To Thomas Jefferson from Carlos Martínez de Irujo, [9 February 1801]
From Carlos Martínez de Irujo
[9 Feb. 1801]
Le Chevalier d’Yrujo presents his compliments to Mr. Jefferson, & takes the liberty to inform him that when in Philadelphia the both Houses of congress used to meet on some solemn occassion, the Speaker of the House of Representatives was in the habit of inviting him by the Sergeant at Arms & a chair was provided for him on the right side of the Speaker—He understand congress is to meet the day after to morrow in the Senate room with an object, whose result cannot but be highly pleasant to the Chevalier, & in consequence, he addresses himself to Mr. Jefferson to Know if he could flatter himself to enjoie in the Senate the same distinction he has enjoied heretofore in the House of Representatives?
RC (MoSHi: Jefferson Papers); undated; accent marks that Irujo placed over some vowels have been omitted; endorsed by TJ as a letter of 9 Feb. 1801 received on that day.
Congress is to meet: on this day, a Monday, the Senate declared that it would “receive the House of Representatives in the Senate Chamber, on Wednesday next, at twelve o’clock, for the purpose of being present at the opening and counting of the votes for President of the United States.” The House then agreed to the rules it would follow in the event of the expected tie in electoral votes. Before adjourning on 10 Feb. the House resolved to attend the next day in the Senate chamber and appointed John Rutledge, Jr., and John Nicholas its tellers for the count, to act with one named by the Senate, William H. Wells of Delaware (, 3:789–92, 796, 798).