which might develope into an insurrection of all the factions combined together against the foreigners. These symptoms, which were manifest even in the ministers themselves at the time when Maximilian, still undecided, had left Orizaba to retire to the Hacienda la Jalapilla, had assumed so menacing a character in the capital, that our head-quarters authorities were compelled to adopt measures of precaution: this is proved by the marshal's letter to the French general in command in the city.
My dear General,—I am informed of disturbances having taken place yesterday evening at the foreign theatre established on the Place d'Armes. I have written to his excellency the president of the council to request him to have this establishment closed to-day.
If the Mexican government should not think right to close the said theatre, as his majesty the Emperor Napoleon has been publicly insulted in it, and as his name has been received there with hootings and cries of hatred and contempt, you will be pleased to give orders to Captain Oudinot and to the gendarmerie that, in virtue of the state of war now existing, this theatre should be closed this evening.
You will adopt the necessary measures that the public peace should not be disturbed, and that anyone making a tumult should be immediately arrested.
Already were they thus insulting the sovereign of France: the Italians, after the battle of Villafranca, recompensed us with similar gratitude.
The cabinet of the Tuileries felt so certain of the approaching downfall of the Mexican throne, that, without loss of time, they had secretly called upon their diplomatists to enter into correspondence with Ortega, the former defender of Puebla, who had escaped from our hands in 1863 (thereby breaking his
