REUNITED WITH HIS FAMILY IN ENGLAND 203 



beautiful firmament examined by your intelligent eye 

 may procure us the means of profiting by the knowledge 

 which science has already acquired, and of making even 

 new discoveries to increase the fame which you have 

 already so justly attained. Whenever circumstances 

 will permit a new development of colonization, I intend 

 making appeal to your advice and activity and I will 

 now direct the necessary localities to be prepared in the 

 Palace for the Observatory in order to be able to have 

 you always near me. Believe me, Your affectionate, 

 Maximilian". 



This letter probably occasioned no very great surprise 

 to Maury, but he waited several weeks after receiving 

 it before he replied, in part, as follows: "I read, in your 

 letter of April 19th, fresh proofs of your Majesty's 

 confidence and friendly consideration; I am touched by 

 them. I am grieved to learn that your Majesty should 

 be compassed with difficulties so serious as must be those 

 which made it necessary to abandon such a cherished 

 policy as I know that of colonization to have been. . . . 

 Colonization being suspended, I fear that my return to 

 Mexico would tend rather to increase the embarrass- 

 ments than to smooth any of the difficulties by which 

 your Majesty is surrounded. This fear, my solicitude 

 for the welfare of the Empress and yourself, and the deep 

 concern I feel for your success in one of the noblest under- 

 takings that ever animated the human breast, make me 

 pause. ... In stating the conclusion, I hope I may 

 not be considered unmindful of obligations or insensible 

 to kindness. Far from it. Proof that I recognize both 

 in their highest sense is found in the fact that in homage 

 to them I forego the high and honorable position so 

 kindly offered me near the person of your Majesty in the 



