CHAPTER XIII.
Reactionary Influence of the new Ministry—Maximilian's injudicious Innovations—Fall of Tampico—Correspondence thereon—Marshal Bazaine's Explanations—Mutiny of the Belgian Contingent—Singular Loss of Belgian Despatches—Bad State of the National Army—Complaints made by the French Commandants of the Cazadores—Well-founded Appeal of General Guttierez—Clerical Interference with the Course of Justice.
IT was to be expected that the influence of the new ministry would soon begin to show itself; anxious as they were to take revenge for the liberal measures which were inaugurated before Maximilian's arrival at Mexico, when the commander-in-chief declared that the sales of mortmain property were valid, except in cases of fraudulent acquisition. Our head-quarters authorities felt displeased at having to be associated with a policy of so decidedly reactionary a character. It was not long before hostilities broke out between the crown, now alas! subjected to untoward influences, and the military representative of the French government. The marshal might now congratulate himself that he had been the means of sparing Mexico all the severities of a state of siege, which would indeed have been terrible in the hands of religious fanaticism.
The capture by the rebels of the port of Tampico,—so important for its customs' receipts—formed a pretext for an attack by the ministers, who had for a moment flattered themselves that our flag, being compromised by a sudden conflict with the United States, would become so committed to the war, that France, so far from being able to withdraw, would find herself
