by a coup de main.  The war was extremely unpopular in France.  Financial ruin had come upon many Frenchmen from the failure of the Mexican bonds negotiated by the banker, Jecker, to pay interest to their bond-holders.  The Civil War in the United States was at an end, and Mr. Seward was instructing the American ambassador in Paris to threaten the Emperor Napoleon with the enforcement of the doctrine of President Monroe.  He resolved to withdraw his troops from Mexico, and to advance no more money to Maximilian.  He wrote these orders to Marshal Bazaine.

Maximilian, who fully understood by this time the condition of Mexico, and foresaw all the dangers of his position when the French troops should be withdrawn, sent the empress at this crisis to Europe to represent the situation of affairs to the French emperor, and to remind him of his promises.

She embarked hurriedly and like a private person on board a French mail-steamer.  Her stateroom was close to the propeller.  The noise, coupled with her great anxiety and excitement, deprived her almost entirely of sleep during the voyage.  On landing, she hastened to Paris, went to an hotel, and sent a message to the emperor, requesting an interview.  This the emperor declined.  Carlotta then hired a carriage and drove out to Saint-Cloud, where she insisted on seeing him.  Their interview was very painful.  At its close she exclaimed that she felt herself to blame, being a daughter of the house of Orleans, for ever having put faith in the Emperor Napoleon or his promises.  Notwithstanding this reproach, the emperor, who was soft-hearted, pitied her extremely.  She remained at Saint-Cloud for some hours, and that evening, when surrounded by the court circle, she threw back her head and begged for water.  The emperor hastened to bring it to her with his own hand; but she exclaimed that she would not take it from him, for she knew he wished to poison her.  It was her first attack of mania.  She was calmed, and the symptoms passed off, but continued at intervals to return.

From Paris she went to Rome, and there her mental malady more and more declared itself.  She refused to eat anything but fruit, for fear of poison.  Her first visit to the pope was made while he was breakfasting, when she snatched the cup of chocolate from his lips and swallowed it eagerly, exclaiming:  “I am sure no one can have wished to poison you!” After several other manifestations of her disordered brain at the Quirinal, steps were taken to forward her to Miramar.  On reaching that beloved place, she grew more calm.  She recovered for a time her interest in music, painting, and literature.  The Sclavic peasants around her considered her a saint.  When she passed, they used to kneel down on the highway.  For years they refused to believe in Maximilian’s death.  “He will come back!  We know he will come back!” was the cry of the Dalmatians, who cherished his memory.

After a time Carlotta was removed to Belgium, where she has been since secluded from the world, but tenderly watched over by her relations.  From time to time she partially recovers her reason.