To James Madison from Josef Yznardy, 20 December 1806
From Josef Yznardy
Consular Office of the United States
Cadíz 20th. December 1806.
Dear sir
Referring to what I had the honor of addressing you on the 10th. ultimo, the object of the present will be to advise you of an Armistice having taken place between the French and Prussians, without being able to penetrate what will be the results; and to inform you that the United States Ship Constitution H. G. Campbell Commander arrived in this Bay from Lisbon on the 10th.
I have been so verry ill last Week that the Doctors ordered I should receive the rights of the Church which took place on the 13th. but thanks to the Almighty I have escaped and am restablishing verry fast.
In virtue of a representation received from the French Consul, I addressed Commodore Campbell enclosing him Copies of the same, to which he answer’d;1 in consequence of the contents when I was expecting a Statement to satisfy the French Consul, I was informed that he had Sailed on the 16th. leaving me without Knowing what to reply; all which I take the liberty to inform you for your government.
That you may be compleatly informed of the satisfaction that every individual of this Office gives, I take the liberty of enclosing you an Original proof of the same;2 therefore I hope that you will be perfectly convinced that our only ambition is to cumply in every respect with our duty, and that you will not be laid in to error by false and malicious representations. With Sentiments of high Consideration—I am Dear sir—Your devoted & most obt. Servant
Josef Yznardy
P. S. 22d. The King of Prussia has not thought proper to ratify the Suspension of Arms. By what I am informed Comodore Campbell settled directly with Admiral Rosily respecting the french Seamen. 24th. I enclose you Copy of a Circular received this day from said Comodore Campbell.3
RC and enclosures (DNA: RG 59, CD, Cádiz, vol. 2). RC in a clerk’s hand, signed by Yznardy. For enclosures, see nn. 1–3.
1. The enclosed packet includes two copies of four letters dated 15 December 1806 (6 pp.). Adm. François Étienne de Rosily-Mesros informed the French consul at Cádiz, Jean-Jacques-Sébastien Le Roy, that French seamen were believed to be aboard Hugh G. Campbell’s vessel, the Constitution, and gave Le Roy a list of the suspects. Le Roy brought the matter to Yznardy’s attention, and Yznardy asked Campbell to order the Frenchmen ashore. Campbell responded that he was inquiring into the status of the Frenchmen and would report the information as soon as he received it.
2. Yznardy enclosed two undated testimonials signed by thirty-nine masters of American vessels in Cádiz (1 p. each) certifying that they had “met all Kind of attention” from Yznardy’s agent, James McCann, and “that [McCann] is Deserving in every respect” of the position of U.S. vice-consul ad interim, to which he had been appointed by Yznardy earlier in 1806 (Yznardy to JM, 9 July 1806, PJM-SS, 12:97). The second testimonial includes a note in the bottom margin: “The Original was forwarded to the Secretary of States ⅌ the Brig Nancy Capt. Brenner bound to Philadelphia.”
3. The enclosure is a copy of Campbell to Yznardy, 20 Dec. 1806 (1 p.; marked “Circular”). For the text of the enclosure, see John Martin Baker to JM, 28 Jan. 1807.