only weapon employed, and the pretender came to be regarded by many as a madman. [1]
On the 13th of March, 1809, the English brig Sappho arrived at Vera Cruz from Rio Janeiro, bearing despatches from the infanta Doña María Carlota Joaquina, the sister of Fernando. The letter was addressed to the viceroy, audiencias, governors, and municipalities of New Spain, and contained her wishes and expectations that her son, the infante Don Pedro, would be received and acknowledged. as regent and lieutenant of the king. Such pretensions caused the viceroy and audiencia much inquietude, and they endeavored, though in vain, to keep the matter secret. In their reply to the infanta they confined themselves to expressions of courtesy, reporting that tranquillity reigned in the country. [2] Not long after, the viceroy received a letter from the junta central of Spain, informing him that it had become aware that Napoleon meditated sending Cárlos IV. to reign in New Spain, with the object of creating a division in the Spanish monarchy, [3] and instructions were given him to prohibit the landing of Cárlos, and arrest him if he persisted. With the approval of the real acuerdo, the viceroy issued the corresponding orders to the authorities at the ports.
- ↑ 'Los Europeos hicieron la mas alta burla de esta solicitud y su apoyo.' His pretensions were finally crushed by a poetical burlesque, one of the lines of which ran thus: 'Y treinta mil indios guerreros vestidos á su usanza—esto es cencueros,' etc. Cancelada, Verdad Sabida, xx. The whole story is denied in Lizarza, Discurso Vind. Iturr., 1617.
- ↑ Bustamante furnishes a copy of a portion of the infanta's despatch, the tone of which is somewhat assuming. She thanks the members of the audiencia and the archbishop for their zeal and wachfulness in having saved the country; urges the viceroy to be vigilant in maintaining order and the prosperity of the country; and wishes to be supplied with an exact account of all notable events in the capital and kingdom, 'y si posible es de toda esa América Septentrional.' Bustamante remarks: 'Su Alteza sin duda estaba muy ociosa cuando escribió dicha carta, y al tenor de ella otras muchas; pudo haber, ocupado el tiempo en hacer calzeta para sus hijos.' Cavo, Tres Siglos, iii. 261-2. The letter is dated Rio de Janeiro, May 11, 1809.
- ↑ Bustamante discredits any such idea on the part of Napoleon. 'La Junta de Sevilla'—he means the junta central, which had withdrawn to Sevilla—'tenia tan anchas tragaderas para engullir las mentiras mas absurdas, como las tenia Garibay y su Cousejo de Oidores;' but was confident that if the attempt had been made Cárlos would have triumphantly entered Mexico. Cavo, Tres Siglos, iii. 262-3.
