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THEE LAST MOMENTS OF MAXIMILIAN.
Galignani's Messenger of July 9 contains the fol
lowing article, purporting to be a republication from
the New Orleans Picayune of the details given by the
Esperanzo de Queretaro of Juue 20 of the last mo
ments of the Emperor Maximilian :
" The first messenger who reached San Luiz di Po
tosi on the morning of the 19th May did not return
with the orders of the President until the 22nd. The
Emperor was then informed that he had to appear
before a council of war. He protested in writing,
and claimed to be tried by the Chamber of Notables,
which had called him to the throne. Proceedings
were in consequence suspended, and his letters and
the papers which had been seized were forwarded to
Juarez. The answer was not received until the 30th.
It was a refusal, based uron this tact, which no im
partial person contest, that the Chamber of Notables
had not been convoked by the head of the republic;
but Juarez, animated by a laudable sentiment, offered
to spare the Emperor's life on condition that he took
an oath never again to set foot on Mexican soil and
signed a declaration of his own abdication. Spon
taneously and by worp of mouth, Maximilian replied
that he would accept both conditions with pleasure
provided the ofl.cers and soldiers captured with him
were also amnested. He was at that time ignorant
of the fate of Castillo and Avellano. That require
ment was also agreed to, and other communications
took place, which, however, led to nothing further.
"The council at length met in a secret sitting on
the morning of the ] lth, under the presidency of
General Corona, with whom were Generals Escobedo,
Martinez, Ruiz, Negrete, and two colonels. The
three prisoners were brought before this tribunal.
Maximilian declined to avail himself of the assistance
of an advocate, whilst Mejia and Miramon chose one
to defend them conjointly. We have been unable to
obtain the details of this sitting, which did not last
an hour. The condemnation, which was sent off the
same lday, was not returned until the morning of the
18th. The President, it is affirmed, was nuclined to
clemency; but our minister at Washington, Romero,
overcame that disposition, anil obtained the order for
execution, notwithstanding the plea that only a small
majority had affirmed the sentence.
" As soon as General Corona was put in possession
.of the necessary document, the three prisoners were
informed of it. They manifested no surprise, because
it had been impossible to conceal from themi any"
longer the fate of the others Maximilian simply
,requested that they might be left together until the
last moment, which was graciously accorded. They
:were transferred to the building, formerly a "convent
-which served as an hospital for the French troops,
because the hall on the ground floor was commodious
and spacious, and had a pleasant prospect out,upon
the garden of the interior court. An altar was raised
at the fuarther end; and the sentinels were instructed
to fire upon any one attempting to enter or come out
without a written permission from Captain Gonzales.
The only person allowed to enter was the Abbe Fis
cher, secretary and religious adviser of the Emperor.
Some time after the Bishop of Queretaro arrived,
offering his sacred ministration, which was accepted
after a brief consultation between the prisoners. The
night was passed in quiet conversation, and the con
demned men confessed. Miramoil was suffering
greatly from the wound in his eye, which he con
stantly bathed with cold water. Mejia fell into a
deep sleep.
" Maximilian asked for paper and pens, which, in
the taiddle of the night, were found with some diffi
culty. He wrote two letters, one in German, w6
dressed to his mother the Archduchess Sophia,; rad
the other to his wife. He confided them to the bishop,
begging him to have them forwarded. Ile added a
lock of his hair, which the wife of one of the guards"
came and cut off for him He kissed it, folded it
together, and slipped it into the envelope, which was
already sealed. Towards four in the morning the
Emperor desired to hear mass, which was said by the
bishop. Mejia was roused up, and all three commu
nicated. After mass, Maximilian appears to have
remained for a long time kneeling on the hard stones,
for there was no prie-Dieu, with his head bent, and
his hands over his eyes. Whether he was praying or
weeping is uncertain. Miramon was pale and doma
cast; Mejia was radiant-for we muust rememrber that
he is an Indian, and that it is glorious for hlfn to die
along with his master-as he declared.
"' At 7 o'clock the notes of a military band were
heard; and Captain Gonzales entered the chapel with
bandages to blindfold the prisoners. Miramon sub
mitted to the operation quietly. Mejia refused, and
as the captain was about to use force, the bishop
whispered a few words to the general, who then ac
quiesced. But the Emperor, coming forward, de
clared that, as to himself he would not be blindfolded.
After a moment's hesitation, Gonzales, wilh a friendly
salutation to Maximilian, went and took his place at
the head of the escorting party. The procession then
moved forward, a squadron of lancers in front, fol
lowed by the band playing a funeral march. A bat
talion of infantry, formed in two lines, composed the
remainder of the escort. When it reached the prin
cipal gate of the hospital, M'1jia said aloud :-' Sire,
give to us for the last time the example of your noble
courage; we follow your majesty."
" The Franciscan friars now appeared, the two in
front bearing the cross and holy water, the others
holding tapers. Each of the three colffins intended
for the doomed men was carried by a group of four
Indians: three black crosses to be fixed where each
prisoner knelt for execution were borne last. Cap
tain Gonzales then made a sign to Maximilian to
move forward. The Emperor advanced courageously
saying to the two generals, 'Vamos nos a.la li
bertad !'
" The procession slowly ascended the street leading
to the cemetery, behind the church, and by the road
approaching the aqueduct. It soon came out upon
the height overlooking the plain, and, seen from be
low, the appearance o1 the cortege was most impres
sive. The Emperor walked first, having the Abbe
Fischer on his right, and the bishop on his left. Im
mediately behind came Miramon, supported on each
side by Franciscans, and Mejia between two priests
belonging to the parish of Santa Cruz. When the
procession reached the summit of the hill, Maximi
lian looked steadily at the rising sun ; then, taking
out his watch, he pressed a spring which concealed a
.portrait, in miniature, of the Empress Charlotte, He
kissed it, and, handing the chain to the Abbe Fischer
said. 'Carry this souvenir to Europe to my dear
wife, and if she.be ever able to understand you, say
that my eyes closed wiLh the impression of her image,
which I shall carry with me above !'
* The cortege had now reached the great exterior
vall of the cemetery, and the bells were slow!y!toll.
ng a funeral knell; only those composing the escort
~re prP1cnt. for the crwd b.,l hvl.o.Xn" ir.-'rrrd :frprn
ascending the hill. Three small benches with the
,wooden crosses were placed against the wall; and
the three shooting parties, each having two non
commissioned officers as a reserve, for the coup de
grace, approached within a few paces of the prisoners.
"The Emperor, at the noise made by the move
ment of the muskets, thought the soldiers were about
to fire, and, rapidly turning to his two companions,
he embraced them most affectionately. Miramon,
surprised, very nearly sank upon the seat, where he
remained quite helpless; and the Franciscans raised
him in their arms. Mejia returned the embrace of
Maximilian, whispering some broken words which
were not overheard ; he then folded his arms and re
mained standing. The bishop advancing, addressed
the Emperor :-' Sire, give to Mexico, without any
exception, the kiss ot reconcilation in my person;
let your majesty, in this supreme moment, accord
pardon to all.' The Emperor was unable to conceal
the emotion which agitated him; he allowed the
bishop to embrace him-then raising his voice, he
said :-' Tell Lopez that I forgive him his treachery
--tell all Mexico that I pardon its crime,' His ma
jesty then pressed the hand of the Abbe Fischer,
who, unable to utter a word, sank at the feet of the
Emperor, bathing with tears his hands, which he
kissed. Many present wept bitterly. Maximilian
gently extricated his hand, and advancing a step
said with a melancholy smile to the officer command
ing the executing party, a la disposicion de usted.
At that moment, on a sign given by the officer, the
muskets were levelled against the Emperor's breast,
he murmured a few words in German, and the dis
charge enveloped the spectators in smoke. Miramon
-fell-heavily to the grounnd; Mejia remained erect,
and waved his arms about, but a ball through the
head ended his agony
"The. Emperor fell back upon the -cross, which
sustained his corpse; the body was immediately
raised and plaied in a 'coffin, as were those of.- the
two generals. All three were buried without delay
in the cemetery.
" General Corona subsequentl'y- summoned the
Sprelate, and demanded tnhe surrender.:of the:letters.
The one addressed to the-:Archduchess -Sophia. was
not opened, as she, being the mother of the Emperor,
could not be supplosed to ,rcdeive any dangerous
communication from her son: °That- to the: Euprress
fCharfotte was unsealed : for weighty-= and justifiable
political and State: reasonis; and iwe have: been
allowed to take a copy of it. -Its terms, are these.
It was written in:French -
" My dearly beloved Carlotta,--If God one day
permits your recovery, and you read these lines, you
will learn the cuelty of the ill fortune which has un
:ceasingly pursued me since your departure for.
Europe. You took with you all my chance and my
soul. Why did I not listen to your counsel ? So
many events, alas! so many sudden blows have
broken all my holies, that death is for me a happy
deliverance, and not an agony. I fall gloriously, as
a soldier-as a king vanquished, but not dishonoured
If your sufferings be too great-if God call you
speedily to rejoin me, I will bless the divine hand
'hich has so heavily pressed upon us. Adieu,
your poor MB.' "
A Vienna letter says that that the accounts re
ceived from Miramar respecting the Empress Char
lotte are very sad. All hope of recovery seems to
have vanished. The Morgen post says :
" The menlal alienation has now attained to such
a pitch that the unhappy princess cannot be left
alone for an instant; and has several times attempted
her. lite. Two rece'nt attempts of this kind were
fortunately prevented ky the watchfulness of Dr.
Siek, who has the augub patient under his care.
Nevertheless, the Empress Ie occasionally, for a few
moments at a time, in full possession of her feculties.
In one of these lucid intervils lately she-said, 'I
do not desire to live any longer; death is preferable
to such an existance?' the after a short pause she
asked, ' Where is my husband? Shall I never see
him more? No, no, he is dead, and I am still left
in the world.' Scarsely a quarter of an hour passes
that the Empress does not ask for news of the Em
porer Maximillian. The physical condition of her
Majesty also inspire very serious alarm."
LONGFELLOW AND THE BLACKING MAKER.
Some of the Bohemian letter writers give us
this story of Longfellow :-He was staying a
few years ago at Newport, shut up in seclusion,
deeply intent upon the production :of some
poetical work. A man demanded admittance,
but was refused by the servant. He was
importunate, and Longfellow was consulted,
and admittance again denied. At last the
man, broke through all obstructions, and
bursting into the poet's study. Said he,
heedless of t ie poet's frown, " Mr Longfellow,
you must excuse my interruption, but I have
business that is of more importance to you
even gthan to me, and I have come down
frbm Boston to see you. You know them
English blacking fellows, Warran, and them
others kept a poet, and their blacking went
off because of their verses. Now I'm in the
blacking business, and I thought if we were
to go partners, you could make the rhymes
and I the blacking and we could divide and
make a good thing out of it." "Put him outT
put him out l" shrieked Longfellow, in an
excess of-indignation and astonishment; andri
the indiscreet I-lacking-maker left the room
with greater speed than he had anticipated
for the sale of his blacking.
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