164 University of California Publications in History

situated to the Eastward of the Mississippi, known by the name of
East and West Florida" (Art. 2). A comma after the word "terri-
tories" would have changed the whole sense by making the follow-
ing clause a positive declaration. As it stands, the United States

[Tranulatoi of the depateh of Ona of february 22, 1819, in A.E.N., 5645.]
 Most Excellent Sir.
Duplicate
No. 32.
 My dear Sir: I have just this moment signed the definitive treaty con-
 eluded between His Majesty and this Bepublie designed to end all the
 difference between the two governments which have been pending for
 eighteen years. It was transmitted to the Senate at once for their ap-
 proval, and au soon a this is received I will send it to Your Excelleney by
 memenger on the frst ship available.
 I renew my respects to Your Excellency and pray God to guard your life
 many years. Washington 22 of February of 1819.
 Most Excellent Sir
 I kiss the hand of Your Excelleney
 your most attentive servant
 Lub de Onie
 Hs Excellency the Marquis of Cam Irujo

could interpret it as meaning that the only portion of West Florida
which belonged to His Catholic Majesty was that east of the Per-
dido and the Apalachicola, never claimed as a part of Louisiana.
Spain could consider it as a cession of the whole region west to the
Mississippi, in the conviction that it was all legally Spanish until
then. Adams wanted the statement to be concise and believed that
a more specific explanation was unnecessary. Onis, on the other
hand, had promised his government to avoid a specific recognition
in the treaty of the United States' claims to West Florida west of
the Perdido."
 It was agreed that the document should be signed on the follow-
 ing Monday, Washington's birthday. In the interim Adams' metic-
 ulous care in diplomatic form was revealed in the arguments over
 wording. The difficulties were finally settled, however, and on the
 appointed day Onis and Adams put their signatures to the treaty,
 thus ending the many years of demanding, waiting, threatening,
 and bargaining." By its terms the United States received the Flor-
 idas, rounding out its domain east of the Mississippi; Spain was