REUNITED WITH HIS FAMILY IN ENGLAND 213 



graciously refers. The Telegraphic Cable in which I 

 am to take part is not yet ready; when it is, I hope to 

 deserve the Imperial 'well done' which is ever ready to 

 encourage all good works. For the present, therefore, 

 I do not ask for the decoration of Grand Cross of the 

 Order of Guadalupe". 



In the same letter, Maury shows that he was not 

 unmindful of the trend of events in Mexico, for he 

 continued, "Events have vindicated the wisdom of my 

 not returning to Mexico. Jealousies within and enmity 

 without had already paralyzed my efforts to serve your 

 Majesty and Empire. I still see in the efforts of the 

 Emperor and Empress of Mexico to give good govern- 

 ment with its blessings to that distracted country one of 

 the most sublime moral spectacles that is to be found in 

 the annals of dynasties. As soon as I discovered that 

 I could not assist in the noble work I resolved to stay 

 away, for I have not the heart either to hinder or em- 

 barrass your Majesty in these great labors. Animated 

 by the sentiments which I professed when first we met, 

 I have the honor to subscribe myself an humble but true 

 friend of your Majesty's. M. F. Maury". 



By the end of June, 1866, matters had come to such a 

 pass in Mexico, through the exhaustion of the resources 

 of the government, the announced determination of 

 Napoleon III to withdraw all French troops from the 

 country, and the opposition to Maximilian's regime by 

 both republicans and clericals in Mexico as well as by 

 the government of the United States, that the throne 

 appeared so much in danger that the Empress deter- 

 mined, much against Maximilian's wishes, to go to 

 France to make personal appeal for assistance from the 

 Emperor Napoleon, who had promised Maximilian to 



