only chance of retaining Florida was to conciliate Bonaparte; and Pinckney, who knew that the French ambassador at Madrid had been instructed to support Monroe in negotiating for Florida, counted on the same aid in order to maintain a threatening attitude. The result was soon seen. Pinckney, disturbed by the news of Yrujo's protest against the sale of Louisiana, turned to the French ambassador for advice.[1] Beurnonville accordingly wrote to Talleyrand for instructions; but Talleyrand had already sent to the Spanish embassy at Paris a note of sharp remonstrance against the protest.[2] Beurnonville, learning this, asked the Prince of Peace for explanations; and Godoy hastened to assure him that Bonaparte might be at ease on this score, for orders had been sent to New Orleans to surrender the province without opposition, and already Yrujo had been instructed to change his tone at Washington.[3] Soon afterward Cevallos formally notified Pinckney that the King renounced his opposition to the cession of Louisiana.[4] In due time Yrujo sent to the State Department a formal note to the same effect.[5]
At the cost of recognizing the Louisiana cession,
- ↑ Beurnonville to Talleyrand, 18 Nivôse, An xii. (Jan. 9, 1804); Archives des Aff. Étr., MSS.
- ↑ Talleyrand to D'Hervas, 12 Nivôse, An xii. (Jan. 3, 1804); Archives des Aff. Étr., MSS.
- ↑ Beurnonville to Talleyrand, 21 Nivôse, An. xii. (Jan. 12, 1804); Archives des Aff. Étr., MSS.
- ↑ Cevallos to Pinckney, Feb. 10, 1804; State Papers, ii. 583.
- ↑ Yrujo to Madison, May 15, 1804; State Papers, ii. 583.
