Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/566

550 ready to scale the walls, Velez saw that even if he succeeded in repelling the assault Morelos would surely set fire to the mine as soon as his own men were out of the way. Indeed, he wondered why it had not been done before. In this strait he asked for a parley, and proposed to capitulate if the honors of war were granted. Morelos acceded, Vouchsafing even more liberal terms; and on the 20th the independent standard of Mexico waved over the castle of San Diego de Acapulco.

Morelos tendered Velez, who was a native of Córdoba, a position in his army, which being declined, the former told him that his fidelity would be ill requited by the Spanish government; this was indeed true, as an order had been issued, before news of the surrender reached Mexico, appointing the naval lieutenant Jacobo Murphy to supersede him, under the pretext of allowing him needed rest, and instructing Velez to proceed to San Blas and Guadalajara. Velez was subsequently tried, at his own request, by court-martial, and was not honorably acquitted till after his death.

We have seen that the royalists were so harassed that they were unable to send any relief to Acapulco. The present was in fact their most critical period since the beginning of the revolution. Yet this success was