318 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
On the Connuct and Cuaracter of 
Irursipe, late Emperor of Mewxico. 
Te extracts recently published, in 
two volumes, from the interesting 
Journal of Captain Basil Hall, have de- 
servedly met with a highly fayourable 
reception; and no part of this work, 
perhaps, has more excited attention than 
that which treats of the Mexican Revo- 
lution; particularly since the military 
execution of the late Zmperor Iturbideé, 
—of whom Captain Hall appears to have 
thought more highly than the important 
documents, so fairly furnished by himself, 
may, by many of his readers, be thought 
to justify. 
Mexico, like Chili, as we learn from 
this intelligent officer, has been twice 
revolutionized. The first struggle of the 
Mexicans commenced in September 
1810, and was carried on, with various 
success, till July 1819, when the exer- 
tions of the patriots were almost extin- 
guished. About the middle of 1820, 
orders were received from Spain, by 
Apodaca, the viceroy, to proclaim the 
constitution to which Ferdinand VII. 
had lately sworn. This, having pro- 
bably received counter-orders from the 
king, he refused to do, and even levied 
fresh troops to resist its establishment. 
At the same time, General Armigo, 
whose attachment to the cause of free- 
dom was unquestionable, being super- 
seded in his command of the district of 
Aeapulco, that important charge was 
transferred to Don Augustin Iturbidé— 
an officer, who, during the former revo- 
lution, had adhered steadily to the royal 
cause, though a native Mexican, This 
person was implicitly confided in by the 
viceroy, and entrusted by him with the 
escort of treasure, amounting to 500,000 
dollars. Sudden conversions, especially 
under circumstances of great tempta- 
tion, are ever to be suspected ; and, in 
the present instance, no sooner had 
Iturbidé taken possession of this money, 
at a place called Ignala, about 120 miles 
from Mexico, than he commenced the 
Second Mexican Revolution, by the 
publication of a sort of manifesto, styled 
“The Plan of Ignala;” bearing date 
February 24, 1821; proposing, or more 
properly proclaiming, at once, the 
finished model of a new constitution. 
By one of the articles of the “ Plan of 
Ignala,” New Spain is declared inde- 
pendent of Old Spain, and of every other 
country: by another, the imperial crown 
of Mexico was to be offered, first, to 
On the Conduct and Character of Iturbidé. 
{May 1, 
Ferdinand VII.; and, in the event of 
his declining it, to the junior branches of 
the family ; and, should these princes 
refuse, the representative government 
of New Spain should be empowered to 
name the Emperor. By a succeeding 
article, the privileges and immunities of 
the Church were to remain inviolate, 
and the Catholic religion to be main- 
tained in its present pure state. Like- 
wise, secondly, the union of Americans 
and Spaniards in the country is posi- 
tively declared ; and, lastly, the inde- 
pendence of America is to be supported 
by an armed force. These are styled, 
“the Three Guarantees.” 
This plan, as Captain Hall observes, 
“ dexterously involved the dearest in- 
terests of those who had most to lose ;” 
and, by engaging to call the representa- 
tives of the Mexican nation imme- 
diately together, doubts and jealousies 
were dissipated; “ while, at the same 
time,’ as Captain Hall assures us, 
“Tturbidé won the confidence and es- 
teem of every one, by his invariable 
moderation, humanity and justice.” 
Without, however, supposing the 
Mexican republicans to be the dupes of 
this artful policy, it must have been evi- 
dent to all, that the “ Plan of Ignala” 
held out the only chance, under the pre- 
sent circumstances, of establishing the 
freedom and independency of Mexico, 
under any form; and it was at least cal- 
culated to effect the temporary union of 
all parties. 
it impossible to stem the torrent, was, 
in ashort time, glad to abdicate his high 
office; and his successor, General No- 
vella, in vain attempted to restore the 
regal authority. At this crisis, a new 
governor, Don Juan O’Donajo, arrived 
from Spain; who, perceiving the cause 
he was sent to support, hopeless, 
deemed it best to temporize; and, at a 
meeting with Iturbide, at Cordova, a 
treaty was signed, August 24, 182]; by 
which O’Donajo fully recognized the 
“Plan of Ignala,” and even agreed to 
become a member of the Provisional 
Government. - “ This interview,’ to 
adopt the language of the treaty, “ took 
place between Don Juan and Iturbidé: 
the former, under the character with 
which he stood invested; and the latter, 
as representing the Mexican empire.” 
By an article of this treaty, the offer to 
Ferdinand VII. and his brothers was 
again affirmed, with the addition, “ that 
the emperor shall fix his court in Mexi- 
co ;—and, upon the refusal of this offer, 
the imperial crown of Mexico shall be 
conferred 
In fact, the viceroy, finding — 
