Narrative of Services in the Liberation of Chili, Peru and Brazil, from Spanish and Portuguese Domi | Page 4

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available vessels with native seamen was impossible--the policy of the
mother country having been to carry on even the coasting trade
exclusively by Portuguese, who could not now be relied on by Brazil,
in the approaching contest with their own countrymen.
Orders were consequently sent to the Brazilian chargé d'affaires in
London, to engage officers and seamen there; and to stimulate these, a
decree was, on the 11th of December, 1822, issued by His Imperial
Majesty, to sequestrate Portuguese property throughout the Empire, and
also another, that all prizes taken in the war should become the
property of the captors, which decrees must be borne in mind.
His Imperial Majesty, having ascertained that the War of Independence
in the Pacific had been brought to a successful conclusion by the
squadron under my command, ordered his minister, Bonifacio, to
communicate with me, through the Brazilian Consul at Buenos Ayres;
judging that, from the termination of hostilities in the Pacific, I might
be at liberty to organize a naval force in Brazil, which--if properly
conducted--might successfully cope with the Portuguese fleet
protecting the Northern harbours of the Empire.
Accordingly, whilst residing on my estate at Quintera, in Chili, I
received from Antonio Manuel Correa, the Brazilian Consul at Buenos
Ayres, a letter on the part of His Imperial Majesty, inviting me to
accept service under the Brazilian flag, guaranteeing moreover rank
and position in no way inferior to that which I then held under the
Republic of Chili; the Consul exhorting me, in addition, "to throw
myself upon the munificence of the Emperor, and the undoubted
probity of His Majesty's Government, which would do me justice." The
following is one of the letters of invitation:--
Le Conseiller Agent du Brésil, près le Gouvernement de Buenos Ayres
à l'Amiral Lord Cochrane, Commandant-en-Chef les forces navales de
la République du Chili.
MILORD,
Le Brésil, puissance du premier ordre devint un nouvel empire, une

nation indépendente sous le légitime héritier de la monarchie, Pierre le
Grand, son auguste defenseur.
C'est par son ordre--c'est de sa part, et en vertu des dépêches
ministériales, que je viens de reçevoir de Monseigneur Joseph
Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva, Ministre de l'Intérieur et des Relations
Extérieures du Brésil, en date du 13 Septembre dernier--que j'ai
l'honneur de vous adresser cette note; en laquelle votre Grace est
invitée, pour--et de part le Gouvernement du Brésil--à accepter le
service de la nation Brésilienne; chez qui je suis dûment autorisé à vous
assurer le rang et le grade nullement inférieur à celui que vous tenez de
la République.
Abandonnez vous, Milord, à la reconnaisance Brésilienne; à la
munificence du Prince; à la probité sans tache de l'actuel
Gouvernement; on vous fera justice; on ne rabaissera d'un seul point la
haute considération--Rang--grade--caractère--et avantages qui vous
sont dûs.
(Signé) ANTONIO MANUEL CORREA DA CAMARA, Consul de
l'Empire du Brésil, à Buenos Ayres, 4 Novembre, 1822.
Annoyed by the ingratitude with which my services were requited in
Chili, and disliking the inaction consequent on the capture of Valdivia,
followed by the annihilation of the Spanish naval force at Callao, and
elsewhere in the Pacific--whereby internal peace had been obtained for
Chili, and independence for Peru--I felt gratified by the further terms of
invitation, contained in a second letter--"Venez, milord, l'honneur vous
invite--la gloire vous appelle. Venez--donner à nos armés navales cet
ordre merveilleux et discipline incomparable de puissante Albion"
--and on mature consideration returned the following reply:--
Valparaiso, Nov. 29, 1832.
Sir,
The war in the Pacific having been happily terminated by the total
destruction of the Spanish naval force, I am, of course, free for the

crusade of liberty in any other quarter of the globe.
I confess, however, that I had not hitherto directed my attention to the
Brazils; considering that the struggle for the liberties of Greece--the
most oppressed of modern states--afforded the fairest opportunity for
enterprise and exertion.
I have to-day tendered my ultimate resignation to the Government of
Chili, and am not at this moment aware that any material delay will be
necessary, previous to my setting off, by way of Cape Horn, for Rio de
Janeiro, calling at Buenos Ayres, where I hope to have the pleasure of
meeting you, and where we may talk further on this subject; it being, in
the meantime, understood that I hold myself free to decline--as well as
entitled to accept--the offer which has, through you, been made to me
by His Imperial Majesty. I only mention this from a desire to preserve a
consistence of character, should the Government (which I by no means
anticipate) differ so widely in its nature from those which I have been
in the habit of supporting, as to render the proposed situation repugnant
to my principles--and so justly expose me to suspicion, and render me
unworthy the confidence