ted only by
the vigilance and penetration of the British minister. I
answered, 'Why, Mr. Bagot did say something to me about it; but I
certainly did not think him serious, and we had a good-humored
laughing conversation on the occasion.' Canning, with great
vehemence: 'You may rely upon it, sir, that it was no laughing
matter to him; for I have seen his report to his government and
know what his feelings concerning it were.' I replied, (p. 143)
'This is the first intimation I have ever received that Mr. Bagot
took the slightest offence at what then passed between us, ...
and you will give me leave to say that when he left this
country'--Here I was going to add that the last words he said to
me were words of thanks for the invariable urbanity and
liberality of my conduct and the personal kindness which he had
uniformly received from me. But I could not finish the sentence.
Mr. Canning, in a paroxysm of extreme irritation, broke out: 'I
stop you there. I will not endure a misrepresentation of what I
say. I never said that Mr. Bagot took offence at anything that
had passed between him and you; and nothing that I said imported
any such thing.' Then ... added in the same passionate manner: 'I
am treated like a school-boy.' I then resumed: 'Mr. Canning, I
have a distinct recollection of the substance of the short
conversation between Mr. Bagot and me at that time; and it was
this'--'No doubt, sir,' said Canning, interrupting me again, 'no
doubt, sir, Mr. Bagot answered you like a man of good breeding
and good humor.'"

[Footnote 3: Then Mr. Bagot.]

Mr. Adams began again and succeeded in making, without further
interruption, a careful recital of his talk with Mr. Bagot. While he
was speaking Mr. Canning grew cooler, and expressed some surprise at
what he heard. But in a few moments the conversation again became warm
and personal. Mr. Adams remarked that heretofore he had thrown off (p. 144)
some of the "cautious reserve" which might have been "strictly
regular" between them, and that

"'so long as his (Canning's) professions had been supported by
his conduct'--Here Mr. Canning again stopped me by repeating with
great vehemence, 'My conduct! I am responsible for my conduct
only to my government!'"

Mr. Adams replied, substantially, that he could respect