Joseph Yznardi, Sr., to Thomas Jefferson, 12 July 1805
From Joseph Yznardi, Sr.
Madrid y Julio 12. de 1805.
Exmo Señor
Muy Señor mio de mi mayor respecto: Mi ultima fué en 25. de Mayo despues de la qual la adjunta es Copia de ella, y no habiendo ocurrido otra cosa, que es manifestarle á V.E. empiesa ntra Vandera á sufrir agravios por Corsarios Franceses y Españoles haciendo yo las defensas oportunas por lo respectivo á mi distrito como todo lo aviso á ntro Secretario de Estado por esta misma ocasion.
Hace Tres dias visité á este Dn. Pedro Ceballos con el fin de descubir lo que pudiese y habiendole representado como reflexiones particulares mias los Efectos qe. podrian causar la determinada y total negativa á Mr. Munroés me respondió qe. confiava muchisimo en la verdadera Amistad del Presidente y su pasifico corazon, evitando una desavenencia desagradable que considero es mi deben comunicarlo á V.E. como qe. existo con el mayor anelo deseando no ver ese Pais embuelto con los Efectos de una Guerra; y mtras tengo el honor de repetir á V.E. mis respectos y rogar á Dios Gue su Vida dilatados Años
Exmo. Señor BLM á V.E su obediente Servr
J. Yznardy
Editors’ Translation
Madrid, 12 July 1805
Most Excellent Sir,
Dearest sir and of my greatest respect, my last letter was of 25 May. Attached after this one is a copy of that, and nothing else having happened to manifest to your excellency that our flag is beginning to suffer hardships from French and Spanish corsairs, I am making the proper defenses for that which concerns my district, which with everything else I advise our secretary of state of on this same occasion.
Three days ago I visited Don Pedro Cevallos with the intent of discovering what I could, and I having presented to him as particular reflections of mine the effects that the determined and total negative to Mr. Monroe could cause, he answered that he trusted a great deal in the truthful friendship of the president and in his peaceful heart, avoiding a disagreeable confrontation, which I consider it is my duty to communicate to your excellency, since I exist with the utmost desire of not seeing that country wrapped up in the aftermath of a war; and in the meantime I have the honor of repeating my respects to your excellency and pray to God to safeguard your life for many years.
Most excellent sir, your obedient servant kisses your excellency’s hand.
J. Yznardy
RC (DLC); in a clerk’s hand, closing and signature by Yznardi; at foot of text: “Exmo Señor Dn. Tomas Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 5 Sep. and so recorded in SJL.
sufrir agravios: during the spring and early summer, about a dozen American vessels seized by privateers were brought into Algeciras, which was part of Yznardi’s consular region (Albany Centinel, 1 Oct.; , 6:230-1; , 11:233n; list of detained American vessels, 24 Jan. 1806, in DLC: TJ Papers, 156:27313).