To James Madison from Anthony Terry, 24 January 1806 (Abstract)
From Anthony Terry, 24 January 1806 (Abstract)
§ From Anthony Terry. 24 January 1806, Cádiz. “Permit me to address you on a Subject most painfull to my feelings, as it attacks in a base manner the reputation and Character of Mr. Joseph Yznardy Consul for the United States of America at this Place.
“A Publication against him has appeared in One of the Philadelphia Papers dated Cádiz 15th. August 1805. whereof I inclose you an exact Copy.1
“The want of Signature to this Publication, at once evinces the malignity of its Author, and his wants of proofs to Support the charges he heaps up against Mr. Yznardy.
“I have strong, and more than one reason to ascribe it to a certain American (obliged to leave his Country) lately arrived in this City to form an Establishment,2 which I am informed he recommends by representing the Character of those who are in the American line, much in the way he States that of Mr. Yznardy’s; In a word he is one of those Men who stabbs the reputation of others in the dark, that he may advance his Interest by it, and consistent with this plan he has circulated reports at once ridiculous and expressive of his intentions, sometimes Saying that to be Consul of the United States depends on his will, at others, that the place of Vice Consul had been offered to him, and lately he has mentioned to have Sollicited the appointment of American Navy Agent at this place, which he makes no doubt of obtaining.
“But whether he will, or will not, Succeed, would have troubled Mr. Yznardy or I verry little, did not his unprovoked and injurious attack, render necessary that I should take notice of it, explain his views and the Vile Steps by which he means to accomplish them.
“At the Same time I have also deemed proper to Subjoin to the Copy of his publication, remarks explanatory of the conduct of Mr. Yznardy, whose Zeal for the interest of the American Citizens you well Know, as well as the Public here, and in America at large; on the other hand the care and punctuality I have observed in conveying to you every information relative to the American Trade, and the transactions either general or particular that have occurred, will ⟨ea⟩sily discover the falsehood of the accusation trown [sic] against Mr. Yznardy, and you will do him I hope the Justice to believe that the Government of the United States has at this place a Zealous and faithfull Agent.”
RC and enclosures (DNA: RG 59, CD, Cádiz, vol. 2); RC and enclosures (DNA: RG 59, LAR, 1801–9, filed under “Yznardy”). First RC 3 pp.; postmarked at Philadelphia 16 May; docketed by Wagner. Second RC marked “Triplicate.” Both RCs in a clerk’s hand, signed by Terry. Enclosures in first RC docketed by Wagner as: “Recd. in Mr. Yznardi’s 24 Jany. 1806.” Enclosures in second RC docketed by Jefferson and Wagner. For enclosures, see n. 1.
1. Among the enclosures (6 pp.; in a clerk’s hand, signed by Terry) are handwritten copies of an extract of a letter and a memorial, dated 15 Aug. 1805 at Cádiz, that were published in both Poulson’s American Daily Advertiser and the United States’ Gazette in Philadelphia on 29 Oct. 1805. The memorial, addressed to “the Merchants of the United States trading to the Mediterranean,” stated that every American ship bound to the Mediterranean had to pass Algeciras, that American ships were “daily captured” and brought in there, that there was no U.S. consul or agent there except for a Spaniard named within the past few weeks by John Gavino, that Yznardy was now living at Madrid and had not for many years lived within fifty miles of Cádiz, that he had been asked to appoint an agent to tend to the interests of the many American vessels carried into Algeciras but had not done so, recommended that the merchants trading with Spain call meetings and present a petition to Congress asking that an American citizen be appointed consul at Cádiz, and that a salary be attached to the consulate at Algeciras if no one could be found who would serve there without one. Terry also enclosed three “Explanatory Remarks” quoting and rebutting some of the statements in the memorial. No. 1 reminded JM that Yznardy had previously appointed Patrick Mullony vice-consul at Algeciras with a salary, that at the beginning of the current war he had tried to find another person to go there but could find no one willing to go without a salary, that he had written to the U.S. government asking for instructions, and that Charles Stewart had appointed Peter (Pedro) Porrall navy agent there (which Yznardy had approved), and Porrall had done whatever was necessary for any Americans there; No. 2 stated that Yznardy had been to America and had received the consulship from the government, that he was now at Madrid to settle some affairs with the Spanish government, that he had informed Jefferson of this trip, that he lived when at Cádiz in a country house four miles from the city from which he could see the entrance to the bay and whenever any American ship arrived, either Yznardy went to the city to handle consular matters, or Terry, who wrote to Yznardy every day about whatever occurred “no matter how trifling,” handled them; No. 3 was a 24 Jan. 1806 list signed by consulate chancellor James McCann showing twenty American ships brought into Algeciras in 1805, listing the name, type of ship, home port, captains’ names, destination, cargo, and disposition. Of the twenty, thirteen were liberated immediately, one was “compromised for a small sum,” and six had their cargoes condemned. At the foot of the sheet “Explanatory Remarks,” Terry added: “I think Sir the above, a plain and true Statement of facts, sufficient to prove the Malice with which the Publication has been made; and it will be very easy for you Sir to Know from the Masters of Such American Vessels as have visited this Port, whether they have not experienced the uttmost attention and punctuality in the direction & Care of their Concerns & persons by Mr. Yznardy, and by all those employed in his Consular Office.”