To James Madison from Josef Yznardy, 10 June 1806 (Abstract)
From Josef Yznardy, 10 June 1806 (Abstract)
§ From Josef Yznardy. 10 June 1806, Cádiz. “On the 31st. ultimo arrived in this Bay homeward bound the U. S. Brig Siren John Smith Commr. on account of having Sprung her Bowsprit, in consequence, he wrote me the Letter, Copy of which & of my answer thereto I herein inclose you;1 and as the Governor was at his Country House at Chiclana, an Express was dispatched immediately to obtain his decree that the Board of Health might give pratique to the Brig, the Express returned on the 2d. Mr. Terry went along side immediately and offered him his Services as is customary, he replied that untill he obtained pratique, he wanted no Supplys; notwithstanding he forwarded us a note (while under Quaranteen) of sundrys for the use of the Brig, which was sent off without loss of time; having obtained pratique the evening the Express returned. Mr. Meade who meddles himself, in what corresponds to my representation, on account of the appointment of Navy Agent giving him by Capt. Campbell waited on him (notwithstanding one of Mr. Terrys Brothers being present, Mr. Terry having gone to the Island being called by the Capt. General of Marines) and brought Capt. Smith on Shore, of course valued on Meade for every other necessary, the same as Capt. Campbell does, and never appeared in this office; I mention and trouble you with such details fearing that new representations against me may take place, and as I do not wish to meddle or create disputes, I wait with impatience instructions called for from you Sir to act accordingly.
“By the inclosed paragraph of a Letter from M. Young our Consul General at Madrid, you will be informed that nothing has been obtained with respect to a shortng of the 40 days laid on Vessels from the United States.”2
RC and enclosures (DNA: RG 59, CD, Cádiz, vol. 2). RC 2 pp.; in a clerk’s hand, signed by Yznardy. For enclosures, see nn.
1. Smith’s 31 May 1806 letter (1 p.) requested that Yznardy obtain pratique for the Syren. Yznardy’s 4 June 1806 reply (2 pp.) stated the actions that he and his vice-consul, Anthony Terry, had taken with regard to the matter, as described above. He defended himself against Smith’s reported dissatisfaction with the service offered by the consular office, arguing that it was not the consul’s proper role to act as a broker for U.S. Navy ships because they had pursers and other officers authorized to conduct financial transactions in foreign ports. Appended to the copy of Yznardy’s letter is a copy of a 1 June 1806 note from Terry to Smith (1 p.), reporting that he had sent an express to the governor requesting pratique for the Syren.
2. The enclosed extract of a 27 May 1806 letter to Yznardy from Moses Young (1 p.) stated that despite repeated arguments by David Humphreys, Charles Pinckney, and George W. Erving, the government at Madrid remained “inflexible” in enforcing the “absurd” quarantine.