98 University of California Publications in History

Serving's error was not in accusing Onfs of using a subterfuge,
which the latter undoubtedly employed, but in assuming the ac-
curacy of the court's knowledge. As has been stated, Heredia and
Pizarro in the summer of 1817 did confuse the Red and the Colo-
rado.
 In spite of Adams' statement that "we know of no maps which
call the Red River of Natehitoches the Colorado,"" there was real
reason for confusion in the documents employed in the negotiation.
The Pichardo map, while employing the term "Roxo" for what we
know as the Red, did not use the name "Colorado" at all, calling
the river of that name in western Texas the "Segundo Brazo de
Dies.'" Professor Hackett points out that the padre was confused
on the terminology of several Texas rivers. His failure to use the
term "Colorado" might easily have caused the Spaniards to apply
that name, on hearing it, to the river at Natchitoches, the names of
the two being sometimes interchangeable in meaning. The French
maps called the river at Natchitoches the "Rouge," a name which
might easily have been translated "Colorado" instead of "Roxo.""
The Melish map, used in the State Department at Washington,
employed the terms as we now use them." But the one prepared by
Zebulon Pike, and published at Philadelphia in 1810, calls both
rivers by the disputed term, the eastern of the two being labeled
"Rio Colorado de Natchitoches.'m This might easily have repre-
sented current usage in Texas, from where Pike had just returned.
 The uncertainty was removed, however, by the conversations
and despatches, and for the first time the two countries began
really to understand each other's views and determinations. Onis
was not authorized to agree upon the Colorado River of the Bay
of St. Bernard as the limit until the final stages of the negotiation.
 While Onis awaited further instructions (the note bringing
them was passing en route his despatch requesting them), further
disturbing circumstances lowered his hopes of success. Chief among
them were the famous Meade case, the increasing trouble over the
Spanish American insurgents, and menacing developments in the
Floridas.
 Richard W. Meade was a citizen of the United States who had
been a merchant in Cadiz since 1803. Becoming involved in 1816
in a lawsuit over a matter of some fifty thousand dollars, he had
been peremptorily imprisoned by the Spanish authorities.