Page:Vol 5 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/210

190 Gibraltar of America, defending Vera Cruz harbor, but felt so hampered by the lack of funds that he proposed to resign. Nevertheless he presented a bold front, and Bazoche did not deem it prudent to attack the fortress with his fever-stricken ships.

The blockade, while cutting deep into the customhouse revenue, did not appear to impress the Mexicans, and France felt it necessary to act energetically on the position taken. Deffaudis had gone home to report, and in his place was sent Rear-Admiral Charles Baudin, with several ships to swell the squadron, and with full power to effect a settlement, peaceably or by force. He reached Vera Cruz toward the close of October, and sent at once a commissioner to Mexico requesting an answer to the late ultimatum. This led to a conference at Jalapa on November 17th between Baudin and Cuevas, minister of foreign affairs. The former insisted on the main points already presented, but while prepared to abate the additional