Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/166

150 and admirable helpmate in Europe. The court of Mexico still blinded itself as to the real state of things; but certain intimate confidants, who could not make up their minds to abandon their high positions, urged the empress to embark. As to General Count De Thün, he had already returned to Austria. On July 8, the official journal of Mexico announced that the empress was leaving for Europe, where she was about to enter into negotiations as to the affairs of Mexico, and to settle various international matters. Allusion was made to the approaching visit to Rome, to reassure both the clergy and the holders of ecclesiastical property. To provide for the expenses of the august traveller it was necessary, as the treasury was exhausted, to have recourse to the funds of the 'inundation tax' to provide a sum of 30,000 piastres.

An incident, painful in every respect, marked the visit of her majesty to the port of Vera Cruz. The department of the Mexican marine, for which the marshal had spontaneously opened a credit of 500,000 francs to form a coast-guard service to cope with the smugglers who interfered with the customs' receipts, did not possess a barge, and had not thought of preparing one for the use of their empress. The Empress Charlotte, on arriving at the quay, found nothing but a French boat at her command. She declined distinctly to embark under the shadow of our flag to go on board the vessel which was lying in the roadstead. The unequivocal signs of dissatisfaction which her majesty manifested whilst waiting on the quay, showed clearly enough that she quitted the Mexican soil with a heart thoroughly embittered against the French government.