"Tabasco" made no attempt to molest them, and after that day she did not interfere in any way with the English or American boats, which were the only ones that were permitted to approach the shore. Captain Roe had in vain interceded with General Benavides to allow Captain Pritzbuer to send in for French subjects who were in distress and wished to leave the country. The Frenchman naturally felt that in view of the recent relations that had existed between his country and the Mexican Republic, he was hardly in position to ask any favors of the Liberals. France had not concluded a peace with Juarez (in point of fact war had never actually been declared), but had only withdrawn her national forces from the support of the foreign prince whom she had tried to establish upon the ruins of an independent government. The relations were practically the same, and therefore Pritzbuer had even more cause than Aynesley to let Roe take the initiative, so far as his action might not conflict with his sense of duty. There were citizens of France, however, as of almost all nations, that managed to reach the coast and needed help to get away, and his feeling for his fellow-countryman prompted him to apply to Roe in an extremely courteous manner to help him. Captain Roe immediately wrote a letter, representing that in view of the nature of the request and the deferential manner in which it was
