176 MATTHEW FONTAINE MAURY 



thizer, the Reverend Dr. Tremlett, of London, and for 

 his 2000 parishioners, the purpose of which was the 

 organization of a society to encourage remonstrance 

 against the war. This developed into the ''Society for 

 Obtaining the Cessation of HostiHties in America", 

 which was very active during the year 1864. It had its 

 headquarters at 215 Regent Street, London, and num- 

 bered among its officers and members many very influ- 

 ential persons. Leaflets and pamphlets were drawn up 

 and distributed, which called upon the participants to 

 bring the strife and bloodshed, the misery and suffering 

 to a close. Many of these petitions were read in the 

 churches of both Ireland and England, and signatures 

 representing several millions of British people were 

 secured. By that time, however, the war had advanced 

 to that stage in which no such petitions could affect the 

 North and only the complete collapse of the Confederacy 

 would bring the struggle to an end. 



In addition to this work as a propagandist which was 

 carried on more or less in the open, Maury was also 

 concerned in political intrigues with the Emperor 

 Napoleon and Maximilian of Austria. These matters 

 were veiled in secrecy, of course; and it is difficult to 

 determine, at this late day, the exact extent of Maury's 

 operations. But there is evidence that it was very 

 considerable. Napoleon had succeeded in conquering 

 Mexico, and the crown had been offered to the Archduke 

 Maximilian of Austria. Maury, who in the old days in 

 Washington had had correspondence with this Austrian 

 prince, thought the time opportune to write to him 

 concerning a scheme which he thought might be greatly 

 to the advantage of both Mexico and the Confederacy. 

 The plan was the offer of assistance in the separation 



