Josef Yznardy to Thomas Jefferson, 3 August 1809
From Josef Yznardy
Cadiz 3 de Agosto de 1809.
Honorable Thomas Jefferson.
Muy Sor mio, y de todo mi Respecto; Aunque V.E. ha sesado de ser Presidente de los Estados Unidos, no lo han mis obligaciones de tener presente las distinciones de amistad que siempre usò conmigo, y menos las obligaciones en que me considero de haserlas vinculos perpetuos para que le suplique lo entìenda asi para mandarme en quanto guste.
El dador de la presente serà el Cavallero secretario de la Orden de Cartos Tercero, primer Oficial que fue dela Secretaria de Estado de S.M.C. y aora Ministro Plenipotenciario, y Embiado Extraordinario serca del Presidente de los Estados Unidos, queme tomo la libertad de recomendar â V. E. como â Madama su Esposa, personas ambas las mas amables, y de trato sensillo, y genuino.
Qualesquiera atenciones que V.E. haga â estos Señores las estimarè como una prueba de la amistad que siempre le he merecido, y creo firmemente que asi lo experimentàran, mientras tengo el honor de asegurar â V.E. le deceo la mejor salud, y que Nuestro Señor guarde su vida ms as.
Josef Yznardy
Editors’ Translation
Cadiz 3 August 1809.
Honorable Thomas Jefferson.
Dear Sir, and with all due respect; although your excellency is no longer president of the United States, bearing in mind the marks of friendship that you have always shown me, and to a lesser extent the obligations under which I consider myself to be perpetually bound, I beg you to understand that you may command me to do whatever you wish.
The bearer of the present letter is the secretary of the Order of Cartos Tercero, an official who was first secretary of state to His Most Catholic Majesty and is now minister plenipotentiary, and sent so extraordinarily to the president of the United States, that I take the liberty to recommend him and his wife to your excellency, both of whom are most friendly, unpretentious and genuine.
Whatever attention your excellency gives to these noble people, I will regard as proof that I have always deserved you as a friend, and I firmly believe that they will feel befriended, while I have the honor to assure your excellency that I wish you the best of health and that Our Lord guards your life for many years.
Josef Yznardy
RC (CSmH: JF); in a clerk’s hand, with closing and signature by Yznardy; dateline above closing; endorsed by TJ as received 30 Oct. 1809 and so recorded in SJL. Enclosed in Luis de Onís to TJ, 17 Oct. 1809. Translation by Dr. Jennifer McCune.
Josef Yznardy was appointed United States consul at Cádiz by TJ in 1801. Previously he had often acted as deputy to his son Joseph Yznardi Jr., who held this consulship from 1793 until John Adams tried to replace him late in his presidency. TJ sometimes purchased sherry through the Yznardys. In 1797 the elder Yznardy began a conflict with Joseph Israel, an American sea captain, that led to litigation on both sides of the Atlantic. Earlier in 1809 the Department of State overruled an effort by Yznardy to lease the duties of his office to Richard S. Hackley (, 1:381, 403, 405 [18 Feb. 1801, 6, 26 Jan. 1802]; , 25:202–4, 27:60; , Sec. of State Ser., 1:32n, 2:50, 53n; no. 3267; James Madison to TJ, 9 Apr. 1809).
Index Entries
- Jefferson, Thomas; Correspondence; letters of introduction to search
- Onís y González, Frederica de Merkleiny (Luis de Onís y González Vara López y Gómez’s wife) search
- Onís y González Vara López y Gómez, Luis de; minister plenipotentiary of Spain search
- Onís y González Vara López y Gómez, Luis de; Yznardy introduces search
- Spanish language; letters in, from; J. Yznardy search
- Yznardy, Josef; identified search
- Yznardy, Josef; letter of introduction for L. de Onís search
- Yznardy, Josef; letters from search