Brooks: Diplomacy and the Borderlands 185
Should the Spanish ratification not arrive by the opening of Con-
gress, the President would explain the whole matter to that body,
holding Spain responsible for damages resulting from the delay
and leaving Congress to authorize whatever action it saw fit.
 Forsyth presented a note accordingly. Not receiving a satisfac-
tory reply, he followed it up with one so offensive that San Fer-
nando returned it describing it as "expressed in terms... equally
unprecedented and repugnant to the delicacy and attention which
are peculiar to and are invariably observed in all diplomatic com-
munications." Forsyth replied that, in view of the King's serious
offense in withholding ratification, "no doubt it occurred to the en-
lightened understanding of your Excellency that from the nature
of the subject but few sacrifices could be made to diplomatic
courtesy." Such bickering could accomplish nothing in a court
where monarchical dignity was as highly revered as in Madrid.
The net result of Forsyth's mission must be considered to have been
only heightened antagonism. It should be stated that the very firm
tone of Adams' instructions of August 18 gave Forsyth appreciable
backing for his peremptory communications.
 While these compliments were being passed back and forth, Fer-
dinand, after a succession of futile efforts, had finally found a man
for the new mission to Washington, Major General Francisco
Dionisio Vives. But in keeping with the agreed policy of awaiting
some favorable turn in circumstances, General Vives was taking
an inordinately long time to perform certain quarantines and reach
Madrid in preparation for his journey.
 Circumstances developed in such a way as to make more and
more inevitable the ultimate ratification. Early in November
Lozano de Torres, chief opponent of the agreement, was removed
from the ministry of grace and justice. During that same summer
and fall the expedition preparing at CAdiz for the pacification of
the Americas (which would have strengthened Spain's position
toward the United States) collapsed, and ominous dissensions ap-
peared among the/military forces. These disturbances were a
phase of the intense conflict between liberals and conservatives
which marked all of Ferdinand's reign.
 Forsyth, then, was unable to obtain the ratification before Con-
gress convened in December, 1819. When Captain Read of the
"Hornet" returned empty-handed in November, President Monroe