He availed himself of the delay, however, to dictate several farewell letters to his physician, among them one of thanks to his captive officers for their loyalty and a touching appeal to his implacable enemy, Juarez, to prevent further bloodshed and let his death serve to promote the peace and welfare of his adopted country. Even now Baron von Magnus made one more effort to save the Emperor’s life. On the eighteenth of June he sent a telegram to the Juarist minister, Lerdo de Tejada, offering to secure guarantees from all the leading sovereigns of Europe that none of the three prisoners should ever again set foot on Mexican soil or disturb the country in any way. But Juarez was inexorable. In reply to the Baron’s despatch Minister Tejada stated that the President of the Republic was convinced that the cause of justice and the future peace of the country required the death of the prisoners. At last the fatal morning of Wednesday, June 19, 1867, dawned. At five o’clock Father Soria came to celebrate mass, and at half past six the republican officer who had charge of the execution arrived. The three prisoners, dressed in black, entered carriages, each with his confessor, and were driven slowly to the place of execution, which was surrounded by a guard of four thousand men. On alighting, the Emperor embraced his two companions, promising they should soon meet in another world, and then walked with dignity to the spot assigned at the foot of a hill in front of a shattered wall. Here he placed Miramon in the centre, saying, “A brave soldier is respected by his sovereign; permit me to yield you the place of honor.” Turning to Mejia, who had been unnerved by the sight of his wife running through the streets frantic with grief, he said: “General, what has not been rewarded on earth will certainly be in heaven.” After distributing some gold pieces among the soldiers who were to do the firing, he said in a firm voice: “May my blood be the last shed in sacrifice for this country, and if more is required, let it be for the good of the nation, never by treason.” The signal to fire was then given and the three fell simultaneously, Maximilian’s body pierced by six bullets. The Mexican Empire had ceased to exist, and the noble Hapsburger had laid down his life for the welfare of an ungrateful people.