To James Madison from Carlos Martínez de Yrujo, 26 September 1805 (Abstract)
From Carlos Martínez de Yrujo, 26 September 1805 (Abstract)
§ From Carlos Martínez de Yrujo. 26 September 1805, near Philadelphia. Guided by the sentiments of justice which characterize the king, Yrujo took the liberty to call the royal attention to certain expressions in JM’s letter in response to the letter Yrujo wrote giving JM the news that the king had declared war on Great Britain,1 which referred to the hope that the United States would see the rights of neutrals respected. Now encloses JM a copy of a 14 July 1805 letter just received from Pedro Cevallos2 so JM may see with satisfaction that the most efficacious means have been taken by the Spanish government, through the medium of a royal circular dated the ninth of the same month, making known to the privateers the circumspection with which they must conduct themselves towards neutral vessels, making them responsible for complaints that result in justice against their conduct.
RC and enclosure (DNA: RG 59, NFL, Spain, vol. 2). RC 2 pp.; in Spanish; in a clerk’s hand, except for Yrujo’s complimentary close and signature. For enclosure, see n. 2.
1. See JM to Yrujo, 4 Apr. 1805, 9:216.
2. The enclosure (2 pp.; in Spanish; docketed by Wagner) is a copy of Pedro Cevallos to Yrujo, 14 July 1805, stating that in view of what Yrujo had reported in a letter about JM’s reply to the communication Yrujo had made of the Spanish declaration of war against England, Cevallos had sent a dispatch to the navy secretary, warning that the king might want to take measures respecting the neutrality of the United States to carefully avoid molestation of American commerce by Spanish privateers. Cevallos added that in reply the navy secretary told him that a royal circular, dated 9 July [1805], had been issued, warning the privateers again about the circumspection with which they must conduct themselves toward neutral vessels, and holding them responsible for any complaints that might result against their conduct. Cevallos added that it seemed opportune to reveal this to Yrujo, so he might put it to an appropriate use.