Livingston, on April 18, 1802, that "the day France takes possession of
New Orleans, we must marry ourselves to the British fleet and nation." In
one of his many memoranda to Talleyrand, Livingston alludes to the
British fleet. He also points out that France may by taking a certain
course estrange the United States for ever and bind it closely to
France's great enemy. This particular address to Talleyrand is dated
February 1, 1803, and may be found in the Annals of Congress, 1802-1803,
at pages 1078 to 1083. I quote a sentence: "The critical moment has
arrived which rivets the connexion of the United States to France, or
binds a young and growing people for ages hereafter to her mortal and
inveterate enemy." After this, hints follow concerning the relative
maritime power of France and Great Britain. Livingston suggests that if
Great Britain invade Louisiana, who can oppose her? Once more he refers
to Great Britain's superior fleet. This interesting address concludes
with the following exordium to France: "She will cheaply purchase the
esteem of men and the favor of Heaven by the surrender of a distant
wilderness, which can neither add to her wealth nor to her strength."
This, as you will perceive, is quite a pointed remark. Throughout the
Louisiana diplomacy, and negotiations to which this diplomacy led,
Livingston's would seem to be the master American mind and prophetic
vision. But I must keep to my jackstraws. On April 17, 1803, Bonaparte's
brother, Lucien, reports a conversation held with him by Bonaparte. What
purposes, what oscillations, may have been going on deep in Bonaparte's
secret mind, no one can tell. We may guess that he did not relinquish his
plan about Louisiana definitely for some time after the thought had
dawned upon him that it would be better if he did relinquish it. But
unless he was lying to his brother Lucien on April 17, 1803, we get no
mere glimpse, but a perfectly clear sight of what he had come finally to
think. It was certainly worth while, he said to Lucien, to sell when you
could what you were certain to lose; "for the English... are aching for