§ From William Lee. 14 February 1807, Bordeaux. “I beg leave to transmit you herewith a copy of a correspondence, relating to a very ridiculous letter written by a thoughtless young man by the name of Stackpole of Boston, and made public by the inconsiderate Mr I. C. Barnet.1 I should not have troubled you Sir with this pitiful affair had it not been suggested to me in a letter I have this day received from a respectable friend of mine at Paris, that the contents of that letter were calculated to make an unfavorable impression at Washington by creating a suspicion, that I had been (in the true spirit of a new England-man) trying to barter away my office: Permit me therefore to assure you that I was totally ignorant of Mr Stackpoles proceedings or intentions. H⟨e⟩ came recommended to me from Mr Morton of Boston and was treated in my family with an attention and kindness which did not merit such a return. In his visits at my house he may hav⟨e⟩ heard both Mrs Lee and myself sigh for the delig⟨h⟩t of our native country, and express our wishes that we were as pleasantly situated there as here. Bu⟨t⟩ as I never had an idea of resigning my office & never have applied directly nor indirectly for any one in the U S I am persuaded, nothing could ever have escaped me, that could justify Mr Stackpoles making use of my name in the manner he has done. Mr Morton of Boston is a very good friend of mine, and Mr Stackpole doubtless thought it necessary to impress him, with the idea that I was tired of my residence here, in order to induce that gentleman to patronize him. This only could be his motive for wishing to make it appear that I was ready to consent to any arrangement of the nature he has pointed out. The other parts of his letter do not merit my attention. I have some discussions it is true with the merchants of Bordeaux, but they arise from the strict and rigid discharge of the duties of my office, and I know they all at least respect me, though it is inconvenient to them, to have a Consul here, who will not bend to their purposes. The unfortunate failure of my mercantile house will always be raked up, and I must suffer that mortification which time alone will cure. I should like Mr Stackpole would name the American in this country, who has surmounted the difficulties I have gone through. Nine out of ten would have sunk under such a weight. By industry and economy I have overcome all, and have paid all for I do not owe a thousand francs in the whole Empire.

“In calling your attention to such trifling affairs as these I always feel as if I was doing wrong and I have twenty times since my residence in this City, omitted addressing you on subjects of this nature infinitely more interesting to me, from a fear of trespassing on your valuable time and of being ranked with those Colleagues of mine, who are always tormenting Government with their silly complaints and details of Office.”