To return to the tragedy of the execution. “I was a close spectator," said Señor Escoto, "at the fatal scene on that day. I saw the condemned arrive and take their places, after mutual embraces. In reply to the order to do this, Maximilian said to the two, in as common and familiar a tone of voice as that in which one would propose to take a glass of champagne or to do any correspondingly trivial act, 'Vamos Señores?'-'Shall we go, gentlemen?' and then occurred the well-known incident between him and General Miramon, on the latter passing to the left in order to leave the centre for Maximilian. General, dijo Maximiliano, un valiente debe ser respetado hasta por los Soberanos; permitidme, pues, que al morir os ceda el puesto de honor '-' General, a brave man must be respected, even by sovereigns; permit me, then, on dying, to concede to you the post of honour.' He also said to Mejia, General, what has not been rewarded on earth will assuredly be so in heaven.' Maximilian and Miramon both made short speeches, and the former distributed some pieces of gold among the soldiers. Maximilian passed his hands through his long red beard" (this, says Prince Salm-Salm, was his constant habit), “ dividing it and throwing it on both sides over his shoulders; and then he laid both his hands across his breast, as if to point where the balls were to strike him. Miramon gazed with a steady defiance. Mejia's countenance showed not one extraordinary expression, of any sort

or kind; but he was very sad, having just taken leave of his child and its mother. Then the drums were beat, and amidst a profound silence the following words were spoken with a loud voice from each corner of the four thousand troops drawn up in square: 'El que pidiére gracia en favor de los reos sufrirá la misma pena'-' He who asks pardon in favour of the offenders shall suffer a like punishment.' Multitudes of the people were present outside the lines, but, as may be supposed, no voice was uttered. The signal being then given, the three piquets fired. The two generals fell forward, dead. Maximilian fell upon his right side not dead; and I heard him say thus, in a smothered tone, 'Hombre! hombre! hombre!' three times "-a mild form of Spanish expostulation: Oh! man! man! man! "On this, the serjeant pointed his sword to his heart, and one of the reserve piquet came forward and discharged his piece in the spot. This coup de grace is generally given in the ear, but as Maximilian's head was not to be wounded "(of which anon) "his was given in the heart. I am quite sure the other two died on the spot. A short dead silence then ensued, which was suddenly broken by words of command, the striking up of the bands of the regiments, and all the movements of return."

The body of Maximilian was handed over to be embalmed; those of the two generals were delivered to their friends, and by-and-by there remained

at the Cerro only silence and a solitary hillside, on which for some time afterwards were to be seen three small black crosses to mark the spots on which the three condemned had died.

All must be held to have died nobly: thrice nobly the noble Indian Mejia, who refused to be tempted by life itself to fly alone. Miramon fell, as he had lived, an intrepid soldier. And Maximilian, when he laid his hands upon his breast, must have covered a heart beset by various emotions, among which the sentiments of courage and resignation cannot be denied a place.

It has been written by a late eminent author, in the course of his critical essays, that men who die on a scaffold for political offences almost always die well. He seems to minimize the heroism generally attributed to such deaths. He remarks that the eyes of thousands are fixed upon them; that enemies as well as admirers are watching their demeanour. He notes that every tone of voice and change of colour is to go down to posterity; that escape is impossible, supplication vain; and that in such a situation pride and despair have often been known to nerve the weakest minds with fortitude adequate to the occasion.

To all this it may also be added, that when the mind has been strongly concentrated on any daring enterprise, it has already instinctively accepted the violent alternative that must attend disaster; and that in clambering among the crags and precipices