SIX MONTHS IN MEXICO. ^7 



under the constitutional Emperor Iturbide. I 

 had provided myself with letters to his mi- 

 nisters ; and took out as presents such articles 

 of British manufacture as I considered would 

 J>e most acceptable, and at the same time 

 convey some idea of the wealth and greatness 

 of our country; but on my arrival at Vera 

 Cruz, affairs were so different from what I 

 had anticipated, that I was yet doubtful whe- 

 ther strangers could in safety visit the capital, 

 as the armies of the contending parties, the 

 Imperialists and Republicans, lay between 

 Vera Cruz and Mexico. With a view of 

 acquiring information on this subject, I so- 

 licited and obtained an interview with the 

 Republican General St. Anna, although at 

 the time confined to his room by indisposition. 

 I stated to him my motives for visiting the 

 country. He no sooner understood that my 

 journey was solely to acquire scientific in- 

 formation, than he liberally refused even to 



