18 University of Caifornia Pubications in History

 Meanwhile Onis was trying to deal with Smith through Juan
Bautista de Bernabeu, Spanish consul at Baltimore, who conveyed
messages on numerous occasions, until his departure for Spain in
1815."
 The suggestion had been made, indirectly through a private
citizen, that Onis might be admitted if he brought credentials from
Mexico. The Spaniard would consider no such idea, and in com-
menting on it to his own government gave Madison this flourish:
"The character of Madison is entirely indecisive and pusillani-
mous. He is completely given over to France." Although, because
of the recent seizure of three hundred United States ships by the
French, public opinion favored war with France, he stated that
"this government has not the determination to declare war on
France, nor on England.'"
 Bernabeu finally obtained an interview with Smith, in Septem-
ber, 1810, in which the latter repeated assurances that Onis would
be admitted in the event of a Spanish reconquest of the Peninsula.
He added that "a better and a more honest man was never sent out
by any nation.... Sefior Onis is truly respectable by all signs, and
we all desire as much as you his recognition, regretting that our
neutral position has served as an obstacle to it.""
 Within a few days Onie found a more convenient channel of
communication through Alexander J. Dallas, United States district
attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, with whom
numerous conferences were held. Of him Onis said, "Mr. Dallas
is like all those of the Democratic party, but is a fine man, of much
talent and admitted in the society of the Federalists. I was already
on friendly terms with him.""
 This lasted for only a few months, because in March of 1811
 Smith was removed. He was succeeded by James Monroe, who held
 the office continuously from then until his inauguration to the
 presidency in 1817. Monroe's appointment brought a change in
 the communication system. To supplement Bernabeu, Onis called
 on Pablo Chac6n, vice-consul at Alexandria, Virginia. The des-
 patches are full of copies of Bernabeu's and Chae6n's detailed ac-
 counts of their conferences with Monroe.
 A blow was thought to have been dealt to Onis' chances for rec-
 ognition early in 1811, when one of his letters to another Spanish
 official was intercepted by revolutionary agents. Upon its receipt