Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/741

Rh entered the city on the 2d of August, and was received with the greatest enthusiasm. On the 5th the declaration of national independence was solemnly proclaimed, Bishop Perez delivering a discourse which filled Iturbide's soul with ambitious projects. The utmost uniformity of ideas existed between the two, and from this time the bishop's influence with the chief was conspicuously manifest. Frequent conferences were held by them, and the bishop has been regarded by many as having inspired Iturbide with the idea of turning the plan of Iguala to his own advantage.

The fall of Puebla was complemented by the occupation of Oajaca, which occurred simultaneously. None of the royalist commanders in that province offered any serious resistance to revolutionary movements; and the independent commander, Antonio Leon, having entered the city of Oajaca on the 30th of July, the independence was speedily proclaimed throughout the territory. In the Costa Chica the independents sustained some reverses. Acapulco, where the plan of Iguala had been proclaimed February 27th, was restored to obedience on the 15th of March, and on the 3d of June Ascensio, having failed in an attack on Tetecala the previous day, was slain at a place called