James Madison Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Jarvis, William" AND Recipient="Madison, James" AND Period="Jefferson Presidency"
sorted by: date (ascending)
Stable but non-permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/99-01-02-2228

To James Madison from William Jarvis, 16 October 1807

Lisbon 16th: Octr. 1807

Sir

Since my last every thing has been hurry & bustle here. Reports ⟨&⟩ counter reports seems to have been the order of the day. Sometimes this ⟨G⟩ovmt. was decidedly French sometimes decidedly English & little else ⟨w⟩as to be relied on but the exertions ⟨of⟩ the British Subjects to Secure their ⟨e⟩ffects & quit the Country. The 12th. ⟨w⟩as appointed for the sailing of the ⟨C⟩onvoy, the 15th. & to-morrow, when ⟨i⟩t actually drops down & will get ⟨to⟩ sea in the course of the day or the following one. In it go all the English with their property, but ⟨a⟩ few Irish remain. Its sailing will doubtless be followed by the shutting of the ports of this King⟨dom⟩ against British Manufactures & Commerce. It is supposed that about two thousand people ⟨will⟩ on this occasion quit this ⟨King⟩dom. They have remitted & ta⟨ke⟩ with them an immense pro⟨per⟩ty. It is now generally beleiv⟨ed⟩ that the Prince Regent will n⟨ot⟩ go to the Brazils unless forced by circumstances. But the report fo⟨r⟩ this twelve or fourteen days pa⟨st⟩ has been that the Prince of Beira was to be sent to the Brazils accompanied by a Sister, h⟨is⟩ Aunt the Princess Dowager of Brazil & her Sister, with several Noblemen of the first distin⟨c⟩tion. The 15th: was appointed for t⟨heir⟩ sailing, it is now put off to the 28th:. It is a fact that this report has been given out at the Palace, that the necessary preparations has been actively & open⟨ly ma⟩king for the purpose, that hi⟨s⟩ attendants have been appoint⟨ed⟩ & new carriages & equipages ha⟨ve⟩ been packed up for the purpose. If such has been the intention of this Government, it will probably depend on circumstances, and I much doubt whether either will go. Perhaps the appearance has been dictated by policy. The preparations of the Navy still go on and the Squadron from the streights has been recalled. There are now seven or eight line of battle ships ready for Sea, four frigates & several smaller vessels. The gun boats, which have been laying a long time on the other side of the river & a floating battery, have also lately been got over & are getting in a state of repair. This looks much more like fortifying & defending the harbour than like leaving the Country: and it is not impossible that whatever has been the real object of the preparations, that they may be employed in this manner. General Junot had not left Bayonne the 6th: Instant, & of course the Army not on the mo⟨ve.⟩ The 1st. Inst had been mentioned a⟨s⟩ the time appointed for his March Now the 18th: The Spanish Gove⟨rnment⟩ have published an order that all aid and comfort be afforded his troop⟨s⟩ on their March to this Country That it would have been given must have been well know⟨n.⟩

I am sorry to learn through several Unofficial ch⟨an⟩nels that our differences with Gt. Britain are not likely to terminate amicably. It wo⟨uld⟩ seem that Mr Pitt as well a⟨s⟩ the present administration were bent on hastening that Nation to ruin as fast as p⟨os⟩sible. No man deprecates m⟨ore⟩ than myself hostilities or a state of things tantamount to it, but rather than submit to constant violence, insu⟨lt⟩ & depredation, I certainly sho⟨uld⟩ be among the foremost to vote for the using of such mea⟨ns⟩ as nature or art has put in our power to do ourselves justice. What may be the best means, the wisdom of Government is the best able to determine; but I cannot help beleiving that the measures you recommended many years since, (I think in 1794), upon a similar occasion will be the best adapted to the end. Perhaps the ⟨e⟩nforcement of the prohibitory Act passed the Session before the last may be deemed sufficient, but should that be followed by the detention of our vessels, it appears to me that Congress cannot do less than to Sequester all British property & British Debts in our Country, and if these will not reach to indemnify our Citizens for their losses that the measure be extended to the monies held by British Subjects in our fund, for I cannot see by what rule of right the property of a British Subject is to be held Sacred in our Country when his Government is siesing upon the property of the fair American trader. As to the plea tha⟨t⟩ it is destroying the confidence between individuals, that the enga⟨ge⟩ments between Man & Man are to be held Sacred & that Governmen⟨ts⟩ ought not to interfere in private contracts, at least those wh⟨ich⟩ are supposed to be made und⟨er⟩ the faith of Nations, it may be good doctrine under ordinary circumstances; but in our Situ⟨a⟩tion where we have little other means of defense, the imperious Laws of Self-preservation demand it. If their Merchants are aggrieved, let them recollect that their Government was th⟨e⟩ aggressors, that Satisfaction h⟨ad⟩ been sought & refused & let th⟨em⟩ apply to their Government ⟨for⟩ remuneration. I again rep⟨eat⟩ that I shall regret the necessi⟨ty⟩ of being obliged to resort to Su⟨ch⟩ means, but if representation fa⟨ils⟩ to obtain redress, I hope that strong & efficient measures w⟨ill⟩ be resorted to. When your Coun⟨try⟩ is the subject, I am satisfied that a warmth & freedom of Sentiment will find an apology in your own feelings. Of course Sir I shall offer none for the freedom of this letter.

Inclosed Sir I shall have the pleasure to hand you a letter from the Secretary of the board of Health, accompanied with two copies of the late quarantine regulations, one of which will also accompany this. The translation will go by my next. Now the bustle is likely to subside which the departure of the English has occasioned, on the first arrival with grain I shall make a representation about the discharge by ⟨Bira⟩. With entire Respect I have the honor to be Sir Yr. Mo: Ob: Servt.

William Jarvis

DNA: RG 59--CD--Consular Despatches, Lisbon.

Index Entries