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. " I will give you a certificate," he said, in the course of the discussion, " that you are the most importunate negotiator Ihave yet met with." For this and his aid to Robert Fulton, Edward Everett Hale called Livingston " the wisest American of his time." Napoleon received Livingston's argument three days after he heard of Leclerc's death. To a soldier who had entered Italy over the Alps, the suggestion of an attack from Canada would strongly appeal : with Nelson on the ocean, he could understand the helplessness of a French army in New Orleans ; and after the failure of Leclerc in St. Domingo, the presence of yellow fever and other obstacles to success in Louisiana would not seem improbable. Such a discussion at such a time, therefore, was certain to have the most profound influence, and from January 10 to April 10, 1803, Livingston kept his reasons constantly before the First Consul and his ministers as the only policy to conserve the true interest of France, to impair the strength of England, and to win the affection of the United States. " I have never yet had any specific instructions from you how to act or what to offer," he wrote Madison on February 18, 1803, eighteen days before Monroe left the United States ; " but I have put into Napoleon's hands some notes containing plain truths mixed with that species of personal attention which I know to be most pleasing.