Page:Letters from the Battle-fields of Paraguay (1870).djvu/499



LETTER XXVII.,

AND LAST.

My dear Z-

Buenos Aires, April 21, 1869.

H.R.H. the Comte d^Eu, with that devo- tion to the interests of his adopted country which has ever characterized his career^ volunteered his services as Com- mander-in-Chief of all the Brazilian forces operating in the Republic of Paraguay^ and they had been accepted on March 22, 1869. It was popularly said in the Brazil that only His Imperial Majesty and the people, supported through thick and thin the war policy, whilst the Conservatives who were in office showed signs of wishing to conclude an honourable peace. Many therefore believed that the gallant and amiable young Prince, still only twenty-seven, was a victim to poli- tics, and fated to fail. They predicted for him an enthusiastic reception at a banquet, with speechifying, boasting, and pro- mising in foison ; much hurry, bustle, and confusion ; a move- ment rather circular than progressive ; and at last, ill-health and resignation. The husband of the Princess Imperial, however, accepted without hesitation the task of pushing on the fight to which he was virtually pledged, and persevered with stout heart and all the energy of his house. On April 6, 1869, he reached Monte Video, accompanied by his staff, whose chief, by-the-bye, was the ex-Minister of War, Gene- ral Polidoro da Fonseca Uuintanilha Jordao. That officer, you may remember, succeeded (July 10, 1866) General Osorio in command of the Brazilian forces : he left in Para- guay a name by no means popular with either army.