The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

WASHINGTON CITY.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19.

The following letters are given in the Philadelphia Gazette of the 14th inst. Those of the Marquis Yrujo are of too unique a cast to be omitted. They display traits of diplomacy, which, we believe, are without parallel. It would be altogether a work of supererogation to say a word in reprobation either of the substance or the style of these productions. If the public prints, of all parties and of every complexion, are considered as criteria of public opinion, the deportment of the Marquis has lost him not only the confidence of the government, but the respect and esteem of every American, who feels a proper respect for himself or his government.

No. I.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
January 15, 1805.

SIR,
In consequence of the just objections which your conduct had furnished against your continuance here, as the organ of communication on the part of his Catholic majesty, it was signified at Madrid in the month of April last, through the mission of the U. S. there, that the substitution of another was desired by the President.
In reply it was intimated by Mr. Cevallos, that as you had yourself expressed a wish and obtained permission to return to Spain, the purpose might be accomplished without the necessity of a recall, and that such a change in the mode would be agreeable to your government: in a spirit of conciliation the arrangement proposed by Mr. Cevallos was admitted; and it was not doubted, that it would without delay have been carried into effect. It is seen therefore not without surprise, that at this late day, you should have repaired to the seat of government, as if nothing had occurred, rendering such a step improper. Under these circumstances, the President has charged me to signify to you, that your remaining at this place is dissatisfactory to him, and that although he cannot permit himself to insist on your departure from the U.S. during an inclement season, he expects it will not be unnecessarily postponed, after this obstacle has ceased.
I am charged by the President, at the same time, to let it be fully understood that the considerations which have led to this explanation, being altogether personal, they are perfectly consistent with the ready admission of a successor, and with all the attention, which can be due to whatever communications his Catholic majesty may please to make, with a view to cultivate harmony and friendship between the two nations.
I have the honor to be, sir, with due consideration and respect, your most obedient servant.
(Signed) JAMES MADISON.
The Marquis de Casa Yrujo.

No. II.
[TRANSLATION.]
Washington, Jan. 16, 1805.

SIR,
I have just received your letter of yesterday in which you are pleased to tell me, that from the President of the U. S. having solicited my recall in Madrid, in the month of April last, he has heard with surprise my arrival in this city, the residence of government, and that he thinks this step of mine improper, adding at the same time, that my stay here would be dissatisfactory to him.
As the object of my journey is not with the view to hatch plots, to excite conspiracies, or to promote any attempt whatever against the government of the U. S. and as hitherto I have not either directly or indirectly committed acts of a similar tendency, which alone would justify the tenor and object of your letter; to which I reply, my arrival here is an innocent and legal act, which leaves me in the full enjoyment of all my rights and privileges, both as a public character, or as a private individual.
Making use therefore, of these rights and privileges, I intend remaining in this city, four miles square, in which the government resides, long as it may suit the interest of the king my master, or my own personal convenience; I must at the same time add that I shall not lose sight of these two circumstances, as respect the period & season in which our mutual desires for my departure from the U. S. are to be accomplished.
In regard to the objections which this government, in its wisdom, is pleased to call just, respecting the demand of my removal, I shall take the liberty of observing that although this government no doubt may have had their reasons to solicit it, they hitherto have forgotten to communicate them to mine: for Mr. Monroe's official letter to Mr. Cevallos on this subject merely contains vague, undetermined, general assertions destitute of any proof whatever. It is true, that he alludes to an attempt of mine to bribe a citizen of the U. S. but it is equally so that as this assertion of government is grounded on a reference to a testimony already proved incorrect, I may without wounding the feelings of, or being wanting in that respect which I owe this administration, permit myself to call it false and calumnious.
Independent of that, in the letter I had the honor of writing to you, sir, early in Sept. 1804, in which this business was completely and satisfactorily explained, if in fact the Editor of the Commercial Register could ever be considered as an organ of truth, what would the American people think of their chief magistrate, of the heads of the departments and of the acts of this administration?
It is not my intention to endeavor to change by this explanation, the disposition of this government towards my person; my object is solely to fulfil the duty my situation imposes on me of again repelling an imputation, which is as improbable in itself as it is calumnious against both my public & private character.
I shall therefore, sir, communicate your letter of yesterday, to my government: I shall also inform it of my answer thereto: and whenever, by order of the king my master, I am to return to Spain, I shall quit the U. S. with sentiments of affection towards a virtuous people, in whose bosom I have lived ten years, with the intimate testimony of having never committed any grounded offence against their government; and above all, with the consoling satisfaction of having employed all my zeal and feeble talents in defence of the rights of the best of kings.
I have the honor to be, sir, &c.
El Marquis De Casa Yrujo.
James Madison, Esq.

No. III.
[TRANSLATION.]
Washington, 19th Jan. 1806.

SIR,
Having gone through the personal explanations, which for just motives I was compelled to enter into in my first answer to your letter of the 15th inst. I must now inform you, sir, what otherwise would then have constituted my sole reply; namely, that the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of His Catholic Majesty near the U.S. receives no orders except from his Sovereign. I must also declare to you, sir, that I consider both the style and tenor of your letter as indecorous, & its object an infraction of the privileges attached to my public character. This violation of the diplomatic rights & privileges, as inexplicable in itself as it is ill grounded, requires on my part the most solemn protest against your said letter, its style, and the intent with which it was addressed to me. I do therefore protest in the most solemn manner I possibly can against this improper step of yours, sir, a step, which under the existing circumstances, is as contrary to the diplomatic laws and usages, as it is to the spirit of the constitution and government of this country; and in order that your conduct, sir, in this case, may not in any manner affect the privileges of the body to which I have the honor to belong, I shall immediately transmit to the other members thereof accredited near the U.S. a copy of your said letter, of my first answer and of this my protest, that on their part they may make the proper use thereof, & also that it may always appear that if there has existed on the part of this administration an arbitrary determination to violate the rights of embassy, respected by every civilized nation, there did also exist in me the just resolution of repelling any similar attempt.
I have the honor to be, &c.
The Marquis De Casa Yrujo.
James Madison, Esq.