To James Madison from John Leonard, 28 October 1807

Herewith I take the liberty to Send the Copies of three Protests two made by Mr: Goodwin, & one by Mr: A: Thorndike my late partner: annex’d to Said protests are my answers to the Same. The Vessell first mentioned was consign’d to the House of Thorndike Leonard & Co: many weeks previous to its Dissolution, and was Sent to Valencia to unload & load, [u]nder the care of our clerk (Mr: Goodwin) The Second mentioned, the Brig Adamant Capt. Allen was consign’d to Said firm also Several weeks before the Dissolution, [an]d after the Dissolution Said Thorndike & Goodwin leagued to gether & assumed the consignation of Said Vessell without authority from the Proprietors, or the Partner’s of the House of Thorndike Leonard & Co: and in a fraudulent manner, [a]ttempted to prejudice the General interests of the Said House by partial, illegal [&] dishonorable proceedings. I, in consequence of Such conduct & many other [en]ormities committed by Said Thorndike in conjunction with Goodwin, and as joint liquidator with Andrew Thorndike, being equally responsable Summons’d [hi]m before the Tribunal of commerce to account for his conduct. The Chamber [of] commerce, after having informed themselves of the particulars of the illegality [of] his actions & having heard all he had to Say in his justification, condemned [his] proceedings & appointed a Merchant of considerable respectability & skill [in] commerce, as an Interventor, & put two locks on the Doors of the Warehouses [th]at contained the Goods that arrived in the Vessels consigned to Said firm, [in]cluding those that he, and Mr: Goodwin attempted to assume to themselves, [whic]h they put into the possession of the Interventor & Mr: A: Thorndike, in order that he (Mr: Thorndike) should not have the power to Sell or Do any act without the approbation & Knowledge of the interventor and to prevent any illegal or unjust proceedings on the part of Mr: Thorndike to the preju[dice] of the Partners of the late firm of Thorndike Leonard & Co: or the proprieto[rs] of the merchandise in their hands. Copy of this Decree I have the honor [to] hand you.

Mr: Thorndike has made an establishment in this city in company wi[th] our late clerk Mr: Goodwin & they Do not hesitate to Declare their intention to endeavour to injure me by every means they can Devise, by which t[hey] think to benefit themselves being conscious of the rectitude & proprie[ty] of my conduct both as consul & merchant (I view their malice with m[uch] indifference)

I hope you will have the goodness to pardon my trespassing So much on your time & remain With high consideration & respect Sirs Your most obt. & very hble Sert: