Narrative of Services in the Liberation of Chili, Peru and Brazil, from Spanish and Portuguese Domi | Page 8

admirals placed over me, not only a control over my
movements, but an easy and convenient mode of getting rid of me after
I had done their work; and this without any imputation of injustice on

their proceedings. The fact, indeed, of a Cortes being about to assemble,
and the possibility of their interfering with me, was sufficient to fix my
determination to have nothing to do with the command, under any
circumstances, save those set forth in the tender made to me by
command of His Majesty."
To this the Minister replied, that, "if I could be thus dismissed, the
Government must likewise fall--because to suppose that a popular
assembly could dictate to His Majesty in such a case was to suppose
the Government no longer in existence."
I then frankly told the Minister, that "my experience as a naval
officer--founded upon many years' practical observation, had taught me
that, in engagements of this nature, it was necessary to be clear and
explicit in every arrangement. I did not mean to insinuate anything
disrespectful to the ministers of His Brazilian Majesty, but knowing
that a Senate was about to assemble, and having reason to believe that a
majority of the members might differ from the ministerial views, and
might--when the work was done--take a fancy to see the squadron
commanded by one of their own countrymen--a step which would leave
me no alternative but to quit the service--it was much better for all
parties to put our mutual engagements on a firm basis."
The Minister continued to argue the point, but finding argument of no
avail in altering my determination, he insinuated--though not stating as
much in positive terms--that he had no prospect of any arrangement
being effected regarding my rank other than that which had been
tendered.
Determined to be no longer trifled with--on the following morning I
waited on the Prime Minister, Bonifacio de Andrada, whom I found in
high dudgeon at what he termed the unreasonableness of my demands;
stating, moreover, that the Consul at Buenos Ayres had exceeded his
authority by writing me a bombastic letter, though but a few days
before, Andrada not only expressed his entire concurrence in its
contents, but stated that the letter had been written through his
influence with the Emperor!

To this I replied that, "be that as it might, it was absurd to suppose that
I should have given up my position in Chili for anything less in Brazil,
and that all that had been offered by the Consul, or desired by me, was
simply an equivalent to my Chilian command, with adequate
reimbursement of any losses I might sustain by quitting Chili so
abruptly, before the settlement of my affairs with that country. This
offer had been made on behalf of His Imperial Majesty, under the
express authority of the Prime Minister himself, as set forth in the
Consul's letters, and for this I held the Government responsible. But, at
the same time, I informed the Prime Minister that if he were disinclined
to fulfil his own voluntary obligations, I would at once free him from
them by declining the proffered command, and therefore begged of him
to take back his commission, about which I would hold no further
parley."
This step was evidently unexpected, for, lowering his tone, Bonifacio
assured me that "good faith was the peculiar characteristic of the
Brazilian Administration;" and to prove this, he had to announce to me
that a Cabinet Council had that morning been held, at which it was
resolved that the newly created honour of "First Admiral of Brazil"
should be conferred upon me, with the pay and emoluments of Chili, as
stipulated through the Consul at Buenos Ayres. He then asked me if I
was content, to which I replied in the affirmative; pointing out,
however, how much better it would have been to have taken this course
at first, than to have caused such contention about a matter altogether
insignificant, as compared with the work in hand. He replied that, as
everything had been conceded, it was not worth while to reopen the
question; but to this view I demurred, telling him that nothing whatever
had been conceded, the Government having only fulfilled its own
stipulations, which were insignificant in comparison with obtaining the
services of an officer whom it believed competent to carry out alone,
what otherwise would entail great expense on the State. I further
assured him that it would afford me much satisfaction to prove to him
of how little importance was all that which had been the subject of
dispute, and that His Imperial Majesty's Government might rest assured
that my utmost exertions would be used to bring the naval war to a
speedy termination.

He then requested me to hoist my flag forthwith, as the