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76 arranged that the general should be escorted to the city on the 7th; one hundred and one guns were to be fired from the castle, and workmen actually began to build triumphal arches preparatory to decorating the city. All this was surmised rather than known at the time, but so many stories were bruited about that on the morning of the 7th Captain Pritzbuer of the "Phlégéton" started up to town in his fast gig, and as usual stopped alongside of the "Tacony" to offer a passage to Captain Roe in case he thought of going. Such courtesies had been constantly exchanged between the three ships, and in this case the offer was gladly accepted, as Roe, feeling uneasy about the condition of affairs, was preparing to go up in the sailing launch.

So they went up and joined Mr. Saulnier at the English Consulate, with several persons, including Captain Aynesley. They found the city in a condition of great excitement; the presence of Santa Ana was being forced upon the people by his partisans, and they were angrily opposing him. While affairs were being discussed at the British Consulate, a note was received announcing that a revolution was on the eve of breaking out in favor of this new (or rather old) interloper, and a serious effort would be made to land him that night. This threatened to produce disastrous results and cause terrible scenes to be enacted in Vera Cruz. Bureau when informed declared his intention not to permit the