“Mr. Thompson was surprised at the announcement of this fact.  It weakened his position very materially; and he resumed his seat a defeated antagonist.  So said the House of Representatives, with scarcely the exception of a member.

“Mr. Adams continued his defence.  ‘At that time,’ said he, ’General Jackson was in this city, on exciting business connected with the Seminole war; and, after the treaty had been concluded, and only wanted the signatures of the contracting parties, the then President of the United States directed me to call on General Jackson, in my official capacity as Secretary of State, and obtain his opinion in reference to boundaries.  I did call.  General Jackson, sir, was at that time holding his quarters in the hotel at the other end of the avenue, now kept by Mr. Azariah Fuller, but then under the management of Jonathan McCarty.  The day was exceedingly warm, and, on entering General Jackson’s parlor, I found him much exhausted by excitement, and the intensity of the weather.  I made known to him the object of my visit; when he replied that I would greatly oblige him if I would excuse him from looking into the matter then.  “Leave the papers with me, sir, till to-morrow, or the next day, and I will examine them.”  I did leave them sir; and the next day called for the hero’s opinion and decision.  Sir, I recollect the occurrence perfectly well; General Jackson was still unwell; and the papers, with an accompanying map, were spread before him.  With his cane, sir, he pointed to the boundaries, as they had been agreed upon by the parties; and, sir, with a very emphatic expression, which I need not repeat, he affirmed them.’

“This debate, whilst yet warm from the hands of the reporters, reached General Jackson; and was at once pressed upon his attention.  Its contradiction and refutation were deemed matters of paramount importance.  The old soldier did not hesitate long to act in the matter, and speedily there appeared in the Globe newspaper a letter, signed Andrew Jackson, denying, in unqualified and unconditional terms, everything that Mr. Adams had uttered.  He denied having been in Washington at the time Mr. Adams designated; but afterwards, being convinced that he was in error, in this fact only he corrected himself, but denied most positively that he had seen the Florida treaty, or Mr. Adams, at the time of its negotiation, or that he had had the remotest agency or connection with the transaction.

“Mr. Adams responded, and appealed to his diary, where everything was set forth with the utmost precision and accuracy.  The year, day of the month, and of the week, and the very hour of the day, all were faithfully recorded.

“The affair produced much sensation at Washington; and even the most determined advocates of General Jackson believed that he, and not Mr. Adams, was in error, No one would, or could for a moment, believe that Mr. Adams’ had made a false report.’

“Whilst this controversy was pending, I called at the Presidential mansion, one afternoon, when General Jackson, strange to say, happened to be alone.  He said that he was very glad to see me, because he would like to hear, from one who had an opportunity of seeing more of the press than he saw, what was the exact state of public opinion, in regard to the controversy.