CHAPTER XIX.
Conference of Mexican Ministers—Seductive Plans of the Clerical Party—Meditated Campaigns by Marquez and Miramon—Maximilian announces his fresh Resolve—His Manifesto—M. Larès' Letter to the French Representatives—Dissatisfaction in the French Camp—Destruction of the French Schemes—Harsh Measures of the Emperor Napoleon—Recall of the Foreign Legion—Mr. Bigelow's Despatch—Irritation at the Tuileries—The lost Despatch—Hostile Feeling between the French and Mexican Governments—Maximilian returns to the Capital.
WHAT, then, were the events which had taken place during the last few days at Jalapilla? The ministers and the council of state, having come down from Mexico to Orizaba under a French escort and with Miramon as their leader, had entered upon a conference, and had remained in consultation for three days (from Saturday until Monday) at the imperial residence. M. Larès, appointed to speak for all the members of the commission, had supplicated the emperor not to leave the territory, asserting, in the name of the clerical party (for whom Abbé Fischer vouched), that his majesty might reckon upon four millions of piastres and an army ready to commence operations. Marquez and Miramon both accepted commands. The former of these generals was to occupy the capital and protect the valley of Mexico and the plateaus of Inahuac against the attempts of Porfirio Diaz; the second was to make his way to the north and give battle to Escobedo's troops. Victory could not be doubtful, especially with the co-operation of the brave Mejia in the interior, whose military fame was no less potent in the Sierra than in the state of Queretaro, which had
