1954. CUBA, Spain, Bonaparte and.—I
suppose the conquest of Spain will soon force
a delicate question on you as to the Floridas
and Cuba, which will offer themselves to you.
Napoleon will certainly give his consent without
difficulty to our receiving the Floridas,
and with some difficulty possibly Cuba. And
though he will disregard the obligation whenever
he thinks he can break it with success,
yet it has a great effect on the opinion of
our people and the world to have the moral
right on our side, of his agreement as well as
that of the people of those countries.—
To President Madison. Washington ed. v, 442.
Ford ed., ix, 251.
(M.
April. 1809)
