Narrative of Services in the Liberation of Chili, Peru and Brazil, from Spanish and Portuguese Domi | Page 7

next proposed that, as my Brazilian pay was to be equivalent to that
which I received in Chili, it should he numerically estimated in Spanish
dollars, at the rate of 800 reis per dollar--though the Brazilian mint was
then actually restamping those very dollars at the rate of 960 reis! thus,
by a manoeuvre, which reflected little credit on a Minister, lessening

the pay agreed on by one-fifth. To this proposition I replied that there
was no objection, provided my services were also revalued--as he
seemed disposed to revalue his dollar; so that, setting aside the offers
which had induced me to leave Chili, I would make a new offer, which
should not only compensate for the difference in dispute, but leave a
considerable surplus on my side into the bargain. Alarmed at the
sarcasm, and perhaps judging from my manner, that I cared little for a
service in which such petty expedients formed an important element, he
at once gave up the false value which he had attached to the dollar, and
agreed to estimate it at 960 reis--a microscopic saving, truly!
As such a mode of proceeding had been adopted towards me, it became
necessary on my part to look well after the interests of the officers who
had accompanied me under the assurance that their position in Brazil
should be at least equal to that which they had held on the other side of
the continent. This was not more a duty than a necessity, for I saw that,
unless supported by officers upon whose talent and courage reliance
could be placed, it would be out of my power individually to
accomplish any enterprise satisfactory to myself or beneficial to Brazil.
I therefore required and obtained the same stipulations with regard to
their respective rank and pay as had, in my own case, been insisted on.
Of these, Admiral Grenfell is the only survivor.
On the 19th, a writing on a common sheet of letter paper was
forwarded to me by the Minister of Marine, purporting to be a
commission, with the rank of admiral; stating, however, inaccurately
the amount of pay and table money agreed upon, by transposing the
one for the other,--so that the table money was figured as pay, and the
pay as table money; the effect being, that when on shore, my pay would
have amounted to exactly one half of the sum stipulated! This
proceeding could not be tolerated, so on the following morning I
returned the commission to the Minister of Marine, who hastened to
assure me that it was a mistake, which should be rectified.
This pretended commission was accompanied by the following order to
take command of the squadron:--
His Imperial Majesty--through the secretary for naval

affairs--commands that the Admiral of the Imperial and National
Marine--Lord Cochrane--shall take command of the squadron at anchor
in this port, consisting of the ship Pedro Primiero; the frigates Unao,
Nitherohy, and Carolina; the corvettes Maria de Gloria and Liberal;
the brig Guarani, and the schooners Real and Leopoldina; hoisting his
flag aboard the line-of-battle ship: the said Admiral having, at his
choice, the whole--or any of the said vessels, for the purpose of the
expedition about to sail.
Palace of Rio de Janeiro, March 19, 1823.
(Signed) LUIZ DA CUNHA MOREIEA.
There was, however, another point still less satisfactory. The
commission conferred upon me the rank of Admiral, but of what grade
was not specified. On pressing the Minister of Marine, he admitted that
it was only intended to give me the rank of Junior Admiral,--there
being already two Admirals in the service, whose functions would not,
however, interfere with me, as their duties were confined to the
ordinary administration of a Board of Admiralty. I at once told him that
for me to serve under such naval administrators was out of the question.
As the Minister of Marine professed want of sufficient power to
warrant him in altering the commission, I announced my intention of
taking it to the Prime Minister, and respectfully restoring it into his
hands. The Minister of Marine again begged me not to do so, as an
alteration might be made, if I would consent to go at once on board the
Pedro Primiero--on board which ship my flag had been directed to be
hoisted at mid-day! This, it is needless to add, was declined, not only
by myself, but by the officers who had accompanied me from Chili.
The Minister of Marine affected to be surprised at my want of
confidence in the Government, but I explained that this was not the
case. "It was quite possible that a Congress might at any time be
convened which would be less liberally inclined than the present
ministry, and that acceptance of an appointment so loosely made might
afford the