1To 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...
2To James Madison from William Willis, 22 April 1801 (Madison Papers)
The inclosed copy of a circular letter from Consul OBrien at Algiers, will explain to you the unpleasant state of our affairs in this quarter. There is no doubt that the Dey of Tripoli has in some measure been prompted to declare war against the United States by European influence, as all the powers that are concerned in commerc⟨e⟩ are desirous of amas[s]ing the golden harvest of the...
3To James Madison from William Willis, 17 June 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
17 June 1801, Barcelona. Transmits a letter received by an express vessel dispatched by Eaton, reporting on “unhappy State of our affairs” in Tunis. Has received no information yet on arrival of any U.S. warships “in these Seas.” Twenty-five vessels are in port or on coast waiting for protection. The U.S. now has the opportunity to gain a commercial ascendancy over all North Sea powers by the...
4To James Madison from William Willis, 18 July 1801 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
18 July 1801, Boston. Seeks clarification on his account, which was not accompanied by vouchers. Obtaining such papers is difficult, and the sums involved were often trivial. The whole amount is only about $500 for maintaining a consulate five years in Barcelona. Few U.S. ships touched there until his arrival—now about eighty come each year. When Tripoli declared war on the U.S. he tried to...
5To James Madison from William Willis, 4 May 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
4 May 1802, Washington. “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.… When I left Barcelona, I had hopes of finding some property in Europe, belonging to James Muirhead & Co of Charleston, for whom I had made very large advances.… Even with all my...
6To 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...
7To James Madison from William Willis, 31 July 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
31 July 1802, Barcelona. “I arriv’d here on the 23d inst and on the following day wrote to our minister at Madrid a Coppy which letter I now enclose to you as it contains something respecting the Clamor that has been rais’d in my absence which as I expected has ceas’d and those that have been so active in their Clamor begin now to be sensible that their reward will be nothing but shame and...
8To 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...
9To 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.”...
10To James Madison from William Willis, 19 September 1802 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
19 September 1802, Barcelona. Encloses a false register and Mediterranean pass taken from Capt. Thomas Lewis of the Pomona . “I am trying by All means in my power to find out to a Certainty the Author of this fabrication.” Believes Lewis is involved; “I understand he has bought a vessel in Egypt & put her under American Colours, and Sold her in Malta, and what makes this Appear Stronger...