To Thomas Jefferson from Carlos Martínez de Irujo, 9 January 1803
From Carlos Martínez de Irujo
Capitol Hill Sunday morn. [9 Jan. 1803]
Dear Sir
Last night on my return home I had the pleasure to see by some letters from my court that the King my Master had had the goodness to grant to me my children & successors a Title Castille under the denomination of Marquis of Casa-Irujo as a public testimony of his aprobation of my services. As I Know by experience the friendly part you are so good as to take in what may promotte my interest & satisfaction, I take the liberty to impart to you this information & to assure you that the same sentiments of affection & respect which the Chevalier d’Irujo has always entertain’d towards you will be Kept alive in
Your most obt. & devoted Servt.
El Marques de Casa de Irujo
P.S. I’ll have the pleasure to dine with you on Tuesday next.
RC (MoSHi: Jefferson Papers); partially dated; at head of text: “His Exc. Thomas Jefferson”; endorsed by TJ as received 9 Jan. and so recorded in SJL.
By a decree of 26 Dec. 1802 followed by a royal order of 6 Mch. 1803, Carlos IV of Spain created the hereditary title of marqués of casa-irujo (Eric Beerman, “Spanish Envoy to the United States [1796–1809]: Marques de Casa Irujo and his Philadelphia Wife Sally McKean,” The Americas, 37 [1981], 452).