Brooks: Diplomacy and the Borderlands 91

dangers inherent in the United States' projected seizure of Amelia
and Galveston islands, and in Spain's lack of fortification of her
frontiers. He mentioned the possibility of a cession of the Spanish
part of Santo Domingo to the United States, a detail which had
been discussed at Madrid. Onfs thought that that concession would
not be sufficient to persuade the United States to accept the Missis-
sippi liver as the limit, and that it would too greatly endanger the
island of Cuba. Its one advantage lay in the possibility that it
might arouse England to active interest in the affair because of
her own Caribbean ambitions.
 Onis knew by now that there was a possibility that the United
 States might seize East Florida, a move suggested by the threats
 to quell Seminole Indian disturbances; also that the republic might
 recognize the La Plata provinces. He told Pizarro that in either
 eventuality he would withdraw, leaving only Noeli in Washington
 as charge. -
 The Spanish minister followed up his conversation by letters to
 Adams, the first one presenting in detail the arguments for the
 Spanish title to West Florida, the second doing the same for
 Texas, the third dealing with the various claims of the United
 States against Spain, and the fourth protesting the finally effected
 United States occupation of Amelia Island." In regard to claims,
 Onis admitted that the elainim for damages by Spanish ships should
 be adjudicated, but minimized the damages suffered from the sus-
 pension of the right of deposit at New Orleans. He declared that
 Spain's only obligation with respect to damages by French cruisers
 was to use her good offices in helping the United States collect from
 France.
 For some days Onis received no replies to these notes. But they
 were days not without interesting developments. On January 5
 he reported receipt of word of a mutiny among the few Spanish
 troops at Pensacola, weakening its defense to such a degree that
 the commander was requesting fresh troops." At the same time news
 came that the officials of the province of West Florida were dis-
 turbed by the settlement on the Alabama River of about a thousand
 persons led by French Bonapartist generals. Furthermore, reports
 were received that General Jackson had been authorized to take in
 hand the Seminole Indian troubles, giving the Spanish grounds
 to fear the seizure of both Floridas. Adding to the despair of Onis,