by this and by the late ill feeling between him and the viceroy, the guadalupe society, in active sym pathy with the insurgents, had approached him, holding forth in alluring colors the fame and position he might acquire by casting his talents and influence with their party, and achieving the independence of an empire. Whether Calleja seriously entertained the proposition or merely sought to keep himself informed of the enemy's plans, remains uncertain; for just when the guadalupes regarded him as won, his appointment came as viceroy, and satisfied the ambitious craving which alone could have induced him to turn traitor.[1] Jealous of the general, and aware to some extent of his leanings, Venegas had not neglected to throw out hints against him to the government in Spain, but the representations of Spanish residents proved stronger. Perhaps it was thought well to secure so able a man with the irresistible bribe of a vice regal sceptre.
While each was watching the other and awaiting the result of their machinations, Venegas had astonished his rival by the appointments lately conferred upon him. Some saw in these acts a desire to humiliate the general by obliging him to appear daily at the palace for orders; others, a mark of confidence and conciliation in view of the foreshadowed change. Though Calleja had refused the position of comandante general of the provincias internas de Oriente,[2] it suited his plans to accept these positions in the capital.
- ↑ Unaware of the extent of the negotiations, Alaman would not believe that he could have proved false. Hist. Méj., ii. 348-9. But Zerecero states that the society used often to meet in the house of his family, and he as secretary knew that the day was fixed when Calleja should join the revolution. Sanchez de Tagle and Licentiate Cristo y Conde, the persecuted asesor general of Iturrigaray, were those who treated with him. The day after Calleja received news of his advancement they came to confer with him as usual. 'If you were not my friends I would have you shot,' was now the startling reply. 'You speak to the viceroy of New Spain.' Mem., 257. Calleja did not abuse the secrets of the society, although availing himself to a great extent of what he knew. Letters by O. Lizana in Adalid, Causa, MS., i. 2-3, hint at Calleja's leanings to independence.
- ↑ As explained by Arechederreta.
