ance, with its custom-house receipts, had now become of vital interest to him for financial reasons, as was the capture of the capital for political reasons.
But it all came to nought. The offer was never made. As had been said by Count Gröller, Bureau was a traitor. Appreciating the fact now that his Prince had friends among the other men-of-war more active than he had any right to hope, the Austrian captain moved his ship in from the outer anchorage where he had remained isolated so long, and took up a berth near the other vessels.
In reporting all this to the Secretary of the Navy, by a steamer opportunely leaving for Havana, Captain Roe weighed upon the great desirability of Minister Campbell's presence at his post. Unfortunately, and for reasons not connected with the: thread of this story, that diplomatic officer failed to reach the seat of the Juarist government, and the United States remained unrepresented in Mexico, except by the staunch body of consuls, who reflected such credit on their cloth and their country.
The steamer taking this report had hardly gone, however, before Señor Bureau, repenting his many vacillations, expressed a desire to parley again, and submitted to the United States and British consuls certain general terms for the surrender of the city. These terms he requested them to propose personally to General Benavides, asking that the naval commanders should accompany them. A note from
