James Madison Papers

To James Madison from François de Navoni, 18 March 1807

From François de Navoni

Cagliari le 18. Mars 1807.

Monsieur

Je me suis fait un devoir avec le plus humble respect et obbéissence de lui humilier dans plusieurs occasions mes Lettres, la derniere datée le 27. Decembre passé,1 que certainemt. Monsieur les aura reçûes parmis les quelles je me suis fait un devoir de lui reppresenter le tout selon mon devoir d’office, dont je me flatte qu’il se sera daigné de les accepter, et de les prendre en consideration, mais jusqu’a present je n’ai pas merité la graçe d’une reponse à tout ce que fidelement j’ai exposé me flatant toujoûrs que j’obtiendrai la graçe que Monsieur jugera que je puisse meriter.

Dans le Mois de janvier venant de Livourne mouilla dans cette Rade la Golette de L’Etat commandée par le Capne. Porter, et a cause du mauvais tems à du se raccomoder de quelque dommage, et il fat très content de mes empressements de serviçe, que de lui avoir procuré tout ce qu’il—à eu debesoin comme aussi il fut bien reçû ainsi que ses officiers de LL. MM que du Royal Prinçe aux quels je les presenta, et S. M. gracieusement leur à temoigné toutes les offres d’amitié, ain⟨si⟩ qu’un singulier attachement pour l’aùguste Gouvernement et apprès quelques joûrs il partit pour les environs de Tunis, m’ayant assuré de retourner bientôt dans ce Port pour avoir des nouvelles de Monsieur le Commodor De Berron si par hazard doit venir dans ce Port, ou si j’ai quelque nouvelle de la lui communiquer.

Comme je me suis procuré presques toutes les correspondence⟨s⟩ de Messieurs les Consuls, dernierement Monsieur le Consul Lear d’Alger me participa qu’il devoit passer a Tunis pour quelques affaires interessantes, et que vraisemblablement à son retour pour retourner a Alger mouillera içi pour faire ma connoissence, et peut-etre prendre un chargement de Sel pour Alger, et par ma reponse faitte pour Tunis au dit Monsieur je lui ai repetté mes offres.

Quelques Navires Marchands frequentent ce Port pour charg⟨er⟩ du Sel, et il le trouvent très bon et a prix honnete, que la prompte expedition, comme aussi le Gouvernement se donne touts les mouvements pour favoriser la Nation, et aujourd’huy je consigne le present au Capne. Kelly du Navire nommé le Spartan qu’il fut addressé à moi de Monsieur G. Heygens Agent à Malt⟨a⟩ pour le charger de Sel, que sans alteration je puis assurer à Monsieur qu’il partit très content.

De moment à autre doivent arriver d’autres Battiments Ameriquains pour charger de Sel selon les avis de Monsr. le Consul Appleton, que je me donnerai touts les empressements pour les favoriser que de leur procurer une promte expedition, et donner des preuves de mon service, que certainement Monsieur aura pris cognition de moi.

Je le supplie derechef de vouloir m’honnorer des Patentes de ma confirme de Consul dans tout le Royaume de Sardaigne autant plus que je suis depuis long tems en service faisant les fonctions, et que Monsieur le Commodor M. Morris m’honnora d’un Brevet d’Agent, le tout deja bien connu a Monsieur selon mes rapports.

Je suis pret à servir Monsieur le Commodor De Berron—s’il arriverà, comm’aussi de venerer ces ordres, et commandemts., et avec toute la veneration et obbeissence je suis humblement, Monsieur, Le Très Humble, Le Très Obbst & Tres Fidel Serviteur

Comt François Navoni
Agent

CONDENSED TRANSLATION

Has made it his duty, with the most humble respect and obedience, to submit humbly to JM, on several occasions, his letters, the last dated the past 27th of December, which certainly JM will have received, among which Navoni made it his duty to represent everything to JM, according to the duty of Navoni’s office, which he flatters himself JM will have deigned to accept, and to take them into consideration, but up to now Navoni has not deserved the favor of an answer to everything which he has faithfully explained, always flattering himself that he will obtain the favor which JM will judge that he might deserve.

In the month of January, coming from Leghorn, the government schooner commanded by Captain Porter anchored in this harbor and because of the bad weather had to repair some damage, and Porter was very pleased with Navoni’s efforts to be of service, Navoni having procured everything that Porter needed, and Porter was also pleased that he and his officers were well received by their Majesties and by the Prince Royal to whom Navoni presented them, and His Majesty graciously showed them all the offers of friendship as well as a singular attachment to their august government and after some days Porter left for the Tunis area, having assured Navoni that he would soon return to this port to have news of Commodore De Berron if by chance he should come to this port, or if Navoni had any news, to communicate it to him.

As he has procured almost all of the correspondence from the consuls, lately Consul Lear of Algiers told Navoni that Lear had to go to Tunis on some interesting business and that on his return to Algiers he would anchor here to see Navoni and perhaps take a load of salt to Algiers, and in answering Lear in Tunis, Navoni repeated his offers.

Some merchant ships frequent this port to load salt, and they find it very good and at a fair price, with prompt service, as also the government makes every motion to favor the nation, and today Navoni consigns the present to Captain Kelly of the ship named the Spartan which was sent to Navoni by Mr. G. Heygens agent at Malt⟨a⟩ to load it with salt, which without alteration Navoni can assure JM that he left very pleased.

From time to time other American vessels must arrive to load salt on the advice of Mr. Consul Appleton, which Navoni will make every effort to favor them and to procure them prompt service and give proofs of his service, JM certainly will have had knowledge of him.

Navoni begs JM once again to be pleased to honor him with patents of his confirmation as consul in all the Kingdom of Sardinia, especially since he has been in service for a long time performing the functions, and Commodore M. Morris honored him with a brevet of agent, all of which is already well known to JM by Navoni’s reports.

Navoni is ready to serve Commodore De Berron if he arrives, as also to respect those orders and commandments.

RC (DNA: RG 59, CD, Cagliari). Docketed by Forrest.

1Letter not found.

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