Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/280

 Vera Cruz to enter upon their duties and to draw up an official statement of the customs' accounts agreed upon. On November 20, matters were made worse in consequence of the refusal of the Mexican officials to allow the stipulated reductions to be made. The French agent, in virtue of orders received from Paris, threatened to employ force in order to obtain satisfaction. The emperor when informed of it sent a despatch to Marshal Bazaine to induce him to put a stop to these measures.

The Emperor to Marshal Bazaine. Orizaba, November 21, 1866. I can in no way consent to the proceedings adopted by M. X———, towards the custom-house officials at Vera Cruz, in doing which he has made use of your authority; the question is as to funds which the minister of the haciendas has disposed of with my authority during the months of September and October. I now inform you that M. X———threatens to prevent by force the duties carried on at the custom-house. I hope that you will put a stop to this illegal step.

Was it not truly sad to witness the spectacle of a sovereign complaining that his word was doubted? By the terms of the convention we were strictly in the right, according to the enquiry which was made without delay by an inspector of finance. But without noticing the unwillingness of the ministry, was it generous thus to deprive the monarch of his last resources when our government had itself chosen to forget its formal engagements? When the inquiry was finished, the marshal sent to Maximilian the reply of M. de Maintenant, who relied literally on the provisions of the convention of July 30:—

Mexico, November 29, 1866. Sire,—I have the honour of transmitting to your majesty a copy of the reply that the inspector-general of finances