21To 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...
22To 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,...
23To 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...
24To James Madison from William Willis, 27 August 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
27 August 1803, Barcelona . His last letter informed JM that “Leonard had arriv’d here and that he was soon to take possession of the Consulate.” Has given up the office but wishes to be reinstated once his “innocence and exertions for the common interest” of his country are established. “I am inform’d every day that Mr Leonard has secret instructions to arrest me and send me to the U.S.… I...
25To James Madison from William Willis, 3 September 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
3 September 1803, Barcelona . Has delivered his office to Leonard, his successor. Leonard “assur’d me, that … I was displaced on account of a suspicion of my knowing, or having been active in passing false papers.” “But millions of dollars would not even have tempted me to permit any such thing. Mr Leonard after my having done every thing in my power to have him Rec’d with respect has proved...
26To 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...
27To James Madison from William Willis, 11 October 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
11 October 1803, Barcelona . “I have been … confin’d to my bed with a malady caus’d by the bad medecine given me last winter to destroy me.… I with difficulty write: but as the subject is very interesting to the U S I suffer a little pain to serve my Country.” Understands that France intends “to obtain the Floridas from Spain by which means they will gain an important Port between the...
28To James Madison from William Willis, 22 October 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
22 October 1803, Barcelona . Wrote last on 11 Oct. , expressing his belief that “the french Government have an intention of procuring the Floridas from spain.” Is “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 destroy our trade with the Mississippi by have [ sic ] a large extent of coast between our other cost and...
29To James Madison from William Willis, 8 November 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
8 November 1803, Barcelona. Not having heard from JM on the subject of JM’s letter of 28 May and not having been arrested “gives me hopes that the president is sattisfied since that date of my innocence.” “My accusers appear to have formd a complot and agreed on a mode of ruining me, the most cruel and Vilanous that could be imagined, first to robb and destroy me with M[e]dicine in my food &...
30To 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...