1To James Madison from William Willis, 27 February 1815 (Madison Papers)
Your Enemies and the Enemies of the Republican party calculate much on the success that Otis, and the Other agents from this State will meet with in their Mission to Washington. I must beg pardon Sir for the suggestion I am about to make Viz. that it would be a great mortification to your friends as well as a detriment to the cause for it to be believed that their mission has had the least...
2To James Madison from William Willis, 11 August 1812 (Madison Papers)
I have had considerable oppertunities since the declaration of the present war, of finding the sentiments of the people respecting that measure; both on the Atlantic, and in the interior. And if some fortunate event dous [ sic ] not present itself soon to reconcile the Citizens of these States to the war, the ensuing elections will be much affected, And I fear that if many disastrous...
3To 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...
4To 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...
5To 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.
6To 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,...
7To 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...
8To James Madison from William Willis, 11 October 1804 (Madison Papers)
Letter not found. 11 October 1804. Described in Daniel Brent to Willis, 23 Oct. 1804 (DNA: RG 59, DL, vol. 14), as inquiring into the status of Willis’s accounts. Brent told Willis that his account had been adjusted at the Treasury and that a draft for the $214.81 balance due would be transmitted to him in Boston.
9To 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...
10To 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...
11To 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...
12To James Madison from William Willis, 5 June 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
5 June 1804, Boston. “Since mine of yesterday I have thought best to enclose you my accounts with the United States and a Bill of Exchange for the ballance which you will Oblige me by accepting and inclosing to me at this place, I trust my accounts are so small that they will meet with no objection I have been as frugall as Possible and this account includes all my charges in supporting my...
13To James Madison from William Willis, 4 June 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 June 1804, Boston. “Since my last of the 16th of may at Washington I have had the honor of Receiving a letter [not found] under your cover for which I return you many thanks. “I will esteem it as a very great favor of you Sir to inform me whether it is agreeable for you to comply with the request I made you in my letter for coppies of all the doccuments that have been sent to you respecting...
14To James Madison from William Willis, 16 May 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
16 May 1804, Washington. “The many strange methods that have been adopted, by a Vilanous, and active combination, to ruin me, makes me regrett your being occupied, at the hour you appointed for me to call on you—a few minutes would have been sufficient to have convince’d you that the characters that were named, as my accusers merit no credit, as they are the persons who are implicated, in the...
15To 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...
16To James Madison from William Willis, 24 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
24 January 1804, Barcelona. “I am Still at a loss respecting your Esteem’d private letter of the 28th of May as I have not since heard any thing of the arrest you spoke off. It gave me much pain but I am in hopes that the truth has appeard and that my innocence is evident. I had an anonymous letter a little time before I received your sa[i]d letter which anonymous letter corresponded nearly...
17To 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...
18To 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...
19To James Madison from William Willis, 18 January 1804 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 January 1804, Barcelona. “I still remain here in order to hear from you and to obey your Commands if you have any to give me. I know not yet how to account for what Mr Leonard assured me on his word of honor which was that he was appointed to supercede me as Consul or acting Consul and that you told him I was displaced &c with many other things which are too numerous for a letter. I have...
20To 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 &...
21To 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...
22To 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...
23To 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...
24To 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...
25To 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...
26To James Madison from William Willis, 7 September 1803 (Madison Papers)
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, as there has been a frigate here from the Squadron and altho I Spent part of my Time with the officers Especially with the Captain Rogers, Nothing was said to me on the subject of your letter These things seem very...
27To 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...
28To 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...
29To 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...
30To James Madison from William Willis, 27 August 1803 (Madison Papers)
My last inform’d you that Mr. Leonard had arriv’d here and that he was soon to take possession of the Consulate and have done all in my power to aid him in the commencement of his office. He says he was appointed to supercede me in office and that you informd him the office was vacant. In consequence of this I have given up the office to him, but as I wrote you some time past that I wished to...