From Thomas Jefferson to Carlos IV, King of Spain, 12 October 1804
To Carlos IV, King of Spain
Great and Good Friend,
Charles Pinckney who for some time past has resided with you as the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States, having desired to return to America, we have yielded to his request. He will accordingly take his leave of you, embracing that occasion to assure you of our friendship and sincere desire to preserve and strengthen the harmony and good understanding so happily subsisting between the two nations, and which will be further manifested by his Successor. We are persuaded that he will do this in the manner most expressive of these sentiments and of the respect and sincerity with which they are offered.
We pray God to keep you Great and Good Friend under his holy protection.
Written at the City of Washington the Twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and four.
Th: Jefferson
FC (DNA: RG 59, Credences); in a clerk’s hand; at foot of text: “To our Great and Good Friend His Catholic Majesty”; below signature: “By the President” and “James Madison Secretary of State.”
desired to return: Madison acceded to Pinckney’s request in a letter of 26 Oct., in which he likely enclosed this letter of recall. The communication, however, arrived after Pinckney had begun working with James Monroe on negotiations with Spain, and Pinckney did not officially take his leave until October 1805 (Madison, Papers, Sec. of State Ser., 8:225-7; 9:428-9; 10:360-1).