Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/255

 ripe for revolt, merely to register an abdication. They then knew the real aim of their assembling at La Jalapilla. When the above despatch arrived at our head-quarters, Miramon's arrival and his proceedings in the capital had already foretold the reaction which had taken place in Maximilian's resolutions; the attitude of the ministers, which had now become almost ungracious, was a sure sign of this. Nevertheless, the commander-in-chief, obeying to the letter the instructions of his government, directing him to respect the young emperor's liberty of action, thought it right to yield to his appeal. General Castelnau and M. Dano, who were joined with him in council, were opposed to it. Compelled to submit to this decision the marshal forwarded to La Jalapilla the following reply:—

To His Majesty the Emperor Maximilian. Mexico, November 18, 1866. I have received the telegraphic despatch from your majesty dated this day. Notwithstanding my great desire to visit you as you request, it appears to me very difficult to quit the capital which your majesty placed in my charge before the arrival of General Douay, and until I am set at ease as to the military movements which have been directed.

It was not till some days after he had written this reply that the marshal was, for the first time, enlightened as to the real intentions of the French cabinet, by receiving a letter from the Marquis de Montholon, the meaning of which appeared to him at first sight rather enigmatical, for he was in no way aware of the course of policy which was being followed at Washington:—

Washington, November 9, 1866. My dear Marshal,—I can only announce the departure of Mr. Campbell and Mr. Sherman for Mexico in the frigate