The New York herald., 1878-12-14
placed In tho Treasury. and 1t paid out orders
came in signed by the Emperor when he was in good

EMPRESS CARLoTrA IN CRIgF.
Though the Empress carlotta shared the weakness
OF her husband for etiquette and court ceremonies.
she gifted with far determined spirit and
really possessed dignihed sentiments. She might
possibly have changed the course OF events if shc
really conid have exercised that influence upon the
Emperor which attributed 10 her. The periods
when she acted regent of the Empire showed the
high intelligence she possessed and the really great
aptitude for affairs of State. But then Maximan
made almost childish resolve that no decision OF
importance shoud he taken without his concurrence.
Tho very best determinations made by her. with tho
aid Of councillors she had herself selected dis
agreeable to him. The influence of tho unfortunate
Princess amounted to nothing. Not that he de-
ciined to place tho namc Of tho Empress
to the front. but he always preferred to gain tmo
when important decision had to be made.
Often he threw upon the shoulders Of his noble
panon tue responsibility Of difficulties which lie him.
self had created, and with patronzing air he asked
her to concern herself only with womans adairs.
This the moro painful for princess who adored
her husband and who carried to extremes almost the
pride of her station toward those who surrounded
Gifted with an ardent nature. and thrown upon her
resources at early age, the daughter Of King
Leopold had lavished upon Maxmilan all the ten
derness which she had gathered young girl with
out mothsr md young wife without children. She
dreamed Of exstcnce which she did realize nor
enjoy. The following letter by Maximilian gives.
perhaps the best insight to how matters stood in
the imperial household-
srl CHApULTEpEc. July 49, 1866.
My character is not OF the happiest. and. among
other faults. possess such desire for absolute in
dependence that the Empress with all her tact.
never comes near me nor ever interfcres with my
weakness in this regard, and she conducts herself
in accordance with that desire the harmony between
us has never been disturbed. MAMMALIAN.
The maady Of this unhappy woman, which has
made OF her object Of universal sympathy. not
the first tho greatest in this devoted to
trials That misfortune had been preceded and pre-
pared by. secret sunerings Of more than one sort,
which were silently borne. and which and ex-
plain the cold haughtness and the solemn mien with
which those who surrounded the Empress Of Mexico
reproarhed her when she was in the midst Of her
ephemeral grandeur.
cARLorrAs MISSION TO NAPOLEON III.
During the first days Of July. 1867 reached the
capital that Matamoros had fallen into the
hands Of the Juarists. At the same time dispatches
from France left further doubts to the inten-
tions of Napoleon recall his army. Bazaine began
to concentrate his troops and left for San LUIS Potos
to hasten military movements. In then that it
decided to send the Empress Carlotta on mis-
sion to Paris. On the 7th Of July the unfortunate
Princess placed her head for the last time dia
dem to preside at the "Te Deum' sung in the Cathe
dra on the occasion Of the anniversary Of her hus
bands birthday. When she returned to the palace
touching prophetic it were, occurred between
her and her ladies Of honor It had transpired that
she was to undertake mission to Europe. and . sort
Of prescntment was In the air as il untold misfor
tunes were to follow. Tho service in the Cathedral
being and Her Majesty being about to retire
her apartments. Nine. Pscheco. one of the ladies'
~6~A ns~uinx %n
press. Carlotts. with good grace, still more proud
than aectonate. permitted the lady to crafty her
desire. Then seeing Mime. Pacheco burst into tears
she asked:- sN
'Whst is the matter with your"
"Ah. madame. am asking myself II this is not the
last ime that we accompany Your Majesty
|. This explosion Of anxiety which oppressed the
minds Of all those present became contagious. and
during several minutes there was not dry eye in
tho imperial snloa The Empress remained some
what mistress of her emotions; but, after having
kissed the other ladies present she retired
hastily into adjoining boudoir hardly ablo to say
adicu to those who surrounded her. The Princess
Iturhdde who stood nearest to her. saw her shed
copious tears. Forty y-eight hours later the ofcia
journal announced that the Empress was about to
leave for Europe, "to treat about the affairs Of the
Empire" Having left the city Of Mexico on July O.
she embarked at Vera Cruz on Friday. the 13th-day
and date that were coupled with fatality.
THE IMPRESS DEcoxEs INSANE.
She left without ever returning. already prey to
that cruel malady which later broke out hercey
in Rome and transformed into most lamentabie
existence career which one time seemed to be re-
served for complete happiness This fact is certain,
that Carlotta already sufferer before she left
Mexico Not that there is the least truth in the story
OF mysterious poisoning but notorious facts have
proved the preexstence and also the causes Of the
profound troubles which began to show themselves in
the mental faculties of the Empress of Mexico
months before her departure for Europe.
have already shown how the circumstance Of her
life young girl and young wife had developed
in her the tendencies Of uncommunicative nature
and . concentrated character. This disposition to
turn to herself became still stronger under the
Empire, owing to the disappointments which she
had to suffer during her two years residence in
Mexico Isolated in her apartments she equally
alone when in the midst Of her ladies' in waiting
aud her court attendants Her constant efforts werc
to appear impenctrablc and to maintain in the midst
Of hilarious conversation studied silence The moro
disappoin tmcnts she suffered the cruel became
the frgdity which she indicted upon her heart and
her pride and the more she attempted by cold at-
titude to chill those marks Of sympathy which she
appeared to dread like the demonstrations Of some
one who piticd her. A happy circumstance had
placed by her side In the person of tho Princess
1turbade, daughter Of the old Emperor . woman Of
grcst mind and good heart. who intensely de.
voted 70 Carlotts. The Princess shared her secrets
and owing to her intimate relations. frequently
drawn into the confidential conversations of tho
imperial household. But no more the Princess Itur-
bide than anybody else could obtain from this sad
soul the shortest moment Of abandon. II could be
easily noticed how the silent habits Of the Empress
Carlotta turned into q sombre muteness and how
afterward this mutencss became almost unbearablc.
When in the month Of January 1866 the death of her
fsthcr ws announced to her, he who had been her
ouiy counsellor and solo support. . most in
tense despair took possession Of her. During
several days prostra.ion and nervous excite
ment followed ono another rapidly. and it
was even thcn that those who surrounded her con-