To James Madison from William Lee, 26 December 1806
From William Lee
American Consulate Bordeaux 26 Decr 1806.
Sir,
I beg leave to transmit you an extract of a letter I have this day received from General Armstrong, as it is calculated in a measure to dissipate those fears occasioned by the D[e]cree of the 21st. November.1 By what I can learn, the four privateers, which are fitting out here, with the expectation of being permitted to attack our commerce experience some difficulty at the marine office. I begin from these and other circumstances to hope that our Commerce will not be interrupted by french cruisers. With great respect I have the honor to remain Your devoted humble servant
Wm Lee
RC and enclosure (DNA: RG 59, CD, Bordeaux, vol. 2). RC docketed by Wagner. For enclosure, see n. 1.
1. The enclosure is a copy of John Armstrong to Lee, 20 Dec. 1806 (1 p.). Armstrong wrote that until Napoleon’s Berlin Decree could be “interpreted ministerially or judicially, no opinion can safely be formed of it.” However, Armstrong suggested that a narrow interpretation of the decree would “leave things just where they have been & are,” although a broad interpretation would “no doubt be very troublesome & injurious to us.” He noted that he had asked the French government to explain how the decree related to neutral nations and promised to forward the answer when he received it.