EXECUTION OF ITURBIDE. 445 



be elected, whose opinions were more suit- 

 able to their views. Iturbide, finding him- 

 self unable to resist the torrent, and not 

 choosing to submit to the dictates of these 

 chiefs, or, as he says in his pamphlet, since 

 published, being anxious to prevent a civil 

 war — reassembled the Congress; and abdi- 

 cating the throne, requested and received 

 permission to retire from the country. He 

 was exiled to Italy, but subsequently came 

 to England ; and from hence sailed for 

 Mexico, with the expectation, as supposed, 

 of being again called to the throne. It 

 appears, however, that his hopes were 

 miserably disappointed ; as, almost immedi- 

 ately upon his landing in Mexico, he was 

 arrested, and three days afterwards shot, 

 without any form of trial, his identification 

 being considered sufficient, as the Congress 

 had previously issued a decree, declaring 

 him a rebel and an outlaw. He landed at 

 Sota la Marina on the 16th of July 1824, 



