ions made their preparations, partaking of the communion, and stood waiting for the death escort, the former calm and in light converse with his attendants, the others engaged with their confessors. The dreaded hour of three came, and still no signs of a guard appeared. More than an hour later an officer came to announce a postponement of the execution to the 19th — the only concession granted by the government — in order to give them time to settle their affairs.[1] "It is a pity," exclaimed Maximilian, "for I was prepared to finish with life." Whatever may have been his feelings, the order roused false hopes in his friends, and led to another vain appeal for mercy, on the ground that death had already been suffered in anticipation.
Maximilian availed himself of the delay to write additional letters and instructions. The counsel received each a letter of thanks,[2] as did likewise his captive officers,[3] while to Juarez he addressed an appeal to stop further bloodshed, and let his death serve to promote tranquillity. With noble impulse he had begged that his two companions might be spared; and this being refused,[4] he commended Miramon's wife and children to his relatives,[5] Mejía having, with touching confidence, charged his debtor and victor, Escobedo, to care for his son. A large number of persons were remembered in his will; a few trinkets
- ↑ Escobedo hail certainly not acted with military strictness in letting the hour fixed pass by. The telegram of reprieve from San Luis Potosí came fully an hour late.
- ↑ The emperor of Austria rewarded them with rich presents, for they refused a fee. Diar. Ofic., July 13, 15, 29, 1868.
- ↑ The proclamation attributed to him, wherein he rails against Napoleon, is not authentic. It appeared in Sombra de Zaragoza, May 21, 1867, suppl. Hall gives a translation in Mex. under Max., 194-5. A proposed denunciation of Marquez was not written. A letter to the pope asked for an indulgent opinion and prayers. Arrangoiz, Méj., iv. 340.
- ↑ In Mejía's case no doubt for the sake of showing that partiality had not been manifested for a native.
- ↑ The empress, or her Belgian relatives. Arrangoiz, iv. 327-30. Domenech speaks of a legacy of $50,000, and an appeal to his brother. Hist. Mex., n. 416. But the letter to Lago says that she was recommended to his mother, Hall, 290–1, receiving a pension of 4,000 florins. Constit., Jan. 17, June 7, 1868. Mem. Hac., 1868, ap. 46, doc. 7, pp. 23-8; Estrella de Occid., June 5, 1868, refer to some landed property of Miramon.
