Thomas Jefferson Papers

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

From Joseph Yznardi, Sr.

Cadiz. 12 de Agosto de 1802

Exmo. Señor

Muy Señor mio, y de mi Estimasion

He llegado a este Pais Algo endeble pero Conosco el beneficio de mi Salud despues de desenbarcado, y no pierdo momento en Manifestar á V.E lo Inmenso de mi gratitud teniendo presente los Infinitos favores, y distinciones qe se digno Consederme durante mi permanencia en los Estados Unidos y desseo dar pruebas de mi reconocimiento, no dudando me Continuará en su Amistad

Escribo a el Secretario de Estado Sobre los Deveres de mi enpleo, que Serviré con la Fidelidad propia de mi Celo, á pesar de la Justa quexa qe debo tener de lo poco qe se me ha protijido en la Injusta Solicitud de Josef Isrrael que recuerdo á V.E afin de qe se termine, pues, poco me ha preguntado por el Govierno Sobre ello y tanbien, en el particular del Insulto del Bergantin Español Cavo de Hornos, y sus Marineros, de lo qe Nada he dicho ni puedo decir porqe el Rey con sus Ministros pasan á Barcelona oy para el Casamiento del Principe é Infanta

se ablos con probavilidad qe buena parte quiere Coronar como Rey en el Ducado de Saboya al principe de la Paz, que yo no dudaría porqe este Cavallero es el todo poderoso, en este Reyno

asta la buelta de la Corte no paso á Madrid con Cuyo Motibo tengo escrito á Mr Pinckney dandole Memorias de V.E, y de sus Conocidos qe me lo encargarón

parese se tratava del Nonbramiento de Comisionados para el Arreglo de Presas hechas en la Guerra en Cuya Junta si puedo Servir de Algo, Manifestaré la rectitud de mi Opinion y Conosimientos positibos

Los Moros han hecho otra pressa americana Segun lo Comunico oy al Secretario de Estado, y el Comercio Americano, en estas Mares se halla, sin Ninguna proteccion, y temo Mucho Salgan del Mediteraneo los Corsarios, qe no abria Subsedido, si mi Plan se Ubiece Admitido aumentando fuercas Mayores

Espero qe V.E me encargará lo qe ce le ofresca de este Pais, y qe me favoresca de tienpo en tienpo, con la permanencia de su Salud, y Mras Ruego á Dios se la guarde Muchos anos.

Exmo. Señor BLM de V.E su obedte Servidor

Josef Yznardy

EDITORS’ TRANSLATION

Cadiz, 12 Aug. 1802

Most Excellent Sir
Dear Sir and with my respect,

I arrived in this country in a somewhat weakened state, but I recognize an improvement in my health after disembarking, and I will not waste a moment in manifesting to Your Excellency my immense gratitude, bearing in mind your infinite favors and the distinctions that you deigned to grant me during my stay in the United States; and I wish to give proof of my appreciation, not doubting that you will continue your friendship.

I wrote to the secretary of state about the duties of my post, which I will fulfill with the loyalty characteristic of my diligence, in spite of the rightful complaint that I should have for the scant protection I have received in the unfair lawsuit of Joseph Israel, of which I remind Your Excellency so that it may end, since little has been asked of me regarding it by the government; and also about the issue of the affront of the Spanish brig Cabo de Hornos and its sailors, about which I have said nothing and cannot say anything because the king and his ministers will go to Barcelona today to celebrate the marriages of the prince and the princess.

It is said that probably a good number of people want to crown the prince of the peace as king in the duchy of Savoy, which I would not doubt because this gentleman is all-powerful in this kingdom.

I will not go to Madrid until the return of the court, about which I have written to Mr. Pinckney, giving him Your Excellency’s regards and that of his acquaintances who have asked me to do so.

It appears that the naming of commissioners for settling prize captures made during the war has been dealt with, at which meeting, if I can be of some service, I will show the rectitude of my opinion and my helpful knowledge.

The Moors have made another American prize, according to what was communicated today to the secretary of state, and American trade in these seas finds itself without protection; and I much fear that the corsairs will leave the Mediterranean, which would not have happened if my plan of increasing forces had been accepted.

I hope that Your Excellency will request of me whatever this country has to offer, and that you will favor me from time to time with your continued good health, and further I pray to God to preserve it for many years.

Most Excellent Sir, your obedient servant kisses Your Excellency’s hand.

Josef Yznardy

RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Exmo. Sr. Dn Thomas Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 20 Oct. and so recorded in SJL.

HE LLEGADO A ESTE PAIS: Yznardi traveled on a Spanish ship that left Philadelphia early in June and arrived at Cadiz on 20 July. Ships arriving from the United States were held in quarantine for a period before their passengers could disembark (Philadelphia Gazette, 3 June; NDBW description begins Dudley W. Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers, Washington, D.C., 1939–44, 6 vols. and Register of Officer Personnel and Ships’ Data, 1801–1807, Washington, D.C., 1945 description ends , 2:208).

ESCRIBO A EL SECRETARIO DE ESTADO: Yznardi had written to Madison on 10 Aug. (Madison, Papers, Sec. of State Ser. description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, J. C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, Chicago and Charlottesville, 1962–, 33 vols. Sec. of State Ser., 1986–, 9 vols.; Pres. Ser., 1984–, 6 vols.; Ret. Ser., 2009–, 1 vol. description ends , 3:472–3).

INJUSTA SOLICITUD DE JOSEF ISRRAEL: Yznardi persistently sought the government’s aid against a lawsuit by shipmaster Joseph Israel. The conflict between Israel and Yznardi began during Yznardi’s time as acting consul at Cadiz in the 1790s (Vol. 36:6n and Yznardi to TJ, 16 Mch., 22 Apr. 1802).

BERGANTIN ESPAÑOL: for the incident involving the Cabo de Hornos, see “Yankey Doodle” to TJ, 14 Apr.; Madison to TJ, 11 May; and TJ to Madison, 14 May 1802.

Manuel Godoy had the title PRINCIPE DE LA PAZ—prince of the peace—and was the dominant figure at the Spanish royal court (Charles Pinckney to TJ, 24 May 1802; note to Carlos IV to TJ, 6 July).

COMISIONADOS PARA EL ARREGLO DE PRESAS: Charles Pinckney’s instructions as minister to Spain asked him to seek the creation of some mechanism such as a “joint tribunal,” similar to the bilateral commissions established to resolve claims under the U.S.-Spanish treaty of 1795 and Articles 6 and 7 of the Jay Treaty, to deal with “spoliations committed on our trade, for which Spain is held responsible.” In the spring of 1802, Pinckney reported that the Spanish government was amenable to the formation of a commission. After negotiating the form the commission should take, Pinckney and Pedro Cevallos signed a convention on 11 Aug. for the establishment of a panel that would meet at Madrid for a term of eighteen months to review evidence, decide which claims to allow, and determine the amounts to be paid. The agreement provided for a five-member board, with two commissioners appointed by the Spanish government, two by the United States, and the fifth member of the commission chosen by the other four. The convention was to take effect upon ratification by both countries, which did not occur until 1818 (Miller, Treaties description begins Hunter Miller, ed., Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States of America, Washington, D.C., 1931–48, 8 vols. description ends , 2:250–2, 335–6, 492–7; Madison, Papers, Sec. of State Ser. description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, J. C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, Chicago and Charlottesville, 1962–, 33 vols. Sec. of State Ser., 1986–, 9 vols.; Pres. Ser., 1984–, 6 vols.; Ret. Ser., 2009–, 1 vol. description ends , 1:274; 2:441–2; 3:31, 32n, 142–3, 146n, 483–7).

PRESSA AMERICANA: on 17 June, while en route from Marseilles to the West Indies, the Philadelphia brig Franklin was taken by a squadron of Tripolitan corsairs off Cape Palos, Spain. A second American brig, the Rose, traveling in company with the Franklin, evaded capture. The Tripolitans carried their prize to Algiers on 26 June, but were ordered away by the dey two days later. The Franklin and its cargo were subsequently taken to Tunis and sold, while the captain, Andrew Morris, and his crew were taken in chains to Tripoli, arriving on 19 July. The British chargé at Tripoli secured the release of three of the crew as British subjects, and two other foreign members were also released, leaving Morris and his remaining crew prisoners. Their captivity, however, would be brief. At the urging of American consul Richard O’Brien, the dey of Algiers wrote the bey of Tripoli in early July and requested the release of the American prisoners. The bey complied, and Morris and his remaining crew were released on 21 Sep. (NDBW description begins Dudley W. Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers, Washington, D.C., 1939–44, 6 vols. and Register of Officer Personnel and Ships’ Data, 1801–1807, Washington, D.C., 1945 description ends , 2:176–8, 187, 194, 204–5, 208, 212, 259, 281–2, 288–9; Madison, Papers, Sec. of State Ser description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, J. C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, Chicago and Charlottesville, 1962–, 33 vols. Sec. of State Ser., 1986–, 9 vols.; Pres. Ser., 1984–, 6 vols.; Ret. Ser., 2009–, 1 vol. description ends ., 3:307; ASP description begins American State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States, Washington, D.C., 1832–61, 38 vols. description ends , Foreign Relations, 2:463–4; Mustafa Baba, Dey of Algiers, to TJ, 17 Oct. 1802; Annual Message to Congress, 15 Dec. 1802).

LO COMUNICO OY AL SECRETARIO DE ESTADO: news of the capture of the Franklin had arrived at Cadiz while Yznardi was quarantined. On 13 Aug., Yznardi forwarded to the State Department more recent information being circulated by U.S. consuls in the Mediterranean, including a letter from O’Brien, dated Algiers, 26 June, in which O’Brien speculated that ships he had seen at a distance were a Tripolitan corsair with a second captured American brig. O’Brien also reported the arrival of the Franklin at Algiers, a rumor that there were six Tripolitan corsairs at sea, and indications that American and Swedish warships were blockading Tripoli (NDBW description begins Dudley W. Knox, ed., Naval Documents Related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers, Washington, D.C., 1939–44, 6 vols. and Register of Officer Personnel and Ships’ Data, 1801–1807, Washington, D.C., 1945 description ends , 2:187, 208; Madison, Papers, Sec. of State Ser. description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, J. C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, Chicago and Charlottesville, 1962–, 33 vols. Sec. of State Ser., 1986–, 9 vols.; Pres. Ser., 1984–, 6 vols.; Ret. Ser., 2009–, 1 vol. description ends , 3:391, 477–8).

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