From Sa11 Lorenzo to Retrocession of Louisiana, 1795-1801
229
made the prospects of peace with England almost a certainty. The First Consul had begun to think of an oversea empire. The former province of Louisiana loomed large in his dreams. He now proceeded to persuade Spain to return it to France. Godoy, Prince of the Peace, was the real ruler of Spain at this time through the absolute power he had come to exercise o,·er the infatuated queen, who, in turn, completely dominated the spineless Charles IV, sitting stupidly upon the throne of his dis- tinguished ancestors. Holding out a tempting territorial compensation at the expense of Italy, and arguing that Louisiana in the possession oi France would become an impenetrable buffer to protect the Kingdom of New Spain, Napoleon had little difficulty in securing his wish. General Alexander Berthier had succeeded as early as October 1, 1800. in negotiating the secret treaty desired by the First Consul. According to the agreement signed at San Ildefonso by Mariano Luis Urquijo for Spain, His Catholic Majesty bound himself to return to France the Province of Louisiana "with the same extent which it has at present in the hands of Spain, and which it had when France possessed it, and such as it should be since the treaties negotiated subsequently between Spain and other States." The retrocession, however, was not to be carried into effect until "six months after the full execution of the conditions and stipulations" concerning the Duke of Parma. These conditions and stipulations dealt with the aid which France bound itself to give Spain in enlarging the dominions of the Duke of Parma in Etruria. and in raising him to the dignity of king. The reason for secrecy was the effect which the French feared the retrocession of this valuable province would have upon the English negotiations then in progress. On March 21, 1801, Lucien Bonaparte, brother of the First Consul. signed a new treaty at Madrid, confirming the agreement made at San Ildefonso, by which France again bound itself to bestow the Duchy of Tuscany on the Duke of Parma. But it was not until October 15, 1802, that Charles IV finally approved the treaty of San Ildefonso, after adding a very significant amendment which was to be shamelessly ignored by Napoleon within six months. He stipulated that: "France must pledge herself not to alienate Louisiana, and to restore it to Spain in case the king of Etruria should lose his power."u The peace between France and England was at last concluded at Amiens on March 25, 1802. Napoleon immediately prepared to take 51 Fortier, Histor,y of Loui.siana, II, I 78, 320-332. In the Appendix to this volume the full French text of the Treaty of San Ildefonso is reproduced.
Powered by FlippingBook