REVOLITTTON. 



243 



spread over the whole country. He was soon 

 joined by several of the most distinguished of the 

 king'^s officers ; amongst others by Don Pedro 

 Celestino Negreti, a Spaniard, but married in 

 the country; and by Colonel Bustamante, who 

 brought with him a thousand cavalry. On every 

 side the great cities yielded to the Revolutionary 

 forces. Such also was Iturbide's address, that, 

 in every case of conquest, he converted into active 

 friends all those who had been indifferent before, 

 and seldom failed to gain over to his cause the 

 most powerful of his enemies ; while, at the same 

 time, he won the confidence and esteem of every 

 one, by his invariable moderation, humanity, and 

 justice. 



While the Independent cause was thus rapid- 

 ly advancing, that of the Spanish government was 

 falling fast to pieces. The Viceroy Apodaca found 

 it impossible to stem the torrent, and was glad to 

 abdicate his authority at the mutinous suggestion 

 of the officers, who, it is curious to observe, adopt- 

 ed a course exactly similar to that of their coun- 

 trymen in Peru, in the case of Pezuela. But his 

 successor, Field-marshal Novella, in vain endea- 



