. -LIFE OF. ,
DO.N AUGUSTIN 'DE IT'URBIDJ.
KX-'SMPEH'JR Oif MEXICO

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¦K.

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YALE
UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

NARRATIVE #f the last moments ot
THE LIFE

BON AUGUSTIN DE ITURBIDE.

EX-EMPEROR OP MEXICO.

BY COLONEL CHARLES DE BENESKI'

TRANSLATED FROM THE SPANISH.

NEW- YORK :
PRINTED BY TYRELL AND TOMPKINS,
70 BOWERY.
1825'

ambition, or any interested motives, exempt from all
revengeful sentiments, and breathing nothing but a spi
rit of forbearance towards his enemies ; these led me
to accompany him as his aid-de-camp, and in this cha
racter, to attach myself to his person and his fortunes,
and with honest pride, I assert, that I never abandon
ed my benefactor till that eventful hour which closed
the career of this truly distinguished soldier.
I do not undertake his defence, nor shall I even en
deavour to undeceive the public as to the various false
allegations which his enemies have preferred against
him ; I rest satisfied with what time and impartial his
tory shall transmit to posterity in relation to the life
and political conduct of Iturbide, and restrict myself to
a faithful account of his death, in the ardent hope, that
it may hereafter serve as an historical document, and
remain a record of the last moments of this extraor
dinary personage.
The ex-Emperor Iturbide embarked at the isle of
Wight, the 11th May last, on board the English mer
chant brig, Spring, after having previously tendered
his services to the Mexican government, and nation, in
a communication which accompanies this statement ;*
and in the afternoon of the 12th July, arrived off the
bar of Soto la Marina. The following day he des
patched me to the town so called, distant about six
teen leagues from the sea, for the purpose of making
inquiries in relation to the occurrences which had
lately taken place in Mexico, and of informing myself
with respect to the general state of the nation. On
my arrival, I presented myself to General Don Felipe
de la Garza, Commandant General of that place, and
governor of the state of las Tamaulipas, who imme
diately recognizing me (having formerly seen me in the
military service of Mexico,) demanded, what was my
object in returning. I replied, that I came on com
mercial business, being commissioned by several mer-

See documents No. 1,

5
eantile houses of London to treat with fhe government
as to the colonization of a number of families ; a mea
sure, which, in consequence ofthe advantageous terms
that were offered, must be productive of great and
lasting benefit to the country. After having held a
long conversation on this subject, he inquired after
Don Augustin de Iturbide. In reply, I stated, that I
had left him well and tranquil in London, where he
led a retired life. Such were the instructions I had
received from the ex-Emperor, who desired to reserve
unto himself the pleasure of personally surprising his
old friend and acquaintance Garza. The latter, then
wished to ascertain if Iturbide would return to Mexico,
and if so, when he might be expected. I said, I was
ignorant of his plans or intentions ; but that from se
veral conversations I had held with him, I felt almost
assured he would revisit his native land. On hearing
this, Garza, with great joy, exclaimed ; " would to
heaven hewt re come !" For without him, the nation
is lost. He, alone, is capable of insuring her felicity.
He then indignantly launched forth, in censuring the
errors of government ; bitterly condemned the faults
and immora ity ofthe General Congress ; and pour-
trayed in str* »ng and angry terms, the universal disgust
and discord that reigned among the States. On a
sudden, interrupting his strain of animadversion, he
dwelt upon the respect and friendship he entertained
for Iturbide ; and how anxiously he longed once more
to behold him at the head of a people who sighed for
his recal ; adding, that such was the universal wish,
even of those who had been adverse to his administra
tion. He assured me, also, that he himself would have
written to Iturbide had not the great risk of discovery
deterred him ; and he had deferred so doing till the
present moment, solely, on that account. All this was.
spoken with an air and tone of the utmost sincerity
and candour. He ended, by observing ; " when Itur
bide established the independence of his country, I was
one of his most devoted friends ; but from the hour

0
that he accepted the crown, and caused several of the
provincial deputies to be arrested, I abhorred him.
You yourself, knew Sir, that I was one of the first to
take up arms against him : but from that moment when
he granted me my life, having it in his power to have
sacrificed me, I vowed him eternal gratitude. Subse
quently, on beholding him abdicate, without any other
cause for resigning his diadem, than the noble and pa
triotic motive of healing the wounds of his distracted
country, and feeling well assured that the bent of all
his actions tended to insure the happiness of his fellow
citizens, my affection for him increased ; and now, so
fully am I persuaded of his honour and laudable in
tentions, that were Providence but to send him back to
us, he would find in me a faithful and trusty friend."
After these remarks and professions, we resumed the
topic of colonization and trade, at the close of which, he
invited me to sup with him, and pass the night at his
house. After supper, when we found ourselves alone, he
said ; " You know sir, that I am a man of honour ; speak
to me candidly ; has Iturbide sent you 1 I replied, that I
would answer him frankly, and fearless of the conse
quences to myself, be they what they might. I told
him that I had been the invariable friend of Iturbide 's
and should continue to be so to the last hour of my
life ; that he had not expressly sent me, but that on
my departure from London on the business aforemen
tioned, when I took my leave of him, I offered my ser
vices, in case I could be of use to him, and that he
charged me to inform myself as to the actual state of
Mexico, the condition of the army, and dispositions of
his principal friends ; in a word, as to all matters, that
might in any way prove interesting to him ; that he
had given me to understand, that iii the course of four
or five months, he purposed proceeding to Mexico, and
concluded, by stating, that he reposed the most implicit
confidence in General Garza, and counted upon him
in particular for the succes of his enterprize. To this
Garza made answer ; " most assuredly, he may depend

upojj me ; but it were well for Iturbide to come provi
ded with some friends ; for, although I possess large
estates, still all I could offer to him would not exceed
ten thousand dollars ; however, the high reputation I
enjoy in this province, would in the space of fifteen
days, place me at the head of two thousand cavalry,
and ten pieces of ordinance, all amply provided with
munitions of war, and every reliance might be repo
sed in the troops."
The ensuing day, I informed him, that I was about
returning on board, and should revisit him in company
with another person, for the purpose of requesting a
passport to the capital. At the same time, I inquired
if he wished to write to Iturbide, as he had mentioned
the preceding day, that he would confide a letter to my
care, in order that it might be forwarded with the
utmost caution. He sat down and wrote one, and on
delivering it to me, enjoined upon me the strictest se
crecy and greatest circumspection. (I am sorry I can
not give an exact copy of this letter, not having it in
my possession, for reasons which shall hereafter be
stated. I can therefore present the reader with its ge
neral purport only.) In his letter, Garza expressed in
the most glowing languagej the satisfaction he expe
rienced on being informed that both their Majesties,
(meaning Iturbide and lady, whom he thus denomina
ted,) were in good health ; informed them about sun
dry persons, and particulars relating to Mexico ; ex
pressed the disgust he felt in common with all the
nation at the present state of things ; censured the
then existing government, and concluded by stating
" Napoleon flew from Egypt to save France from An
archy, so should Iturbide, hasten from London to save
3Iexico, his country, from ruin and devastation." After
reading the letter to me, he put it^ into my hands,
and I returned to the vessel on the 14th July ; but not
being able to pass the bar that day, did not reach the
brig until four o'clock next morninsr.

When on board, I related to Iturbide all that GarZit
had said. He heard me with attention, and after ha
ving perused his letter, he asked my opinion. I told
him, that in so delicate and critical an affair, and un
der such peculiar circumstances, I would not answer
for my own brother. He replied, " Garza is an ho
nest man, he knows my sentiments, he is incapable of
committing a base action ; his heart would not permit
him ; we should not always believe the worst of man
kind. How is it possible to imagine that he could
betray me ; he who has received so many favours at
my hands ; the man whom I pardoned, and who, when
I granted him his life under a full consciousness of his
having merited death, swore eternal giatitude to his
benefactor, . — No, I cannot suppose it, I will rely with
implicit confidence upon Garza's honour and integrity.
At half past five o'clock, the same afternoon of the
15th of July, we left the vessel for Solo la Marina,
where Iturbide was unknown, and with the intention
on his part, to present himself to his fiiend Garza, in
the garb of a peasant, and unarmed. We landed at
night-fall, mounted on horseback, and set out on the
way to the place of our destination.
About two in the morning, we reached a cluster of
huts, called, Rancho de los Arollos, almost six leagues
distant from the sea. Here we alighled to refresh
ourselves, and have our horses fed, to enable them to
carry us the remainder of our journey.
Shortly after the ex-emperor had lain down to rest,
we heard the clashing of arms and the heavy gallop of
horses. Three soldiers soon arrived at the hut where
we lodged. They awoke the landlord, demanding of
him an instant change of horses as the)' were posting
in great haste to Soto la Marina. It was then easy
to presume that, some one had recognized Iturbide-
and that the commandant of the Bar had despatch
ed those horsemen to watch our motions. So it was
in fact ; for, notwithstanding the darkness of the night,
an officer who had left the Mexican service and had

0
Arrived. I do not now recollect whether from the Ha
vana or from New-Orleans recognized my friend. The
latter was not in the least discomposed by this accident,
it being his intention to present himself to General
Garza, on whom he firmly relied, and of whose pro
bity he entertained not the shadow of a doubt. It was
of little importance to him, therefore, whether he were
known or not and he consequently resolved to pass the
remainder of the night at the hut. Next day he di
rected me to write to Garza in my own name, and give
him an account of what had occurred. When I had
finished my letter. I addressed myself to one of the sol
diers in order to have it forwarded, but the corporal
who commanded them made answer that he could by no
means comply with my request, inasmuch as the com
mandant had despatched him with an escort suspecting
that the person who accompanied me was the Ex-empe
ror Iturbide. But on my observing to him that bei g un
armed as we were, and having no idea of making any
resistance whatever, two would in such case be amply
sufficient to guard us, I prevailed upon him to send off
one of his men with the letter. At three o'clock in the
afternoon the messenger returned brining an answer
from Garza, the substance of which was ; — that the
inconvenience to which I had been exposed gave him
great pain ; — that he had already issued orders to the
three soldiers to withdraw to the Bar, and that it would
be extremely agreeable to him to see me and my com
panion at his house. We were preparing to accept of
his hospitality, and on the point of mounting our horses
when all of a sudden we saw Garza arrive, escorted by-
two officers, his chaplain and four soldiers. On my sa
luting him he returned the compliment, demanding
where the Emperor was. I conducted him into the
house and witnessed the pleasure and transport he evin
ced on beholding Iturbide. As soon as the first inter
changes of friendly recognition and congratulation
were over, he enquired with great apparent anxiety and
caution after the letter he had written and begged to
2

10
know if it had been left on board ; and if so, whether it
was in safe hands ; or if he, Iturbide, had it about him,
as it was of the last importance, that he should be sa
tisfied on this point. Iturbide drew it from his pocket,
and generously handing it to General Garza, said, "^1
feel happy io having it in my power, to give you a proof
of the unbounded confidence which I repose in your
integrity." (This is the reason before alluded to tor
my not having this letter in my present possession.)
Garza then requested leave to introduce to him the two
officers who had came in his suite. They approach
ed, and saluted " their liberator," after which one of
them was despatched to the bar, charged with a lettef
from Iturbide to his family, which he wrote in Garza's
presence, wherein he gave them directions to land and
followfhim, without loss of time, to Soto la Marina,
where he would await their arrival.
At five in the evening we set out from the Rancho de
los Jlrallos, and entered Soto la Marina, at about
ten at night, on the 16th July. We were lodged in one
of the best houses of the town, and were attended by
an officer and twenty men, which had all the appear
ance of a guard of honour. During the entire rout to
this place, the two gentlemen rode side by side, and
seemed to be in close and earnest conversation. Scarce
ly had we alighted, when Garza ordered supper. While
it was preparing, I went out to present the two docu
ments marked Nos. 1, and 2, and likewise the Procla
mation No. 3, for the purpose of having them promptly
forwarded and laid before the Federal and State Con
gress. On my return to the house, I felt anxious to ascertain,
whether the meeting and conversation with Garza, had
eventuated to the satisfaction of Iturbide, or not. His
reply was " Yes, Beneski, 1 am completely satisfied.
Fortune has been highly propitius in conducting us to
this place. Garza has already opened himself to me
on the most important matters, as to troops, money,
and every thing requisite. In a word, all goes weli

11
notwithstanding a decree issued by the Sovereign Con
gress, by which, as Garza tells me, I have been pro
scribed." It being now late, we retired to rest. On
the morning of the 17th of July, Iturbide dictated to
me a representation to the General Congress, inform
ing them of his arrival, and expressing the heart felt
pain he suffered in finding, that he had been proscribed
by that august body ; (this the reader will find among
the accompanying documents, marked No. 4.) and
while I was in the act of finishing the representation,
document No. 5, (to which I likewise refer the reader,)
General Garza's aid-de-camp entered the room about
half-past twelve o'clock, and acquainted us, that in
conformity to orders received from his General, he
came to inform us, that we must prepare for death, as
we were to be shot at three o'clock precisely, that
afternoon. On hearing this sentence, the Liberator of Mexico
arose from his seat with astonishing composure, and
with that calm, heroic dignity, which ever distinguished
him, and which constituted the pride and boast of his
countrymen, he addressed himself to the aid-de-camp :
" Go Sir," said he, " and tell General Garza, that I
am ready to die, and only request three days, for I am
a man of family, and should like to prepare to leave
this world as a Christian ; but I entreat of him to spare
my friend so cruel a death, for if it be possible to be
so, he is more innocent than I am."
How could my heart allow me to submit to so great
a sacrifice 1 — To save my own life ! — No ! — I panted
only for the glory of ending my existence with that
of the being whom I loved above all others on earth.
I supplicated them not to separate me from my friend ;
for they had already given directions to that effect. O
God ! what a trying and painful moment must not that
have been for the noble minded, the too-confiding Itur
bide ! what a dreadful shock to his generous soul to
find, that the very individual into whose hands, friend
ship and the ties of gratitude had induced him blindly
to surrender himself, had thus basely deceived hini

12
What a bitter reflection, to behold treason thus igno
miniously unmasked . The blowr must have been keen
er than that of death itself. Nevertheless the gallant
and intrepid hero bore the annunciation of his fate with
admirable and unexampled magnanimit) . After deli
vering his reply to the aid-de-camp, he calmly sat down
and penned two letters which he privately wrote to
console his beloved wife. (The reader will find a copy
of one of them among the subjoined documents mark
ed No. 6.)
About half an hour afterwards, this same aid-de
camp again made his appearnce, and stated, that Ge
neral Garza had concluded upon presenting Don Au
gustine de Iturbide to the Federal State Congress of
Las Tamav ij as, and that fer this purpose, we should
be ready to depart at 5 o'clock in the evening for Pa
dilla. We left Soto la Marina escorted by an officer
and twenty horse, and directed our course towards the
seat of government, which is situated in the interior
about thirty leagues from Soto. Garza followed us at
the head of another body of cavalry, composed of 100
men, and accompanied by several subaltern officers
belonging to the Militia. At nine we halted. Garza
posted his escort to the left and ours to the right
of the highway, and thus stationed, both detachments
bivouacked for the night in the open fields. He gave
directions for our supper, but did not show himself.
While on the march, the two gentlemen interchanged
only a few common-place remarks, without referring
in the least to the matter in question. On the 18th
July at 2 o'clock, in the morning we continued our
rout, and at 3 heard mass, (it being Sunday,) in the
chapel of a farm ; this done, we pursued our way, and
at 8, after sun-rise, alighted on a rising ground, to al
low the cattle to graze ; Garza's corps being separa
ted from us by about two hundred paces. We had
scarcely taken up our respective positions, when Gar
za's aid-de-camp presented himself and ordered our
escort to file off and join the other body. This they

13
did, leaving us under the surveillance of only a single
sentinel. Shortly after our detachment had gone off,
we heard a simultaneous shout and loud acclamations
proceed from that quarter where the troops were drawn
up. We were still imagining that those outcries might
be harbingers of our approaching doom, when the aid-
de-camp came up full speed to the place where Itur
bide was standing, and politely requested him to come,
and speak to the soldiery. We found them formed in
a circle, Garza standing in the centre, and with tears
in his eyes, just in the act of throwing away his sword,
. . Inch having done, he addressed them in the following
terms : " The hero of Iguala, who freed us from the
Spanish yoke, is alone worthy of governing the Mexi
can Nation : he alone, can insure her happiness. I
submit to his orders, and in so doing, surrender to him
the command of this Province, as well as ofthese brave
troops, who are resolved to protect him, and to defend
the institutions of their country ; but upon the express
condition that Don Augustin de Iturbide shall never
overstep the bounds of the supreme military and civil
jurisdiction, for we will have no crowned head, and par
ticularly as we are fully assured that the Liberator of
Anahuac has returned, not as Emperor, but as a sol
dier, warm in the cause of his native land." Garza,
the.n turning to the officers and soldiers, asked them if
tbey coincided with him ; to which, they all jointly res
ponded by the most enthusiastic manifestations of the
joy and satisfaction, which they experienced in once
more beholding their beloved chief. On which Iturbide
accepted the command ; thanked them for the confi
dence they reposed in him ; and taking from his purse
four doubloons (which he had destined the preceding
day for the four soldiers who were to have shot him,
he enquired who these soldiers were . On Garza's re
plying that they had not then been selected, he handed
them to the aid-de-camp to be distributed among the
troops. Garza took infinite pains to persuade Iturbide, that
the sentence of death which had been passed upon him

14
at Solo la Marina, was solely decreed in order to
probe and ascertain the minds of the military ; and no
sooner had he discovered that they evinced sorrow and
disapprobation, than he became satisfied they might
be relied upon for the present undertaking.
We sat down to breakfast with Garza and his offi
cers, all of whom seemed highly pleased with the mor
ning's occurrence. After a hasty meal, we arose from
table, and Iturbide being desirous to acquaint his fa
mily, with the happy turn his affairs had taken, wrote
another letter to them which was forwarded by an offi
cer, who delivered it to his lady. How agreeable must
the receipt of this epistle have been to a fond wife who
had but lately received the distressing communication
of his then approaching death.
Iturbide felt very anxious not to give the least um
brage to the authorities at Padilla, being at the head
of the forces, and wished to enter into friendly rela
tions with the Congress there assembled. While still
on our way thither, Garza suddenly came to take leave,
and presenled my friend with his purse, containing fif
teen doubloons, intreating him to accept it for the mo
ment, as it might prove of some service to him in case
he should have occasion for money. Iturbide took it,
and on his delivering it to me, Garza bid us farewell,
adding, that he was about proceeding to Soto la Mari
na, to arrange the plan of operations, collect forces,
arms, &c. &c. and particularly to receive his family,
who must by that time have landed.
At two in the afternoon, we reached the village of
Santillana, and the troops having rested, we left it at
5 o'clock the same afternoon. This was on the 18th
of July. That night we took up a new encampment,
and at 3 in the morning pursued our march to Padil
la. Two officers wei e sent forward by Iturbide to no
tify the Congress of his approach. Thev soon return
ed, stating, that the President of the Legislature had
directed them to request Iturbide, to await him on, the
bank of a small river, distant about three or four hun-

IS
died paces from the town, in order that he might have
time to assemble the members and deliberate on the
matters in question. When Iturbide found at six in
the morning of the 19th that he had reached the
banks of the river above mentioned, he, in conformity
with the desire of the president, halted his forces, and
calmly awaited the determination of Congress, in or
der to show his respect for the laws of the nation and
the mandates of its authorities : and although the
troops entreated him to pass the stream and proceed
to the city, he promptly and resolutely declined acce
ding to their wishes. But it being now near 8 o'clock,
and having received no communication, he again des
patched an officer to that body to inform them, that he
desired to hold a conference with them on subjects of
great moment, and to request that an interview might
take place within an hour.
Shortly after the departure of the officer, a soldier
appeared with a message from Garza, intreating Itur
bide to abide his coming, that they might both enter
Padilla together, and that he would soon join him. At
the expiration of half an hour, Garza came and told
Iturbide that after due reflection and considering ex
isting circumstances, he thought that it would appear
more conformable thereto, were Iturbide to march in
to the town as one under arrest. He consequently
entered Padilla in this character, where he was lodged
in a house, which had been selected for his residence.
A guard consisting of an officer and twenty men were
ordered to attend upon us, but they had now no longer
the appearance of a guard of honour. Considering
ourselves once more in the light of prisoners, we con
cluded the Representation which we had commenced
at Soto la Marina, a copy'4 of which will be found
among the subjoined documents, marked No, 7. Gen
eral Garza sent us dinner, but did not appear himself.
We had just risen from tab:e, when his servant came
in to request the return ofthe money, which he had lent
Iturbide shortly after he surrendered the command to

10
him ! ! ¦ I desire no longer to dwell upon the conduct
of Garza. The world will be surprised at such an act
of infamy, and will amply judge him by the true and
faithful exposition, which lhave given of his behaviour.
Iturbide wrote the representation, contained in docu
ment No. 8, to the State Congress, entreating permis
sion to address them personally, but received no reply.
At 4 o'clock of the same day , the same aid-de-camp an i-
ved bringing the sentence of death, with orders to see it
put in execution at 6, precisely. My brave friend evin
ced on this occasion the same serenity of mind which
he had manifested when previously sentenced to be
shot, and asked a delay of only three days to prepare
himself : a space of time which is always conceded in
every christian country to the basest malefactor ; but
even this brief interval was denied him ! ! !
As they were about to conduct me under guard to
another dwelling, I tore myself from his embrace, and
in this moment of agony, pressed him for the last
time in my arms. They were forcing me away, grief
choaked my utterance, and I had only strength to bid
him an eternal farewell. The sole consolation that
now remained for me on earth was the satisfaction of
quitting this life with him. His last words to me on
my leaving the room were, " Beneski, make your peace
with the Almighty !" These sounds are continually in
my ears, and will ever remain engraven on my heart..
The president of the Congress of Las Tamaulipas,
being an ecclesiastic, kindly attended in person, and
religiously assisted Iturbide in his solemn preparations
for death. I begged the like favour of Garza when he
came to visit me in prison ; but he informed me, that I
was not to die, inasmuch as Congress had no autho
rity to pass such sentence upon me. To this I made
answer, that I was likewise comprehended in the same
decree, and that if Congress had no such power over
me, they had still less power to condemn my friend.
Tip to this moment, I had felt some alleviation to my

17
grief in the hope which I cherished of being allowed
to share the fate of my commander. But on hearing
the determination of Congress, the distress of mind I
suffered in the idea of surviving my friend and benefac
tor became insupportable and entirely overcame me.
I petitioned Congress to pass sentence also on me, I
supplicated Garza to this effect : and at lenglh he pro
mised to interest himself to obtain the realization of
my wishes -. But far from complying with his promise,
or even endeavouring to procure for me the boon which
I craved, he on the contrary, gave orders for removing
me from the prison in which I was confined, and caused
me to be forcibly dragged from thence, half frantic as
I was through excess of mental dejection. They lock
ed me up in another uninhabited dwelling, and even
bolted all the doors and windows, placed a guard at
the entrance of my room, and left me under the im
mediate observance of two sentinels.
As soon as Iturbide had performed his last christial
duties, he was led forth at about six, or near sun-down*
to the public square, the place appointed for his execu
tion. The heat of the country, which was excessive,
forced him to ask for a glass of Water, which on be
ing handed to him he drank off; then turning to the
authorities he requested leave to address the troops
drawn up before him ; and having received permission
to that effect, he spoke to them in the following terms,
which were the last words he uttered : " Mexicans !
in this last moment of my life, I recommend to you the
love of your country and the due observance of our
holy religion ; it is religion which will lead you to glo
ry. I die for having flown to your assistance, and die
happy in expiring among you. I leave this world
with honour, and not as a traitor — this foul stigma
shall not attach itself to the fair fame of my descen-
dents. No, — it shall never be said that I was a trai
tor ! Preserve strict subordination and be obedient to
your commanders. By acting in conformity to their
mandates, you will obey those of your Creator. I do

18
hot address you from any motives of vanity, for I am
far from harbouring them." And after having offered
up a fervent prayer, he said, " From the bottom of
my heart I forgive all my enemies — really from my
heart." The officer who superintended the execution, now
approached in order to put a bandage upon his eyes :
this Iturbide declined, saying it was unnecessary : but
on the officer's replying that such was tlie form to be
observed, the Ex-emperor drew forth his handkerchief
and bound it on with his own hands : this done he
knelt down, and having received two balls in his fore
head, and two in his breast, fell dead. They instantly
removed the corpse and deposited it in a chapel for the
purpose of interring it the ensuing day. It was then
buried with all the propriety and solemnity which could
have been expected in a small in-land country town ;
the Legislature and all the public authorities followed
his remains to the grave and assisted in consigning the
Liberator of Mexico to his last abode.
Such was the end of the hero of Iguala ! his love
for his country, and the noble impulse of his generous
soul proved his ruin. That he died with honour, and
that his memory will ever be dear to the Mexican na
tion is how the only consolation which remains to his
family and his friends! !
The state Congress of Las Tamaulipas, one ofthe
sovereignties of the Mexican Federation, doomed her
Liberator to an ignominious death, without a hearing,
without a trial, without a legal condemnation, and
without even once considering that Iturbide could not
have received intelligence of the decree of proscrip
tion ; inasmuch as he sailed from England on the 11th
May, 1824, and the act of outlawry was passed only
on the 28th day of the preceding month. That body
should have taken into consideration that the penalties
of a law should never be inflicted or enforced when
the very existence of such laic is unknown to the ac
cused !

19
On the 28th of July I returned with General G arza, to
Sato la Marina, there to remain under arrest until the
government of Mexico should decide as to my fate. It
was afterwards decreed that legal proceedings should
be instituted against me, and that a council of war
should try me under the sameact of proscription by which
Iturbide had been condemned, in which I was compre
hended, and ought consequently, to have suffered death,
having aided and abetted his return to Mexico. But
the council of war, after taking cognizance and deli
berating on my case with sounder discrimination and
more impartial justice than the Congress of Padilla
had exercised in that of my departed friend, consider
ing that I could not have had the smallest notice of
the promulgation of the decree in question for the rea
son above mentioned, sentenced me to perpetual ba
nishment from the Mexican territory: provided said
sentence should meet the approbation of the general
government. The latter acknowledging the upright
ness of their decision, not only approved of the sen
tence, but moreover left me entirely at liberty to appeal
from or to abide by it ; and in case of acquiescence,
that I might proceed to the United States. In con
formity thereto, I left the country, having previously
furnished myself with a certificate from Gen. Garza,
to serve as a documentary attestation of the line of
conduct I had pursued, and the manner in which I had
conducted myself throughout the whole affair. (See
Document, No. 9.)
The government, taking into consideration the ser
vices which their deceased Liberator had rendered to
his country, and deeming it an act of justice, humane
ly and generously settled an annual pension of $8,000
upon his widow and children. To preserve the public
tranquility, and having reason to dread commotions in
their favour, owing to the strong attachment of the
Mexican people to their departed benefactor, the exe
cutive power considered their temporary exile to be a
measure which prudence dictated.

20
To me it would prove a source of the highest gratifi
cation, were the Mexican government but willing to be
persuaded, that I am an ardent lover of its liberal in
stitutions ; that I am so, from a thorough conviction
that they are alone calculated to ensure the happiness
of a people, and that it is the sacred duty of eveiy man
to protect and maintain them, it being far preferable
to die free, than to live in bondage. Despotic monar
chical governments constitute my greatest detestation ;
and I solemnly declare before that God who searcheth
the hearts of all mankind that I never would have ac
companied the Ex-emperor of Mexico, had I known
him to be a despot, or an enemy to liberty.
CHARLES DE BENESKI
New-York, Wth JYovbs.
1824.

ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS.

DOCUMENT, NO. 1.

REPRESENTATIONS, ADDRESSED TO THE SUPREME
GENERAL CONGRESS OF THE NATION.
FIRST.
Love of country animated the war-cry of Iguala,
it was this that enabled me to overcome the greatest
obstacles, and it still burns in my bosom with undimi
nished ardour :— neither the terms in which the decree
of the 8th April 1823 was couched, nor the imputations
levelled by a few authorities and an incorporated body
against my reputation, and which proved to be as harm
less as they were false, have been sufficient to extin
guish it : — I have looked upon the whole as the result of
the errors and passions of individuals ; as it regards
the Mexican nation, I can entertain nothing but senti
ments of acknowledgment and eternal gratitude.

As soon, therefore, as the designs of the European
powers against the Americas Avere clearly developed,
and which I had long foreseen, I resolved to remove to
a spot where I might be prepared at a moment to fly
to the assistance of the Mexicans, if they required my
aid, and thereby frustrate the measures which I pre
sumed had been adopted to prevent my doing so by
several ministers at the court of Tuscany, my suspi
cions have been fully confirmed by public acts which
I presume are in the possession of your sovereign
body. To the representatives of this great nation it belongs
to calculate and to determine, whether my services as
a mere soldier, through the favourable opinion I may
still possess, can serve in any manner to re-unite the
sentiments ofthe people, and to contribute by this and
by my sword to secure the independence and freedom
of the country; to myself it only belongs to manifest
the desire I entertain to serve my country, and with
profound respect to offer to her acceptance arms, mu
nitions of war, clothing, and money; and solemnly to
protest, that as soon as I shall behold the liberty of
Mexico secured, with only one sentiment and one inter
est prevailing among the inhabitants, with no power
ful enemies to combat, I shall desire nothing more than
to offer my gratulations on so propitious an event, and
to carry with me in my retirement the purest and sin-
cerest sentiments of joy for her prosperity. Let not
either my wishes or my language be misunderstood —
The real happiness of my country is all that I seek,
and for this do I offer to the Almighty my most fervant
prayers.
London, February 13th, 1824.
Signed, AUGUSTIN DE ITURBIDE.
To the Sovereign Constitutional Congress?
of the Mexican nation. S

23

SECOND.

Under date of the 13th February. I addressed to
your honorable body the representation of which I now
forward the sextuplicate : the duplicate and triplicate
whereof I transmitted through the hands of Don Fran
cisco de Borja Migoni, agent for the Mexican govern
ment in London, and who assured me that he had ex
pedited the same through the care of Don Lucas Ala-
man ; but having reason to fear on the one hand that
they might not arrive in season, and finding on the
other the circumstances which induced me again to of
fer my services to my country becoming more urgent,
while each day increased and strengthened the obsta
cles to their efficiency, I determined upon sailing from
England in May, leaving all my children there except
the two younger. In that representation 1 hinted at
the designs of several of the ministers at the court of
Florence to intercept me in the route ; I have now to
add that the holy alliance endeavoured to prevent my
family from leaving Leghorn in order to join me; and
the consuls of France, Sardinia, Rome, &c. acting in
pursuance to instructions received to this effect from
their ministers, who are all implicated in the affair, re
fused to inspect their pasports ; by an extraordinary
exertion, 1 surmounted this difficulty, as also various
other embarrassments which were created by the Duke
of San Carlos, minister plenipotentiary of Spain at the
court of Versailles.
These public occurrences, and other weighty rea
sons, not necessary to be here stated, satisfied me that
the difficulties I should have to encounter, would in a

24
short time become wholly insurmountable. The great
anxiety evinced by the combined cabinets to prevent
my return to my native land, gave a new impulse to
exertions, as it confirmed me in the belief of my being
able to render effectual service to my country in op
posing their intrigues.
Having heretofore withdrawn from my country, with
my wife and children, under circumstances too well
known to require to be here repeated, separating my
self in so doing from a beloved and venerated father,
sister, relations and friends, in order to prevent the
smallest effusion of blood, and that my presence should
not be considered as any obstacle to the choice by the
people of such government as they might think best —
how could I be indifferent to the imminent dangers which
threatened her, or wish that my aid should perhaps be
come useless by delay ? I. should be unworthy the name
of a Mexican, and an unpardonable criminal in my
own eyes, if dangers, difficulties or personal considera
tions of any kind, should have caused me to act with
hesitation, when promptness and activity were most
required. I considered it my duty to disregard all dif
ficulties and personal considerations — was it necessary
to abandon my beloved children, to sell the jewels of
my wife, and even to divest myself of my own little
personal ornaments in order to meet the expenses of
my voyage, so as to avoid compromiting the credit of
my country, or of imposing upon her any particular ob
ligation ? All this was done. Was it necessary for
me to traverse mountains covered with snow, to ex
pose myself to the dangers of the sea in the most in
clement season, in a small and ill-conditioned bark, in
order to arrive at London ? I did so cheerfully. Was
it necessary for me to forsake the enjoyments of pri
vate and retired life and again to hazard my existence
Even at this I did not hesitate. Was it necessary for
me to overcome the hesitation excited in my own mind
by a regard to my character, lest my conduct in this
new enterprize should be charged against me as a mere

25
attempt to effect my own personal aggrandizement ?
Here also was I victorious. Animated as I was by the
most sincere and devoted love of my country, I ac
counted no sacrifices too great for me to sustain, which
might be productive of good to her.
I am in the territory of Mexico, and hope that the
present Congress, being its own master, free from party
spirit, and exclusively occupied with the welfare of the
nation, will not suffer it to be plunged into that abyss
of evils wherein it wras so near being overwhelmed by
a former faction. I do not speak with any feelings of
resentment, for these my heart disavows ; the freedom
of my language is the result of the sincerest princi
ples of patriotism and honour ; let me explain myself.
In forming the plan of Iguala, the object. I had in
view was to liberate my country from the dominion
of Spain — to place her in such a situation as would
enable her to adopt that constitution which she might
judge most expedient — to preserve her excellent cus
toms, and in the midst of revolution to avoid the affu
sion of blood ; — the result is well known, and there is
no person who will dare to deny that the ends I had in
view were holy, just, and tended to the production of
prosperity and national felicity. It is true that it was
accompanied by some evils, and the country is even
now in danger of being again made subject to the
same ignominious chains from which it has been libe
rated — but not from any defect in that plan, or from
any fault of its author. If the first Congress had act
ed with good faith, with wisdom and discretion, the
nation might have established its liberty and modelled
its constitution under more favourable circumstances,
according to its own will ; it might have possessed
unanimity, an army, a system of finance of which it is
now destitute, and Spain with all the aid derived from
foreign powers would not even have dared to undertake
the re-conquest of Mexico — an event, which she now
considers perfectly certain. 4

20
It the years 21 and 22, the sentiments and opinions
of Ferdinand VII. and of the Spanish nation, were as
evident, and the interest which the allied powers felt
in his cause, as well known, as they are now ; and, I
had no doubt but they would resort to evey possible
means of re-effecting our subjugation. In the archives
of those courts, and in those of the secretaries of
state will be found multiplied proofs of my having fore
seen the evil, and of my extreme anxiety to avert it,
while the faction which controlled that Congress, from
its very commencement, rendered all my efforts fruit
less and unavailing. — The objects of this faction were
to prevent the establishment of a constitution, of an
army, of a system of financial operations, and by dis
tracting public opinion, to pave the way for the re-con
quest of the country.
The Bourbons Avere under the necessity of adopting
a pretext by which to cover their real intentions, and
by taking advantage of the rivalship which existed
among some of my countrymen and of the inexperi
ence of many, persuaded them to believe that the mea
sures which I so anxiously pursued tended solely to my
own personal agrandizement ; and afterwards, when I
was proclaimed Emperor, without either an army or a
treasury to support me, they changed their ground and
endeavoured to convince the people that my designs
were no less than to possess myself of absolute and
despotic power ; but their intention was still the same,
I would fain omit revivina; the recollection of these cir-
cumstances, but the welfare of the nation imperiously
demands this of me : the same faction yet exists, and
the circumstances of the country afford still stronger
grounds for apprehension ; they will pretend and strive
to persuade you to believe that I am influenced by mo
tives of ambition, and not by those of attachment to
my country : they will endeavour to convince you that
there exists no foreign danger, that all that is said of
an intention on the part of Ferdinand VII. and his al
lies, to subject the Aniericas to the domination of theiv

27
former masters, are so many false and designing inven
tions ; — they will resort to every imaginable device to
blind and mislead the nation and effect my destruction.
Such has been and such will continue to be their con
duct, in conformity to the instructions of the court of
Madrid, ever since the year twenty-one ; regarding me
as the greatest obstacle to the execution of their plans ;
they say, that if they can only succeed in putting me
out of the way, it will be easy to introduce that spirit
of division which will render your re-subjugation sure.
Fortunately, there are in the sovereign congress ma
ny persons who are not only possessed of talents and
science, but of patriotism also* who are well acquaint
ed with the intrigues of the old cabinets ; — and fortu
nately also, my actions have furnished the most solid
and convincing proofs, that I loved my country more
than I did my own person, and that as it regarded my
self, I sought no other gratification than that of ren
dering this country independent ; to prove that this was
the only motive of my actions, what is it to which I
now aspire ? — Surely to contribute to its defence, and
to use the influence which circumstances may give me
to assist in re-uniting the interests and the opinions of
the people, that they may by these means attain to that
degree of power which nature places within their
reach, and to that station of respectability and great
ness to which Providence has called them.
I cannot doubt that your supreme body have taken
advantage of all favourable apportunities of ascertain
ing with certainty the views of the Holy Alliance, as
you could not otherwise know the enemies with whom
you have to contend, nor upon the forces necessary to
oppose them ; I do not therefore undertake to give you
any information on this point. In transmitting to you
a printed statement dated at London, the third of May
last, containing the speech of the King of France On
the opening of the Chambers, and an article taken from
the Morning Chronicle dated twenty-third of April,
my sole object is to direct your particular attention t.A

28
various matters embraced in this latter production—
and which under present circumstances are of great
importance. Mexico contains within her own bosom
cunning and malignant vipers which are preying upon
her vitals ; but happily she also possesses faithful and
devoted children who well know how to expose the ma
chinations and to destroy the projects of her enemies,
by opposing a firm and faithful bosom for her safety ;
among whom my desire is to be found the foremost.
Ore board the brig Spring, 5th, of July, 1824.
Signed, AUGUSTIN DE ITURBIDE
To the Supreme Constitutional Congress ?
of Mexico. 5

^e^-

DOCUMENT, No. 3.

MEXICANS,
After tendering to you on my return to my nativ6
country, the assurances of my unabated affection and
attachment, my first duty is to make you acquainted
with the motives of my departure from Italy, and in
what manner, and for vvhat object I have returned : I
trust, that you will listen kindly to my words, and give
them that consideration and assent which he who has
ever been a strict observer of truth has a right to anti
cipate. Experience has proved to you by a series of
events as glorious as they were beneficial, that all my
public acts of any importance were the result of deep
reflection, and predicated upon a regard to the true
and solid happiness of the country, and guided by the
strictest rules of prudence and justice.

29
I should do you great injustice were I to undertake
to convince you, that Spain is under the protection of
the Holy Alliance, and that she has not submitted and
will not submit to endure the loss of the most precious
jewel that adorned her crown — it is impossible, how
ever, for you to be fully acquainted with the innumerable
springs which have been set in motion both abroad and
among yourselves to re-effect your subjugation. My
visit to Europe having afforded me an opportunity of
possessing myself of the most minute information in
this respect, I became satisfied of the impending ruin
which is preparing for you, and which I could not stand
by and look upon with indifference. These are the
motives which have induced me to abandon those re
mote regions, and overcoming the obstacles and elu
ding the intrigues by which they attempted to prevent
my return to resume my place among you, my coun
trymen. I come not as Emperor, but only as a soldier and a
Mexican : influenced by the strongest sentiments of
my heart, and by the purest love of my country. I come
as the first in interest in the establishment of our be
loved independence, and that liberty, which is our
birthright. I come deej_ly sensible of the grateful sen
timents which I ought to cherish on account of the
affectionate regard which has ever been manifested to
wards me by the nation in general, and without any
recollection of the atrocious calumnies by which my
own personal enemies and the enemies of my country
have sought to destroy my reputation.
My sole object is to contribute both by my voice
and by my sword to support the liberty and indepen
dence of Mexico : and I do so, with a full determina
tion not to survive the re-imposition of those dreadful
chains which powerful nations, aided by some of her
unnatural sons, and several ungrateful Spaniards are
endeavouring to impose upon her. My desire is also
to act if possible* as a mediator in your own internal
dissentions, which are of themselves sufficient to destroy

30
you : to re-establish the inestimable blessings of peace ;
to support that form of government only, which shall
be most conformable to the national will,, and to unite
most cordially with you in effecting the prosperity of
our common country.
Mexicans, you shall shortly be addressed again by
your most sincere and affectionate friend,
AUGUSTIN DE ITURBIDE,
Onboard the brig Spring, Stji June 1824.

DOCUMENT, NO. 4.

The Supreme Executive Power has addressed to me
the following decree :
The Supreme Executive Power, provisionally ap
pointed by the Sovereign Mexican Congress, to all
to whom these presents may come and concern,
make known, that the General Constituent Sove
reign Congress have decreed as follows :
Art. 1. Should Don Augustine de Iturbide, at
any time, or under any title whatever present him
self within this territory, he shall be declared a traitor
and an outlaw : in which case, the very act itself shall
be sufficient to adjudge him a public enemy to the
state. Art. 2. All such persons as may co-operate by en
comiastic writings, or in any way whatsoever, to favour
his return to the Mexican Republic, are hereby declar
ed traitors to the Federati/e Government, and shall be
tried in conformity to the law of the 27th September.
1823.

31
Art. 3. The preceding article likewise includes all
those who may in any manner forward the views of
any foreign invader whomsoever, and such persons
shall be judged in conformity with the provisions of the
said law.
The Supreme Executive Power after notification of
the preceding decree, is charged with the fulfil
ment, printing, publication, and circulation there
of.
Mexico, 28th April, 1824.
Signed, JOSE MARIA CAERE Z A.
FRANCISCO ELORRIAGA,
Deputy Secretary.
JOSE MARIA XIMENEZ,
Deputy Secretary.
Wherefore we command all tribunals, justices of
the peace, chiefs, governors and all other authorities,
whether civil, military, or ecclesiastical, of whatever
rank or character they may be, to observe and cause
to be observed, fulfil, and execute the present decree in
all its points. And for the fulfilment thereof, the same
is ordered to be printed, published, and circulated.
Mexico, April 28, 1824.
NICHOLAS BRAVO, President,
MIGUEL DOMINGUEZ.
Addressed lo Daniel Pablo de la Slave,
for bis notification and fulfilment thereof

DOCUMENT, No. 5.

REPRESENTATION ADDRESSED TO THE
SUPREME GENERAL CONGRESS
FROM SOTO LA MARINA.

It is with amazement I have learned that your sove
reign body have proscribed me? declared me an out
law, and published a decree to that effect. A resolu
tion like this, dictated by the most respectable authori
ty of the nation, whose character ought to be marked
by the strictest regard to justice and prudence, has led
me to a careful examination of my conduct, in order
that I might, if possible, discover the atrocious crime
of which I may have been guilty, that could justify so
cruel a measure on the part of the representatives of
a nation which has such just cause to pride itself for its
unbounded clemency and lenity.
I enquired within myself, whether my crime con
sisted in having formed the plan of Iguala, and in hav
ing raised an army by whose victories the nation was
elevated from a state of slavery to that of sovereignty ;
whether it consisted in having established the consti-
tutonal system in Mexico, and in assembling a Congress
to enact such laws as might be most congenial to her
will and welfare ; whether it consisted in having twice
defeated the plans which were formed as early as the
year 1821, to have me proclaimed monarch ; or, per-

33
chance, in having accepted the crown when no longer
able to refuse it, having made this great sacrifice in
order to liberate my country, which in truth was there
by preserved from anarchy ; whether it consisted ia
having refused to grant employment to my nearest re
latives, thereby declining to augment their wealth ;
whether it consisted in having preserved the National
Representation by means of the Instituent Assembly,
or in dissolving a Congress which during nine months
enacted nothing in relation to the constitution, the ar
my, or the finances, and all of whose acts tended eith
er directly or indirectly to precipitate us into a state of
anarchy and of subjection to the Spanish yoke ; whether
it consisted in having overruled the measures of this Le
gislature which at the very moment of its organization
had sworn to maintain the three powers of the nation
separate, and yet wholly annulled them, thereby in
fringing the limits of the authority vested in them, act
ing in violation of their most solemn oaths and render
ing themselves wholly unworthy of the public confi
dence, as was manifested by the whole nation, when
after my departure, it deprived them of all the powers
with which they had been originally invested ; or, in
having again convened this very Congress in order
once more to extirpate anarchy out ofthe country, lea
ving at my departure a central point of union, although
well assured that this assembly would do every thing
in its power to injure me ; as there reigned in it, I grieve
to say it, party spirit, immorality and meaness ; whether
it, consisted in having resigned a sceptre, which I had
been constrained to assume and could well have main
tained, when it was intimated to me by two or three
provincial deputies and a small portion of the soldiery
that the nation desired a new government ; or, in hav
ing blindly confided in those who had already betrayed
me while supreme magistrate of the nation, and in hav
ing risked my life in the hands of those who by every
means, not excepting the basest and most infamous
had essaved to destroy me, as every thing appeared

34
to me to be preferable to the shedding of one drop of
American blood in my defence ; or, whether it might
not b-xve consisted in the sacrifices which I made for
my family and friends, whereby I avoided those intes
tine broils that would have given such immense ad
vantages to the Bourbon faction, which then, as well
as now, strove to divide us, that it might load the
Americans with the chains of slavery ; whether it con
sisted in my having abandoned my honoured, venera
ble and virtuous father in want, and setting out myself
in the same destitute condition, with a wife and eight
children on a journey of nearly two thousand leagues
from my native land ; or, when having the National
funds at my disposal, I did not appropriate to myself
that portion which she herself had granted me, prefer-
ing on the contrary, in consideration of the impover
ished state of the public treasury, and notwithstanding
my own personal necessities, that the public monies
should be distributed to supply the wants and discharge
the salaries of those very men wrho pretended to be
lieve me abounding in riches, a fact which they uu-
blushingly asserted in the face of the Nation, and which
sooner or later had to acknowledge the truth : was it,
that in defiance of every risk, I defeated all the schemes
of the Holy Alliance, in order to place myself in a si
tuation from whence I might fly to the assistance of my
native land, as soon as those .powers should com
mence hostilities against her . or, was it in having re
presented to this same Congress the desires which
were nearest to my heart, omitting to write to my re
latives and friends one single word that might give
them the slightest expectation of my return to Mexico,
in order to avoid by such communication the remotest
cause of internal dissentions ; or, is it in having frankly
avowed to your Sovereign Congress my most ardent
wishes for the welfare of my country, and that I consi
dered myself to have been in no wise injured by her ?
or, is it, that I offered to bring with me arms, money
ant! every thing necessary fo supply her wants, and in

3o
»bclariug my willingness to contribute to the support,
of such form of government as the people might see
fit to adopt _  1 find it impossible to
discover, even after so scrupulous an examination, what
may or can be the crimes for which your Sovereign
Congress have condemned me. I desire, therefore, to
be informed of them, that I may dispel the error ; be
ing convinced, that my views are most upright, and
that the warmest wishes of my heart are for the welfare
of my country ; that, as to her, I have no other love
than the love' of glory, and feel myself perfectly disin
terested in relation to all other material concerns.
Civilized nations, the world at large, and future ge
nerations in particular, will be astonished at the pro
mulgation of the decree of which I speak ;'and I entreat
your Sovereign Congress, that for your own honour,
and, more especially, for that ofthe great nation, which
you represent, that you will be pleased to read and
take into your most deliberate consideration the repre
sentation which I forwarded to you from London, un
der date of 13th February, as also, that of the 14th
inst, in order that your deliberations may be conducted
with all that prudence and discretion which circum
stances require ; and I entreat of all, and of each one
of the deputies, that they will examine well their own
hearts, and consider this subject impartially : that each
among them will deliberate, as though he Avere the
only judge, the sole governor, Avith relation to the cir
cumstances of my conduct ; not allowing themselves
to be influenced by the suggestions of those pusillani
mous and corrupt minds, which always presume the
Avorst of others, and are even terrified at their own
shadoAA7s. I would also intreat your Sovereign Con*
gress, to consider, Iioav essentially I may promote the
welfare of the country, by contributing to allay the
dissentions and to unite the public mind, which alone
can save us from the imminent dangers that threaten
us. It cannot be questioned, that with but very little
exertion, France introduced 140,000 men into Spa]n,

and expended immense treasures, for the sole purpose1
of putting down the Constitutional system. What
will not the same nation do in conjunction Avith the
powers of the Holy Alliance, to subjugate the neA\
republics, and to reduce us to the state of colonies un
der our former masters, in order to preserve that legi
timacy in which the reigning dynasties are so deeply
interested ? Your Sovereign Congress Avill please to
remember, that the presumptuous and- improvident
Cortes of Spain neglected those measures which should
have been adopted Avithin themselves, and imprudently
relying upon foreign assistance, Avere disappointed.
The result is known ; and a similar fate Avill attend
Mexico berself, should those who are bound to save
her, pursue a similar course. Finally, I entreat your
Sovereign Congress, that you will consider me, not as
the enemy, but as the most ardent wrell-wisher of my
country ; and that I long to evince the fidelity of my
attachment to her Avelfare, by promoting that most im
portant of all considerations, unity of sentiment among
the people, whose attachment to my person, is, I am
Avell assured, in the ratio of 97 to 3. It Avas under
the influence of all these considerations, that I came.
promptly an d openly, without hostile preparations, ful
ly determine d, to govern myself throughout by the
strictest principles of rectitude. And if, indeed, my
blood be require o- to invigorate the growth of the tree
of liberty and pea ce, how gladly, how gloriously Avould
I not offer myself up a victim on the scaffold ! I would
do so, as freely, as I Avould shed my blood upon the
field of honour, mixin g, but not confounding it with that
bf the enemies of the nation. The ruin of my coun
try and my own dishonour are tAvo events Avhich I
have sworn not to survive.

;.:

DOCUMENT, No. Q.

V'/o la Marina, \1th July. 18.4

MY DEAR FRIEND,
Please peruse the subjoined letter and deliver
it to my wife, after duly preparing her for the contents
thereof, that she may not undergo a shock which might
prove prejudicial to her health, and endanger the exis
tence of the innocent being with which she is preg
nant. I may be excused from dwelling upon useless-
circumstances Avhen the result is known.
* Under the idea of its being one day of service to mv
family, I transmit to you the rough draft of a third
representation to Congress, in the state in which it was
when they announced my condemnation, and at a pe
riod when such an event, Avas by no means, at hand,
as General Garza can certify. You may make such
use of it as you may deem most proper.
I feel no inclination to write more, and must, more
over, hold myself in readiness to mount'on horseback
whenever they may choose so to command me. You
are my friend, and are acquainted with my sentiments
in relation to my family, and the arrangements of my
household. I cannot address my father, nor do I con
sider it requisite  Should I be able to finish
the third representation and remit it to you, yonr faith
ful and loving friend Avill do so.
ITURBIDE.

3>
Entreat of my father Trevino, to consider this as tit
him ; remember me to Morandini ; I recommend him
and the printer to you, and also once more poor Jose
phine. General Garza has promised me that you shall
all be taken care of by his family.
They inform me, that we are about to start for Pa
dilla, therefore, cannot write to Joseph, whom I like
wise request to consider this as to him, and to accept
the love of an uncle,. who desired his welfare, but per
haps did him an injury. I have already spoken to you
about him, his father and sisters. ITURBIDE.

DOCUMENT, NO. ?.

CONTINUATION OF REPRESENTATION No. _

At this stage of my representation, Adjutant Gordi-
mno Castillo presented himself before me, and when I
least expected it, announced to me in the name of Citi
zen General Felipe de la Garza, the sentence of death,
and that it was to be carried into execution at 3 o'
clock that afternoon. It wras then a quarter past 12.
Almighty God! How can I describe the feelings which
pressed* upon my soul ! I beheld my country about tt»
be destroyed by intestine divisions, a prey to her irre-
conciliable enemy, the Spanish government : American
hands had sealed my sentence and I beheld American
hands about to carry it into execution : a charge had
been preferred against me of Avhich I neither had, nor
could I have had any notice, for the decree was
passed, the 28th April, and my departure from Lon
don took place, on the 4th. and from the Isle of Win lit

¦¦V.)
on the II th of the ensuing month of May, and I did
not touch at any port Avhatever, until I arrived at the
Bar of Soto la Marina ; I beheld this sentence about
to be carried into execution, without having ever been
heard in my defence, and Avhat is worse, without being
alloAved the time necessary to prepare myself to die
as a Christian, leaving six tender children in a foreign
country, and two others, one of four years, and the
other of seventeen months old, confined on board of a
brig, together Avith their Avret'ched mother again far ad
vanced in a state of pregnancy ; I beheld — but why
Avaste time in these tender recollections : I proceed
Avith the material parts of my statement : as to the
loss of a life which I had so often risked for my coun
try, and so often exposed for the safety of my country
men, I did not evren request its preservation ; I only
asked the alloAvance of three short days, Avithin wdiich
I might endeavour to make my peace Avith my God :
my conscience, unhappily for me, not being so clear in
my private as it was in my public life ; that I might be
permitted to address a few lines of instruction to my
Avife and my children, and that they would spare my
dear friend , Charles de Beneski, so cruel a fate, he be
ing, if possible, more innocent than myself, and who
through friendship alone, secure ofthe rectitude of my
intentions, returned to serve that same nation which
now condemns him. The General (Garza) being un
able to doubt of the justice of my representations, that
I had presented myself to him in good faith, without
a man, musket, or the smallest indication of hostility,
in a province where I possessed the fewest friends, and
fully resolved to obey the resolutions of the Sovereign
General Congress, whether these might be to accept
my services, or that in case of refusal I Avould depart
from the Mexican territories for ever, suspended the
execution of the sentence and started the same even
ing of the 17th for the honourable Congress of Las.
Tamaulipas, to deliver me over to that body.
\UGUSTIN DE ITTTR.BIDE,

to

DOCUMENT, No. b.

1 request, gentlemen, that you Avill be pleased to be
seech the honourable Congress in my name, to deign
to hear me previous to terminating the matter with
Avhich they are now engaged in relation to me. It is
not so much the lives of two men, be they of what
class they may, they are nevertheless of the utmost
value ; but it is the great interest of the nation which
I would submit to the consideration of the Congress :
if Avhat they may hear from me should prove to be un
important, or only considered so by them, nothing
would be lost on their part, and its .vorthy members
Avill have given a proof of their justice, humanity and
discretion ; and if on the other hand they should turn
a deaf ear to my just demand, hoAV great will be the
prejudices that will be excited against them in the
country, and Avhat bitter pangs of remorse Avill they
not create in their own bosoms ? The papers which I
gave to General Garza are incomplete, and were, more
over, written in haste, and under very critical circum
stances, by a man fluctuating betwreen a thousand ten
der and interesting objects ; I trust, therefore, the ho
nourable Congress cannot slightly pass its judgment.
and resolution on so serious an affair upon documents
«o exceedingly informal.
God preserve you gentlemen, many years.
Padilla, 19th July, 182 t, At Noon.
AUGUSTIN DE ITURBIDE
jo tlift Secretaries of the Honourable
'¦ongres'f »f J,a. Tarnaulipas.

41

DOCUMENT No. 9.

Felipe de la Garza, Brigadier General in the Mexican
Army, and present Commandant General of the
State of Tamaulipas, &c.
I certify, upon my word of honour, that Colonel
Charles . Beneski, a native of Poland, accompanied
the late Don AugUstin de Iturbide, from his disembar-
cation to his death, on which occasion he 'gave the
most sincere proofs of fidelity and attachment to his
person, by desiring to be shot with him ; that to this
effect, he formally petitioned me as Commandant
General, and even the Supreme State Congress : and
that on the denial of his request, he became so outra
geous as to render it necessary to have him confined
to a room : that after the execution of Iturbide, Be
neski remained more than four days without taking
the smallest nourishment : exhibiting the liveliest de
monstrations of his grief and his attachment to his
friend ; and, moreover, that during the pendency of
his trial, from the result of which he suffered three
months imprisonment, and was sentenced to perpetual
banishment from the Mexican territory ; he constantly
manifested the utmost regard for the reputation of
the deceased Iturbide. ..
In testimony, whereof, and in order that he may
make such use of these presents, as he may deem most
fit ; the same are given at his request, and under my
hand at Soto la Marina, this 21st day of October, 1824.
Signed, F. DE LA GARZA.

YALE

3 9002

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