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Contemporary copy of a letter sent by James Monroe regarding the Louisiana Purchase, headed "Copy of a letter from Mr. Monroe to Mr. Barlow," four pages on two adjoining sheets, 8 x 10, August 21, 1803. During the uncertain months prior to the ratification of the Louisiana Purchase treaty, Monroe informs Joel Barlow of plans for a $2,000,000 advance payment—jointly controlled with Robert Livingston—to reassure the French government of America’s good faith and prevent Napoleon from repudiating the deal, which had been signed but not yet approved by Congress. Monroe instructs Barlow to deliver sensitive letters with utmost discretion to Livingston and French negotiator François Barbé-Marbois, emphasizing that the United States must not appear to be “trifling” with France.
In part: "I commit to your care a letter to Mr. Livingston containing an act of our government subjecting to his & my joint disposition a certain sum of money to be appropriated to our late treaty with France: also an instrument signed by me to make the appropriation of that money to that object, with a letter to him on the subject. I also commit to your care a letter to Mr. Marbois…in which I inform him that Mr. Livingston's & my power is joint; that I have executed an instrument for the proposed object & inclosed it to Mr. Livingston, on obtaining whose signature the act is complete…I then add to Mr. Marbois that…the consul will find in this procedure a convincing proof of the fair intentions of our gov't to execute the treaty with promptitude & fidelity…that I am persuaded he will feel the disposition to make a declaration of like confidence in our government…I wish the letters to Mr. Marbois & Mr. Livingston to be delivered immediately…It ought not to be suspected that we are trifling with the Go't of France, or gaining time by an idle correspondence." In fine condition.
