Narrative of Services in the Liberation of Chili, Peru and Brazil, from Spanish and Portuguese Domi | Page 2

reply to the memorialists--Letter to the Minister of Marine--Enclosing complaints of the Consuls--Bruce prepares to resist my authority--Complaints of the British Consul--He considers my presence necessary--Letter of the French Consul--Detailing shameful atrocities--Danger of collision with foreign states--Suspension of the President--Provision for future Government--Conduct of the faction at Rio de Janeiro--No instructions sent for my guidance--Letter to the Minister of Marine--The Ministry had previously deposed Bruce--But turned on me for anticipating their own act.
CHAPTER X.
Misrepresentations made in England--Letter to the Emperor--Tendering my resignation--Repayment demanded from the Junta--Conduct of the Prize Tribunal--No adjudication of prizes intended--Letter to the interim President--Demanding the sums owing to the squadron--Disturbance in Parà--Statement of Account to the Junta--Offer of compromise--Imperial decree--Right of the squadron to the claim.
CHAPTER XI.
Imperial approval--Continued enmity of the Administration--Junta refuses to pay the squadron's claim--I persevere in the demand--Junta agrees to pay the amount in bills--This refused--Arrival of a new President--But without authority for the assumption--Intrigues to establish him in office--I order him to quit the province--And send him to Parà--Letter to the President of Cearà--International animosities--The squadron left to provide for itself--Abuse of authority--Explanations to Minister of Marine--Of transactions at Maranham--Letter to Carvalho e Mello--Anticipating ministerial displeasure--The Junta reimburses part of its debt.
CHAPTER XII.
I quit Maranham for a cruise--Bad state of the frigate--Connivance at illicit trade--We are compelled to proceed to England--The frigate reported to the Brazilian Envoy--Who cheats me of ￡2,000--His assumption that I had abandoned the service--My contradiction thereof--Order to return to Rio--Reasons for not doing so--Brazilian Envoy tampers with my Officer--Who acquaints me therewith--Envoy stops pay and provisions--Declares that the Brazilian Government will give me nothing!--Captain Shepherd's reply--I prepare to return to Rio--The Envoy dismisses me from the service--Without reason assigned--He declares that I voluntarily abandoned the service--Receipts for accounts transmitted to Brazil--These denied to have been sent.
CHAPTER XIII.
I am dismissed the service by the Brazilian Government--Without any acknowledgment of my services--Inconsistency of this with former thanks--Though dismissed I am tried as a deserter--And am refused all compensation--Report of recent Commission on the subject--False representations--But partially true conclusions--My original patents never set aside--Untrue assumptions as to my dismissal--My claims founded on the original patents--Less than half the interest due paid--Opinions of eminent Brazilians thereon--My services tardily acknowledged--No act of mine had annulled them--The Estate conferred, not confirmed--Promises on account of Chili unfulfilled--The whole still my right.
CHAPTER XIV.
Proclamation for payment of Officers and Men--Log extracts in proof thereof--The sum given up to the squadron disbursed--Denial thereof by the Brazilian Government--Though made to serve as advance of wages--The amount received at Maranham--Fully accounted for--By the receipts of the Officers--Officers' receipts--Extracts from log in further corroboration--Up to my arrival in England--All our prizes, monopolized by Brazil--The conduct of the Brazilian Government unjustifiable.
CHAPTER I.
BRAZILIAN AND PORTUGUESE FACTIONS--DON PEDEO 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 FORTARIA--FORMAL COMMISSION--ORDERS TO BLOCKADE BAHIA--PORTUGUESE FACTION--AVERSE TO ME FROM THE OUTSET.
Although these memoirs relate to personal services in Brazil, it is nevertheless essential, in order to their comprehension, briefly to recapitulate a few events which more immediately led to my connection with the cause of independence in that country.
The expulsion of the Portuguese Royal Family from Lisbon, in consequence of the occupation of Portugal by the armies of the French Republic, was followed by the accession of Don John VI. to the throne of Portugal whilst resident in Rio de Janeiro.
Twelve months previous to my arrival in Brazil, His Majesty returned to Portugal, leaving his son and heir-apparent, Don Pedro, regent of the Portuguese possessions in South America, which had been for some time in a state of disaffection, arising from a growing desire throughout the various provinces for a distinct nationality. Hence two opposing interests had arisen,--a Brazilian party, which had for its object national independence; and a Portuguese party, whose aim was to prevent separation from the mother country--or, if this could not be accomplished, so to paralyse the efforts of the Brazilians, that in case of revolt it might not be difficult for Portugal to keep in subjection, at least the Northern portion of her South American Colonies. It will be necessary, in the course of the narrative, to bear these party distinctions clearly in mind.
As the Regent, Don Pedro, was supposed to evince a leaning to the Brazilian party, he gave proportionate offence to the Portuguese faction, which--though inferior in number, was, from its wealth and position, superior in influence; hence the Regent found himself involved in disputes with the latter, which in June 1821 compelled him to submit