Thomas Jefferson Papers

To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Yznardi, Sr., 12 February 1802

From Joseph Yznardi, Sr.

Baltimore 12 de Febo. 1802

Exmo. Señor

Muy Señor mio, y de mi Mayor Respecto

Repito á V.E Infinitas Gracias por su apresiable de 6 del Corriente llena de pruebas de los favores con qe me Honrra

Inclusa allará V.E copia de la quenta qe Mr. Gordon de Xerez mandó con los Vinos qe se han enbarcado en esta por el Paquete qe Salio de aqui ayer para essa qe Celebraré lleguen bien acondisionados, y á gusto de V.E

tengo el Honor de Continuar con el favor de V.E, y pido á Dios gue su Inportante Vida muchos Años

Exmo. Señor BLM de V.E su obte Servr

Josef Yznardy

No. 1 Pipe Sherry 10 Years equal to the London Marquet 188
2 a pipe Paxarete 202
3 half Pipe Natural Sherry 84
4 half Do Sherry with Color 94
    568
  Inshurans 6000 $ at 4 ⅌ Ct 22.72
  Dollars 590.72

Editors’ translation

Baltimore 12 Feb. 1802

Most Excellent Sir

My most illustrious sir, and with my greatest respect

I thank you again for your esteemed letter of the 6th of this month full of proofs of the favors with which you honor me.

Enclosed you will find a copy of the receipt that Mr. Gordon of Jerez sent with the wines that have been shipped in this city via the packet ship that left from here for that city (Washington) yesterday that I hope will arrive in good condition and to Your Excellency’s taste.

I have the honor to continue in Your Excellency’s favor, and I ask God that He preserve your important life for many years.

Most excellent sir your obedient servant kisses Your Excellency’s hand.

Josef Yznardy

RC (DLC); endorsed by TJ as received 13 Feb. and so recorded in SJL.

Su Apresiable De 6: that is, TJ’s letter of 4 Feb.

Equal to the London marquet: TJ recorded the wines and their prices under the date 24 Feb. 1802 in his listing of “Wines provided at Washington” in his financial memoranda. He recorded the first item in Yznardi’s bill as “Sherry of London quality 10 y. old.” The second item TJ recorded as “dry Pacharetti.” The wine that Yznardi listed as Natural Sherry above, and which in his letter of 30 Jan. he called a wine without color or “composition,” TJ called “white Sherry.”

The sherry with color, which Yznardi on 30 Jan. likened to Madeira, TJ recorded as “Sherry of a different quality.” TJ sent 278 bottles of that sherry to Monticello, according to a note he added to his record of the wines in February 1803. TJ included the $22.72 for insurance in his financial record, and on 10 Mch. he sent Yznardi a check on the Bank of the United States, obtained through John Barnes, for the total of $590.72. In the wine list in his financial memoranda, under the date 6 May 1802, TJ added $156 that Yznardi had paid in duties on wines imported for him (MB description begins James A. Bear, Jr., and Lucia C. Stanton, eds., Jefferson’s Memorandum Books: Accounts, with Legal Records and Miscellany, 1767–1826, Princeton, 1997, The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Second Series description ends , 2:1068, 1115; TJ to Yznardi, 10 Mch. 1802; Yznardi to TJ, 22 Apr. 1802).

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