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Subject Area: Political Theory
Topic: The American Revolution and Constitution

TO THE U. S. MINISTER TO SPAIN (JAMES BOWDOIN.) - Thomas Jefferson, The Works, vol. 10 (Correspondence and Papers 1803-1807) [1905]

Edition used:

The Works of Thomas Jefferson, Federal Edition (New York and London, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1904-5). Vol. 10.

Part of: The Works of Thomas Jefferson, 12 vols.

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Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


TO THE U. S. MINISTER TO SPAIN
(JAMES BOWDOIN.)

j. mss.

Washington Apr. 27, 05.

Dear Sir,

—Your favor of Mar. 25 has been duly received. I regret that the state of your health renders a visit to this place unadvisable. Besides the gratification we should have felt from personal considerations, the perusal of the correspondences, for some time back, with the governments of Europe most interesting to us, by putting you in possession of the actual state of things between us, would have enabled you to act under all emergencies with that satisfaction to yourself which is derived from a full knolege of the ground. But I presume you will find this supplied, as to the government to which you go, by the papers of the office at Madrid. Our relations with that nation are vitally interesting. That they should be of a peaceable & friendly character has been our most earnest desire. Had Spain met us with the same dispositions, our idea was that her existence in this hemisphere & ours, should have rested on the same bottom; should have swam or sunk together. We want nothing of hers, & we want no other nation to possess what is hers. But she has met our advances with jealousy, secret malice and ill-faith. Our patience under this unworthy return of disposition is now on it’s last trial. And the issue of what is now depending between us will decide whether our relations with her are to be sincerely friendly, or permanently hostile. I still wish & would cherish the former, but have ceased to expect it.

I thank you for the sentiments of esteem you are so good as to express towards me, and the mark of it you wish me to place at Monticello. It shall be deposited with the memorials of those worthies whose remembrance I feel a pride & comfort in consecrating there. With my best wishes for the restoration of your health & for a pleasant voyage, I tender you my friendly salutations & assurances of great esteem & respect.