The New York herald., 1879-03-17
THE LATE EMPEROR MAMMALIAN.

PARIS. Feb. "a. 1879.
To THE EDITOR THE HERAID:-
/ am much indebted and most grateful to the
HERALD for the extracts which it has translated aud
published from my recent historical sketch OF Maxi
milian's reign in Mexico. as also for the generally
kind tone Of its comments upon the work. must
however beg that you will be good enough to insert
few words of reply to the following lines. to which
my attention has been directed, in your number of
Monday. January 20;-
of the socaed Mexican Empire draws an unfathfa pie
Ssee ana IL furnishes No truthful Portrait Of
the and Princess who shared his for
she left Mexico Whether the sombre sketch Of the royal
due to his desire his shortcomings
% e s, Ss ssS s. %s's % IN S % 10
that drawn true iiEeasssss pair.
memory T. that he ish. minded and somewhat
which Is portrayed BY the French wors pen cpppa
was perieety sane and in healthy mental Condition until
rsaey % sRf assps.sd
The above amounts almost to direct accusation
Of unfairness in my narrating Of facts and in my
appreciation of persons Now. challenge the sever
eat scrutiny on both points. knowing beforehand
how delicate matter it is tp deal with contempo-
raneous events. aud feeling that the task was more
particularly difficult one in the present instance,
made it my duty not to advance single assertion
nor to pronounce single Judgment which not
strictly in accordance with the daily notes. docu-
ments aud correspondents which brought back
with me from Mexico. Not q page have written
that be traced to the niuence of either national
OF personal prejudice Not an effort have made to
conceal the faults of the French government Of its
agents. whatever their rank might be- and have no
hesitation in saying that every Of my assertions
Is founded upon incontrovertible testimony.
Ii not your writer himself compelled to admit
that Msximian "a light minded and somewhat
superficial MANI? What more have said?
Or the Empress have constantly spoken with the
most heartfelt respect, not only account OF her
misfortune. but because she was in every sense of
the word. hig minded Princess, deserving better
fate and worthy of the esteem of her enemies.
In stating that her mental disease had manifested It.
SELF before her departure from Mexico for Europe
have done nothing moro than establish q fact which
Is put beyond question by the testimony OF those
who accompanied her on her voyage.
Permit me, besides to remark that while charging
my portraits with unfaithfulnoss your commentator
does not undertake to give the grounds for his CEN
sure. He merely enters into now relation of some
incident taken at random from doubtful sources.
We're inclined to rctaiate could easily in my turn
adiuce more than one proof of material inaccuracy
on his part. will content myself with single in
stance. In your number Of January "a he Says
"Maximilian was tried in the old Capuchin Convent.
and scarcely left his cell during the proceedings
Tho fact is that there trial ut all in the con-
the prisoner never left his cell from the day he
entered 1t to the moment when he was taken to the
place Of execution.
Such error upon nero point Of fact which IL
would have been to ascertain docs not say much
for the infabiity OF the writer who has committed
it. and. consequently. detracts greatly from the
authority OF his criticisms
The articles published by me In the Rcrue de France
are now being reprinted in book form. This volume,
which will appear about the end of April has been
completed by fresh developments and additional JUS
titcatcry documents. beg my friends in America.
who. am proud to say. are still numerous, to
not one OF them will find reason to impugn my sim
certify or accuracy. &. MASSERAS.