1625.) 
conferred upon. the person. whom the 
Cortes of the Empire shall designate.” 
By a subsequent article it is agreed, 
that, conformably to the Spirit of the 
“Plan of Ignala,’” a Provisional Junta 
shall be named, composed of men most 
eminent for their virtues, rank and in- 
fluence; who may ensure, by their col- 
lective knowledge, the safety of the re- 
solutions which they may take, in pur- 
suance of the powers granted them by 
the following articles :—The Provisional 
Junta to name a regency, composed of 
three persons, who shall govern ad in- 
terim, according to the existing laws, 
so far as they may not be contrary to 
the “ Plan-of Ignala:” the Regency to 
proceed immediately to the convocation 
of the Cortes. 
On the conclusion of this treaty, the 
city of Mexico was delivered up by Don 
Juan to Iturbidé, who made his entry, 
September 27, 1821, and was forthwith 
installed President of the Regency- 
What might have been the ultimate result 
of the accommodating policy of Don Juan 
cannot be known, as his death soon oc- 
curred from the fever incident to the 
climate. “ From this period,” says 
Captain Hall, “to the end of March 
1822, Iturbidé’s plans were carried 
steadily forward; the deputies to Con- 
gress gradually drew together from the 
different provinces; and he had time to 
collect, in his favour, the suffrages of the 
remotest towns. The Trigaranti co- 
lours were worn by all classes; and, 
by a thousand other ingenious ma- 
neeuvres, the people were gradually 
taught to associate their present freedom 
with the celebrated ‘ Plan of Ignala.’— 
The Mexican Cortes met on the 24th 
February 1822, and one of their first 
edicts granted permission for all who 
chose to leave the country. A rumour 
was also circulated, that the Inquisition 
might probably be re-established: a 
prospect no less grateful to the clergy, 
than a free export of specie to the mer- 
chants; and Iturbidé himself, at this 
juncture, condescended to-advocate the 
cause of the army: thus adroitly con- 
triving to bring all parties into the best 
possible humour with himself.” 
On the 18th May, he presented to the 
Cortes two Madrid Gazettes, of the 
13th and 14th February, declaring the 
treaty of Cordova illegal, null and void, 
by an act of the Extraordinary Cortes ; 
announcing, moreover, that Spain had 
not relinquished any one of the rights 
which she possessed over her colonies. 
This was, beyond all doubt, precisely 
On the Conduct and Character of Iturlidé. 
819 
what Iturbidé expected; and “ the 
Mexican congress immediately resolved, 
that, being left at liberty, under these 
circumstances, to elect an emperor, 
they thought fit to appoint Don Augus- 
tin Iturbidé the first constitutional Em- 
peror of Mexico, on the basis pro- 
claimed in the ‘ Plan of Ignala.’? This 
was accompanied by a manifesto, con- 
taining a high panegyric on the glorious 
acts and qualities of the emperor.” 
Nevertheless, what was easy to anti- 
cipate actually happened. “ The Em- 
peror and the Cortes did not long agree. 
Conspiracies were formed among the 
members ; arrests and trials took place ; 
and violent resolutions were passed. At 
length, on the 30th October, Iturbidé 
dissolved the assembly éy force, and 
formed a new assembly, called the 
‘ Instituent Junta,’ consisting of forty- 
five members of the Congress. An in- 
surrection shortly afterwards broke out, 
under an officer of the name of Santana, 
a strenuous republican; and a docu- 
ment, known by the name of the ‘ Act 
of Casa Masa,’ was published on the Ist 
February 1823, by the chiefs of that 
insurrection. By this act, it was deter- 
mined, that the Cortes should be reas- 
sembled, notwithstanding their dissolu- 
tion by the Emperor; proscribing, how- 
ever, certain deputies. Iturbidé, feeling 
himself unequal to resist the tide of 
republicanism which was setting against 
him, reassembled the Cortes, abdicated 
the throne, and requested permission to 
retire from the country; stating, in the 
paper afterwards published by him, 
‘that his presence might have proved 
prejudicial, by exciting the people to civil 
war.’ Had he taken, as he affirms, ‘ any 
other course, the result would have 
been the dissolution of the state.’—‘ It 
was my wish,’ says he, ‘to make this 
last sacrifice for my country.’ ” 
Iturbidé was, accordingly, banished to 
Italy, and came subsequently to Eng- 
land; whence, in June 1824, he sailed 
for Mexico, having discovered, to adopt 
his own language, “ his presence there 
to be necessary, to the establishment of 
unanimity and of government.” The 
result of this decision no one is ignorant 
of; but it cannot fail to excite surprise, 
to hear Captain Hall conclude his very 
fair and impartial statement of facts, by 
saying, “ that Iturbidé’s decision is a 
patriotic and disinterested one, I have 
not the smallest doubt ; and there does 
not appear the least reason for appre- 
hending that his views have any other 
direction than the service of Mexico.” 
Is 
