Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/80

 who would ably assist their chief in an organisation so new and therefore so difficult for this country.

I think that it will be necessary to commence by embodying a not very numerous force, which will occupy the capital, and will form the nucleus of a progressive organisation. 2em

This letter of May 5, by which Maximilian gave the order to remove the troops from the town of Morelia and its environs, proves that the sovereign acted of his own accord, and that the marshal, as chief of his army, was not in an independent position. It also effectually impugns a military statement emanating from Maximilian at this time, and reproduced in a recent publication, entitled 'The Court of Rome and the Emperor Maximilian':—

'The town of Morelia is surrounded by the enemy,' say these imperial notes;. . .'the most perilous point is to ensure the safety of the large towns. . . The public treasury is ruined; the poor country must pay the French troops.'

It is difficult to explain the view thus taken of the country. The French army, as well as the fleet, can attest that at this very epoch they occupied all the chief cities of the states, and the principal ports of Mexico. We are not aware that they ever yielded up a place to the liberals as conquerors. One city alone, the capital of the state of Guanajato, had been confided to the care of the Mexican arms, because it was protected on all four sides by a cordon of fortified places under our charge, which acted as barriers against the advance of the enemy. On the other hand, Oajaca had just succumbed to the brilliant siege and attack directed by Marshal Bazaine in person.

As to the treasury being 'ruined' by the payment of our troops, the unfortunate sovereign had no right