Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-01-30

Mississippi and south ol the Afh'hs'"
Sd. That France should hold the terri
tory lying between the Atlantic and the RI
yer Perdido and
4th. That she should ce,le to the United
States the territory lying between the Per
dido and the Mississippi.
The first Of these articles was recommen-
ded by the security it would afford to that
portion of louisiana, proposed TO be lett
to France against British aggression, from
the side of Canada, the second, BY the bar
rier it would interpose between the United
States ami Spanish America; the third, by
the importance to France of holding the
principal ports in the Gulf; and the fourth
by the pecuniary advantages which might
be connected with the arrangement, and
by the obvious interest she had in quoting
the United States, on the subject OF their
RICH. 70 navigate the Mississippi, &c.
After waiting fourteen days for an an
swer to these suggestions, and probably
despairing of obtaining one, Mr.. Living
ston on the cath Of January, 1903, trans
mit!ed copy Of them to Washington, and
took occasion TO renew his complaints "a
gainst his own government, which had "a
voided furnishing him with any precise in
struction how to act, or hat to offer; (12)
and against that of France. which lett him
SO often and 50 long, without answers TO
the notes and memoirs (l5) he had present
ed. Becoming impatient, if not indignant
under this last cause of offence, and suspect
ing what he had written had no; been per-
mitted to reach the first consul, he on tue
eth Of February, 1903, turning aside from
the course usually travelled ard dispensing
altogether with the agency Of NJ. Ta!ley-
rand, addressed letter directly to Bona
parte, in which he pressed:
LIST The payments of the debts due by
France to American citizens:
Cd. The acknowledgement, on the part
'of France, Of our right of deposit at New
Orleans and
sd. An eXpositio, Of the limits of Louis
iania, under the late rctroces.ion oi that
province by Spain.
TO this letter III Talleyrand answered,
on the part Of the FIRST consul, that the debts
should be promptly and punctualy paid
and that all the other points in discussion
would be adjusted at Washington between
the government Of the u States and the
French Minister who should be sent Thu
Their.
On the 18th Of April, after recapitula-
ting the means he had employed TO induce
Napoleon 70 part with louisiana. III. Liy-
lngsion informs the secretary of state, that
a resolution to sell had been taken, in coun-
Gil, the preceding Saturday. In this letter
we find aiso direct approach OF the French
minister to the question of price, (l4l IN.
Talleyrand asked me this day, whether we
wished to have the whole Of louisiana ? 10
which | answered, that our wishes extend
ed only to ew-Orleans and the Floridas,
but that the policy Of France must dictate,
whether she would give also the country
north Of the Arkinsaw riyer.-lle italy
randi thought that if they gave N. Orleans
the rest would be oflillIe value, andrepeat-
ed bis question, what will you give for the
whole y | answered, that we should not OBJ
ject to twenty millions, provided our citi-
zens were paid out Of it. lie thought the
offer too low, desired me TO reflect upon il,
and assured me that what he had said, was
spoken without authority" TO this Living
ston adds, IF we succeed, it will be good
POLICY to give Spain the west bank OF the
Mississippi, in exchange for the Floridas."
On the 18th of April, Mr. TalIyrand renew
ed his enquiry with regard to price, but Mr..
Monroe, vino had arrived on the lth, not
having yet presented his credentials, nor
being present at this interview, Mr.. Living
ston declined making an offer. On the
same day The minister vi the treasury, o.
pened himself fully aud distinctly 10 Mr.
Livingston, telling him the determination
of the First Consul 10 sell, the price he
would take, andthe pro liability that he, Mar
bois, wouldbe the negociatoron the part OF
France.
CD The treaty of St. lldephorso was da-
ted on the LIST October, 1900.
(2) Instructions to Dir. Livingston, dated
% h of September, 1901.
(3) he circumstances which most i'm
peCed his progress. are detailed IN his let