Narrative of Services in the Liberation of Chili, Peru and Brazil, from Spanish and Portuguese Domi | Page 9

Government
was very anxious on this point. Accordingly, at four o'clock in the
afternoon of the 21st of March, 1823, I went on board the Pedro
Primiero, and hoisted my flag, which was saluted with twenty-one guns
from each ship of war, the salute being acknowledged from the flagship
with an equal number.
Shortly afterwards, a portaria, dated on the same day, was sent to me,
explanatory of the commission which had given rise to so much trouble,
and detailing my future pay as agreed upon. By the same document I
was ordered to take command of the squadron, and an intimation was
given that a formal commission as "First Admiral" would forthwith be
made out.
It was further acknowledged that, by accepting the Brazilian command,
I had risked an admitted reward for services rendered to Chili and Peru,
to the extent of more than sixty thousand dollars--and it was agreed that
this amount should be repaid to me in the event of those countries not
fulfilling their obligations--provided equivalent services were rendered
to Brazil. For more than thirty years Chili has withheld that amount, but
the Brazilian Government has never fulfilled this portion of its
engagements.
Notwithstanding the praiseworthy exertions of the administration to
place their navy in a creditable position as regarded the ships, the want
of seamen was severely felt, and little had been done beyond shipping a
number of Portuguese sailors, whose fidelity to the Imperial cause was
doubtful.
In the hope of getting a more reliable class of men for the flagship, I
authorised Captain Crosbie to offer from my own purse, eight dollars
per man, in addition to the bounty given by the Government, and by
this means procured some English and North American seamen, who,
together with the men who accompanied me from Chili, sufficed to
form a tolerable nucleus for a future crew; as to the rest--though far
short of the ship's complement--it had never before fallen to my lot to
command a crew so inefficient.

On the 26th of March, the following commission from His Imperial
Majesty was presented to me:--
IMPERADOR,
The valour, intelligence, activity, and other qualities of Lord Cochrane
as an admiral, being well-known by the performance of various
services in which he has been engaged, and seeing how advantageous it
would be for the Empire to avail itself of the known qualities of an
Officer so gifted, I deem it proper to confer on him a patent as "First
Admiral of the National and Imperial Navy," with an annual salary of
eleven contos and five hundred and twenty milreis, whether at sea or on
shore; and further in table money, when embarked, five contos, seven
hundred and twenty milreis, which is the same pay and table money as
he received in Chili. To which favour, no admiral of the Imperial Navy
shall claim succession, neither to the post of "First Admiral," which I
have thought fit to create solely for this occasion, from the motives
aforesaid, and from particular consideration of the merits of the said
Lord Cochrane. The supreme Military Council will so understand, and
shall execute the necessary despatches.
Given at the Palace of Rio de Janeiro, March 21st, 1823.
Second year of the Independence of the Empire.
(Signed) IMPERADOR. LUIZ DA CUNHA MOREIEA,
Secretary of State,
March 26th, 1823.
LEONARDO ANTONIO BASTO.
Thus was a right understanding established, my only object during the
undignified contentions which had arisen, being--relinquishment of the
proffered command, in order to carry out my long-entertained intention
of visiting Greece, then engaged in a struggle for independence--or to
obtain a definite arrangement with the Brazilian Government, which

should recognise the circumstances under which I had been induced to
quit Chili--confer upon me permanent rank--give me the equivalent
promised with regard to pay--and be binding on both parties.
On the 29th of March, a proclamation was issued by the Imperial
Government declaring Bahia in a state of blockade, the Portuguese
having there assembled a combined naval and military force superior to
that of Brazil, and, under ordinary circumstances, fully competent to
maintain itself; as well as to put down, or at least paralyse, any
movement in favour of independence.
The following orders were then communicated to me, and were of the
usual kind, viz. "to capture or destroy all enemy's ships and property,
whereever found:"--
His Imperial Majesty, through the Secretary of State for the Marine,
commands that the First Admiral, Lord Cochrane,
Commander-in-Chief of the Squadron, shall, to-morrow morning,
proceed from this port with such vessels as he shall judge proper to the
port of Bahia, to institute a rigorous blockade, destroying or capturing
whatever Portuguese force he may fall in with--doing all possible
damage to the enemies of this Empire, it being left to the discretion of
the said Admiral to