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entry by force & violence. The body was searched immediately after the act, and no weapons of any discription, except a small pen- knife, was found upon it. In a few days Major l\Itilam collected the leading facts in the case and addressed Iturbede up0n the subject, inclosing the testimony in a document of singular boldness, in which he denounces the conduct of the cadet as deliberate assassination, and calls upon his "Most Serene Highness" (a title which we sup- pose he used in derision) to order an investigation of the foul trans- action. 80 ' 'Most Serene Highness The undersigned Gentlemen have the honor to expose to you that we have convened, as well by the relations which we have heard, as also by the testimony which accompany the present, that the death given to Genl. Long was not occasioned by any provocation on his part. In consequence it cannot be looked upon as such, but as an assassination. "\Ve refer to you; and beg of you to order an investi- gation of the event, and in that manner as to give a complete satis- faction to the citizens of the United States who are now in this country- and if your Highness does not design to accede to this solicitude, we cannot do less than manifest, that we shall present to our Govt. and nation a full relation of the doleful occurrences which have happened, and that we cannot answer for the fatal conse- quences which may be created, disturbing the good harmony which exists, & which ought to exist between our country and the Mexican Empire. For this reason [we] suplicate you to do that which is the wishes of those who feel the strongest interest for the unity & tran- quility of both Mexico & the U. S. It appears by evidence which is here enclosed to be a foul murder. He is dead. & in consequence cannot speak to defend himself, but the living will speak.'' 'I'his letter was signed by Milam and others. Some correspondence ensued on the part of the Govt. & the signers of the above, at which the Govt. became highly incensed; but the result was that the guard who fired upon Genl. Long ·was put on trial; condemned to a few months imprisonment and immediately after his release promoted- 81 Although the power of Iturbede at that time was too decided and unequivocal to admit of any public arraingnment of his con- duct, yet his authority was not sufficient to stifle the expression of that sincere regret which pervaded the whole community for the untimely fate of one who had rendered servise to the country and had won to himself a lofty and romantic character. The vengeance of the tyrant would have pursued him to the grave if it had been possible; but the deep ocean of popular feeling was not to be staid by the arbitrary will of a despot, any more than the waves of the sea would retire at the mandate of Canute. "\Vhen we reflect upon the popularity of Iturbede; his known hostility to Long, and the prevalent suspicion that the General, had fallen a victim to the tyrant's resentments, there can be no higher evidence of the public appreciation of our hero's character and the strong impression which his death made upon the popular feeling than the fact that under all these circumstances, his remains were followed to their soThe Jetter is in "X", p. 6. s1Thls paragraph is from "Y", p. 43.
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