into a territorial government, and William C. C. Claiborne was appointed by the President the Governor and Intendant General. In 1811, Louisiana was admitted into the Union.*

"ART. 3. It is agreed that the dollar of the United States, specified in the present convention, shall be fixed at five francs 3335 or five livres eight sous tournois.

100009

Convention

* We have found in a "Collection of Reports on Navigation and Trade," (London 1807), a letter of a British officer, written in '94 concerning Louisiana. As it illustrates the importance of this province, (with which the English appear to have been well acquainted,) we shall make a few extracts from the letter:

"A Letter from an Officer of Rank in the Army, to one of his Majesty's Ministers of State respecting Louisiana.

"C-Street, May 21, 1794.

"What I allude to, sir, is this; that on a peace and general arrangement of the present extensive troubles, the cession of the island of New Orleans, with all, or a part of, West Florida, and as much of the territory bordering on the Mississippi as should be judged necessary, might be obtained by this country from the court of Spain; in which event the above-mentioned advantages would consequently follow.

"In the present state of that country, all the West India islands could be plentifully supplied from the Mississippi with every species of lumber, at cheaper price."

"That country would also, in a little time, be able to supply the West Indies with abundance of many articles of provisions."

"When it is considered, that from the furthest distance up the Missouri river, whither our Indian traders from Canada at present resort, to the mouth of the Mississippi, (an extent of above three thousand miles,) there is an unfathomable and uninterrupted channel; and that both the banks are of a fertility surpassing the most exaggerated accounts of those of the Nile, and capable of yielding every production of both hemispheres; and when we further reflect on the many great rivers which discharge themselves into the Mississippi, particularly the Ohio, which is of itself navigable above twelve hundred miles, with several others falling into it, little less in appearance than the Ohio itself; and the neighbouring soil and climate offering every induce

Convention 3.-" ART. 1. The debts due by France to citizens of the United States, contracted before the 8th of Vendemiaire, ninth year of the French republic, (30th September 1800,) shall be paid according to the following regulations, with interest at six per cent. to commence from the periods when the accounts and vouchers were presented to the French government.

"ART. 2. The debts provided for by the preceding article are those whose result is comprised in the conjectural note annexed to the present convention, and which, with the interest, cannot exceed the sum of twenty millions of francs. The claims comprised in the said note which fall within the exceptions of the following articles, shall not be admitted to the benefit of this provision.

"ART. 3. The principal and interest of the said debts shall be discharged by the United States, by orders drawn by their minister plenipotentiary on their treasury; these orders shall be payable sixty days after the exchange of ratifications of the treaty and the conventions signed this day, and after possession shall be given of Louisiana by the commissioners of France to those of the United States.

"ART. 4. It is expressly agreed, that the preceding articles shall comprehend no debts but such as are due to citizens of the United States, who have been and are yet creditors of France, for supplies, for embargoes, and prizes made at sea, in which the appeal has been properly lodged within the time mentioned in the said convention of the 8th Vendemiaire, ninth year, (30th September, 1800.)

"ART. 5.

ment to come and settle there, with no channel, as I have already observed, to export the produce by, except the Mississippi ;-I say, sir, when all those circumstances are considered, there can hardly be a calculation formed of the shipping that will be necessary, in some short time hence, for the transport of the immense productions that will be sent down that river."

"Should the Americans thus once firmly possess themselves of that colony, it will be very difficult to dislodge them; and from the time they establish a footing in any port in the Gulph of Florida, the intercourse between the European nations and the West Indies will be very insecure indeed.”

"ART. 5. Specification as to what cases the articles relative to the payment of debts due to citizens of the United States are to apply.

"ART. 6. Ministers plenipotentiary of the United States to appoint three commissioners, to act provisionally.

"ART. 7. The three commissioners to examine the claims piepared for verification, and to certify those which ought to be admitted.

"ART. 8. And to examine those claims not prepared for liquidation, and to certify such as ought to be liquidated.

"ART. 9. Debts, when admitted, to be discharged at the treasury of the United States with interest. The commercial agent of the United States at Paris, or some other agent, to be nominated by the minister of the United States at Paris, to assist in the examination of claims."

"ART. 12. Claims for debts contracted by the French government since 30th September, 1800, may be pursued, and the payment demanded, as if this convention had not been made."

CHAPTER V.

CONTINENTAL SYSTEM.

Livingston Minister in France-Turreau and Serrurier in this country-America very prosperous-Berlin Decree-Great calamityBeginning of Continental System-All Continent, except Turkey, in the League-America only neutral-Milan Decree-Canton, in China, only port not blockaded-Embargo-Bayonne and Rambouillet Decrees-Cause of War against France-Repeal of French Decrees-England refused to acknowledge the validity of the actAntedated Decree-French Spoliations-No indemnity-Angry correspondence with France.

NOTWITHSTANDING the vexations to which the American trade was exposed, in the West India seas, during the years 1804 and 5, the country was in a condition of great and increasing prosperity, and of perfect security, while Europe was bleeding at every pore.* But the eagerness and success, with which

* James A. Bayard, of Delaware, was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to France, in February, 1801. In June of the same year, Robert R. Livingston, of New-York, was appointed to the same court, with the same rank. The generals Turreau and Serrurier were the . ministers of France, in this country, from 1804 to the war with England. Mr. Turreau published, in 1815, in Paris, a pamphlet, with this title, “Aperçu, sur la situation politique des Etats Unis d'Amérique.” It is a very unfavourable account of the political institutions of this

America drove her commerce, was soon disturbed, by a most extraordinary system of maritime legislation. The devastation, which had hitherto preyed upon the continent, extended itself to the ocean; and the ports of one of the most extensive empires in the world, were declared in rigorous blockade, by a nation, that had not a single armed vessel afloat. The decree, to which we allude, is a short one; it was issued immediately after the fatal and decisive victory of Jena.

"Imperial Camp, Berlin, November 21, 1806. Napoleon, Emperor of the French, and King of Italy, considering, &c. decrees :"Article 1. The British islands are in a state of blockade.

"2. All commerce and correspondence with them is prohibited. Consequently, all letters, or packets, written in England, or to an Englishman, written in the English language, shall not be dispatched from the post-offices, and shall be seized.

"3. Every individual, a subject of Great Britain, of whatever rank or condition, who is found in countries, occupied by our troops, or those of our allies, shall be made prisoner of war.

4. Every ware-house, all merchandize, or property, whatever, belonging to an Englishman, are declared good prize.

"5. One half of the proceeds of merchandize, declared to be good prize, and forfeited, as in the preceding articles, shall go to indemnify merchants, who have suffered losses by the English cruisers.

"6. No vessel, coming directly from England, or her colonies, or having been there since the publication of this decree, shall be admitted into any port.

"7. Every vessel, that, by a false declaration, contravenes the foregoing disposition, shall be seized, and the ship and cargo confiscated, as English property.

country, which, he thinks, cannot be permanent. Mr. Bayard did not accept the appointment. The French government had no minister in this country; but L. A. Pichon, (the individual already mentioned as having been at the Hague) was the Chargé, from March, 1801, to September, 1804, the period of the arrival of General Turreau, who had, however, been appointed in the preceding December, after the treaty of Louisiana. John Armstrong, of New-York, succeeded Mr. Livingston, in 1804.