Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/736

720 It is not believed, however, that Apodaca directly or insidiously promoted Mexico's independence; but the fact stands that he did little or nothing to prevent its accomplishment by Iturbide; and indeed, he can hardly be blamed. Circumstances had changed; the men he had before at his call had been carried away by the feeling that the daughter should assume a position equal to the mother in the family of nations. The harsh opinion formed by those who tried to dishonor him had no weight with his sovereign. In September of 1822 he returned to Spain and was placed en cuartel, or waiting orders, in which situation he remained till called to the discharge of several high offices of trust, and to be otherwise honored. The conde del Venadito died at the age of eighty one, full of honors, on the 11th of January, 1835. By his marriage he had seven children.

The conde del Venadito's successor in Mexico by virtue of this military emeute, Francisco Novella, Azábal, Perez y Sicardo, was a mariscal de campo of the Spanish army, sub-inspector and comandante general of the artillery corps in New Spain, decorated with the cross of honor of Talavera, and was a knight of the military order of San Hermenegildo. He officially communicated to the several authorities his accession to the viceregal office, the diputacion provincial being the only one which for a while refused to recognize him, but which finally, to avert anarchy, yielded, and administered to him the oath of office. He then published an address to the people, explaining the situation, and another to the soldiers. In