76 University of California Publications in History


making war, in effect, on Spain, under the guise of scrupulous neu-
trality, by supporting the insurgent colonies of Spanish America.
 Erving, according to the Bosquejo, came with full powers, but
with a menacing tone, and with unjust demands. Onis, at the same
time, had reported that the United States desired a boundary run-
ning up the Rio Grande to the Thirty-first Parallel, and thence
westward to the sea (though such a boundary determination could
not have been based on official communications from the govern-
ment at Washington).
 The best policy--so it had been decided when this sketch was
written-would be to prolong the negotiation and to seek the aid
of some respectable Power. Russia was favored. That nation was
chosen because of her "direct interest" in seeing that the Spanish
colonies were not freed, since, if they should be, the La Plata coun-
try about Buenos Aires would undoubtedly take away Russia's
trade in hides and tallow. It was also suggested that a territorial
cession in the Floridas might be made to Russia, to recompense her
for her aid and to provide a buffer against the United States. Rus-
sia, as will be seen later, declined to aid Spain.
 Finally, the assertion was made in the Bosquejo that it was
"urgent to keep the negotiation away from a diplomat as astute
and turbulent as Erving," with the recommendation that Onis
should negotiate the treaty.
 Onis was still fretting in Washington under the limited author-
ity given him by Cevallos to make concessions to the United States.
He was desperately afraid that if a settlement were not reached
shortly this country would seize the Floridas and Texas, and would
openly aid the revolting colonies. That the Spanish government also
feared the latter eventuality is evident in the sketch quoted above
outlining relations with the United States, on the success of which
"depends in great part the fortune of our ultramarine colonies."
 MONBOE's LAST EFFORT AND NEW SPANISH PROPosALS
Although Pizarro promised to send Onis further instructions at
various times, none regarding the major issues at stake appears to
have been sent until August, 1817, and no comprehensive set of
instructions was forthcoming until November of that year. In the
interim the minister to the United States was able to accomplish
almost nothing.