University of Virginia Library

TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

On my return from Virginia after an absence of two
Months, I found here your letter of July 30th. Those of May
10, 12, 20, 28 June 8th & July 3d had been previously
received.

The zeal and energy with which you are urging on the

French Government a fair construction and fulfilment of the
Convention, and a discharge of all our just demands, render
it unnecessary to repeat to you our anxiety that the example
of good faith given by the United States should not remain
without a satisfactory reciprocity. The precise tone in your
communications most likely to favor this result, can best be
decided by your own judgment.

In a general view, the sounded policy evidently prescribes
one, that will cherish whatever good will or confidence may
be felt towards the United States, and that will charge on that
side the blame of any failure in the pursuit of our objects.
It must be left to your own decision also how far a direct resort
to the Head of the Government may promise [more] success
than the ordinary channels of communicating with him. The
delays and obstacles met with in the latter recommend the
experiment, if there be no objections to it drawn from usage
or other considerations not perceived at this distance. The
experiment, which will of course be made with as little danger
as possible of needless umbrage to the intermediate Organ,
may at least lead to a knowledge of the ground finally
meant to be taken by the Chief Consul; and to which the
further instructions of the President must be accommodated.

The suspense which has taken place in relation to Louisiana
and the Floridas, is favorable to the efforts for diverting the
French Government from its unwise project. Whether we
regard the sentiments prevailing in this Country on the
subject, or the striking tendencies of the project itself, no
pains ought to be spared for putting an end to it. If the
occasion can be so improved as to obtain for the United
States, on convenient terms, New Orleans and Florida, the
happiest of issues will be given to one of the most perplexing
of occurrences. I postpone more particular remarks on this
subject, until the President shall know the impressions on the
French Councils, resulting from the views of it to which you
will be led by the dispatches of which Mr. Dupont was the
bearer.

The answer to your note on the case of Capt. Rodgers and
Davidson, is by no means such as there was a right to expect.
Genl. Le Clerc having himself stated the reasons on which he
proceeded, other and better reasons could not be presumed;
and it seems impossible not to regard his reasons rather as an
insult than a justification. My letter of July 6 will renew this
subject: and it is to be hoped that a reconsideration by the
French Government will do more justice to it.[150] * * *