Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Thirty-ninth Congress, Part III
Señor Romero to Mr. Seward
My Dear Sir: Believing you would like to see the detailed and authentic-accounts of the infirmity that afflicts Madam Charlotte Leopoldine, ex-archduchess of Austria, I send you a copy of a communication from Don Joaquin Velasquez de Leon, called minister of Maximilian in Rome, directed to his master from that city on the 18th of October last, informing him of all that had happened up to that time.
I may as well say the original of the communication is in my possession.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, &c., & c., & c.
Communication of Velasquez de Leon, minister at Rome, to Maximilian, in Mexico
Sire: I proceed to inform your majesty of the particulars of the unfortunate and unexpected events of the last few days.
We could imagine many calamities to Mexico, but it certainly never entered our minds,. when we were admiring the courage and heroic valor of her majesty the empress at leaving [Page 386] your majesty, enduring the dangers and fatigues of the bad roads to Vera Cruz, in the rainy season, in the midst of yellow fever, crossing the ocean and coming as a great negotiator to demand rights for Mexico and the execution of treaties, that she would be so ungraciously received in Paris as to affect her Majesty’s mind so seriously.
The desperate condition of Mexico, a country so much beloved by her majesty, undoubtedly had much influence in the mental excitement, but she showed some symptoms of derangement at Puebla and Acultzingo. The effects of her reception in Paris were so strong that she had to stop in Botzen, on the way to Rome, where she imagined she saw Paulino Lamadrid in disguise, playing an organ, and fancied herself surrounded by Napoleon’s spies and traitors, who had poisoned her. On account of the unexpected delay at Botzen I did not meet her majesty at Orti, whither I had gone with Bishop Ramirez to receive her, because Señor Degollado was sick. A committee from the pontifical government also went to meet her.
Telegraphic despatches on the way informed me that her majesty would arrive at Ancona, and we went there, where we heard she had stopped at Botzen. While there we visited the holy temple of Loretto.
Her majesty the empress arrived on the 25th, and we left by an express train for Rome, where we arrived at 11 o’clock at night. At the first water station her majesty sent for me to come to her car, where she was alone with Madame del Barrio, her lady of honor, and asked me the state of affairs in Rome. Our conference lasted over two hours. Her majesty concluded by saying I was as well informed on affairs in Mexico as in Rome, and promised to act by my directions here. Her reasoning was very sensible and logical, and I did not once suspect that mental agitation that subsequently developed itself.
On the 26th her majesty rested in Rome, and the next day we called to see his Holiness. That same day her majesty condescended to send her grand chamberlain, Count Del Valle, to invite me to her table, and the same honor was extended to the committee and to his grace’s chaplain, so we were all Mexicans at her majesty’s table. In the morning, just as we were ready to start to the Vatican, her majesty saw from the Hotel de Roma, where she was stopping, that the cockade of her coachman’s hat was not in order, and she reprimanded him with much excitement, and delayed us till past the hour fixed for our reception.
This interview was solitary, as your majesty knows is the custom with sovereigns, and lasted one hour and eighteen minutes; then her majesty presented her suit to kiss the foot and hand of the holy father, and we retired till dinner was served, when her majesty ordered Mr. Castillo to be seated at her right, according to the court manual. I told her you said my place was there, next to the president of the council, as the oldest minister, though I had no portfolio, but I obeyed her orders.
Her majesty was angry at table, and took neither sherbet nor coffee till we had all been helped. She fancied the coffee pot had a hole in it, and had it taken away from the table.
On the 28th there were several incidents that seemed strange to the uninitiated. I will mention one of them. I was sick in bed that day; her majesty sent for me three or four times, and finally ordered me to be brought before her in my bed. As that could not be done, she sent to see what was the matter with me. It seems she thought I had been poisoned the day before at her table.
After receiving the diplomatic corps and other authorities, her majesty, the empress went to visit the churches and monuments of Rome, in company with Commander Datti, his Holiness’s private chamberlain of the sword and cloak, who was appointed to wait on her on that occasion.
At 8 o’clock in the morning, on the 1st instant, her majesty the empress went out and I waited for her till 3. At 5¼ I got a note from Cardinal Antonelli, telling me to come to the Vatican immediately. I was at the hotel with Castillo, and having no carriage ready I took the one our consul came in. He had been waiting since 11 o’clock in the morning to see her majesty.
I met Cardinal Antonelli much afflicted, because her majesty the empress said she would not return to the hotel until Count Del Valle, her lady of the wardrobe, and Dr. Benslaveck, who she said had poisoned her, had left the house.
The cardinal perceiving her excitement without apparent cause, asked permission to write to me. “Yes,” said she, “you may write to Velasquez, but I have no confidence in anybody but his Holiness.”
We contrived that those persons should leave the hotel, without scandal, and I then went to the Vatican and informed her majesty they had left according to her orders. She partook of the Pope’s dinner, and wanted to stay in the Vatican all night for fear of the persons mentioned, but I persuaded her to return to the hotel by 7 p. m. On entering her room, she perceived the keys were not in the door. In fact, the doctor had taken them away secretly, as he afterwards acknowledged, to lock her majesty in her chamber, in case of a violent attack. Missing the keys, she went straight back to the Vatican, and locked herself and Madam Del Barrio in the room under the Pope’s, where she passed the night. The next day she amused herself in the Vatican gallery till noon, and then returned to the hotel and examined to see if the suspected persons were there. They had returned and had taken other rooms so as to be near her majesty, as they were responsible for her august person, her health, and her jewels.
His Holiness sent his physican and the doctor of the San Giacomo hospital to consult her majesty’s physician, and they pronounced her disease monomania.
[Page 387]While her majesty was in the Vatican on 1st, Antonelli sent for the Count of Flanders and Count Bombelles, at her majesty’s instance and with the Pope’s consent. Luckily they were at Miramar, where they had gone, by permission to visit their Austrian relatives. Castillo and I sent a telegram to our minister in Belgium to hurry the Count of Flanders, in case he was there, and we sent your majesty word by the Atlantic cable the same day.
When she was not on the terrible idea of poison, she conversed rationally, and nobody suspected her mental alienation. She never spoke to me of poison, for I did not see her in the Vatican, and since then she never mentioned the subject, but always received me in a friendly manner.
The Count of Flanders and Count Bombelles arrived at 8 the next night, and resolved to take her majesty to Miramar next day. On the morning of the 8th she sent for Castillo to sign several documents which she gave him, discharging all her suit, and even Mr. Castillo himself, but of course he did not sign them The physicians had agreed upon the necessity of her majesty’s leaving Rome immediately, on account of the effect of the sirocco on her nerves, and to isolate the august invalid.
On the 7th her majesty the empress left by a special train for Ancona, with the Count of Flanders, all her suit remaining in Rome. A steamer was ready at Ancona, and on the morning of the 10th she arrived at Miramar.
The Count of Flanders, thinking solitude would be best for her majesty the empress, did not permit her to take leave of any one.
In respect to family decisions, and for the good of her majesty, as well as to avoid responsibility, I requested Count Bombelles to give me a written statement of the physician’s orders to the Count of Flanders, the relation of our sovereign, who had naturally taken charge of her in her present state of health. He gave me the document, and by reason of it her majesty’s extraordinary committee were not present; but as good Mexicans, Noriega and I went to the station to bid adieu to our unfortunate sovereign, who was now suffering for her love and devotion to Mexico, to offer her the most important service under the trying circumstances.
She spoke to me with her usual amiability, and asked why my companions were not present. They remained away by reason of the doctor’s orders, a written copy of which I send you. I told her majesty they were indisposed. She asked if it was on account of the rain, for it was raining at the time. The Count of Flanders then shook my hand, offered his arm to the empress and entered the cars with the Belgian minister and his lady, the Austrian charge” and the Austrian and Belgian secretaries. The Belgian minister, Mr. Noriega, the secretaries, and I followed, according to etiquette, from due respect and consideration to my sovereigns.
I have lately heard that the idea of poison originated in Paris. While visiting the Tuileries, lemonade was given to her majesty and her lady, Madame del Barrio, and when she got back to the Grand Hotel she told Kichachirrach that they had poisoned her. On the 11th her majesty’s grand chamberlain left for Trieste, and Castillo started on the 12th. Before leaving be got a telegram from the legation in Paris enclosing your majesty’s, giving the good understanding that reigned everywhere in Mexico, among all classes, the complete organization of the ministry, &c. As soon as I received the despatch from Mr. Castillo, I sent it to the Osservatore Romano for publication that day; but as it appeared with the date of the 2d of September, instead of the 29th, the true date of the telegram, I had it republished the next day with the date corrected.
Señor Barrio and his lady remain here to rest, but expect to start for Trieste soon, so as to be near Marimar when your majesty’s orders arrive.
Papers here publish extracts from those of the United States reporting that Santa Anna had raised a loan of three millions of dollars, purchased six steamers, and sent an expedition of two thousand men to the coast of Mexico.
I received your majesty’s communication of the 5th from Cuernavaca, and I see in the Diario del Gobierno of the 4th the appointment of Castillo as minister to Rome. He thinks it a temporary appointment, because, as he is not acquainted with affairs here, the negotiations of the concordat would be delayed, or would fail.
We have not received the letters recalling the committee, and it is unpleasant for me, who have always deserved the confidence of your majesty and the government, to be brought down to a level with the rest and be compelled to quit Rome just at the time I was about asking leave to travel next summer with my family for my health, when I could write to your majesty from various places; and at the same time that Ramirez and Degollado were urgent to get back to Mexico, we see ourselves in opposite positions; they are to travel and I am to go back to Mexico immediately. I suspect this is a mistake of your majesty’s secretary, in writing the letters, though I have no idea of disobeying your majesty’s orders. I am sorry to learn at this moment that her majesty the empress even suspects the Count of Flanders, and will not see him. I regret to send you such sorrowful news, but it is my determination to let your majesty know everything, as that is true frankness and loyalty, and the true way to serve you. I hear that the consul in Jerusalem and the Franciscan fathers there are suffering for want of means.
Wishing your majesty all consolation, and now more than ever the special protection of Providence, I remain your majesty’s most obedient servant.
His Majesty the Emperor, Mexico.