In other words, Jefferson saw only New Orleans ; he wanted only New Orleans and peace ; and to get the one and keep the other, Monroe was sent to Paris to secure " our rights and interests in the river Mississippi and in the territories eastward thereof." In the meantime Livingston had taken a different view. It is not clear that he appreciated the future value of the great northwest more than did Jefferson or Madison, but in his argument for the purchase of New Orleans he had included in his request ninetenths of the territory now known as the Louisiana Purchase. Singularly enough Livingston's letter happened to be addressed to Talleyrand, Napoleon's Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the very day Monroe's name went to the United States Senate for confirmation, and although the latter's instructions limited negotiations to the east bank of the Mississippi, Livingston's argument included the west bank. " Presuming," he writes Talleyrand, " that the Floridas are in the hands of France, I shall predicate what I have to offer upon that presumption. France can have but three objects in the possession of Louisiana and Florida : The first is the command of the Gulf ; second, the supply of her islands ; third, an outlet fior the people, if her European population should be too gresLt for her territory." " Having treated this subject more at large in a paper which you have had the goodness to read," Livingston continued, " I will not dwell upon it here ; but propose what it appears to be the true, policy of France to adopt, as affecting all her objects, and at the same time conciliating the affections of the United States, giving a permanency to her establishments, which she can in no other way hope for.