To James Madison from George William Erving, 6 January 1808

My last official letter (dated Decr. 28) communi[ca]ted the arrangement made by Coll. Lear with the dey [of] Algiers, the one previous, (that of Decr. 22) was upon [sev]eral subjects & the unofficial letter which accompanied [it] related principally to the affairs of Portugal, & [the] relations between this country & france.

[It] appears that the Emperor of France his decree dated [und]er 17 Decr. was published instantly on Receiving the [Bri]tish decree to which it refers; it woud surely have [been] most judicious not to have proceeded with such [rapi]dity, to have attended the effect which the british [mea]sure was likely to produce in our country. The [same] delays & difficulties have not been made here to [the] adoption of the Emperors views on this occasion, as [were] experienced on the issuing the first blockade decree; [] have been assumed as soon as Received, & special care has been taken that there shoud be nothing Equivoca[l] in the mode. This alacrity arises from the apprehen[sion] (no longer a mystery or matter of concealment) which this government feels for its own security. The aff[air] of the marriage is suspended; tho Portugal is occupie[d] still an immense number of french troops is pourin[g] into this country, & they extend themselves even to the passes of the mountains of Castile: The Queen of Etru[ria] who as is stated abdicated her throne in virtue of a convintion made at Paris, & by that convintion was Secured an indemnity in Portugal; has not yet received Such indemnity, & remains at present only an Infan[ta] of Spain; the King who was also by the same conv[ention] promised another part of Portugal, for the purpose [of] establishing in it the prince of peace, has not yet ha[d] his portion set off to him; The Emperor tho Return[ed] to Paris is most unquestionably coming as far as Bourdeaux, & it is beleived Bayonne; it may be further.

The part of Portugal said to be destined for the [Pr]ince of Peace is Algarvia, & this beleif is supported by the [cir]cumstance of that province being actually occupied [] by Spanish troops.

The number of french troops actually entered [] here by way of Bayonne, above what I have [spe]cified in former letters; is I think about 80.000; [a] marshall of france commands the last portion [wh]ich has arrived; & prince Murat being at Bourdeaux [it] may be expected that he will come also; It does [not] appear that any troops have Entered as yet by [way] of Catalonia.

The Queen of Etruria has been continually [expe]cted here, & the necessary relays to bring her from [Bar]celona have been sent; yet, by fresh advices [she] was still at Milan. The kingdom of Italy has [been] extended by the addition of some parts of [Tus]cany, & the Emperor has declared the Vice Roy [Pri]nce Eugene Beauharnois (son of the Empress) heir [to] that throne, & has created him prince of Venice; [this] arrangement so far from discouraging, perhaps rather confirms the report referred to in my letter [of] Decr. 10. Meltzi is created duke of [] Venice Lucien Buonaparte had an intervie[w with] his brother, so that no longer doubt is Entertaine[d of] the reconciliation mentioned in a former let[ter,] but that a suitable provision will be made for him I have heard (but nothing can be wholly Relied on) th[at] the Emperors mother will be made Queen of Rome & Lucien her successor With sincere Respect & Es[teem I am] Dear Sir Your very obliged & obt. St.