472 ITCEBIDE who was then at Acapulco at the head of the remaining rebel forces. On Nov. 1C, 1820, ho set out from the capital, and to lull the suspi- cions of the government simulated some en- counters with Guerrero, to whom he in reality communicated his project ; and having con- certed with him relative to future operations, he informed the viceroy that the rebellion was entirely at an end. This intelligence restored confidence among merchants, and a convoy was despatched to Acapulco with $525,000, which money Iturbide seized, promising to refund it to its owners. With these resources at his disposal, and secret agents in all parts of the country, he promulgated on Feb. 24, 1821, his plan of independence, known in history as the " plan of Iguala," from the name of the tovn where it was put forth. The principal bases of the plan were " religion, union of Spaniards and Mexicans, and independence ; Ferdinand VII., or in case of his refusal, such other member of a reigning family as the con- gress soon to be organized might choose, to be called to the new empire." His next step was to inform the viceroy of what had taken place ; and the latter immediately organized an army to crush the revolution in its infancy. But this measure came too late ; public opinion was everywhere in favor of the plan of Iguala, and its author began his march toward the capital with comparatively little opposition, his forces increasing daily. Meantime the newly ap- pointed viceroy, Don Juan de O'Donoju, ar- rived from Spain, and finding the suppression of the new order of things to be impossible, he concluded with Iturbide, at Cordova, Aug. 24, 1821, a treaty in accordance with the plan of Iguala, except in the clause relating to the elec- tion of emperor, who, in case of the refusal of Ferdinand VII. and of some other princes enumerated, should be " any one designated by the cortes." On Sept. 27 Iturbide made his entry into the capital amid the acclamations of the people. The junta guberndtiva prescribed in the plan of Iguala was at once organized, and Iturbide, who at Iguala had prudently re- fused the title of lieutenant general, and ac- cepted that of first chief of the army, was formally installed in office. Peace was soon established ; the few Spanish troops in garrison at important stations became discouraged ; the only stronghold left to the Spanish government was the fortress of San Juan de Ulna off Vera Oruz ; and the peninsula of Yucatan, with the province of Chiapas, and several towns in Gua- temala, declared their independence and were ultimately united to the Mexican empire. Such of the Spanish residents as desired to leave the country were permitted to do so without re- straint ; which liberal measure, with numerous others emanating from the new government, served to increase its short-lived popularity. But Iturbide, who had been so successful in organizing and carrying out a bloodless revolu- tion, was unable to establish a government upon a solid basis. A regency, composed of three members, according to the plan, was appointed ; Iturbide was proclaimed generalissimo of the land and marine forces, and president of the regency, with an annual salary of $120,000, an immediate donation of $1,000,000, 20 square leagues of land in Texas, and the title of serene highness. Before long signs of discord be- tween Iturbide and the junta became visible. The treasury was depleted, and nearly all sources of revenue were cut off, while the na- tional expenses were greatly enhanced ; the army was without discipline ; and public opinion was divided between republicanism and the new form of government. Iturbide hastened the convocation of the first congress, in the hope of immediate relief; but that body obstinately refused to grant him money for the troops, and even declared the command of the army to be incompatible with the executive power. But the generalissimo had 16,000 men at his dis- posal in the capital ; and through the agency of his partisans, who knew his popularity with the military, he was proclaimed emperor on the night of May 18, 1822. On the 21st the proclamation was confirmed by congress, which declared the crown hereditary in his family, fixed the civil list at $1,500,000 annually, created an order of knighthood and other ac- cessories of a monarchy, established the impe- rial household with the customary pomp, and ordered money to be coined with his effigy. He was crowned on July 21. But the symp- toms of anarchy had not disappeared ; the friends of liberal institutions either fled or temporized ; and a conspiracy organized in Valladolid led to the arrest of several persons suspected of participating therein, and among them 15 deputies. This act, together with the arbitrary seizure by the government of $1,300,- 000 deposited at Perote and Jalapa, exaspera- ted the people ; and the emperor, harassed by the continued opposition of the congress, dis- solved that body by decree on Oct. 31. But Santa Anna proclaimed the republic at Vera Cruz on Dec. 2; the junto iwtituyente, which had succeeded the congress, was unable to es- tablish order ; defection became general among the army officers, and the republican troops were fast advancing to the capital. Iturbide in despair hastily reassembled the congress, and tendered his abdication; but that body, not recognizing the abdication, annulled the election of the emperor, and decreed that he should at once leave the country and " fix his residence in Italy," granting him a yearly pen- sion of $25,000, and declaring null the plan of Iguala and the treaty of Cordova. On May 11, 1823, Iturbide set sail for Leghorn, whither he arrived on Aug. 2. But, impelled by an in- sane desire for the recovery of his crown, he proceeded to England, and on May 11, 1824, embarked for Mexico. During the year a new government had been formed, with a republi- can constitution, and Iturbide had no influen- tial friends left in the country. The govern- ment, apprised of his movements, declared him
