification on his account, which was not accompanied by vouchers. Obtaining such papers is difficult, and the sums involved were often trivial. The whole amount is only about $500 for maintaining a consulate five years in Barcelona. Few U.S. ships touched there until his arrival—now about eighty come each year. When Tripoli declared war on the U.S. he tried to...
49To 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,...
50To 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...
51To 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...
52To 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...
53To 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...
54To 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...
55To 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.
56To 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...
57To 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...
58To 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...
59To 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...
60To 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...