42
ing 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.
