San Luis Potosi. 221 



and natural, and were not punished with too much severity by 

 the Generals, in order not to create a precedent which might 

 perhaps tell against themselves. Escobedo himself had once 

 been a prisoner of Mejia, and condemned to be shot by a 

 court martial ; but Mejia had not only assisted him in his 

 escape, but even furnished him with money for it. What Es- 

 cobedo expected his own friends to do for him, he could not 

 punish too severely in friends of the Emperor, and he was sat- 

 isfied with making such attempts impossible. 



When I arrived at San Luis Potosi, my guard left me. 

 Alighting at an hotel, I now sent for Mr. Bahnsen, who came 

 and kindly invited me to his house. I wished to see the 

 President the same evening, but was told to come the next 

 morning. He was, however, too busy to receive me, and sent 

 Mr. Iglesia, to whom I related everything which caused me to 

 be exiled to San Luis. Mr. Iglesia said he knew very well 

 that they had many rascals at Queretaro, who might be bought 

 for money. He agreed that, if I had had gold ready, my plan 

 would have succeeded. 



When, in the course of the conversation, I asked him to tell' 

 me frankly, whether, in his inmost heart, he would not have 

 been glad if the Emperor had escaped, he smilingly answered, 

 ^Yes, I should.' 



I spoke to him of my anxiety with recrard to my husband, 

 and asked whether it were not possible that I might return to 

 Queretaro to be near him. He advised me to wait awhile, 

 until after the execution of the Emperor. As I insisted on 

 seeing Mr. Juarez, the minister told me to come at five o'clock 

 in the afternoon. 



Although I had planned the escape of the Emperor, Mr. 

 Juarez received me in his usual manner. I commenced by 

 speaking about the plan for the Emperors escape, but he told 

 me that he knew all, and evaded answering those same ques- 

 tions I had put to Mr. Iglesia, but his whole manner impressed 

 me with the idea that- the escape of the Emperor would DOt 

 have been very disagreeable to him either. 



Mr. Juarez told me that I should have to remain r.t San 

 Luis, and be under surveillance. When I spoke about the 

 Emperor and my husband, the President said he was afraid 

 that nothing could be done for the Emperor, and that he must 

 die ; but as for my husband I might be perfectly satisfied For 



