Thomas Jefferson Papers

Thomas Jefferson to José Corrêa da Serra, 5 June 1816

To José Corrêa da Serra

Monticello June 5. 16.

I had determined, my dear Sir, to have withdrawn at the close of this year from all subscriptions to newspapers, and never to read another. but the National Intelligencer of the 1st inst. has given me so much pleasure that I shall defer for a year longer my resolution. it announced your appointment from your new king, to be his minister to this country. if this is acceptable to you, I congratulate you sincerely, but still more my countrymen to whom I know it will be most acceptable. I hope this fixes you with us for life, and that you will continue to visit your old friends as before; and be contented that we recieve and treat you as our friend, keeping out of sight [your?] political character. particularly I hope it will not disappoint [us?] of the visit we should shortly have expected. I leave this for Bedford on the 20th inst. and shall return the 1st week of July, in the hope of the expected pleasure of recieving you here at your own convenience.—my grandaughter delivered me the MS. volume of Capt Lewis’s journal, & I hope the others, & most especially his observations of Long. & Lat. will be found. Colo Jones passed a few days with us, and did justice to your recommendations. we found him a plain, candid man, knowing all our European acquaintances, able to give us their history & present situation, and to give us new information of many characters which have figured on the wonderful drama of our day. I have rarely met with a more interesting or agreeable acquaintance, and he left us with impressions which will follow him thro’ life. I salute you with constant & affectionate esteem & respect.

Th: Jefferson

PoC (DLC); on verso of reused address cover to TJ; mutilated at seal; at foot of text: “Mr Correa”; endorsed by TJ.

News of the appointment of Corrêa da Serra as minister plenipotentiary by John VI, the new king and former prince regent of Portugal, appeared in the Washington Daily National Intelligencer, 31 May 1816.

Index Entries

  • Coolidge, Ellen Wayles Randolph (TJ’s granddaughter); delivers books and manuscripts search
  • Corrêa da Serra, José; and journals of M. Lewis search
  • Corrêa da Serra, José; as Portuguese minister plenipotentiary search
  • Corrêa da Serra, José; letters from search
  • Corrêa da Serra, José; proposed visit of search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Family & Friends; friendship with J. Corrêa da Serra search
  • John, Prince Regent (later John VI, king of Portugal and Brazil) search
  • Jones, Col.; visits Monticello search
  • Lewis, Meriwether; papers of search
  • Monticello (TJ’s estate); Visitors to; Jones, Col. search
  • National Intelligencer (Washington newspaper); TJ subscribes to search
  • Poplar Forest (TJ’s Bedford Co. estate); TJ plans visit to search
  • Portugal; minister plenipotentiary from search