Juarez and Cesar Cantú (1885)/II. Concerning the body of Maximilian
II
Concerning the body of Maximilian.
The calumnious imputation that Juarez had delivered the corpse of Maximilian for money, first appeared in "Le Memorial Diplomatique," a paper which, as every one knows, received its inspirations from Napoleon III. This calumny found ready admission in a work which was published sometime afterwards by the Prince Salm-Salm, under the title of "Memoirs of Queretaro and Maximilian," and since then it has served as the favorite theme for all the impassioned or mercenary writers who have subsequently fruitlessly endeavored to blacken the glory of Juarez. We will only add that M. Debrauz de Saldapenna, chief Editor of the publication we have just mentioned, was the person who was charged by Napoleon III to agitate the acquisition of Sonora, as our readers will have seen in the paragraphs before quoted from the work of Sr. Arrangoiz, and that Prince Salm-Salm, who was made a prisoner in Queretaro, owed his life to the magnanimity of Juarez.
A historian so eminent as Cesar Cantú acting, as he ought to have done, with entire impartiality, had no right to make this grave charge against the historic reputation and personal honor of Juarez, based only on the statements of these two writers, when it would have been so easy for him to ascertain the truth by consulting the official documents, which were published eighteen years ago both in Europe and America.
On this point the political adversaries of Juarez appear more impartial, more sincere, and more honorable, than the calm judgment of history, which ought to have been reflected by the impartiality of Cesar Cantú. The "Voz de Mexico," one of the best known partisans of Maximilian's Empire, while referring to the inaccuracies of the Italian historian, concerning the body of the unfortunate Archduke, in its issue of June 27th 1885, published the following:
"The body of the Emperor Maximilian and the Government of Don Benito Juarez.—It is difficult for a historian not to incur some historical error, however much he may respect the truth, however great his learning may be, however clear his judgment, however sincere his anxiety to present the facts as they happened. Obliged to avail himself of the statements made by persons who are considered to be well informed in Cabinet matters, relating to the events he records, sometime or another he will fall into error, however good the source may be from whence he takes his matter. This has happened to the respected historian Cesar Cantú (who is justly appreciated in the literary world) on one of the points connected with the history of Mexico, and which refers to the body of the Emperor Maximilian. Following what was said by all of the European press, taken from that officially inspired publication "Le Memorial Diplomatique," which was considered the semiofficial organ of the Government of Napoleon III, the laborious historian Cesar Cantú has asserted, in his last work, that the Government of Don Benito Juarez demanded from the Emperor of Austria, brother of the Emperor Maximilian, a sum of money for the delivery of the body of the latter to the distinguished person who had been sent for the remains of the deceased monarch. Not only in the newspapers, however, but also in certain works written by various foreigners who had formed part of the French army of intervention did this historian see the same statement. Among these works is the "Memoirs of Queretaro and Maximilian," written by the Prince Felix de Salm-Salm, who was taken prisoner at Queretaro. He states that "the body of the Emperor was held by the Republican Government for a base speculation." Cesar Cantú had no motives for doubting the report written by persons who had been in the service of Maximilian, nor that which had been circulated by the whole European press, and he asserted an error which justice and impartiality demand should be rectified out of deference to historical truth.[1] Desirous, as we are, to give to every one that which belongs to him, we copy what Niceto de Zamacois says in his General History of Mexico, when denying the false and offensive charge made by the Prince Salm-Salm, and while stating that the Government of Benito Juarez NEVER DEMANDED MONEY for the body of Maximilian. The following extract shows how Sr. Zamacois expresses himself in his work, volume XVIII, chapters XX and XXI, a work that is written with the greatest impartiality, and in which he vindicates Mexico from the false charges made by various foreign writers who are more passionate than just, and more unjust than considerate."
After reproducing what Sr. Zamacois says with remarkable accuracy, with these words the "Voz de Mexico" concludes: "As is to be seen in the statements of our friend Don Niceto de Zamacois in his last work, "The General History of Mexico," the Government of Benito Juarez observed towards the body of the Emperor Maximilian THE MOST exalted CONSIDERATIONS, and showed itself attentive, disinterested and affable to the person sent by the Emperor of Austria to receive the remains of his unfortunate brother.—THESE ARE THE FACTS.—TRUTH BEFORE EVERY-THING."
This act of justice, this tribute to truth, is highly honorable to the Voz de Mexico.
It was necessary completely to ignore the personality of JUAREZ, his notable antecedents, his
disinterestedness, and his unimpeachable honesty, in order to attribute to him even the thought o£ setting a price upon the delivery of the body of Maximilian.
As Governor of the State of Oaxaca, as member of the Congress of the Union, as President of the Supreme Court, Secretary of State, and President of the Republic, JUAREZ was always the representative of Reform, the support of the Constitution, and the leader of the great national party. Throughout the long period of his exciting public life, he was at all times distinguished for his integrity, as for the simplicity of his habits, which won for him the praise of General Prim, who called him the modest President with the black coat, a phrase which the European press so often repeated afterwards. The man through whose hands the millions resulting from the Reform had passed, all of which wealth he viewed with indifference, was incapable of speculating by means of a body, even if this body were that of an Austrian Archduke.
The body of Maximilian, "says Sr Zamacois," was clothed in black, and laid upon cushions of velvet, in a rosewood coffin, so beautifully made that it displayed the fine taste and ingenuity of the constructor."
This was the manner in which the mortal remains of the Archduke were treated by the dishonourable, heartless oligarchy of which Cesar Cantú speaks. The coffin in which the body was deposited is the same in which the Archduke sleeps to-day the sleep of death in the Capuchin Convent in Vienna, which is the burying place of his family, and this fact is sufficient to show that his royal relatives did not deem it necessary to substitute a better coffin.
The right which Benito Juarez has acquired to the high esteem of the Mexicans, and the respect in which they should hold his memory, so unjustly calumniated in these remarks of the historian Cesar Cantú, determined the President o£ the Republic to authorize this publication, in which it is demonstrated:
1st. That Juarez did not enter into any treaty with the United-Slates to sell, cede, or mortgage either Sonora or any other State or territory of the Republic.
2nd. That the absurd assertion accepted by Cesar Cantú, to the effect that Juarez and his Government had sold the body of Maximilian, is false in every particular.
Under the influence of political hatred, whatever any one wishes to say may still be said; but every body knows now the historical truth relative to these acts of the immortal Benitó Juarez.[2]
Let us now look at the official documents relating to the delivery of the body of Maximilian, which, as we have said in another place, could have been consulted by the Italian historian, if he had desired to know the truth, and which were published here in 1867.
Will European writers rectify the error into which they fell when speaking of Mexico and of Juarez, thus showing that they acted without malice, and only through ignorance, when they endorsed and propagated such absurd accusations?
We shall send this pamphlet to Europe printed in three languages, and then those writers will certainly have no excuse if, in the future editions of their works, they fail to relate these events impartially, in compliance with their duty as truthful writers.
That in Europe there has always been the greatest ignorance respecting the men and the affairs of this country, has been said by Don Jose Maria Luis Mora, in 1836, and repeated by Don Lorenzo Zavala in 1845. But this ignorance cannot hereafter be alleged in explanation of error, since the incontestable vouchers which we now insert have had so much publicity during many years past.
Let the Italian historian read what these vouchers say:
«Diario Oficial of the Supreme Government of the Republic. Volume I, number 21, Monday, September 9th 1867.— The mission of vice-Admiral Tegetthoff.—We publish below these lines all the official documents relative to the mission of vice-Admiral Tegetthoff, and to the various efforts which have been made with the Supreme Government to obtain its permission in order to remove the body of the Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian to Europe. These documents will show what from the beginning has been the idea of the Government, which has given to this matter only the importance it really merits. They also give the lie to the absurd and stupid commentaries of the foreign press, and at the same time to some hasty remarks on the part of the national press.»
«Telegram.—From Veracruz to Mexico.—Received in Mexico on the 26th of August 1867 at 7.29 P. M.— To the Secretary of War.—The Austrian Admiral Tegetthoff arrived this morning off Sacrificios, in the Austrian war steamer Elizabeth. He has sent a message to these Military Headquarters saying that he desires to go to the capital to obtain from the Supreme Government permission to carry away the body of Maximilian. I wish to know whether I ought to prevent his going to Mexico.— Zérega.»
«Telegram.—Departament of War and the Navy.—Mexico, August 26th 1867.—To the Military Commander,—Veracruz.—The President of the Republic has learned that Admiral Tegetthoff has arrived at that port and that he desires to come to this capital. You can allow him to pass without any obstacle.— Mejia.»
«Department of Foreign Affairs and of the Interior.—Mexico, September 6th 1867.—Memorandum.—Don Mariano Riva Palacio and Don Rafael Martinez de la Torre, who were of counsel for the Archduke Maximilian of Austria, called at this Department yesterday, stating that vice-Admiral Tegetthoff, of the Austrian Navy, had come to Mexico and desired to have a conference with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
“At the hour which had been appointed, to-day the vice-Admiral presented himself, accompanied by Messrs Riva Palacio and Martinez de la Torre.
«The Vice-Admiral stated that he had come to Mexico for the purpose of asking the Goverment of the Republic to permit him to take to Austria the mortal remains of the Archduke Maximilian.
«The Secretary of Foreign Affairs said that he would submit the petition to the President of the Republic and, in order that it might be taken into consideration, he desired that the vice-Admiral would be pleased to state the character in which he made it.
«The vice-Admiral said that when his coming to Mexico was determined upon, it was considered that it would appear better to the Government of the Republic that he should not come with an official mission from the Austrian Government, but only in a private capacity to fulfill the desires of the family, who through natural affection and pious feelings, wished to possess the mortal remains of the Archduke. That as a consequence of this consideration, he had come to México solely with a private commission from the mother of the Archduke, and from his brother, His Majesty the Emperor of Austria.
«To an indication from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the vice-Admiral further stated that he had not brougtht any written document, having only received verbal instructions from the family of the Archduke. The vice-Admiral added that, if it was necessary, he would be ready to state in writing that he had come in this capacity.
«The Secretary of Foreign Affairs repeated that he would submit the petition to the President of the Republic, and that on the following day he would be able to communicate his resolution.— Lerdo de Tejada.»
«Mexico, September 7th 1867.—To-day vice-Admiral Tegetthoff, accompanied by Messrs Riva Palacio and Martinez de la Torre, called again at this Deparment.
«The Secretary of Foreign Affairs stated the following to Admiral Tegetthoff:
That the permission to remove the mortal remains of the Archduke had been already solicited by the Baron de Lago who had been acting near him as Austrian Chargé d' Affaires, by Baron de Magnus, who had been accredited near him as Prusian Minister and by Doctor Basch, the Archduke's private physician.
«That the Government replied to these three gentlemen saying that it had motives to refuse their petition. This reply had been made because the Government thought it was its duty that before deciding as to the permission to remove the body of the Arduchke to Austria, it would be necessary to take into consideration either an official act of the Austrian Government or an express act of the family of the Archduke, asking the Government of the Republic for the body.
«That although vice-Admiral Tegetthoff, by his social position in Austria and by his personal merits, is worthy of the consideration of the Government of Mexico, still it could not be decided to permit him to remove the body of the Archduke, because he has brought no document to satisfy any of the two essencial requisites in the case.
«And that the President has authorized the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to say to vice-Admiral Tegetthoff that whenever either of these two requisites shall have been satisfied, whether by an official act of the Austrian Government or by an express act of the family asking for the body of the Archduke, the Government of the Republic will be ready to permit its removal to Austria, taking in consideration the natural pious feeling by which the petition would be made; that the Government had opportunely ordered that the body should be embalmed, and that it should be deposited and preserved, with the care and decorum due to mortal remains, by reason of the same natural and pious feelings.— Lerdo de Tejada.»
«Telegram.—San Luis Potosi., June 18th 1867.—At 9 A. M.—To General Mariano Escobedo.—It has been solicited from the Government to permit that, when the execution of Maximilian shall have taken place, his mortal remains may be disposed of in order to remove them to Europe.
«This permission has not been granted; but in view of said petition, the President of the Republic has determined that you shall proceed according to the following instructions:
«First. When the condenned shall have been executed, if the families of D. Miguel Miramon and of D. Tomas Mejia ask to dispose of their bodies, you will permit them the immediate and free disposal thereof.
«Second, You alone will direct what may be convenient respecting the body of Maximilian, refusing to allow any other person to intervene.
«Third. You will opportunely order zinc and wood coffins to be made, in order to guard, in a convenient manner, the body of Maximilian, doing the same with Miramon and Mejia, if their families do not ask for their bodies.
«Fourth. If any one should ask permission to embalm or inject the body of Maximilian, or to do any thing else which may not be inconvenient, you will refuse to allow any person to perform these operations; but in such a case, you will order it, taking care that, without refusing to foreigners permission to be present, all shall be done by Mexicans of your confidence, in a proper manner, the expenses being paid by the Government.
«Fifth. When the execution shall have been effected, you will order that immediately the body of Maximilian shall he guarded, as well as those of the others, if their families do not ask for them, with the decorum that is due after justice has been satisfied.
«Sixth. You will order the body of Maximilian to be deposited in a proper place, under the vigilance of the authorities.
«Seventh. In depositing the body of Maximilian and those of the others, if their families do not ask for them, you will order that the customary religious services shall be performed.— Lerdo de Tejada.»
«Telegram.—From Tacubaya to San Luis Potosi.—Deposited in Tacubaya the 19th of June 1867.—Received in San Luis Potosí on the 20th of June at 9.25 P. M.—C. President.—I request you to allow me to dispose of the body of Maximilian, in order to take it to Europe.— Baron de Lago.»
«Telegram.—San Luis Potosí, June 20th 1867 at 10.15 P. M.—To Baron de Lago.—Tacubaya.—The President of the Republic has ordered me to say to you, in replying to your telegram dated yesterday and received this evening, that on account of grave reasons, the disposal of the body of Maximilian cannot be allowed to you.—S. Lerdo de Tejada.»
«San Luis Potosí, June 29th 1867,—Sir: The Prince, while a prissoner in Querétaro, in a letter signed by his own hand and addressed to General Escobedo, on the eve of his death, expressed the desire that his mortal remains should be delivered to me and Doctor Samuel Basch, his physician, in order that Doctor Basch might accompany them to Europe, and that I might undertake to have the body embalmed, and attend to every thing concerning its removal to Europe.
«According to the will of the deceased Prince, which he expressed to me verbally, the removal of his remains must be made without any display an din a manner to carefully avoid every thing that might excite demonstrations or even public curiosity.
«Repeating therefore, the request which I had the honor to make to Your Excellency, to be pleased to have the necessary orders issued that the mortal remains might be delivered to me, I shall willingly yield to the desires which may exist relative to the removal of the body to the coast and on board of one of the ships of the Austrian Navy, stationed in Veracruz.
«I avail myself of this opportunity to repeat to Your Excellency the assurances of my high consideration.— A. V. Magnus. —To His Excellency Sr. D. Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada.»
«San Luis Potosí, June 30th 1867.—To Baron A. V. Magnus etc., etc., etc.—Sir: I have received the communication which you addressed to me yesterday, stating that the Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Hapsburg, on the eve of his death, expressed the desire that his mortal remains should he delivered to you and Dr. Samuel Basch, in order that they might be removed to Europe. «As I have before had the honor to say to you, there are several considerations which induce the Government of the Republic to think that it ought not to permit that the mortal remains of the Archduke should be taken to Europe.
«For this reason, I regret to have to reply to you that the Government cannot issue the orders which you have desired for that purpose.
«I avail myself of this opportuniy to repeat to you, that I am your respecful and obedient servant.— S. Lerdo de Tejada.»
«C. Lerdo de Tejada, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and of the Interior.—The undersigned, with due respect, has the honor to state to you, Mr. Secretary, that as private physician of the late Archduke Maximilian, I was requested by him to take his body to Europe and deliver it to his family.
«That such was his will is apparent by the letter signed by himself which, under date of the 16th of last June, he addressed to Mr. Carlos Rubio in Querétaro, of which letter I have the honor to enclose a copy (marked A), and also by another one, dated the 18th of the same month, the original of which is held by General Escobedo, as it is stated in the letter of Colonel Ricardo Villanueva, which is enclosed herewith (marked B).
«I consider the fulfilment of this order as a sacred duty, and I make bold, in the discharge thereof, to beg of you, Mr. Secretary, to be pleased to order that the said body be delivered to me. This petition is grounded on the fact that by your orders the bodies of his companions in misfortune have been delivered to their families, and that never at any time has the Supreme Government refused to deliver a body to the families who have asked for it.
«I beg of you, finally, to be pleased to answer this my respectful petition, be the reply whatever it may, so that, upon returning to my country, I may be able to prove before the family of the late Archduke, that, on my part, everything possible was done to obtain the carrying home of the mentioned body.
«In this a favor would be received by your most respectful and obedient servant.—Dr. Samuel Basch.—To the Citizen Secretary.—Mexico, July 27th 1867.»
«Department of Foreign Affairs and of the Interior.—Department of the Interior.—First Section.—In view of your petition, dated yesterday, asking permission to take to Europe the mortal remains of the Archduke Maximilian, the President of the Republic has decided, on account of several and serious considerations, that it is not posible to acceede to the petition alluded to.—Independence and Liberty. Mexico, July 29th 1867.—Lerdo de Tejada.—To Doctor Samuel Basch.»
«Diario Oficial of the Supreme Government of the Republic.—1st Volume.—Number 82, issue of Saturday, November 6th 1867.—REMOVAL OF THE BODY OF THE ARCHDUKE MAXIMILIAN TO AUSTRIA.—On the 9th of September we published the documents relative to the mission on which vice-Almiral Tegetthoff came to Mexico. The Government then replied to him that in order to resolve whether the removal of the body of the Archduke Maximilian to Austria would be permitted, it was necessary that the question should be examined considering the petition asking for the Archduke's body either as an official act of the Austrian Government or as an express act of the family of the Archduke, and that the Government would be willing to grant the permission whenever either of the two characters of the petition might be well defined, taking in consideration the natural and pious feelings by which it should be made.
«This petition has been made in the name of both the Austrian Government and the family of the Archduke, by a note from the Prime Minister of that Nation, which note we now publish, together with the reply of the Government of the Republic, stating that the body will be immediately delivered, in order that it may be removed to Austria.» «Mr. Minister:—A premature death having wrested the Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian from the affection of his family, His Imperial and Royal Apostolic Majesty feels the natural desire that the mortal remains of his unfortunate brother should find their last resting place in the vault which contains the ashes of the Princes of the House of Austria. The father, the mother and the other brothers of the august dead; and, in general, all the members of the Imperial Family participate in this desire.
«The Emperor, my august master, entertains the confidence that the Mexican Government, yielding to a feeling of humanity, will not refuse to mitigate the just grief of His Majesty in facilitating the verification of this desire.
«Consequently, vice-Admiral Tegetthoff has been sent to Mexico with instructions to solicit from the President the delivery of the remains of the beloved brother of His Majesty, in order that they may be brought to Europe.
«On my part, I have been ordered, in my capacity of Minister of the Imperial House, to ask the benevolent interference of Your Excellency to obtain for the vice-Admiral the necessary authority to fulfil his instructions.
«Having the honor, Mr. Minister, to beg of you, in anticipation, to be the channel to convey the gratitude of the august Imperial family to the Chief of the State for the compliance with their desire, and that yon yourself will accept the expression of their gratitude for the kind offices with which you may be pleased to contribute, I avail myself of this opportunity to offer to Your Excellency the assurances of my high consideration.—Vienna, September 25th 1867.—The Chancellor of the Empire.—Beust.»
«Department of Foreign Affairs.—México, November 4th 1867.—Mr. Minister:—Vice-Admiral Tegetthoff has delivered to me the note of Your Excellency, dated the 25th of September last.
«Your Excellency has been pleased to communicate to me in said note that His Majesty the Emperor of Austria, entertains the natural desire that the mortal remains of his brother, the Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, should find their last resting place in the vault which contains the ashes of the princes of the house of Austria; that the father, the mother and the other brothers of the Archduke, and, in general, all the members of the Imperial family participate in this desire; and that His Majesty, the Emperor, entertaining the confidence that the Mexican Government, under a sentiment of humanity, will facilitate the verification of that desire, has sent vice-Admiral Tegetthof to Mexico with instructions to solicit from the President permission for him to take to Europe the remains of the Archduke.
«The President of the Republic, having been informed of the just feelings expressed in the note of Your Excellency, has not hesitated to order that the natural desire of His Majesty, the Emperor of Austria, and of the Imperial family, be complied with and satisfied, with great consideration.
«According to the orders of the President, I have informed vice-Admiral Tegetthoff that the mortal remains of the Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian shall be immediately delivered to him, so that he may be able to take them to Austria, in compliance with the object of his mission.
«I have the honor, Mr, Minister, to express to Your Excellency the assurances of my most distinguished consideration.—S. Lerdo de Tejada.—To His Excellency Count de Beust, Chancellor of the Empire and Minister of the Imperial House of Austria.—Vienna.»
«Diario Oficial of the Supreme Government of the Republic.—Volume I. Number 83. Sunday, November 10th 1867.—The Body of Maximilian.—In some moments, the body of Maximilian of Hapsburg will be taken away from this capital and within a very short time it will be received on board of the ship "Novara" which will transfer it to his country. Respectable persons, who have been appointed to this effect by the Government of the Republic and by that of Austria, will carry out this sad operation and the commission will be executed with all due decorum and with the respecful attention which ought to be rendered to the dead and which the culture of our people demands.
«The body is very well embalmed; and although a thousand calumnies have been uttered abroad respecting the condition in which it is, we are able to assert that it does not show any important decomposition, apart from the natural alterations which ought to result after the cesassion of life, such as the darkening of the skin and the partial falling of the hair; but in every other respect it is in the best condition of preservation that could be expected. The doctors who have taken care of preserving the body, have been especially diligent in doing every thing that was within their power to counteract the destructive work of climatic influences which act against the safest preparations known to science to avoid putrefaction, and they have succeeded, for the body has not undergone any remarkable alterations.
«The body is dressed in black, and rests on velvet cushions, in a rosewood coffin, elegantly and handsomely worked, showing the good taste and ingenuouness of the builder. On the lid, a cross is worked in relief, inter twined in vine leaves, and this alone constitutes, in the idea and the execution, a very handsome ornament. As it is to be supposed, the rest of the work, in its details, is not inferior to the principal part, and shows no fault worth mentioning. This coffin is deposited in a zinc case, which excludes the air, and both are contained in another case made of cedar, which although intended only for a mere provissional covering, has been made with no less careful attention. A especial car has also been prepared in which all this can be carried, and in the interior, as well as in the exterior, all has been done in such a manner as to prevent jolting during the voyage on land and by sea, from shaking the remains of him who in life was Maximilian Archduke of Austria. The Mexican Government has deemed it its duty, on this occasion, to appropriate the necessary expenses, and to act with the refinement and decorum corresponding to the Nation it represents; and if, under the actual circumstances, anything can be said in Europe respecting our action, it is that if an imperious political necessity obliged Mexico to apply the last penalty to a foreign invader, Mexico nevertheless understands how to silence her passions in the presence of a sepulchre.
«With the return which we make to Europe of the body of Maximilian, deep and serious reflections arise, and history offers a lesson which ought to be profited by, since the fate of Iturbide failed to teach anything useful to the enemies of the liberty of Mexico.»
We deem it convenient to now publish other official documents relative to the expenses paid by the Government of Mexico for the purpose o£ embalming and of preserving the body of the unfortunate Archduke:
« In due fulfilment of the instructions contained in the note which, under date of the 12th of September last, yon were pleased to address to us, ordering us to examine the body of the Archduke Maximilian, which was embalmed in Queretaro, and to do, if necessary, whatever should be proper in order to keep it in a good state of preservation, on the 13th of same month we went to the church of the Hospital of San Andres, where the body was deposited, and there being present the General Inspector of Police and three officers, after the body was taken out from the wooden and zinc cases in which it had been placed in Queretaro, we proceeded to undress it and to take off the bandages, placing it afterwards on the Gaudl table.
«From that day until the 8th instant, keeping always the body on the said table, we continued practising all those partial or general operations which appeared to be the most adequate for its proper preservation.
«The viscera having been taken out from the two leaden cases in which they were found, we placed them in a preserving bath while we completed our operations on the body.
«When these operations were finished, we agreed to place the viscera in their natural cavities, for which purpose we filled them with lint mixed with the powder recommended by Soubeiran; and we placed in the cavity of the skull, through the aperture already made there, all the large and small pieces into which the cerebrum had been cut, as also the cerebellum, the protuberance and a part of the oblong medulle. In the same manner, we placed in the abdomen and in the thorax, the heart, the lungs, the œsofagus, the thoracic aorta, the liver, the stomach, the bowels, the spleen and the kidneys.
« After having been properly bandaged with fine and varnished white linen and with guttapercha, we dressed the body with the clothes delivered by Mr. Davidson, excepting two pieces of underwear which were bought, as they were not found in the baggage which was in the posession of this gentleman.
« The body was then placed in a double case of varnished cedar and passion-wood, in the form of an urn, two meters 20 centimeters long, 60 centimeters high, and 75 centimeters wide, with a solid lock, the body lying in such a manner that it cannot be displaced in any way, not even by completely turning the case over. This case was placed in another of zinc, which having been hermetically closed by soldering, was covered by yet another ordinary wooden coffin, painted in black, to prevent the zinc case from being perforated by any accident whatever.
« All the objects which we used in our operations Were burned this morning in the grave-yard of Santa Paula, as were also the coffins, clothes, bandages etc., which came from Queretaro.
« All these operations were performed in the presence of the Inspector of Police and of the officers alluded to; and having been finished at ten o'clock to-night, we have delivered the body to the said Inspector of Police.
«Mexico, November 11th 1867.—Rafael Montaño Ramiro.—Ignacio Alvarado.—Agustín Andrade.—To the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and of the Interior.»
«Taking in consideration that General Mariano Escobedo, commander in chief of the Army of operations against Queretaro, intrusted Doctor Ignacio Rivadeneyra, who was employed in the Medical Military Corps, with the operation of embalming the body of Maximilian in Queretaro, the President of the Republic has ordered that one thousand dollars ($1000) be paid to Doctor Rivadeneyra as a recompense for the said operation, with the understanding that in case it should be hereafter decided that, apart from their salaries, an amount ought to be paid to all or some of the persons who assisted in the operation alluded to, then this sum shall be charged in account.
«The said one thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be delivered to colonel Juan C. Doria, in payment of a document for the same amount from Doctor Rivadeneyra.
«I comunícate this to you so that you may issue the necessary order.
«Independence and Liberty. México, November 13th 1867.—Lerdo de Tejada.—To the Secretary of the Treasury.»
«To day I have addressed to the Secretary of the Treasury the following official communication: Taking in consideration, etc., etc., etc And I transcribe it to you for your information.—Independence and Liberty. Mexico, November 13th 1867.—Lerdo de Tejada.—To Doctor Ignacio Rivadeneyra.—Puebla.»
«We, the undersigned, beg of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and of the Interior to be pleased to inform us where we ought to apply for the payment of six thousand dollars due to us for the-work we performed in the preservation of the body of the Archduke Maximilian, which was intrusted to us.
«At the same time we beg of you to be the worthy channel through which we may present to the Supreme Government the most sincere expression of our gratitude for the confidence it reposed on us in committing the said commission to our charge.
«We offer to you the assurances of our respectful consideration.
«Independence and Liberty. Mexico, November 21st 1867.—I. Alvarado.—Rafael Montaño Ramiro.—A. Andrade.—To the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and of the Interior."
«The President of the Republic has ordered, in conformity with the petition of Doctors Ignacio Alvarado, Rafael Montaño Ramiro, and Agustin Andrade that the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000) be paid to each one of them as fees for their work in the preservation of the body of the Archduke Maximilian of Austria, which was intrusted to them by the Supreme Government.
«I communicate this to you so that you may issue the necessary orders.
"Independence and Liberty. México, November 23rd 1867.—Lerdo de Tejada.—To the Secretary of the Treasury."
«The President of the Republic has ordered that two hundred and fifteen dollars, seventy-nine cents ($215 79) be paid to Doctor Ignacio Alvarado, as balance of the expenses incurred in this city for the preservation and delivery of the body of the Archduke Maximilian of Austria.
«I communicate this to you so that you may be pleased to issue the necessary order, charging said sum to the account of general expenses of the Department of Foreign Affairs. «Independence and Liberty. México, November 23rd 1867.—Lerdo de Tejada.—To the Secretary of the Treasury."
«I have the honor to enclose the note of the distribution of, and the vouchers for, the seven hundred and fifteen dollars, seventy eight cents. ($ 715 78) which I received from the General Treasury for the operations performed according to your orders, in embalming and preserving the body of the Archduke Maximilian, so that if you think it proper, you will be pleased to order that the corresponding document may be issued and delivered to me.
«México, December 26th 1867.—Ignacio Alvarado.—To the Secretrary of Foreign Affairs."
«Department of Foreign Affairs.—Section of Europe.—Enclosed in your note, dated the 26th instant, this Department received the account with vouchers of the distribution made by you of the seven hundred and fifteen dollars seventy eight cents ($715 78) which were delivered to you by the General Treasury to pay the necessary expenses to embalm and preserve the body of the Archduke Maximilian; and the President of the Republic on being informed thereof, has approved the same, duly appreciating the services which you have rendered in the fulfillment of the commission with which you were intrusted. You can present at once the receipt for the balance which results in your favor, so that this Department may pay you said balance.
«Independence and Liberty. Mexico, December 28th 1867.—Lerdo de Tejada.—To the citizen Ignacio Alvarado.»
- ↑ We do not agree with the Voz de Mexico in what it says for the purpose of excusing Cesar Cantú. However extensive may have been the circulation in Europe of Saldapenna's journal, and of Salm-Salm's book; however much the European press may have repeated the calumny against Juarez, it was the duty, and a sacred one, of the Italian historian, in all preference, to first consult before, writing, the official documents published here, and which would have opened to him a way to reach the truth whithout difficulty. The Diario Oficial of the Mexican Government, when publishing (September 9th, 1867), the documents referring to the delivery of the body of Maximilian, said, and truly said, that they (the documents), give the lie to the absurd and stupid commentaries of the foreign press, etc. Why did not Cesar Cantu consult these documents? Why did he prefer, without any correction-whatever, to reproduce one-sided statements, false data, and unjust charges, which, precisely because of their origin, ought at least to have appeared to him suspicious?
- ↑ The Spanish translator-of Cesar Cantu's work, when he saw the insults heaped upon the Mexican people, their public men, their army, etc. could not abstain from adding the following words in a note, which we copy: This manner of maligning a whole people is inexcusable; the affection of the historian for the deceived Archduke cannot be accepted as an attenuating circumstance."