To James Madison from Daniel Brent, 29 July 1825
From Daniel Brent
Washington, 29 July 1825.
Dear Sir,
Mr. Rebello,1 Chargé d’Affaires of the Government of Brazil at this Place, having informed me that he is about making an excursion to Virginia, and would be particularly gratified by the opportunity to offer his personal Respects to you before he returns hither, I take great Pleasure in furnishing him with this Letter, to make him known to you. This Gentleman has resided amongst us several years, and no foreign Agent ever has been, or is more esteemed here, than himself; and it is upon this ground, as much as your kindness, that I rely for my excuse, in the Liberty I thus take. With my respectful Compliments to Mrs. Madison, I remain, Dr sir, with perfect Esteem and Respect, Your Obedt. & very hu: servt.
Daniel Brent2
RC (DLC). Docketed by JM.
1. José Silvestre Rebello (d. 1844), was Brazilian chargé d’affaires in Washington, 1824–29, and accomplished his first mission, that of acquiring U.S. recognition of the independence of Brazil, within a few months of his arrival. He also contracted for the building of two frigates for the Brazilian navy, but his nation’s desire for an alliance with the United States went unrequited (Arthur P. Whitaker, “José Silvestre Rebello: The First Diplomatic Representative of Brazil in the United States,” Hispanic American Historical Review 20 [1940]: 380–401). Rebello did visit Montpelier, where he found JM “a courteous diplomat who has not forgotten that the flag covers the cargo,” but what most impressed him was “the really poverty-stricken situation of the first persons of this country,” which “will prove to all the world that what is called modern republicanism is a source of wretchedness and therefore is clearly opposed to the holy purposes of the creation of this universe” (ibid., 397).
2. Daniel Brent (ca. 1774–1841) was a clerk in the State Department, 1801–33, rising to the position of chief clerk in September 1817. He was U.S. consul at Paris from 1833 until his death (Looney et al., Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series, 8:495 n.; Petersburg, Va., American Star, 27 Sept. 1817; New Orleans Daily Picayune, 9 Mar. 1841).