Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/748

732 staff, the representatives of the Indian towns, the chief titled gentlemen, and a large number of other citizens. The manifestations of enthusiasm and joy were general and unbounded. At the convent of San Francisco, Iturbide was met by the ayuntamiento, and alighting from his horse received the congratulations of the municipality.

Then followed the ceremony of delivering to him the keys of the city. Golden keys on a silver platter were presented to him by the hands of Ignacio Ormaechea, the first alcalde and spokesman for the people. With words appropriate to the occasion, Iturbide returned the emblems, and remounting proceeded to the plaza mayor, where he was greeted by the plaudits of an immense concourse of people. At the palace he was received by O’Donojú, who had entered tho city on the preceding day, and the different corporations. A religious ceremony was then celebrated by the archbishop under the pall, with all the imposing observances of the Roman ritual.

Thus Mexico was free at last, and naught remained to Spain of her vast colony, this richest jewel of her crown, but Vera Cruz, Perote, and Acapulco. Her independence, which ten years of sanguinary strife and horrors had failed to achieve, was won for her by aid of her former foe in fewer months, almost without bloodshed. And in all the glory of his triumph her liberator affected humility and abnegation. In the midst of the wild enthusiasm, when thousands of voices shouted his name for joy, the only reward he openly sought was permission to retire to private life with