Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/742

726 Milpillas in an engagement with Húber, who was coming to the support of Tetecala. Nevertheless, the whole territory was soon lost to the royalist government, Acapulco, isolated and unsupported, being its only possession left on the southern seaboard.

Iturbide after taking possession of Puebla despatched his forces to lay siege to Mexico, in cooperation with troops which were on the march from Querétaro. When on the point of proceeding thither himself, news reached him of the arrival at the port of Vera Cruz, July 30th, of Juan O'Donojú, who had been appointed by the Spanish government to be the gefe superior político and captain-general of New Spain. O'Donojú was received at Vera Cruz with the high honors due his rank, and as the road to the capital was intercepted, he at once assumed his official authority, the legal oath being administered to him by Governor Dávila,

Lieutenant-general O'Donojú, knight grand cross of the orders of Cárlos III. and San Hermenegildo, was of Irish extraction, as his name though somewhat changed indicates. He had been captain-general of Andalusia, and had even held the highest position the nation could bestow below the throne. His record had been that of a truly patriotic Spaniard and irreproachable soldier, and in political principles a lover of liberty. It is understood that he was of high degree in the masonic fraternity. His appointment to Mexico has been attributed to the influence of the