Jacob Wagner to Thomas Jefferson, 29 July 1805
From Jacob Wagner
Department of State 29 July 1805.
Sir
On Saturday evening arrived Capt. Dulton with dispatches from the Ministers at Madrid, announcing the failure of the negotiation in every particular. I have the honor to enclose copies of the dispatches, as far as they were deemed of importance and had not before been inspected by you. Part of the originals were forwarded by the intervening post to the Secretary of State and the remainder will follow this evening. I beg leave to observe that the private & confidential letter of May 25th. has been seen by no one but Genl. Dearborn and myself; the enclosed copy therefore has not been compared with the original but is doubtless accurate. Capt. D. observes that Mr. Monroe left Madrid on the 26 May and he himself on the next day. He informs me, that he was charged by Mr. Pinckney to inform this government, that the Prince of Peace stated to the latter gentleman, that a requisition from France exists in the Spanish Archives, which compelled the closure of New Orleans as a step preparatory to the then contemplated possession of Louisiana under the treaty of St. Ildefonso.
I have the honor to be, Sir, with perfect respect, Your most obed. servt.
Jacob Wagner
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “The President of the U. States”; endorsed by TJ as received 5 Aug. and “Span. affairs” and so recorded in SJL. Enclosure: probably second RC of Charles Pinckney and James Monroe to Madison, Madrid, 25 May; at head of text: “Private and confidential”; Pinckney and Monroe recommend “bold and decisive” action in response to the “injuries” and “insults” received by the United States at the failed negotiations with Spain; the United States should “take possession of both the Floridas; and of the whole country west of the Mississippi to the Rio Bravo”; such measures can be justified by Spain’s refusal to pay spoliations or to negotiate the limits of Louisiana; these actions would demonstrate to the European powers that the “destiny of the new World is in our hands” and that the United States is motivated by “a spirit of moderation, of justice, and love of peace, not from the dread of any power, and in any view of the consequences” (, 9:398-401). For other probable enclosures, see below.
The dispatches carried by Thomas Dulton included Pinckney and Monroe to Madison, 23 May, which contained multiple enclosures; Monroe to Madison, 26 May, which enclosed Monroe’s 101-page private journal kept during the negotiations; and a private letter from Pinckney to Madison, 26 May. Wagner enclosed these and other papers received from Madrid in letters to Madison of 28 and 29 July (same, 385-93, 405-8; 10:145-6, 149-50).
Prince of Peace: Manuel de Godoy.