History of the United States of America, Volume 1 (of 9) : $b During the first administration of Thomas JeffersonAdams, Henry
History
History of the United States of America, Volume 1 (of 9) : $b During the first administration of Thomas Jefferson
Adams, Henry
United States -- History -- 1801-1809; United States -- History -- 1809-1817
Thus at last the bargain was put in shape. The French government
held out the hope of giving Tuscany as the equivalent for Louisiana
and six seventy-fours. If not Tuscany, the three legations, or their
equivalent, were stipulated. The suggestion of Tuscany delighted
the King and Queen. Thus far the secret was confined to the parties
directly interested; but after the principle had been fixed, another
person was intrusted with it. The Prince of Peace was suddenly called
to the Palace by a message marked “luego, luego, luego!”--the sign of
triple haste.[107] He found Don Carlos in a paroxysm of excitement; joy
sparkled in his eyes. “Congratulate me,” he cried, “on this brilliant
beginning of Bonaparte’s relations with Spain! The Prince-presumptive
of Parma, my son-in-law and nephew, a Bourbon, is invited by France
to reign, on the delightful banks of the Arno, over a people who
once spread their commerce through the known world, and who were
the controlling power of Italy,--a people mild, civilized, full of
humanity; the classical land of science and art!” The Prince of Peace
could only offer congratulations; his opinion was asked without being
followed, and a few days later the treaty was signed.[108]
On the last day of September, 1800, Joseph Bonaparte signed the
so-called Treaty of Morfontaine, which restored relations between
France and the United States. The next day, October 1, Berthier signed
at San Ildefonso the treaty of retrocession, which was equivalent to
a rupture of the relations established four-and-twenty hours earlier.
Talleyrand was aware that one of these treaties undid the work of the
other. The secrecy in which he enveloped the treaty of retrocession,
and the pertinacity with which he denied its existence showed his
belief that Bonaparte had won a double diplomatic triumph over the
United States.
Moreau’s great victory at Hohenlinden, December 3, next brought Austria
to her knees. Joseph Bonaparte was sent to Lunéville in Lorraine,
and in a few weeks negotiated the treaty which advanced another step
the cession of Louisiana. The fifth article of this treaty, signed
Feb. 9, 1801, deprived the actual Grand Duke of his Grand Duchy, and
established the young Duke of Parma in Tuscany. To complete the
transaction, Lucien Bonaparte was sent as ambassador to Madrid.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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