WITH MAXIMILIAN IN MEXICO 195 



had lost all in the war, while Class B were those who 

 were not in straitened circumstances. The first class 

 were to receive a free passage to Mexico and fare at the 

 rate of a real a mile to certain lands of the public domain 

 which had not as yet been under cultivation, 160 acres 

 to be allotted to a single man and 320 to a man with a 

 family "with pre-emption right to as much more in each 

 case". The other class were to buy lands from the 

 government, which had been more or less under culti- 

 vation, and also private haciendas, both at about one 

 dollar per acre. 



That Maury enjoyed the utmost confidence and re- 

 spect of the Emperor and Empress is revealed in this 

 letter referring to his treatment at the palace of Chepul- 

 tepec: * 'There were present the Empress, and one of her 

 ladies, four German naval officers, and a Mexican — all 

 were of his household, I believe. It was mail-day for 

 Europe; the Emperor had been busy at the palace 

 writing, he told me, seventeen letters for the steamer. 

 I got there a moment before he did, so he went into the 

 sitting-room which joins the Empress's chamber. He 

 opened her chamber-door and said, 'Carlotta, here's 

 Mr. Maury'. She came out immediately and com- 

 manded me to be seated, the Emperor and the other 

 gentlemen standing. Presently her lady-in-waiting 

 came in; I rose, but she touched me gently on the arm 

 and said, 'The Emperor wishes you always to be seated'. 

 The lady stood also. In a few minutes dinner was 

 announced. The Emperor led off, and we all followed 

 in single file. As I passed through the door, one of the 

 aids — a baron — whispered in may ear, 'On the Emperor's 

 left'. The dinner — excepting the wines, the number of 

 servants, and the liveries — reminded me very much of 



