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

TEE LAST DAYS OF I'ILE MEXICAN

EMPIRE.

A remarkable letter has been published by Gen. 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 he could do so without
involving the honour of France, but that ho 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 i❑ an agreement, subject to the approval of the Pre-
sident that the French troops should leave Mexic3 in de-
tachments at twelve, eighteen, and twenty-four months.
The arrangement was to be kept as secret as
possible, even from the American Minister at Paris,
the Emperor undertaking that the illo:oiteur should
announce it in April, 1866. This was done, and in
thocourse of three years the French troops were withdrawn,
and Maximilian left to his fate. Tho story is a very sin-
gular one, and requires confirmation. Mr. Seward espe-
cially has to explain why he should have publicly and per-
emptorily demanded the withdrawal of tbo French troops from
Mexico when ho know that separate arrangements had been
made for their removal. General Webb, if tho story ho
substantially correct, has in his possession the letter of the
Emperor in May, 1863. Not the least extraordinary part of
the affair is, that in 1863—the date of this wonderful epistle
tho crown of Mexico had not been offered to the unfortu-
nate Austrian Prince. Maximilian did not arrive at Vera
Crnz until May, 1864, just one year later. Yet Gen. Webb
is not a man whose revelations are to be 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.

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 for the present must be taken with
some reservation. A reward of £2OO has Leen offered-
-2100 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 toWednesday night had
eluded arrest. He is described as being about 35 years
of age, a little above the middle height, having black
hair, moustache, whiskers, and beard, a pale corn
plexion, and of slender build and gentlemanly appear
ance, A photograph of him is to be seen a
all the City police-stations, and copies hay.
been forwarded to the police authorities in at
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.