France, by grasping at a desert and an insignificant tow.i, and thereby throwing the weight of the United States into the scale of Britain, will render her mistress of the new world. By the possession of Louisiana and Trinidad the colonies of Spain will lie at her mercy. By expelling France from Florida and possessing the ports on the Gulf, she will command the Islands. The East and West Indies will pour their commodities into her ports ; and the precious metals of Mexico, combined with the treasures of Hindostan, enable her to purchase nations whose aid she may require in confirming her power. Though it would comport with the true policy and magnanimity of France gratuitously to offer these terms to the United States, yet they are not unwilling tO' purchase them at a price suited to their value and to their own circumstances, in the hope that France will at the same time satisfy

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. 107

their distressed citizens the debts which they have a right by so many titles to demand." These arguments do not read hke the letters of Jefferson or the instructions of Madison. There is no suggestion that the United States is without interest in the right bank of the Mississippi for fear of a divided government, or because germs of collision will develop in spite of affinities in manners and language. New Orleans is minimized, the great west is magnified. A glance at the map shows that he offered to purchase half an empire, leaving to France only a small corner in the southwest bordering on Texas. His argument fixed its limitation. " First, let France cede to the United States so much of Louisiana as lay above the mouth of the river Arkansas, West Florida, NewOrleans, and the territory on the west bank of the ^Mississippi." Talleyrand thought the rest would be of little value.