Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/178

162 management of the country. It was, on the other hand, hardly to the interests of our army, that these two high functionaries should hold this plurality of offices. It was also much to be regretted that a decision on such a point as this was arrived at and even carried out without the consent of the commander-in-chief.

The confidence which Maximilian placed in the Abbé Fischer (who subsequently fulfilled a melancholy office) was to be deplored in every respect, and most certainly the religious scruples of the sovereign would not have been beguiled if he had known the real history of this Lutheran apostate, now become a Catholic. Augustin Fischer was of German origin, and about 1845 joined a body of colonists proceeding to Texas. After being a clerk to a notary without much success, he went off to California to seek for gold. He soon renounced the Protestant faith, received holy orders in the Roman Catholic church in Mexico, and obtained a post as secretary to the Bishop of Durango. Being soon after banished from the episcopal palace by reason of his profligate morals, he was received at Parras at the house of M. Sanchez Navarro, who, deceived by appearances, presented him to Maximilian. Father Fischer, who is endowed with rare intelligence, soon found himself intrusted with a diplomatic mission to the Holy Father; however he returned to Mexico having totally failed at Rome. Notwithstanding this, he increased in repute, and just at this time, the ambition of the imperial secretary, which knew no limits, was looking for the bishopric of Queretaro, the richest clerical benefice in Mexico. The direct favour of the sovereign was a sure means of success, but the selection of this priest was not calculated to soothe and rally round him the disaffected.