The text states on page 3 that the Batture is left dry nine months in the year. Jefferson has underlined the word nine , and written in the margin only six .

Attributed to Louis Casimir Elisabeth Moreau de Lislet, 1767-1832, a Louisiana jurist and politician. Moreau de Lislet was a native of San Domingo and educated in France. He came to New Orleans in his thirties, and was associated with Edward Livingston and Derbigny in a number of legal matters, including the publication of a revised Civil code of the State of Louisiana.

Bound for Jefferson in tree calf, sprinkled edges, marbled endpapers by Milligan in 1809. This volume forms the first of two of which the Contents are listed by Jefferson at the end of the second, and was originally lettered on the back: Batture 1808. Labels have been added by the Library of Congress lettered: Miscellaneous / Pamphlets. / 528. Many leaves cut into, some with damage to the text and to Jefferson’s annotations. With the Library of Congress 1815 bookplate.

The contents of the volume are as follows:

i. Sig. 1-12 ⁴, 13 ², pages [I]-L, 1-50. Includes Livingston’s Address, dated from New-Orleans, 21st October, 1808, and the Report, John Gravier vs. The Mayor, Alderman, [ sic -- Ed. ] and Inhabitants of the City of New-Orleans . This Report has continuous signatures and separate pagination.

Several annotations in ink by Jefferson occur, one of which has been cut away.

Page XI, to Mr. Livingston’s statement that he paid “a considerable sum on the purchase” of the land he bought from Mr. Gravier, and others, Jefferson has added in the margin: he never paid a copper but by law services.

Page XVII, to Livingston’s statement that on his asking the President [i.e. Jefferson] whether his property could be restored, “His answer was the same as that transmitted through the secretary of state, that the matter was submitted to congress, and that he could do nothing until they should decide” Jefferson’s footnote reads: the message of Mar. 7. had transferred further proceedings from the Executive to Congress, who alone were compete[ nt] to the decision.

The President’s message of March 7 mentioned above is given in full on the next leaf. A fair copy in Jefferson’s hand is in the Jefferson Papers in the Library of Congress.

Page XX, Livingston makes reference to a bill ceding the right of the United States in certain lands to the city of New-Orleans, which was “advocated by the particular adherents of the president in the house.” Jefferson’s comment reads: the President had no particular adherents meddling in the case, nor took any part in it.

Page XXII, Livingston writes: “For as I shall shew, the president industriously conceals the unconstitutional features of this transaction, in the tardy message which he sends to congress on the 7th of March; although his mandate bears date the 30th of November”. Jefferson’s comment: the message was sent within 6. days after information was recieved of the removal of E. L.

Page XXVI. Livingston doubts that the attorney general has seen the documents. Jefferson’s comment: all this stuff about the Att( ^~y ) Gen’s opinion is false. the whole cabinet was consulted & concurred, & every paper was placed before them.

ii. Sig. A, pages 1-15. Correspondence. 9 numbered letters of which no. 1 is a Note to Mr. Jefferson from Livingston, and no. 2 is Jefferson’s reply.

The originals (no. 2 in polygraph copy) of these two notes are in the Jefferson Papers in the Library of Congress. The printed version of Livingston’s Note