Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/79

Rh Vera Cruz on the 30th of November, and hastened forward, immediately, to the city of Mexico. At Puebla. he was met by Mr. Black, who informed him that the Mexican government were alarmed by his arrival at such an inopportune moment, as they had not expected him until the 1st of January, and matters had not been prepared for his reception. The ﬁrst intimation received by Mr. Black, that the time of the arrival of an envoy was deemed of any importance, was on the 3rd. of December, in an interview with Peña y Peña, and he had hastened from Mexico to meet Mr. Slidell, and, communicate with him before he reached the capital. It appeared that the administration of Herrera had been constantly growing weaker and weaker. Instead of seizing, into his own hands, the means which might have enabled him to control the turbulent government over which he was placed, he suffered them to be used for his own destruction. Finesse and management were resorted to, when nothing could have so much strengthened his administration, as promptitude, ﬁrmness, and decision. Early in November he began to be seriously alarmed; the ﬁdelity of Paredes was suspected; and orders were issued for him to break up his cantonment at San Luis, and to scatter the troops in different parts of the country. Herrera and his ministers were probably well disposed to the United States, but their indecision was followed by its legitimate results; and when Mr. Slidell presented himself, they attempted to bolster up the tottering administration, by a refusal to receive him. The arrival of an envoy from the United States was a matter that it was impossible