Of this I have had in my official connection and intercourse with him complete and repeated proofs; and although he may be useful when controlled and checked by others, he ought never to be trusted with a place where, unrestrained, his errors might be fatal to the country." Crawford complained of the difficulty he encountered in the cabinet of softening the asperities which invariably predominated in the official notes of the State Department while under Adams's direction, and said that, had they been allowed to remain as originally drafted, the government would have been "unembarrassed by diplomatic relations with more than one power." But it must be remembered that there was no love lost between Adams and Crawford--political rivals and not personal friends.
The commercial negotiations, and the discussion of French pretensions under the eighth article of the Louisiana treaty, opened with M.
Pasquier, were continued with the Vicomte de Montmorenci, who succeeded him as minister of foreign affairs.

In September, 1821, Mr.Gallatin had communicated to Mr.Adams his intention of returning home in the spring; but there appearing a chance of success in the negotiation of a treaty, he wrote in February, 1822, to President Monroe that if no successor had been appointed, he was desirous to remain some time longer.

He was loath to return without having succeeded in any one subject intrusted to his care.

Meanwhile Mr.Adams and M.de Neuville, the French minister, had been busy in the United States.

A commercial convention was signed at Washington on June 24, 1822.