How we cite our quotes: (Document.Article.Sentence)
Quote #1
The President of the United States of America and the First Consul of the French Republic in the name of the French People desiring to remove all Source of misunderstanding relative to objects of discussion mentioned in the Second and fifth articles of the Convention of the 8th Vendémiaire an 9/30 September 1800 relative to the rights claimed by the United States in virtue of the Treaty concluded at Madrid the 27 of October 1795, between His Catholic Majesty & the Said United States, & willing to Strengthen the union and friendship which at the time of the Said Convention was happily reestablished between the two nations have respectively named their Plenipotentiaries to wit The President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate of the Said States; Robert R. Livingston Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States and James Monroe Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy extraordinary of the Said States near the Government of the French Republic; And the First Consul in the name of the French people, Citizen Francis Barbé Marbois Minister of the public treasury who after having respectively exchanged their full powers have agreed to the following Articles. (T.0)
It's hard not to have a few misunderstandings when the parties involved in something speak totally different languages and are coming from totally different countries and perspectives. But, hey, any effort made to clear up those misunderstandings and improve communication between friends? We're all for it. We vote aye. Or oui, as the case may be.
Quote #2
As it is reciprocally advantageous to the commerce of France and the United States to encourage the communication of both nations for a limited time in the country ceded by the present treaty until general arrangements relative to commerce of both nations may be agreed on; it has been agreed between the contracting parties that the French Ships coming directly from France or any of her colonies loaded only with the produce and manufactures of France or her Said Colonies; and the Ships of Spain coming directly from Spain or any of her colonies loaded only with the produce or manufactures of Spain or her Colonies shall be admitted during the Space of twelve years in the Port of New-Orleans and in all other legal ports-of-entry within the ceded territory in the Same manner as the Ships of the United States coming directly from France or Spain or any of their Colonies without being Subject to any other or greater duty on merchandize or other or greater tonnage than that paid by the citizens of the United States. (T.7.1)
France might be selling Louisiana to the Yanks, but both nations are going to continue to communicate about the area for a while yet. And in this case, when we say "communicate," we're not talking about speaking French or English. This kind of communication is all about the language of commerce: money, money, money. And everyone speaks it.
Quote #3
The particular Convention Signed this day by the respective Ministers, having for its object to provide for the payment of debts due to the Citizens of the United States by the French Republic prior to the 30th Sept. 1800 (8th Vendémiaire an 9) is approved and to have its execution in the Same manner as if it had been inserted in this present treaty, and it Shall be ratified in the same form and in the Same time So that the one Shall not be ratified distinct from the other. (T.9.1)
This sentence provides one example of something we see elsewhere in the documents: the use of both the Gregorian date (i.e., the calendar the world knows and loves) and the French Revolutionary Calendar date (i.e., the remnants of a brief but failed experiment in changing the meaning of time). It's a nice nod to the differing rules that governed each nation—and to the weird but pretty names the French had given their new months. Vendémiaire? Love it.