To James Madison from John Gavino, 13 January 1805 (Abstract)
§ From John Gavino
13 January 1805, Gibraltar. “I had the honor of adressing you last the 8t: Instant ⅌ Comodor Prible who proceeded for the U. S. in the John Adams on the 9t: Ditto. Said day a Squadron with Rusian Collours past this from the Westward, were three Sail the Line, to all appearance, a Corvet & Store Ship. I then mentiond the Brig Dispatch of Boston being detaind here, now nearly a Month without the agent, or Vice admiralty Court coming to any determination, as ⅌ particulars in the Inclosed Copy of what I wrote our Minister in London the 11t: Inst: on the Subject1 & by which you will see what is passing, it is truly a hard case for the Concerneds Messrs: David Green & Son of Boston with other Shippers at said place.
“I herewith inclose you the last Six Months arrivals with their departures.”
Adds in a postscript: “Our Port is to be opend in ⟨…⟩0 days should we Continue well.
“They write from Cadiz, that, Sir John Ord the Commr: of the British Squadron has Declared that Port in a State of Blocade.”
Adds in a 30 Jan. postscript: “This being detaind for want of Conveyance I have to inform you that Perfect health being by the blessing of God restored in this Fortress, the Port has this day been opend & clean Bills of health Granted.”
RC and enclosure (DNA: RG 59, CD, Gibraltar, vol. 3). RC 2 pp.; docketed by Wagner as received 5 Apr. For enclosure, see n. 1.
1. The enclosure (2 pp.) is a copy of Gavino to Monroe, 11 Jan. 1805, stating that he had learned nothing more of Laurent Roberts’s forgery (see Josef Yznardy to JM, 31 Aug. 1804, , 7:666 and n. 1); that the Dispatch, Capt. Benjamin Brown, had been sent into Gibraltar by Capt. Courtenay Boyle of the Seahorse for adjudication; and that the papers and the testimony of the captain, first mate, and “Mr. Felippe (a Passenger on board)” all indicated that the cargo was American. He added that the interrogation had already lasted longer than the law allowed and that he had spoken to the judge, who was awaiting the arrival of an interpreter from Spain to translate several French and Italian letters found on board. The Dispatch was detained because the cargo was assigned to the firm of Felippe and Son of Leghorn, the father and brother of the Felippe on board, who swore that he had no share in the firm and that neither he nor the firm had any share in the ship or cargo.