The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-02 00:00:00

TEE LAST PAYS OF THE MEXICAN
EMPIRE.

A remarkable letter has been published by (lon. Webb re-
specting the closing days of the Mexican Empire. Gen. Webb,
who has been American Minister at Brazil since 1861, claims
to have negotiated all the preliminaries of the withdrawal
of the French troops. So early as May, 1863, according to this
statement, Napoleon wrote to him, declaring that he intended
to withdraw from Mexico as soon as ho could do so without
involving the honour of France, but that he must not be
threatened. Tho General forwarded this letter to President
Lincoln, who accepted the pledge, and resolved not to push
matters. In 1863 Mr. Seward insisted, in a letter to Mi
Montholon, that the French should withdraw. When
General Webb left Brazil in the same year he was invited
to visit the Emperor at St. Cloud. A two hours' interview
ended in an agreement, subject to the epproval of the Pre-
sident that the French troops should leave Mexico in de-
tachments at twelve, eighteen, and twenty-four'months.
Tho arrangement was to he kept as secrpt as
possible, oven from the American Minister at Paris,
the Emperor undertaking that the Moniteur should
announce it in April, 1866. This was done, and in
thecoursoof three years tho. French troops were withdrawn,
and Maximilian left to his fet7. The story is a very sin-
gular on', and requires confirmation. Mr. Seward espe-
cially has to explain why he should have publicly and per-
emptorily demanded the withdrawal of the Prue!, troops frotn
Mexico when he knew that separate arrangements had been
made for their removal. General Webb, if tho story be
substantially correct, has in his possession the letter of the
Emperor in May, 1863. Not the least extraordinary part of
the affair is, tLat in 1863—the date of this wonderful epistle
- the crown of Mexico lied not been offered to the unfortu-
nate Austrian Prince. Maximilian did not arrive at Vera
Cruz until May, 18G4, just ono year later. Yet Gen. Webb
is not a man whose revelations aro to bo lightly sot
aside. He represented his Government at Austria in 1849,
and has ever since been connected with diplomacy ; he was
intimate with Louis Napoleon in his days of exile, and re-
gards him with favour, although his story, if it should prove
authentic, will represent the French Emperor's conduct
towards Maximilian in a very sinister light.

THE CHARGE OF EMBEZZLING £50,000.

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A warrant has been issued by one of the City magis-
trates for the apprehension of Benjamin Higgs, lately a
clerk in the employment of the Great Central Gas
Company, in Colman-street, who stands charged
with embezzling a large sum of money—rumour says about
£50,000 ; but that fur the present must be taken with
I some reservation. A reward of £2OO has been offered—
£loo to any person who will give such information as
shall lead to his apprehension, and a further sum of £lOO
on the recovery of the moneys embezzled. He absconded
upwards of three weeks ago, and up toWednesdaynight had
eluded arrest. He is described as being about 35 years
of age, a little above the middle height, having blacli
hair, moustache, whiskers, and beard, a pale cum
plexion, and of slender build and gentlemanly appear
ante, A photograph of him is to be seen a
all the City police-stations, and copies hay
been forwarded to the police authorities in al
the large towns throughout the kingdom. Mean.
while, the warrant for his apprehension has been
entrusted to one of the most experienced of the City
detective officers. He is said to be generally dressed in
black or dark-coloured clothes and brown overcoat, and
to have a large-sized, dark green coloured leather bag
and a small black bag. He has resided for some time at
Teddington, and is said to have lived in a style of great
extravagance, having regard to his comparatively small
salary—less than £2OO we believe—circumstances which
might have excited suspicion, if, indeed, they did not.