Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/260

244 cries either of the disaffected or of those who were hostile to Lincoln's successor.

The mission of the American plenipotentiaries had, in fact, completely failed. The United States consul at Vera Cruz had, on November 25, made the inquiry by telegraph at Mexico, 'if the frigate " Susquehannah," now at anchor before Tampico, might come to Vera Cruz, and if it would be well received there, as Mr. Campbell and General Sherman desired to have an interview with the French authorities.' Our headquarters replied, 'that the American frigate would be received the same as any other man-of-war belonging to a friendly nation, and that the persons in question would be well received at Mexico if they wished to come thither.' The consul hastened to forward this reply to Tampico by the English packet which was just starting. On November 29, in stormy weather, the 'Susquehannah,' proudly displaying her star-spangled banner, rounded the hills behind which the city of Vera Cruz is somewhat gloomily situated. Scarcely was she in sight of the roadstead, when a small boat was noticed leaving the port and rowing so as to follow in her wake: she soon stopped off the Fort St. Jean d'Ulloa to receive the person who had come to board the ship: he was the American consul from Vera Cruz. He was the bearer of important news, which much surprised MM. Campbell and Sherman. The city was in a state of rejoicing; they could already perceive the lines of lamps with which the principal buildings were illuminated, and the wind carried out into the roadstead the noise of the fireworks. All this commotion was occasioned by the news of Maximilian's fresh resolve, which had proclaimed to Mexico that its sovereign had renounced the idea of returning to Europe, and that, yielding to the entreaties of the