To James Madison from Isaac Cox Barnet, 23 April 1806 (Abstract)
From Isaac Cox Barnet, 23 April 1806 (Abstract)
§ From Isaac Cox Barnet. 23 April 1806, Paris. “With my respects of the 26th. Ulto. I had the honor to transmit copies of papers relative to a personal insult passed upon me by Michael O’mealy—as I was coming out of General Armstrong’s House on the 13th. of march last1—and of the utter refusal of this Minister to Shew me that countenance and Support to which as an officer of the United States I consider myself entitled.
“Now, Sir, (and notwithstanding General Armstrong’s declaration in his Letter of the 19th. of March, disclaiming any interference in the affair) as he did on the 2 in a letter to the Minister of Police General—demand the release of the Said O’mealy who had been Seized by the authority of this Country and declare to that authority that I had no public character; I thought it a duty I owed as well to Mr. skipwith from being deputed by him—as from respect to the Commission I hold for the District of Havre—again to address the Minister of Police general on the Subject, which I did by a letter hereto Subjoined marked A. Receiving no answer I determined to Submit my petition in another form to the Ministe⟨r⟩ of Exterior Relations—this is also Subjoined and marked B.—to these and the concomitant papers marked C. D & E and to Mr. Bankhead’s Letter (of which the copy herewith marked F.[)] I now do most respectfully crave your reference—and confirm hereby the accuracy and authenticity of the Copies.3
“Having yet no answer from Mr. Talleyrand either it is Superfluous to remark, sir, that if my public functions are not quite rendered a nullity—they may be Considered So far paralized as not to authorize any expectation of their utility on any urgent or important occasion—it therefore follows that unless my Colleague Mr. skipwith should return immediately to his post—such a remedy Should be resorted to as may conciliate his interests with the public duties of the office.”
RC and enclosures (DNA: RG 59, CD, Paris, vol. 2). 2 pp. For enclosures, see n. 3.
1. After the encounter between Barnet and Michael O’Mealy on 13 Mar. 1806, Barnet had O’Mealy arrested for assault, but Armstrong arranged for O’Mealy’s release, stating that Barnet was not acting in an official capacity. O’Mealy was found guilty and fined 600 francs. Filed with Barnet’s correspondence and enclosures on this matter are copies of an undated statement showing how much was owed by France in the Andrews’s claim, and of a 14 Jan. 1806 note from Barnet to O’Mealy stating that Barnet held Andrews’s powers, reclaiming the bills of exchange that O’Mealy had accepted by saying O’Mealy was Andrews’s grantee, and stating that Barnet wished to receive any explanation or amicable proposition O’Mealy could make as he wished to avoid conflict, but that he must have O’Mealy’s answer as soon as possible (Skeen, John Armstrong, 70; New York Mercantile Advertiser, 16 Sept. 1806; Barnet to JM, 14 and 24 July 1806 [DNA: RG 59, CD, Paris, vol. 2]).
2. Left blank in RC.
3. The enclosures (8 pp.; marked B, C, D, and E; B and C in French; six in English) are copies of Barnet to Talleyrand, 16 Apr. 1806, Skipwith to Talleyrand, 2 Sept. 1805, Skipwith to Armstrong, 29 June 1805, and Skipwith to JM, 2 Sept. 1805. In his letter to Talleyrand, Barnet explained that he had been appointed to officiate as consul at Paris by Skipwith before the latter’s departure for the United States, and requested a certified copy of Skipwith’s 2 Sept. 1805 letter as well as Talleyrand’s confirmation that he recognized Barnet as Skipwith’s agent. For Skipwith’s letters, see 10:291 and n. 1.