Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/93

 should be no delay in its construction, the French officers and soldiers were directed to lay it down as they marched. Notwithstanding the distance, this line was not long in getting to work as soon as the wires and appliances arrived.

In spite of reverses and defections, in spite of the numberless bothers in the Austro-Belgian army inseparable from the contact of so many heterogeneous military elements, and in spite of palace intrigues, perfect harmony prevailed at this time between their Mexican majesties and the marshal. Maximilian, who did justice to the loyalty and powerful help rendered him by our commander, and felt that from the latter alone he derived all his power either of constructing or organising, had had no little share in promoting the union of the marshal with a Mexican family of Spanish origin, powerful more from its connections than from its property, now in danger. The family of La Peña had indeed furnished, both to the army and the magistracy, distinguished generals and honoured advocates. In 1833, General Pedrazza, the uncle of the future maréchale, had been raised to the dignity of president of the republic, and her aunt was chosen as maid-of-honour by the Empress Iturbide.

Following the example of the sultan, who generously rewarded the Duc de Malakoff after the fall of Sebastopol, the imperial family settled a rich dowry on the maréchale, on the occasion of her marriage, desiring thus to manifest their high sense of gratitude to the French army, by honouring it in the person of its chief. The imperial letter, deposited in the archives of Mexico, and annexed to the deed of gift, was thus expressed:—