In Paris, France, U.S. Minister Robert Livingston explains to Secretary of State James Madison his strategy to convince France to cede territory in West Florida and Louisiana. In Washington City, President Jefferson advances fifteen dollars to Meriwether Lewis.
A Map of North America (1803, detail)
by John Luffman (1756–1846)
28 x 35 cm.[1]Luffman, J. A map of North America ; Outline of North America, in correspond to the map. [S.l, 1803] Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/99446111.
Livingston’s Strategy
PARIS 18 Feby. 1803
Dear Sir
. . . . .
I have first endeavoured to Shew how little advantage France is like to make from these [Louisiana] Colonies . . . . I have dwelt upon the importance of a friendly intercourse between them & us both as it respects their Commerce & the Security of their Islands, & I have proposed to them the relinquishment of New Orleans and West Florida . . . under an idea that it was necessary to interpose us between them and Canada as the only means of preventing an attack from that quarter. I did not speak of East Florida because I found they consider the navigation of the gulph as very important. For this I proposed an indefinite Sum not wishing to mention any till I Should receive Your instructions—
I am Dear Sir with the most respectful consideration Your Most Obt hum. Servt.
Robt. R Livingston[2]Robert R. Livingston to James Madison, Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/02-04-02-0405 accessed 20 May 2022. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison, … Continue reading
Lewis’s Advance
1803
Feb 18. Advanced Capt. Lewis 15.D.[3]“Memorandum Books, 1803,” Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/02-02-02-0013 accessed 15 May 2022. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas … Continue reading
Notes
| ↑1 | Luffman, J. A map of North America ; Outline of North America, in correspond to the map. [S.l, 1803] Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/99446111. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Robert R. Livingston to James Madison, Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/02-04-02-0405 accessed 20 May 2022. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison, Secretary of State Series, vol. 4, 8 October 1802–15 May 1803, ed. Mary A. Hackett, J. C. A. Stagg, Jeanne Kerr Cross, Susan Holbrook Perdue, and Ellen J. Barber. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1998, pp. 328–333.]. Encoded by Livingston’s secretary and decoded by the authors. |
| ↑3 | “Memorandum Books, 1803,” Founders Online, National Archives, founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/02-02-02-0013 accessed 15 May 2022. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Second Series, Jefferson’s Memorandum Books, vol. 2, ed. James A Bear, Jr. and Lucia C. Stanton. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1997, pp. 1089–1117.] |
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