To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Yznardi, Sr., [22 May 1801]
From Joseph Yznardi, Sr.
[22 May 1801]
Exmo. Señor
Muy Señor mio, y de todo mi Respecto he faltado a mi dever deseandole su feliz Arribo á esa Capital, y darle gracias por la Orden dada para qe el pleyto de Mr Pintard se defienda por Mr. Dalas, por qe mi Salud ha buelto á devilitarse de Manera, qe Conosco, no se Conforma el clima a mi Contistusion, y qe me presisará dejar este Pais Antes, qe pensava como no me restablesca, y por lo tanto pongo, a la Considerasion de V.E mi Suplica para qe se defienda assy mismo, el pleyto Injusto del Capt. Josef Izzrael por las Rasones representadas mis propuestas de tratado de Comercio no dudo qe V.E las Considerará como Utiles, y qe a su tienpo determinará lo Conviniente á las dos Naciones
las Nuevas Victorias Britanicas, y mejoría del Rey como Muerte del Enperador de Rusia seran causa de qe la Guerra dure Mucho mas qe se podía esperar, y la Confederasion del Norte Interrunpida pueden transtornar las Convinasiones del Gavinete Frances, Ciendo Nessesario esperar Noticias Inparciales de Europa. para desidir una Opinion
no dudo Pas con Portugal por Conseqencia a mi Asersion premitiba en este punto
deseo á V.E la mejor Salud, y Ruego á Dios que su Vida ms. as. Philadelphia 22
Exmo. Señor BLM de V.E su mas Obte. Servidor
Josef Yznardy
editors’ translation
Most Excellent Sir
My most illustrious sir, and with all my respect, I have failed in my duty to wish you a happy return to that capital, and to give thanks for the instructions given in order that Mr. Pintard’s lawsuit be handled by Mr. Dallas, because my health has once more deteriorated in a manner that I know that the climate here does not agree with my disposition, and unless I recover, I will be forced to leave this country before I anticipated; therefore I submit to your excellency’s consideration my request that Dallas also defend against the unjust lawsuit of Captain Joseph Israel for the reasons I stated.
I do not doubt that your excellency will find useful my proposals about a trade agreement, and that the treaty will determine in due course what is more convenient to both nations.
The new English victories, the recovery of the king, like the death of the Russian emperor, will be reason for the war to last longer than expected, and the interrupted Northern Confederation may disrupt the makeup of the French cabinet, making it necessary to wait for impartial news from Europe before reaching an opinion.
It can be inferred from the reasons that I mentioned before that I do not doubt there will be peace with Portugal.
I wish your excellency the best of health, and I pray that God protect your life many years, Philadelphia 22.
Most excellent sir, your most obedient servant kisses the hand of your excellency.
Josef Yznardy
RC (DLC); at foot of text: “Exmo. Sr. Dn. Thomas Jefferson”; date supplied from Yznardi’s closing and TJ’s endorsement; endorsed by TJ as a letter of 22 May received 26 May and so recorded in SJL.
After a review by Alexander J. Dallas, the U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Pennsylvania, TJ and Levi Lincoln agreed that the lawsuit against Yznardi by John M. Pintard was related to Yznardi’s conduct as acting consul at Cadiz and that the United States should be involved in the suit. They decided that the government should not take any part in the suit of Joseph Israel against Yznardi (Yznardi to TJ, 4 Jan.; Lincoln to TJ, 9 Apr.; and TJ to Lincoln, 17 Apr. 1801).
Propuestas de tratado: Yznardi may have suggested a commercial treaty in one of two letters from April that are now missing. In addition to his letter of 7 Apr., which is printed above in this series and which TJ received on 16 Apr., Yznardi wrote another communication of the 7th and one on 14 Apr., both of which TJ received, according to SJL, on the 24th of that month.
Mejoría del Rey: George III had been incapacitated by illness late in February and early in March 1801 (, 500n, 525–8; Levi Lincoln to TJ, 16 Apr. 1801). Sometime before he learned of George’s recovery, Yznardi wrote a memorandum commenting on news from Europe. Believing when he wrote that the British monarch might have died, Yznardi asserted that the situation could be to France’s benefit, perhaps resulting in a favorable peace with Britain or sparking a revolution in that country. Even if that did not occur, part of the Royal Navy might declare its allegiance to the Prince of Wales and Irish dissidents might exploit the situation. Yznardi also mentioned the intention of Spain to invade Portugal, the poor harvest in Spain, and increasing shortages in Britain. Taking note of a rumor that the British expeditionary force in Egypt had mutinied, he speculated that the dissident army might ally itself to another nation, just as some French troops joined the Spanish after learning of the execution of Louis XVI (MS in DLC: TJ Papers, 111:19087; undated and unsigned; in Yznardi’s hand, in Spanish; endorsed by him: “Noticias del Día”—that is, “News of the Day”).
For the ultimatum given to Portugal by Spain and France, see Joseph Barnes to TJ, 10 Apr. 1801.