Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/71

 in making a road to connect it with the capital, he failed to notice that his own troops, both in the north and south, were beginning to fall short of their pay, and were ready to mutiny in the face of the enemy.

Six months had elapsed since the inauguration of his reign, when the emperor received a French note, dated at the end of November 1864, which called his attention to certain delays which were prejudicial to the interests of his empire. At his desire, a complete financial staff had been sent out from France. After a conference, to which Maximilian had summoned his minister of war and his secretary of state for finance to meet Marshal Bazaine, in order to consult on the necessary measures, the above staff was portioned out through the country. Our authorities had forwarded these financial agents, as soon as they arrived in Mexico, to their respective destinations, where they were to carry out their duties of supervision and control; at the same time, circulars were distributed in the departments addressed to the military chiefs, who were directed to assist them. On the other hand, the minister of finance had formally promised to send without delay similar instructions to the directors of the public haciendas in the provinces of the empire which were then subject. When they reached their posts, the French officials were politely repudiated by the local administrations. No arrangement whatever had been settled, as is shown by the marshal's letter to the emperor:—

Mexico, September 30, 1864.

Sire,—Your majesty having authorised me in a conference with which I was honoured, to meet the minister of war and the under secretary of state for finance, to agree on the instructions which should be forwarded to the chief commandants and agents of the Mexican government, as to the