Page:A Life of Matthew Fontaine Maury.pdf/243

Rh keep out of harm's way until we can see more of the Northern purpose. The punishment of the leaders seems to be determined on. Those who have exercised diplomatic functions, officially or unofficially, will be sure to come in for a share of the vengeance. . ..

If I could only have you to walk up and down the room and hear you descant with perfect freedom on our prospects for the future, and the causes of our downfall, how much I would like it! The "truth is mighty, and will surely prevail" in the end; but we may say with Pilate, "What is Truth?" May God give His Holy Spirit to His people, to animate their hearts and minds and guide them aright! May He take away the spirit of resentment and hate, and give to the North and to the South the spirit of forgiveness, the spirit of wisdom and of sound mind! May He grant that we come forth from our sore trials a wiser and a better people—a nation fearing God and working righteousness! If the North deals kindly with the South, I do not think it impossible in time to heal the deep wounds that have pierced so many hearts. It took more than a generation to efface the animosities we bore England; but they were effaced.

The bloody civil war of Great Britain in Charles the First's time did not leave irremediable hate and bitterness, though Puritan and Cavalier had no love for each other.

We shall not live to see the changes in character wrought in the old dominion and the other slave States by the abolition of slavery; but our children will. We shall no doubt gain much; I am full of hope myself. . . . I believe the balance-sheet will be much in our favour.

Maury was left at Havana without a country or a home, and far from friends with whom he could consult. He had always felt great regard and esteem for the Archduke Maximilian, and when that excellent but unfortunate prince undertook to attempt the regeneration of Mexico, Maury had written to him, expressing his warmest wishes for the success of the undertaking. Maximilian was now at Mexico