154 University of California Publications in History

on the Pacific to maintain it; and that at the time he could count
on only one brigantine, and that in bad condition." Onts mean-
while had decided that it was too late to head off the ambitions of
the United States in that vicinity.
 IBUJo TAKs THE REIN
In the meantime, the apparent failure of Pizarro's negotiations
with Erving and the collapse of Garay's financial reorganization,
combined with court intrigue, caused the peremptory dismissal of
the two ministers. Tatistcheff, who had turned against them, seems
to have contributed to their downfall, which culminated in their
banishment from the capital. On the day of their removal from
office, September 14, 1818, the Marquis of Casa Irujo was ap-
pointed to succeed Pizarro. This was the same man who had had
such a checkered career as minister to the United States in Jeffer-
son's administration. He had once before been named secretario
de estado, in 1812, but could not fill the post because he happened
to be in Philadelphia at the time.
 Erving's comments on the banishment of Pizarro reveal the high
 esteem in which that minister was held by foreign observers:
 ... the dismisal of Mr. Pizarro ... must needs weaken very much the con-
 fidence of foreign cabinets in this, it will be seen that no minister however
 estimable is certain of his place for a day ... The intelligence and good
 mene,-the moderate and conciliatory temper, and the honor and good faith
 of Mr. Pisarro recommended him to every one;-no spanish Minister of late
 years has done so much to repair the disordered state of affairs as he has
 done, and none has received more marks of the satisfaction of the foreign
 Cabinets with whom he has treated."
 At the same time he said of the new official:
 I expect no good from him in our affairs, and shall be very happy if I can
 only keep him from undoing whatever Mr. Pizarro has done favorable to an
 amicable adjustment of them.
 Erving himself was replaced the following spring by John For-
 syth, but before he left he had carried his feeling of antagonism
 toward Irujo to such an extreme that the latter returned one of
 his notes as too insulting to be received. The United States minister
 charged, and apparently with good reason, that Irujo did nothing
 except follow Pizarro's plan in regard to the negotiations at Wash-
 ington. At least he did not "undo" that plan. He rather carried it