John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

3. IV:30. The storm continued with great violence the whole day, with rain almost incessant though not in heavy showers. Mr Correa came at ten, in high Spirits, and entirely released from his terrors, and his ominous conjectures about the European Alliance— He had a Letter from Palmella, after his return from Paris in Feby. Palmella tells him that Fernan Nuñez and he have both received their full Powers to arrange the affair of Montevideo, between Spain and Portugal— That he is determined to admit only the Mediation, and not the umpirage of the other European Powers— That he will agree to restore Montevideo, only on the preliminary condition that the affair between Spain and her Colonies shall be settled either by her acknowledgment of their Independence, or by her subduing them; of which he says the prospect is from day to day more remote— He expresses much satisfaction, at our occupation of Amelia-Island, and at 344the motives assigned in the President’s Messages for that measure. He requests Mr Correa to send him all the documents relating to that affair, and says they will have great effect in justifying the occupation of Montevideo by the Portuguese Government; shewing that similar causes produced the same effects, and gave rise to measures founded on the same principles; without co’operation or even concert between the two Governments— He adds that he shall return to Paris, and protract the negotiation, until the Meeting of the kings which is to be next September at Aix La Chapelle, and which the king of Spain means to attend— There Palmella expects that this subject will be merged in the general questions about South-America, and that the whole will end in smoke. Correa said he was very much gratified to find such a perfect coincidence with the sentiments and opinions that I had expressed to him the Evening; before last. and the more so, as it was not an official despatch but a friendly and confidential Letter— He had also a Letter from the acting Minister of foreign Affairs Villa Nova, which shews he had been very polite and attentive to Captain Biddle, and which speaks with much esteem of Mr Sumter— He is therefore entirely convinced that the unpleasant incidents that occurred while the Congress Frigate was there were accidental; and that the Non-introduction of our Commissioners to the king, was owing only to the informality of their characters; and perhaps to avoid giving direct Offence to Spain, whose Minister Casa-Flores had perhaps made an extraordinary stir, upon the occasion— Mr Correa told me he should go for Philadelphia, the day after to-morrow, and asked me to hold this as his visit to take leave. The remainder of the day, with the exception of an hour’s walk in the midst of the gale, I was still absorbed in the arrangement of my Accounts, a labour so much like idleness that I can scarcely justify it to myself. There was a Mail, unusually large, of despatches from Sweden and England.