51To 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...
52To 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...
53To 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...
54To 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...
55To 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...
56To 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...
57To 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...
58To 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...
59To 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...
60To 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...
61To 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...
62To James Madison from William Willis, 23 November 1807 (Madison Papers)
To unravil so deep, and complicated Vilany, as that, which has been practis’d, to rob me of my property, and ruin my character; would be a task as tiresome as it would I presume be useless. Some of the characters, among this combination are already known to you, Sir, and I trust they stand in so infamous a light, that accusations from them are the only commendations they are capable of. I...
63To James Madison from William Willis, 18 November 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 November 1802, Barcelona. Reports that Pinckney left Barcelona for Italy on 8 Nov. “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.” Has been “much occupied of Late” investigating the business of the false papers and encloses the third set of a blank register and Mediterranean pass. “I...
64To James Madison from William Willis, 28 June 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
28 June 1801, Barcelona. “The Bashaw of Tripoli having declared war against the United States, the Government no doubt will early as possible attend to the defense of the Commerce of the Mediterranean, and no doubt it will be satisfactory to the people of the United States to know that their money is expended for a purpose so interesting to them, & so conducive to their interest. “There is no...
65To 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...
66To 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...
67To 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...
68To 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...
69To 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...
70To 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....
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.”...