240 



INCIDENTS OP TRAVEL. 



with apprehension, but in their hearts rejoicing at the 

 distraction of the country under the administration of 

 the Liberals, and that one had risen up capable of in- 

 spiring them with terror ; and the divided "Liberals ha- 

 ting each other with a more intense hate even than the 

 Centralists bore to them ; but the excitement became so 

 great that all the parties drew up separate petitions to 

 General Morazan, representing the deplorable state of 

 insecurity in the city, and begging him to enter and 

 provide for its safety. Separate sets of deputies hur- 

 ried to anticipate each other at General Morazan's 

 headquarters, and pay court to him by being the first to 

 ask his protection. General Morazan had become ac- 

 quainted with the distracted condition of the city, and 

 was in the act of mounting his horse when the deputies 

 arrived. On Sunday he entered with an escort of two 

 hundred soldiers, amid the ringing of bells, firing of 

 cannon, and other demonstrations of joy. The same 

 day the merchants, with the Marquis of Aycinena and 

 others of the Central party, presented a petition repre- 

 senting the dreadful state of public feeling, and request-^ 

 ing Morazan to depose the state authorities and assume 

 the reins of government, and to convoke a Constituent 

 Assembly, as the only means of saving Guatimala from 

 utter ruin. In the evening deputies from the different 

 branches of the Liberal party had long conferences 

 with the president. Morazan answered all that he 

 wished to act legally, would communicate with the As- 

 sembly the next day, and be governed by their deci- 

 sion. The proceedings in the Assembly are too afflict- 

 ing and disgraceful to dwell upon. So far as I can un- 

 derstand the party strife of that time, after wading 

 through papers and pamphlets emanating from both 

 sides, General Morazan conducted himself with probi- 



