New-York tribune., 1867-06-01
THE EK-EMPEROR or MEXICO
ms PRIVATE IIrE AND CHARACTER.

many resident in Mexico and claims TO have en-
ioyed the special confidence Of Maximilan AS the
port shows the writer enthusiastic admirer OF the
ex Emperor and many of his statements are we be
lievc exaggeratiOnsi but, the account from
man who Is fully familiar With his subject Il will be read
with interest
Maximiliiau ia rather above the middle hight, well
proportoned with powerful high square shoulders In
face he Is decidedly good looking having regular fea-
lures hight hair long side whskers and mustache Of the
same color small mouth and excellent teeth. with a
good tempered smile perpetually on his cOntcnance
He has light blue eyes and most benevolent and ami
able expression of cOtntenance.
In dress he is always scrupulousy neat black frOck
coat panalOOns, Wte vest ana sna DhGk
necktIe usually constituted hs morning costume; while
i'm the evening at dinner parties, receptions &c he wore
the usual evening azure OF private gentleman ne NeI!
seldom dOnned uniform nor was IL often worn ~ his re-
ccption When occasions or state rendered II necesay E
he would appear ln the pam uess Oh Oeherl OI le
army He very fond OF the Mexican costume. always
adopting it when horseback or In the country also
when travelling. This consisted OF a handsome white
sombrero Ornamented with silver and silver band rOund
IT, sometimes plain white French wide.a-wake hat OF
very large circumference Jacket and vest of black or
dark color. handsomely embroidered ana back pants
with double of silver buttons down the outside seam
Of each leg Sometimes his riding dress was like the
rancherOs OF the country. namely jacket vest and pants
of ucolored leather usually deer skim but Handsomely
embroidered and ornamented like the others.
The daily habits of Macmillan were always very sim
was generally got through with before breakfast which
was partaken OF punctually at 81 o'clock dinner was
table was plain but abundant, the principal wines con
sumed being light Hungarian and German; though at
honor being present wine other luxury prOcura
bic for money was ever wanting After dinner the I'm
carriage drawn by his favorite team of seven cream
cOored mules, which always went at tremendous pace;
through the streets especially the cOachman had iDunc
tOnS always drive fast in order tO avoid the numerous
salutaonS of the people for though naturally very shy
and retiring MaXiman too much OF gentleman not
acknowledge the sautatOn Of the most humble On re-
turning from his drive few moments were again devoied yea
private apartments where many hours were oiteh speh
IN study writing. &c Half OF his time was spent at the
Uala Of
the City of Mexico from whence he usually drove IN 10
bu siness Immediately after breakfast arriving punctuay
at 10 o'clock and returning at 8 D. III. He also passed
different periods at his summer palace az Cuernavaca
situated IN what is called the TERRA tempada or tenn
peratc country. which Il halfway between the high
plateau and the low land near the coast termed the
terra calientc" or hot land This palace, though SMALL
is perfect little gem delightfully."- situated the slopes
Of the mountain. Here Maximhan gave himself up
entirely To enjoyment which In him was Of very simple
character catching and preserving butterflies and insects,
shooting aud bathing; these last were his chief delights
The writer passing small lake and seeing some
clothes living bank aud approaching little nearer
discovered His Majesty enjoying himself IN the water TO
his hearts content, totally unattended win no one per
haps within three miles Of him. save the beh0lder lie
seldom rode horseback being as Is usual with sailors
a bad hOrseman he always preferred shahks pony 10
any other; and when travelling. though he always had
three OF his horses led behind the carriage he
His manners we're perhaps what procured him
many friends in Mexico for whatever may have
been asserted Of the unpOpularity OF his cause there
can be no doubt hut that he very much beloved by
large portion Of the population of all classes Always po
lite and kind nOmater whai the rank o the person nc adj
dressed he had that charming gift of settling them AT their
Immediately he began Ia converse with them Should
they be Indifferent ngsts tle usually talked N frenchl
he always patient and would help them Oui u neces
sary, never permitting them TO be uncomtottaDe bJ no
tcng any little mistake on the first OCCASION that the
writer had the honor OF an interview be kept him nearly
half an hour dscoursng indifferent though interesting
subjects: discovering that he Was an hnHisnal' lac us
cussed the late Prince COns0twh0 he said was his great
est friend the Prince and Princess OF Wales and her baby
desc ing how big ana LAT u was now many ,se II nag
cut, DC. &C. and all the little minutlH OF the EnghSh
Royal family that be thought would Pe pleasing TO M
he Universities. what school he went 10 ~ boy &C. and
acquainted with England As with MS own county.
On public receptions balls, dinner parties, &C. the
Emperor and his cara sposa Carlotta would separately
make round OF the guests slOpphg anu sPe1A'hs 10
each one individually, m sometimes haf uohen
little remarks peculiarly interesting and pleasing 10
the person addressed ana though at one time this was
they all invariably cnme away charmed with the
Kindness aud aiabliiy Of the Emperor aud Empress.
ticularly extended toward themselves. The Empress
Ea9 a rar tho 'sr es ss R Rh' sv%S 10 Ss e
rooms for ladies only. she cndeayorcd 10 bring all
and useful habits and amusemenis and frequently
tried o persuade them that II they devoted htle less
and money tO dress and frivolous amusemens aud
It'll, more 10 works OF charity and bcncyOlcnce, they
set them an excellent example on tlis pot spending
immense from her private means on all kinds of
charities, public ana priNatei nor was money tho uhy
ted hv her often accompanied by her royal husband
and scarcely day passed without their jointly Visiting
some charitable other Institution for the public good
Ia point OF education and scientific requirements Max
milinn has few equals and very few snperlos lie Is
complete master OF languages including English lac
IA also very deeply yersed In astronomy and all
connected with navigation, on several OF whlch
me has written some very clever works As mathemat
ica scholar few can compete with him. while In gen
eral education and nfOmatOn such as history, geogra
ply and and progress Of nations he is perfect
walking encyclopedia. Natural history and geology
among his favOrite studies, and he spent much OF ms
leisure time IN the Museum which he added 10 ana I'm
proved greatly during his stay Mexico He was always
perfectly happy be left alone the hills with nothing
but his butterfly net and box for specimens always as ne
said. finding object OF interest either among
the living past state OF creation A. an artist he Is
toerablc cvincng great love Tor pctnies especially
those Of the old school The National Gallery in Mexico
which old neglected place, but In which were
several good paintings, has been very much improved
and added TO by him His great fault and which has
doubt the OF many OF his failures Is that he
is essentially theorst, totally without any practical
system. and living half his time In bygonc age he Is
sadly deficient IN the very necessary staple called com
In point of morality the least that be said is that
Macmillan Is a good sincere Christian, ana higb-
toned gentleman Any acton saVOrlng OF lnsllcel-
ty untruthfulness would have been looked upon by
him with indignant horror ne Is as pure anu innocent
minded as child ana could never DE pcIsua1eu oi ue
cepOn and nsncerity In Others He II strictly honest
In all his dealings both public and private, the rnors
which rife OF his remtting large sums OF public
money Mramon being totally without foundation ON
saSS re IN BproySg nS and beans his residences IN
Mexico and many public institutions "h.h recently
several tradesmen, and Others with large outstanding
bills against him. he insisted on his horses carriages and
the last cent paid lie could be persuaded 10
permit severity 20 be pracced toward his most bit
prevent VI
notorious guerras being the first OF his misu
derstanding and subsequent open rupture with Marshal
Bazane He frequently SAID that II he could not govern
the Mexicans by love he would not do so at all.
He is devotedy fond Of his wife, and since the news
reached him of her Illness he has been the
IL has always been subject OF regret with
him that he had children OF his own and his and the
Empress fondness them induced them TO adopt the
young Prince Iturbde OF the former il.fated End
peror intending IL their reign In Mexico had been for
tunate, that he should have been their successor
canard was rife few months since of amour OF
his with very beautiful Indian GIRL and Of the birth OF
a Cn uO credit UaG o. aff cd n
IL is OF course known that Maxmian and his wife both
profess the Roman Catholic faith, and both very
devout, and, 10 all appearance sincere In It, It s true
that his accession he carried out the work already
commenced by the Liberal party-the destruction OF