190 University of California Publications i History

sidered advisable because of the long delay. In explaining the ap-
proval he wrote that
against this there were only four votes-Brown, of Louisiana, who married a
sister of Clay's wife; Biehard M. Johnson, of Kentucky, against his own bet-
ter judgment, from mere political eubeervieney to Clay; Williams, of Ten-
nesee, from party impulses, connected with the hatred of General Jackson;
and Trimble, of Ohio, for some maggot in the brain, the cause of which I do
not yet perfectly know."

 The secretary had no way of appreciating the lack of cooperation
 between the Spanish executive and the foreign office. He continued
 to believe that Onis knew the date of the land grants and had con-
 sciously deceived him. Describing the happy prospect which had
 prevailed two years before, he said the treaty "promised well for
 my reputation in the public opinion. Under the petals of this gar-
 land of roses the Scapin, Onis, had hidden a viper.'" It has been
 demonstrated, however, that Onis appears to have had no intent
 to deceive when he signed the treaty.
 In Spain, Onis' reputation fared better. Indeed, during the year
1819 there was a widespread rumor to the effect that he would be
made foreign minister to succeed Irujo. At the time, however, he
was not sure how he and his handiwork would be received at Ma-
drid, and he tarried some time in London and Paris. He was pre-
sented at the Court of St. James's and talked with leading figures
in both capitals." He was subsequently appointed ambassador to
Russia, then to Naples, but did not serve in either post. He did go
in 1821 to England, where he was ambassador for nearly two
years." He retired after that mission and died in Madrid in 1827.
The tradition of diplomatic service in the family was carried on
by his son Mauricio de Onis y Mercklein, who was foreign minister
in the following decade. The older of Onis' two daughters had mar-
ried Jos6 de Heredia, younger brother of Narciso, who had been
attached to the legation in Washington and later occupied promi-
nent positions in Spain.
 With respect to the treaty, which was Onis' greatest task, it had
been accepted largely through necessity, but it was generally ac-
knowledged that the minister had done all that he could. He him-
self made an effort to assuage dissatisfaction over it by publishing
a second volume of his Memoria after the ratification. This pre-
sented almost all the notes exchanged between himself and Adams