Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 32.djvu/380

 368 Southern Historical Society Papers.

passage having preceded me, I was met at every stage of our journey by a deputation of citizens, who came to welcome me; nor was I allowed to settle any hotel bill, but everywhere was received and considered as the guest of the State. In recalling these incidents, I am only impelled by the desire of conveying to the State of Texas my deep and lasting sense of gratitude for the well-remembered and highly-appreciated courtesy extended me on that occasion.

We travelled by stage coach and our progress was slow. At length we reached Matamoras, where we crossed the Rio Grande into Mexican territory. Here we had to wait for steamer to take us to Havana, and at the latter place another delay occurred, when finally we were able to embark on board a Spanish ship, one of a line of steamers plying between Havana and Cadiz, which port we reached after a stormy passage of at least fourteen days.

From Cadiz we went on to Madrid, partly by stage coach. From Madrid, however, we could travel on by rail to Bordeaux and Paris.

On the last day of our journey, in looking over a newspaper, the first news that met my eye was that of the Duke de Morny's death. It seemed like the irony of fate that the fulcrum so to speak of my efforts should fail me just as I was reaching my destination. From that moment I knew that whatever sympathy I might meet with it could lead to no practical results. I did not even seek an audience from the Emperor. But it happened that among the for- mer friends and acquaintances who, on the news of my return, hastened to meet me, there was an officer of the French army, Major De Vatry, half-brother to the then Duke of Elchingen, a descend- ant of the famous Marshal Ney, at that time on the Emperor's mili- tary staff. He was very anxious to secure an interview for me, which he did without difficulty, the Emperor having as he informed me, expressed at once his perfect willingness to receive me.

I had thus an informal audience, not obtained through the regular official channel, and was received by the Emperor with the greatest courtesy. He bade me sit opposite him, and during the conversa- tion which ensued, evinced much interest in the progress of the war, made many remarks on details connected with the operations in the field; but the political side of the contest was never touched upon. All I could do was to assure him that the people of the South were determined to fight to the last in defense of the political doctrine of State rights handed to them as an heirloom by their forefathers, and that in doing so they were upholding the principles of Washington, and of other founders of the first Union of States established with