To James Madison from George William Erving, 6 January 1808
Madrid Jany 6. 1808
Sir,
I hasten to transmit to you copy of a Decree ⟨issu⟩ed by this government on the 3d. Inst, adopting ⟨the⟩ principles of the decree given at Milan on the ⟨17⟩th Ulto by the Emperor of France, & conceived ⟨(as⟩ to the Enacting part) in precisely the same terms: ⟨This⟩ has been communicated to me by Mr. Cevallos ⟨in a⟩ note of yesterday’s date unaccompanied by ⟨any⟩ observation on it. I have the honor to be Sir with the Most perfect Respect & consideration your very obt. St.
George W Erving
P S. I have not been able to procure another copy of the Spanish decree to dispatch with this letter; the French decree is therefore inclosed: There is only one omission in the Spanish translation; which must be presumed to have arisen from the haste of the translator; it is the following words in the 3d. Article. "Ou allant en Angleterre ou dans les colonies anglaises ou dans les pays occupes pa⟨r⟩ les troupes anglaises".
G. W. E.
DNA: RG 59--DD-Diplomatic Despatches, Spain.