Chapter I: Front Matter

NARRATIVE OF SERVICES IN THE LIBERATION OF CHILI, PERU, AND BRAZIL, FROM SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE DOMINATION

by

THOMAS, EARL OF DUNDONALD, G.C.B. Admiral of the Red; Rear-Admiral of the Fleet, etc. etc.

VOL. II

MDCCCLIX

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

Brazilian and Portuguese factions--Don Pedro ordered to quit Brazil--Appointed "Perpetual Protector"--Proclaimed Emperor of Brazil--Efforts to obtain foreign officers and seamen--The naval command offered to me--Acceptation thereof--Arrival at Rio de Janeiro--Visit of inspection to the squadron--Condition of the vessels--Inferiority of seamen--Imperial affability--Attempt to evade the terms offered me--This failing, to reduce the value of my pay--Pretended commission conferred--And refused--The point argued--I decline the command--The Prime Minister gives in--Explanatory Portaria--Formal commission--Orders to blockade Bahia--Portuguese faction--Averse to me from the outset.

CHAPTER II.

Attempt to cut off the enemy's ships--Disobedience to orders--Letter to the Prime Minister--Worthlessness of the men--Their treachery--Blockade established--Equipment of fireships--Enemy's supplies cut off--Portuguese untrustworthy--Demonstrations of the enemy--His pretended contempt for us--The enemy returns to port--Their consternation at the fireships--Portuguese contemplate attacking us--Flagship reconnoitres enemy at anchor--Excessive alarm at my nocturnal visit--Proclamation of the Commandant--Consternation in the city--The authorities decide on evacuating Bahia--Instructions to the Brazilian Captains--Warnings addressed to the authorities--Enemy quits Bahia--Readiness for chase--Numbers of the enemy--Capture of the Convoy--Prizes disabled--Attempt of troops to escape--Prizes sent to Pernambuco--Pursuit discontinued--Reasons for going to Maranham--Reasons for not taking more prizes--Advantages to the Empire.

CHAPTER III.

Capture of the Don Miguel--Summons to the authorities--Reasons for threats held out--Proposals for capitulation--Proclamations--Terms granted to Portuguese garrison--Declaration of Independence--Portuguese troops ordered to embark--Symptoms of disobeying the order--Delight of the people on becoming free--Election of a Provisional Government--Letters to the Minister of Marine.

CHAPTER IV.

Captain Grenfell sent to summon Parà--The Junta demands the prize property--My refusal--Imperial approval of my services--Realisation of prize property--Turi Assu sends in its adhesion--Money captured lent to the Junta--Its return to the squadron expected--Possession taken of Parà--Insurrection at Parà--Misconduct of the Maranham Junta--Their persecution of the Portuguese--Steps in consequence--Manifestation of the national delight--The Marquisate conferred on me--Vote of thanks by the Assemblea Geral--My arrival at Rio de Janeiro--Satisfaction with my services--Lady Cochrane joins me.

CHAPTER V.

First effort to curtail the Imperial power--Portuguese intrigue--Dismissal of the Andradas--The Assembly dissolved by force--Exile of the Andradas--Letter to his Imperial Majesty--My advice partly adopted--and causes ministerial enmity towards me--Ratification of my patent--I demand the adjudication of prizes--Letter to the Minister of Marine--Offer of personal advantage to foreign claims--Squadron remained unpaid--I am appointed a Privy Councillor--The prize vessels plundered--Shameful treatment of Captain Grenfell--Troubles in Pernambuco--Hostility of the Prize Tribunal--Condemns me to the restitution of prizes--Forbids making any capture at all.

CHAPTER VI.

Remonstrance against decree of Prize Tribunal--Settlement of prize question by the Emperor--His Ministers refuse to conform to it--Obstacles thrown in the way of equipment--My services limited to the duration of war--My remonstrance on this breach of faith--Ministers refuse to pay the squadron anything--A fresh insult offered to me--Offer to resign the command--My resignation evaded--Letter to the Prime Minister--Letter to the Minister of Marine.

CHAPTER VII.

Ministerial malignity towards me--Dangers in Pernambuco--Portuguese threats--My advice thereon--Failure in Manning the squadron--Plot formed to search the flagship--Timely warning thereon--I demand his Majesty's interference--Which was promptly granted--Protest against prize decisions--My advice sought as regards Pernambuco--Letter to his Imperial Majesty--Pointing out the annoyance practised--And tendering my resignation--The Emperor's intervention--His Ministers neglect to fulfil his engagement--Confirmation of my previous patents--But with an unjustifiable reservation--Prize money devoted to advance of wages--Proofs thereof--Baseless imputations on me--Extracts from log--Further distribution of prize money.

CHAPTER VIII.

Republican Government proclaimed at Pernambuco--Its Concordat--The President Carvalho--Threat of Bombardment--A bribe offered to me and refused--The revolt admitted of palliation--It was fast becoming general--Intimidation ineffectual--The revolutionists expect Foreign aid--Pernambuco taken possession of--- Payment of prize money--The accounts rendered in due course--Orders to put down revolt at Parà--Character of the revolution--Difficulty in finding proper Governors--Revolt at Cearà--Steps taken to suppress it--They prove successful--The insurgent leader killed--Measures for preserving tranquillity.