To James Madison from William Lee, 11 December 1806
From William Lee
Bordeaux December 11th: 1806
Sir,
I had the honor to address you on the 7th. inst. by triplicate enclosing the Imperial decree declaring the British Islands in a state of Blockade. I now take the liberty to enclose you by triplicate the discourse of the arch Chancellor of the Empire to the Senate; The message of the Emperor to that body and the1 reports of the minister of foreign affairs, on2 this extraordinary3 measure.4 I expressed to you my fears from the manner in which the merchants of this City interpreted this decree that several private ships would be immediately equipped to prey on our commerce. I wrote General Armstrong a letter to that effect, a copy of which I subjoin5 & I am sorry to add that four privateers are now actually, fitting out in this port for this purpose.
By the three files of the moniteur, which I forward you this day, you will see the situation of the army and the severe measures, taken against the Hanseatic Towns, and the Englishmen and English property found in their territories.6 The Russian Troops it is said have advanced into the Prussian Territory and have had a favorable, skirmish with the french advance guard, but other reports say, that their right wing has been repulsed by Marshall Lannes.7
It is feared here, that the Turks and Austrians have joined the Russians, and the active negotiations which are going on between Berlin and Vienna together with the tardines⟨s⟩ of the King of Prussia to sign8 the Armistice give us some reason to think, that the last effort of the continent is now making, against this country. It is to be presumed however, that with9 the 80, thousand conscripts, now ordered to be levied and the 60,000 poles who have recently10 joined the Emperor victory will still attach herself to his standard and if we are to reason from the past there is every appearance that11 he will reach St. Petersburgh by the beginning of12 June next.
Mr Beauharnois, who passed through this City yesterday from head Quarters on an important mission to Spain assured one of the Constituted authorities,13 that this decree14 was altogether a child of Monsr. Talleyrands. That on this ministers presenting the project to the Emperor the latter objected to it, and it was not until15 two or three conferences that the Minister could prevail on him to adopt it. By this decree the, little commerce, that was left to this beautiful City is now cut off, and the wretched State of the merchants, and indeed all classes of Citizens would beggar all description.
I recd. the letter you did me the favor to write me giving me permission16 to visit the United States.17 I cannot profit of it under the present state of affairs as my presence will, in all probability be highly necessary here to give protectio⟨n⟩ to our seamen & property.18 With great respect I have Sir the honor to remain Your Obedient humble servant
Wm Lee
RC, two copies, and enclosure (DNA: RG 59, CD, Bordeaux, vol. 2). First RC docketed by Wagner. For enclosures, see nn. 4–6.
1. The second RC has “two” inserted here.
2. The second RC has “recommending” in place of “on” here.
3. The second RC has “and unprecedented” inserted here.
4. Enclosures not found, but the 5 December 1806 Paris Moniteur universel reprinted these communications. Archchancellor Jean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès’s 2 December 1806 speech to the French Senate justified the blockade by introducing the message from Napoleon and the reports from French foreign minister Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord. Cambacérès spoke of Napoleon’s desire for peace and moderation in conquest, claiming that this moderation had been betrayed by continued commerce and the “machinations” of Continental nations with Great Britain. In a 21 November 1806 message to the Senate, Napoleon claimed that French cessions had failed to satisfy Great Britain. After three previous wars, he stated, France was required “to fight against a fourth coalition.” He refused to continue negotiations and implemented the blockade. Talleyrand recounted British commercial strength and justified the measures of the Berlin Decree. In his 15 November report to Napoleon, Talleyrand praised and justified the destruction of the “fourth coalition”; accused England of “abusing, in a manner the most tyrannical and simultaneously the most senseless, the right of blockade”; and declared that England “acknowledges no law,” thereby forcing France to retaliate. Talleyrand’s 20 November report stated that “under the name of the right of blockade, [England] invented and practiced the most monstrous theory,” violating the right of blockade by extending it “to non-fortified areas of commerce, ports, mouths of rivers,” and places where “it does not have a single ship of war.” Talleyrand recommended retaliatory measures.
5. Lee enclosed a second copy of his 7 December 1807 letter to John Armstrong (3 pp.; docketed by Wagner; marked “Copy); for the first copy, see Lee to JM, 7 Dec. 1806, and n. 3.
6. A number of issues of the Moniteur universel between 1 and 10 December 1806 could fit Lee’s general description here, but he may have included the Moniteur universel newspapers of 3, 6, and 9 December 1806. The 3 December edition published a 20 November report from the Frankfurter Journal announcing that the French commander at Hamburg, Édouard Mortier, required residents to declare all British merchandise in their possession (see also John M. Forbes to JM, 22 Nov. 1806, and n. 2). The 6 December Moniteur published a note from the French minister at Hamburg, Louis Antoine Fauvelet de Bourrienne, delivered to the Hamburg city senate on 24 November 1806. After outlining the need to stifle British commerce, Bourrienne declared measures against British goods and persons, including confiscation of British merchandise, property, and mail found in Hamburg; classification of all British subjects in the city as prisoners of war; interdiction of all British ships in the port; and confiscation of all vessels smuggling British items. The 9 December issue printed a 21 November 1806 report from Bremen that detailed an embargo on all Prussian, English, Russian, and Swedish vessels in that port and on the Weser River.
7. Russia had marched sixty thousand troops into eastern Prussia to fight Napoleon’s army. In a series of December 1806 skirmishes, French troops pushed combined Russian and Prussian forces into Poland. The fighting culminated on 26 December 1806 at the Battles of Golymin and Pultusk. At the latter, the Russian troops were fortified by thirty-five thousand of their comrades, and the French forces were led by general Jean Lannes. In both battles the Russians held off Napoleon’s army, forcing it to retire for the winter (Michael Adams, Napoleon and Russia [London, 2006], 140–42).
8. The second RC has “in ratifying” in place of “to sign” here.
9. The second RC has “the aid of” inserted here.
10. The second RC has “it is said lately” in place of “recently” here.
11. The second RC has “we may conclude” in place of “there is every appearance that” here.
12. The second RC has “May, or” inserted here.
13. The second RC has “One of the Constituted authorities of this city assured me, that Mr Beauharnois who passed through, this City yesterday from head quarters on his way to Spain on an important mission ⟨to⟩ld him” in place of the previous phrasing here.
14. The second RC has “of the Emperors” inserted here.
15. The second RC has “after” inserted here.
16. The second RC has “leave” in place of “permission” here.
17. JM to Lee, 1 Sept. 1806, PJM-SS, 12:266.
18. The second RC has “I cannot under the present state of affairs avail myself of this indulgence as my presence will be very necessary here if their decree goes into effect” in place of this sentence.