For three months he had considered it ; but not until Sunday, April lo, did he make known his intention ; then, in a moment, without warning, he let his desire be known to Talleyrand and Marbois. " I can scarcely say that I cede it," said Napoleon, " for it is not yet in our possession. If, however, Ileave the least time to our enemies, I shall only transmit an empty title." Marbois agreed, Talleyrand dissented, and the trio parted ; but at daybreak, on Monday, Napoleon sent for Marbois, declaring that " irresolution and deliberation are no longer in season ; I renounce Louisiana. It is not only New Orleans that I cede ; it is the whole colony, without reserve. I know the price of what I abandon. I renounce it with the greatest regret ; to attempt obstinately to retain it would be folly. I direct you to regulate the affairs. Have an interview this very day with Mr. Livingston." Whatever occurred after this belongs simply to the making of

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a bargain. The mind of Napoleon had acted. It is not easy, perhaps, to differentiate the influences that led to such action, but it is not difficult to measure them. In writing the Minister of Marine, Talleyrand explained that " the empire of circumstances, foresight of the future, and the intention to compensate by an advantageous arrangement for the inevitable loss of a country which was going to be put at the mercy of another nation -- all these motives have determined the Government to pass to the United States the right it had acquired from Spain over the sovereignty and property of Louisiana." In brief, Napoleon's sale of Louisiana, as explained by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, disposed of a country which he would inevitably lose whenever war occurred with England.