“ not ask the favor of you to procure this book for me. I now supply the omission, and add a request to procure also la historia del Amirante D. Christoval Colomb by Fernando Colomb, his son, in Spanish, or Ulloa’s translation of it into Italian, or Cotolendi’s translation into French, or all three of them. I am in hopes there are such communications between Madrid & Lisbon as to enable you to get them for me . . . ”

Humphreys replied from Mafra on June 7: “Knowing, as I do, the extreme jealously [ sic -- Ed. ] of the Spanish Government & the rigid regulations of this, in respect to Books of all descriptions; I almost despair of being able to comply with your desires in obtaining those specified in your private letter. Had I been charged with your memorandum when at Madrid, I could not have ventured to execute your Commission by bringing the Books with me.--I will, however, revolve the matter in different views; & consult with some of my acquaintances on the practicability of effecting it.

"In this, and all other commands; be assured nothing could give me more pleasure, than to demonstrate by the most prompt compliance, with how great esteem of sincere friendship . . .”

On March 18, 1792, Jefferson wrote from Philadelphia to William Short, at the time in Madrid: “ . . . Some bishop of Spain, who was for some time in Mexico, found there copies of Cortez’s correspondence, and on his return to Spain published them. I have made many efforts to get this book, but in vain. I must beg of you to procure it for me while there. it is not many years since it was published . . . ”

At a later date, in writing his “Extracts from the private letters of Th: J. to William Short”, Jefferson was more specific about the bishop. The entry under March 18 reads: . . . the Bishop of Toledo, while in Mexico, discovered a collection of Ferdinand Cortez’s letters, and published them after his return to Europe. [ See 3. Borgoyne’s travels 303.] I have made many efforts to get this book, but in vain. I must beg of you to procure it for me while there. it is not many years since it was published . . .

More than a year later, on December 23, 1793, the postscript of a letter to Short dated from Philadelphia reads: “ do not fail if possible to get me Cortez’s letters.”

An undated letter written by Jefferson to William Short, probably during the year 1794, is concerned only with this book: “ Th: Jefferson in writing to m( ^~ r) Short forgot to mention that the present occasion by m( ^~ r) Blake will be a happy one to receive from him the Letters of Fernand Cortez published by the Archbishop of Mexico (afterwards Toledo) as mentioned in 3 ^d. Borgoyne’s travels 303. which he so much wishes to get. if m ( ^~ r) Short will send it by m( ^~ r) Blake & note the price it shall be added to the first investment to be made by his brother here. better to send it unbound.”

On November 4, 1794, in a letter to Jefferson, William Short announced: “. . . Mr Carmichael has been fortunate enough to procure you the letters of Cortez & will send them to you . . .”

Two days later, on November 6, in a letter to Edmund Randolph, the Secretary of State, Jefferson made enquiry as to the arrival of Mr. Blake with the expected books: “ . . . M ^r. Short was to send me by Blake, Cortez’s letters in Spanish. is Blake returned & has he brought them? . . . ”

On January 29, 1795, in a long letter to Jefferson, William Short reported: “. . . Mr Carmichael who is still here [ i.e. in Madrid], sent to Cadiz the edition of Cortez letters which he luckily obtained for you, & has told me that he had authorized mr Blake to open the package to take this book out in order that it might sooner get to your hands . . .”

On June 1, Jefferson wrote from Monticello to the Secretary of State in Philadelphia: “ . . . m( ^~ r) Short . . . mentions to me that m( ^~ r) Blake would bring for me a copy of Don Quixote, & the Cortez’s letters I had been so anxious to get. the former I have received but the latter were not with it. I imagine m ( ^~ r) Blake has come without them . . .”

On June 6, James Blake himself wrote from Philadelphia to Jefferson: