inhabitants, including citizens of the United States. This demanded prompt action. Only a few days before that, Captain Aynesley had received a despatch from the British Minister in Mexico, saying that all diplomatic relations had ceased between the Imperial authorities and the representatives of foreign powers. So disquieting had been the tenor of that communication that Captain Gröller of the "Elizabeth," in his anxiety to obtain authentic news of his Prince, had gone the length of begging Captain Roe to ask permission for him to send a courier to the capital, which was accorded him. In the face of this exposé of the situation, Bureau's action seemed perfectly indefensible. Communicating hastily with the English and French commanders, Roe induced them to accompany him to the city, where they called the three consuls together, and then requested Señor Bureau to attend, which he did. When they were all assembled. Captain Roe addressed the Commissary and informed him that it had come to his knowledge that certain extraordinary and high-handed proceedings were threatening Americans. Bureau decidedly and emphatically denied all and every design to annoy citizens of the United States or any other friendly nation, and pledged his word that they should be respected in all their rights and liberties; he furthermore begged to be informed if at any time in the future there should seem to be cause for complaint. This
