From Thomas Jefferson to Carlos Martínez de Irujo, 24 March 1801
To Carlos Martínez de Irujo
Washington Mar. 24. 1801.
Dear Sir
Your favor of the 18th. is recieved. in the meantime you will have recieved one of the 19th. from me. I have inserted in a letter to Colo. Humphreys what might be said with effect on the subject mentioned in your letter. if in time, I hope it will weigh. if not, when you take leave, you will of course recieve a letter, the tenor of which shall do you the justice due to you. I am in hopes however the occasion of that letter may be long delayed. Made. d’Yrujo will have time to meet mrs Madison here about the latter end of April. present her the homage of my respects, and accept yourself my best wishes & high consideration.
Th: Jefferson
PrC (DLC); at foot of text: “The Chevalr. d’Yrujo”; endorsed by TJ in ink on verso.
One of the 19th. from me: writing from Washington on 19 Mch. TJ acknowledged Irujo’s letter of the 13th and thanked him for his efforts to assist TJ in finding a cook—“a [Minister] of the kitchen.” Reporting the prospect of employing Honoré Julien for that position on the suggestion of Philippe de Létombe, TJ noted that he might have to ask for Irujo’s “immediate interference” to persuade Julien to accept: “you see how much I count on your friendship.” TJ also responded to Irujo’s comments about the “coalescing” effects of his inaugural address. If TJ could help achieve “harmony” in the nation without compromising “our republican priniciples,” then “I have not lived in vain.” Acknowledging that some of his allies as well as some opponents might find fault with his policy toward removal or retention of officers, he wrote that “in time I hope both parties will judge with less passion” (PrC in MoSHi: Jefferson Papers; badly blurred; at foot of text: “The Chevalier d’Yrujo”; endorsed by TJ in ink on verso).
See TJ’s letter to David Humphreys, over Levi Lincoln’s signature, at 17 Mch.