148 University of California Publications in History


 Two projects which were already under way were consummated,
however. The ratifications of the Claims Convention of 1802 were
exchanged on December 21, 1818; and the restoration of the Flor-
idas to Spain was finally effected on February 8, 1819, two weeks
before the signing of the treaty."
 Inasmuch as there was to be a change of ministry in Spain be-
fore the resumption of negotiations, it is interesting to note what
had been accomplished during Pizarro's regime. The cession of the
Floridas had been taken for granted. Although a definite agree-
ment had not been formulated, the suggestion of Onis that Janu-
ary 24, 1818, be the date for determining the validity of land
grants proved to be the plan adopted. The restoration of the
Floridas had been ordered. Although the Convention of 1802 pro-
vided for the withholding of the claims for spoliation by French
cruisers in Spanish ports, Adams' ultimatum of October 31 had
proposed the decision which was finally reached, namely, that the
United States should renounce those claims, leaving to Spain the
privilege of trying to collect them from France. Adams had also
stipulated to what amount the United States would assume the
claims of its own citizens against Spain for other damages (Onis
was to protest this point and to argue over its phrasing, but to no
avail). A statement of the extent to which the maritime provisions
of Pinckney's Treaty should remain in force likewise had been
agreed upon.
 Although discussion of some of these points did recur inter-
mittently, the western boundary remained as the only important
question on which the ultimate agreement had not been essentially
conceded. In regard to that, the Sabine, already the effective line
on the frontier, had been mentioned in the latest proposals of both
parties. The rest of the delineation was highly conjectural. Onis
did find one other difficulty, that of strengthening the neutrality
laws of the United States. His demands on that point had been
refused, and they continued to be consistently rejected.
 ADAMS DEFEND JACKSON
Adams, who had received word from Erving that negotiations had
ceased at Madrid three months before, set out to answer the com-
plaints that had stopped them. Pizarro not only had demanded the
restitution of the Florida posts, but had asked indemnity for prop-