Thomas Jefferson Papers
Documents filtered by: Period="Madison Presidency" AND Correspondent="Onís, Luis de" AND Correspondent="Jefferson, Thomas"
sorted by: date (ascending)
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-07-02-0206

Luis de Onís to Thomas Jefferson, 13 April 1814

From Luis de Onís

Philadelphie ce 13. Avril 1814.

Monsieur

L’interet que Votre Excellence a toujours temoigné pour le bonheur et prosperité de la Nation Espagnole, m’encourage à lui offrir un exemplaire de la Constitution de sa Monarchie. J’espere que Votre Excellence voudra bien l’accepter comme un hommage de ma consideration pour les talents, qui distinguent si eminemment sa personne; et je me flâte que Votre Excellence verra avec plaisir tracés dans cette constitution une partie de loîx sages que Votre Excellence a sugerer à cette Republique pour consacrer la liberté et l’independance dont elle jouit avec tant de gloire.

J’ai l’honneur d’etre avec la plus haute consideration

De Votre Excellence Le trés humble et trés obeisst Servitr

Le Chevalier de Onis

Editors’ Translation

Philadelphia 13. April 1814.

Sir

The interest that Your Excellency has always taken in the happiness and prosperity of the Spanish nation encourages me to offer you a copy of its monarchy’s constitution. I hope that Your Excellency will accept it as an expression of my respect for the talents that so eminently distinguish your person; and I flatter myself that Your Excellency will be pleased to see written in this constitution some of the wise laws that Your Excellency suggested to this republic in order to perpetuate the liberty and independence that it enjoys with such glory.

I have the honor to be with the highest respect

Your Excellency’s very humble and very obedient servant

Le Chevalier de Onis

RC (DLC); at foot of text: “A Son Excce Thomas Jefferson. & & &”; endorsed by TJ as received 22 Apr. 1814 and so recorded in SJL. Translation by Dr. Genevieve Moene. Enclosure: Constitution of the Spanish Monarchy. Promulgated at Cadiz on the 19th of March, 1812 (Philadelphia, 1814; Sowerby, description begins E. Millicent Sowerby, comp., Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson, 1952–59, 5 vols. description ends no. 2424).

Index Entries

  • Constitution of the Spanish Monarchy. Promulgated at Cadiz on the 19th of March, 1812 search
  • French language; letters in, from; L. de Onís search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Books & Library; works sent to search
  • Onís y González Vara López y Gómez, Luis de; and Spanish constitution search
  • Onís y González Vara López y Gómez, Luis de; letters from search
  • Spain; constitution of search