Several years afterwards, Mr. Clay became involved in an unpleasant controversy between Messrs. Russell and Adams, which originated from something connected with their negotiations at Ghent. On the day next subsequent to the signing of the treaty, the commissioners drew up a sketch of their discussions in relation to the difference of opinion among them, concerning complying with the demands of the British commissioners, which represented the offer of the navigation of the Mississippi as made by a _majority_ of the American plenipotentiaries. At the same time, Mr. Russell communicated to Mr. Monroe the fact of his being in the minority in that offer, and declared his intention of submitting his reasons for disagreeing with his associates, at a future convenient period, which he subsequently carried into effect. These papers were deposited among the documents of the nation, where they remained till 1822, when they were placed before the house of representatives, at its request, by the president, together with a private communication from Mr. Russell, purporting to be a duplicate of one found among the private papers of the president. A statement was made by each of these letters, between which there was a discrepancy, which caused Mr. Adams to reprimand Mr. Russell severely, through the medium of the press. Mr. Clay addressed a letter to Mr. Russell designed to be private, in which he signified his acquiescence in the reprimand, and also gave a concise statement of their debates connected with their disagreement. It appeared that Mr. Adams was laboring under the impression that Mr. Clay coincided with him in construing the treaties of 1783 and 1794, or that part of them referring to the fisheries and Mississippi, from the fact of his signature being attached to the communication of the American to the British commissioners, embodying the views of the former in relation to them. Mr. Clay corrected that impression by declaring that he had not concurred with him. He stated that his object in advising the insertion of the words ‘_a majority_,’ in the despatch to the secretary of state, was to announce to his government the fact of a division among them, and with the view of concealing it from the power with whom they were treating, he appended his signature to the communication. The dispute was maintained some time between Messrs. Russell and Mr. Adams, and with great acrimony, but no impeachment of Mr. Clay’s conduct or motives was attempted by either. Both awarded to him the honor of having acted well his part, in bringing to so felicitous a consummation the treaty of peace.