that country, did not receive the concurrence of his friends either in Europe or in America.
Commodore Jansen, of the Netherlands Navy, the lifelong friend of the great hydrographer, wrote to him from Delft, on the 22nd of July, 1865, as follows:—
Your family, I hear, intend to join you either at Halifax or in England. From this I conclude that they do not expect any result from your Mexican scheme—neither do I; and I hope by this time you are in the steamer on your way back to England. The people of Virginia have shown themselves to be as brave as any people ever have been; but courage is coupled, in patriotism, with perseverance in suffering until better times come for Virginia. All who love her for what she has been and what she has done, ought to love her enough to suffer with her and for her sake. If the best people, who have made Virginia what she is, desert her at this critical moment, it would be like children leaving their mother in distress. There is no virtue without sacrifice, and, if the Virginians possess the virtue of patriotism, they ought to bring her now the sacrifice of pride. Don't emigrate! Stand by your country with stern courage; learn the patience to bear without shame and with all the dignity of self-command.
. . . . I don't think that you can return now to Virginia; but, in three or four years, great changes will take place in opinions, and you, nor your family, won't find a country which would be able to give you anything like her sympathy, or to take Virginia out of your hearts and souls. You ought to go back to your dear State as soon as you can do so safely; and if you had followed my advice you would never have left England, but would have asked Madame Maury to join you there.
After a long journey and great inconveniences, perhaps suffering in your health and mind, you'll come back without gaining anything but a sad experience.
Even if the Emperor Maximilian would listen to you and encourage you in your scheme, I should say don't do it, my friend. We have been able to raise money enough for the
