Page:Vol 6 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/405

Rh their portfolios. Juarez then reconstructed his cabinet with the following ministers: José María Lafragua, of relations; Francisco Gomez del Palacio, of government; Joaquin Ruiz, of justice and public instruction; Blas Balcárcel, of fomento; Ignacio Mejía, of war; and Francisco Mejía, of the treasury. Ruiz declined on the 21st of June the position tendered him.

Juarez had been taken seriously ill with an affection of the brain, as it was reported, in October 1870, from which he rallied; shortly after he lost his wife, whom he highly prized. It seems that Juarez had a presentiment that his own end was near; for in conversing with his friends he expressed regret that it would be out of his power to reconstruct the affairs of his country, wherein, he said, almost every effort hitherto had been directed to destroy. Nevertheless, amidst all the turmoil, he was beginning to see the realization of his heart-felt wish for peace, when death overtook him. On the 18th of July, 1872, he experienced an acute pain in one of his legs, and had some difficulty in breathing; but he thought the trouble would all pass off. He left his office earlier than usual that day, and spent the time with his family, hoping next morning to take some exercise in the forest of Chapultepec. As night approached the family noticed that he was becoming very ill, and that his heart seemed to be affected. Doctors Barreda, Alvarado, and Lucio were summoned; but though every remedy known to science was applied,