POLITICAL STATE OF YUCATAN. 81 



not disconnecting itself entirely from Mexico, but 

 declaring itself still a component part of that repub- 

 lic upon certain conditions. The declaration of its 

 independence was still a moot question. The as- 

 sembly had passed a bill to that effect, but the sen- 

 ate had not yet acted upon it, and its fate in that 

 body was considered doubtful. In the mean time, a 

 commissioner had been sent to Texas, and two days 

 after our arrival at Merida the Texan schooner of 

 war San Antonio arrived at Sisal, bringing a propo- 

 sition for Yucatan to pay $8000 per month toward 

 the support of the Texan navy, and for the Texan 

 vessels to remain upon the coast of Yucatan and 

 protect it against invasion by Mexico. This prop- 

 osition was accepted immediately, and negotiations 

 were pending for farther co-operation in procuring 

 a recognition of their mutual independence. Thus, 

 while shrinking from an open declaration of inde- 

 pendence, Yucatan was widening the breach, and 

 committing an offence which Mexico could never 

 forgive, by an alliance with a people whom that gov- 

 ernment, or rather Santa Ana, regarded as the worst 

 of rebels, and whom he was bent upon exerting the 

 whole power of the country in an effort to recon- 

 quer. Such was the disjointed and false position in 

 which Yucatan stood at the time of our presentation 

 to the governor. 



Our visit to him was made at his private residence, 

 which was one befitting his station as a private gen- 

 tleman, and not unworthy of his public character. 



Vol. I.— L 



