Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/161

Rh served to rouse conservatives from the beginning. Another not very agreeable feature was the enrolment in Austria and Belgium of volunteers to serve as nuclei for the imperial army, and also as standing tokens of distrust, sources for bitter and dangerous jealousies. Thus far alone went the support given by Francis Joseph, who in other respects made it understood that felt himself in no manner responsible for or connected with the plans of his brother.

The preparations of Maximilian for his journey had already been made, and on the fourth day after accepting the crown he and his wife embarked at Miramare on board the frigate Novara for Civita VecchiaCivitavecchia [sic], en route for Rome, there to confer with the pope on points already imparted by Aguilar y Marocho, the newly accredited minister at the Vatican. It was understood that Maximilian would exert himself to remedy the evil suffered by the church, and to restore the respect due to the clergy. After a stay of two days at Rome he continued his voyage April 20th,