Narrative of Services in the Liberation of Chili, Peru and Brazil Volume II Part 8

G.o.d preserve your Excellency many years.

Palace of Rio de Janeiro, 25th of November, 1823.

(Signed) JOA SEVERIANO MACIEL DA COSTA.

The annexed is the vote of thanks awarded by the _"a.s.semblea Geral"_ which, as has been said, refused to recognise His Majesty's gift of an estate in order to support in a dignified manner the t.i.tle which His Majesty had graciously been pleased to confer. The reason a.s.signed for this extraordinary proceeding, in a lengthy debate on the subject was, that in granting me an estate His Majesty had exercised a feudal prerogative inconsistent with a free country.

The General Const.i.tuent and Legislative a.s.sembly having been officially informed that your Excellency, after having freed the province of Bahia from the oppression of Portuguese troops, and having pursued them beyond the equinoctial line, led the squadron on your own judgment and responsibility to the port of the city of St.

Louis of Maranha, where, with your accustomed valour and singular good judgment, you dislodged the Portuguese troops, who had kept down the patriotism of its generous inhabitants, and accomplished their liberation, so that they proclaimed and spontaneously swore with unanimity their independence of Portugal and their decided union with the Brazilian empire. The General Const.i.tuent and Legislative a.s.sembly, acknowledging the importance of these great services has decreed in this day's session that there shall be given to your Excellency in the name of the nation which it represents the thanks due.

Charged as organs to transmit this resolution to your Excellency, we fulfil the task with pleasure, and have the honour to lay the same before your Excellency.

G.o.d preserve your Excellency.

Palace of the a.s.sembly, Oct. 3, 1823.

MARTIN FRANCISCO EIBEIEO DE ANDEADA, JOA SEVERIANO MACIEL DA COSTA, MIGUEL CALMON DU PIN E ALMEIDA.

This vote of thanks by the a.s.sembly contains a remarkable error, by averring that I "led the squadron" to Maranha, whereas I had only a single ship, and with her singly performed all for which I received the thanks of the nation.

In the interval between this recognition of my services and my return to Rio de Janeiro, an unfortunate change had taken place in the Councils of His Imperial Majesty, introductive of persons more favourable to the interests of Portugal than to furtherance of the judicious measures contemplated by His Majesty for the consolidation of the newly-const.i.tuted empire. To the obstructive aspirations of these persons--in ill-concealed concert with the designs of the parent state--my annexation of the Northern provinces necessarily proved fatal; and they ever afterwards regarded me with an animosity which appeared to increase as the empire became, by these, and my subsequent exertions, more firmly established.

Sailing from Maranham on the 20th of September, the _Pedro Primiero_ arrived at Rio de Janeiro on the 9th of November--the Emperor doing me the honour to come on board to welcome me. I immediately forwarded to the Minister of Marine a recapitulation of all transactions since my departure seven months before; viz. the evacuation of Bahia by the Portuguese in consequence of our nocturnal visit, connected with the dread of my reputed skill in the use of fireships, as arising from the affair of Basque Roads; the pursuit of their fleet beyond the Equator, and the dispersion of its convoy; the capture and disabling of the transports filled with troops intended to maintain Portuguese domination in Maranham and Para; the device adopted to obtain the surrender to the _Pedro Primiero_ alone of the enemy's naval and military forces at Maranham; the capitulation of Para with the ships of war to my summons sent by Captain Grenfell; the deliverance of the Brazilian patriots whom the Portuguese had imprisoned; the declaration of independence by the intermediate provinces thus liberated, and their union with the empire; the appointment of Provisional Governments; the embarkation and final departure of every Portuguese soldier from Brazil; and the enthusiasm with which all my measures--though unauthorised and therefore extra official--- had been received by the people of the Northern provinces, who--thus relieved from the dread of further oppression--had everywhere acknowledged and proclaimed His Imperial Majesty "Const.i.tutional Emperor."

The powers which I had taken upon myself to exercise during this eventful period, were, no doubt; in excess of those conferred by my orders, but, knowing that everything depended upon the annexation and pacification of the Northern provinces by the expulsion of the enemy--setting aside my own interests--I considered it better for the welfare of the empire to exceed my instructions, than to entail the continuance of civil war by confining my operations within their scope.

In the exercise of this self-imposed duty it may be said that I had also exercised Imperial functions, but this was only in the unavoidable absence of Imperial instructions, which it was my constant endeavour to antic.i.p.ate rather than to exceed; that I judged and acted rightly, the elevation to the t.i.tle of Marquis of Maranha, before reaching Rio de Janeiro--the vote of thanks of the legislature, and the warm acknowledgment of His Imperial Majesty on landing, sufficiently testify.

In addition to the gracious reception accorded by His Majesty, I received from his own hands a decoration of the Imperial Order of the Cruizeiro, and, though a foreigner, was subsequently nominated to the high office of Privy Councillor--the greatest honour in the Imperial gift to bestow.

During my absence from Rio de Janeiro, Lady Cochrane--ignorant of my having quitted Chili--was on her way to rejoin me at Valparaiso, but the vessel in which she embarked, having fortunately put into Rio de Janeiro, she was at once made acquainted with my change of service, and remained in the capital till my return. The most hospitable attention was paid to her by the Royal family, the Empress conferring upon her the appointment of Lady of Honour to Her Majesty. The relief to my mind on finding Lady Cochrane at Rio de Janeiro was very great, for, as there had not been opportunity to apprise her of my departure from Chili in time to prevent her return thither, it had been a constant source of regret to me that she would have to endure the discomfort of two tedious voyages round Cape Horn before she could join me in Brazil. The fortunate circ.u.mstance of putting into Rio happily terminated the embarra.s.sment.

CHAPTER V.

FIRST EFFORT 10 CURTAIL THE IMPERIAL POWER--PORTUGUESE INTRIGUE--DISMISSAL Of THE ANDRADAS--THE a.s.sEMBLY DISSOLVED BY FORCE--EXILE OF THE ANDRADAS--LETTER TO HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY--MY ADVICE PARTLY ADOPTED--AND CAUSES MINISTERIAL ENMITY TOWARDS ME--RATIFICATION Of MY PATENT--I DEMAND THE ADJUDICATION OF PRIZES--LETTER TO THE MINISTER OF MARINE--OFFER OF PERSONAL ADVANTAGE TO FOREIGN CLAIMS--SQUADRON REMAINED UNPAID--I AM APPOINTED A PRIVY COUNCILLOR--THE PRIZE VESSELS PLUNDERED--SHAMEFUL TREATMENT OF CAPTAIN GRENFELL--TROUBLES IN PERNAMBUCO--HOSTILITY OF THE PRIZE TRIBUNAL--CONDEMNS ME TO THE RESt.i.tUTION OF PRIZES--FORBIDS MAKING ANY CAPTURES AT ALL.

Shortly before returning to Rio de Janeiro, a total change had taken place in the administration of which Jose Bonifacio de Andrada was the head. As that minister's views were patriotic, he was, in consequence, obnoxious to the Portuguese faction, which had made one or two unsuccessful efforts to supplant him, these only serving to confirm his power amongst the people, who justly appreciated his leadership in the cause of independence. Becoming, thus, more confident in his position, he was accused, whether rightly or wrongly, of intolerance towards persons who were plotting against him, though, even if the accusation were true, he was scarcely to blame for discountenancing those whose chief aim was to paralyse the independence they were unable to prevent.

On the proclamation of the Empire, two influential Portuguese, in the a.s.sembly, endeavoured to impose a condition on the Emperor that, before ascending the throne, he should make oath to a const.i.tution framed by the Const.i.tuent a.s.sembly alone, thus reducing His Majesty to a cypher in the hands of the legislature. The proposition was plausible enough to those who were antic.i.p.ating power, but it gave rise to such dissensions, that Bonifacio de Andrada and his brother sent in their resignations, which, under these difficult circ.u.mstances, were accepted by the Emperor.

A violent tumult amongst the people was the immediate consequence, and His Majesty was induced to recall the patriotic Andradas to the cabinet--they however, refusing to resume their functions, unless their Portuguese opponents were banished; to this the Emperor a.s.sented, and the Andradas returned to office amidst the plaudits of the populace, who drew the carriage of Jose de Andrada in triumph into the town.

As might have been expected, less tolerance was manifested by the triumphant ministers than before, this just but perhaps impolitic course being eagerly seized on by the Portuguese faction to excite the apprehension of the patriots, who were somewhat dissatisfied by the revival of what were considered feudal usages; above all, by the creation of an Imperial Guard of Honour, selected from the youth of the princ.i.p.al families, who were required to take an oath "of implicit obedience to His Majesty"--this act being especially represented by the adverse faction as evincing a tendency to absolutism.

On the 20th of June, 1823, a project of law had been laid before the a.s.sembly, for the expulsion of all Portuguese deemed hostile to the cause of the empire. This measure might have originated with the Andradas, or not; it was certainly defended in the a.s.sembly by Antonio Andrada. The Portuguese party, alarmed by the still impending danger, formed a coalition with the Brazilian party, to eject the Andradas from the ministry, and having, during a severe illness of the Emperor, gained the ascendancy, the now obnoxious ministers were dismissed; and--though the patriots had not calculated thereon--were succeeded by the leaders of the Portuguese faction itself, who, to the regret of all true Brazilians, effected an immediate change of policy in the Government.

The chief object of the new administration, appeared to be to limit the functions of the Emperor to an extent almost subversive of his authority; His Majesty, in the unsettled state of the empire, being comparatively powerless amidst the machinations with which he was surrounded.

No const.i.tution had, as yet, been fixed upon--His Majesty resenting the former attempt to force upon him a const.i.tution framed solely by the will of the a.s.sembly, which was still seeking an opportunity to a.s.sert its supremacy. As the city and province abounded with influential Portuguese, desirous of overthrowing the new _regime_, and as many of these were in the a.s.sembly, there was a total want of unity between the Emperor and his legislature, the administration leaning to the side of the latter.

About this time, the Marquis of Palmella had widely circulated a doc.u.ment, appealing to the loyalty of the Portuguese, and declaring the policy desired by the mother country; which policy was--to divide Brazil into a number of petty states, easy to be intimidated and controlled. As this scheme held out large promise of irresponsible power to influential persons in such antic.i.p.ated states--it could scarcely fail to be agreeable to many expectants of office, whose interest it therefore was to prevent the consolidation of the empire, by promoting disunion. It was scarcely a secret that some in the administration were favourable to these views, though not openly professing them; so that the patriotic efforts of His Majesty were paralysed, and the administration, no less than the legislature, exhibited a policy seriously detrimental to the interests of the Empire.

Indeed, a powerful party in the legislative a.s.sembly openly called in question the Emperor's authority--even requiring His Majesty to divest himself of his crown in their presence. They deprived him of his council of state; denied him a voice in the enactment of laws, and the functions of administration; even objecting to His Majesty's exercise of the common prerogative of royalty to confer crown lands as territorial rewards for public services--the latter limitation of the royal prerogative being avowedly directed against the grant of an estate to myself, as spontaneously accorded by His Majesty, in grat.i.tude for my recent services to the nation.

This was the state of affairs on my return to Rio de Janeiro, and as His Majesty did me the honour to consult with me in his difficulties, I unhesitatingly recommended him to support his dignity const.i.tutionally--despite all attempts made for its limitation by the Portuguese faction; which--extraordinary as it may appear--was now said to be countenanced by the Andradas, who, though out of office, were still deputies to the a.s.sembly, and who--in consequence of their dismissal from power--were considered to be giving opposition to every measure calculated to promote unity between the Emperor and the legislature. The Brazilian patriots--and with good reason--were becoming alarmed, lest an attempt might yet be made to place Portugal and Brazil upon their former relative footing, and the Emperor, who was thoroughly Brazilian--from a conviction that Portuguese ascendancy could never be regained--was no less so.

Matters, at length, rose to such a pitch in the a.s.sembly, that the intentions of the factious majority became no longer doubtful, when His Majesty somewhat unceremoniously adopted the course pursued in England by Cromwell in a somewhat similar predicament, viz. to dissolve the a.s.sembly, and, should it prove refractory, to turn the members out by force. Cutting short all farther altercation with his legislature, the scene of the English protectorate was re-enacted in Brazil; the Emperor entering Rio de Janeiro at the head of a body of cavalry--surrounding the chamber with a military force--planting cannon before it--and ordering its instantaneous dissolution; the members--after in vain remonstrating against this proceeding--being compelled to retire.

The Andradas were soon afterwards arrested, and exiled--a proceeding impolitic and unjust to men who had laid the foundation of Brazilian independence, and who were no less distinguished by their honesty than their ability. By consenting to their exile, His Majesty lost three valuable servants, and at the same time placed himself in the hands of a faction which he never afterwards controlled, and which eventually forced him from his throne.

As the expulsion of the a.s.sembly--whether justifiable or not, it is not my province to inquire--was decisive, it was obviously of the greatest importance to follow it up by some measure which should convince the public that so extreme a course was intended for their good. As yet no permanent const.i.tution had been declared This, therefore, was clearly the moment for its proclamation, no less to satisfy the people--who were heart and soul with the Emperor--than to prevent retaliation by the faction which had been thus summarily dealt with.

Seeing that nothing was promptly acted upon in an emergency involving the stability of Government, I addressed to His Imperial Majesty the following letter:--

Rio de Janeiro, November 14, 1823.

SIRE,

My sense of the impropriety of intruding myself on the attention of your Imperial Majesty, on any subject unconnected with the official position with which your Majesty has been pleased to honour me, could only have been overcome by an irresistible desire, under existing circ.u.mstances, to contribute to the service of your Majesty and the Empire.

The conduct of the late legislative a.s.sembly, which sought to derogate from the dignity and prerogatives of Your Majesty--even presuming to require you to divest yourself of your crown in their presence--who deprived you of your Council of State--denied you a voice in the enactment of laws and the formation of the const.i.tution, and who dared to object to your exercising the only remaining function of royalty--that of rewarding services, and conferring honours--could no longer be tolerated; and the justice and wisdom of Your Imperial Majesty in dissolving such an a.s.sembly will be duly appreciated by discerning men, and by those whose love of good order and their country supersedes their ambition or personal interests. There are, however, individuals who will wickedly take advantage of the late proceedings to kindle the flames of discord, and throw the empire into anarchy and confusion, unless timely prevented by the wisdom and energy of Your Imperial Majesty.

The declaration that you will give to your people a practical const.i.tution, more free than even that which the late a.s.sembly professed an intention to establish, cannot--considering the spirit which now pervades South America--have the effect of averting impending evils, unless Your Imperial Majesty shall be pleased to dissipate all doubts by _at once declaring_--before news of the recent events can be dispersed throughout the provinces, and before the discontented members of the late congress can return to their const.i.tuents--what is the precise nature of that const.i.tution which Your Imperial Majesty intends to bestow.

Permit me, then, humbly and respectfully to suggest to Your Imperial Majesty, as a means of tranquillising the public mind--of averting evils at home, and preventing injurious representations abroad--that, _even before the sailing of the next packet for Europe_, Your Majesty should specifically declare the nature of the government you are graciously pleased should be adopted. As no monarch is more happy, or more truly powerful than the limited monarch of England, surrounded by a free people, enriched by that industry which the security of property by means of just laws never fails to create--if Your Majesty were to decree that the English const.i.tution, in its most perfect practical form (which, with slight alteration, and, chiefly in name, is also the const.i.tution of the United States of North America), shall be the model for the Government of Brazil under Your Imperial Majesty, with power to the const.i.tuent a.s.sembly so to alter particular parts as local circ.u.mstances may render advisable--it would excite the sympathy of powerful states abroad, and the firm allegiance of the Brazilian people to Your Majesty's throne.

Were Your Majesty, by a few brief lines in the Gazette, to announce your intention so to do, and were you to banish all distrust from the public mind by removing from your person for a time, and finding employment on honourable missions abroad, for those Portuguese individuals of whom the Brazilians are jealous--the purity of Your Majesty's motives would be secured from the possibility of misrepresentation--the factions which disturb the country would be silenced or converted--and the feelings of the world, especially those of England and North America, would be interested in promoting the glory, happiness, and prosperity of Your Imperial Majesty.

These thoughts, hastily expressed, but most respectfully submitted to your gracious consideration will, I hope, be candidly appreciated by Your Imperial Majesty, proceeding, as they do, from the heart of

Your Majesty's most faithful and dutiful Servant,

COCHRANE AND MARANHA.

His Majesty saw good to adopt this advice in part, but in offering it--though instrumental in establishing the political liberties of Brazil--I had unconsciously placed myself in the position of a partisan against the powerful faction which influenced the administration, and through them every part of the empire. My unauthorised services after the pursuit of the Portuguese fleet and army--resulting in the annexation of the Northern provinces--had drawn upon me the resentment of those now in power whose ultimate intentions were thus defeated. That I--a foreigner, having nothing to do with national politics--should have counselled His Majesty to banish those who opposed him, was not to be borne, and the resentment caused by my recent services was increased to bitter enmity for meddling in affairs which it was considered did not concern me; though I could have had no other object than the good of the Empire by the establishment of a const.i.tution which should give it stability in the estimation of European states.

The effect of this enmity towards me personally, was not long in manifesting itself, and fearing the extent to which this might be carried, I lost no time in demanding that the patent under which I had been invested with the grade of "First Admiral," should be formally engrossed and registered, according to the engagement of the late Prime Minister, previous to my departure for Bahia. On the 25th of November, this was accordingly done, and a commission conferring the same pay and emolument as before--without limitation as to time, received the sign manual--was counter-signed by the Ministers--sealed with the great seal--and registered in the archives of the empire; His Majesty further testifying his approbation of my conduct and services, by directing the transmission of the completed patent without payment of the usual fees.

The following are the stipulations of the commission so solemnly conferred--but afterwards shamefully violated without cause, as though fidelity to its engagements formed no part of national honour and good faith:--

I, Don Pedro, by the grace of G.o.d, and the unanimous voice of the people, Const.i.tutional Emperor and Perpetual Defender of Brazil, hereby make known to those who shall see this my charter patent, that the valour, intelligence, and activity united in Admiral Lord Cochrane, now Marquis of Maranha, who has so distinguished himself in the different services with which he has been entrusted--giving proof of the greatest bravery and talent; and seeing how advantageous it would be for the interests of this empire to avail itself of the skill of so valuable an officer--consider it beneficial to confer upon him--as by this charter is confirmed--the patent of "First Admiral," with the annual pay of eleven contos five hundred and twenty milreas, as well ash.o.r.e as afloat; and farther in table money, when embarked, five contos seven hundred and seventy milreas--which are the same emoluments as he received in Chili. No admiral in the service having any right to consider himself ent.i.tled to succeed to the post of First Admiral, which I create solely for this occasion for the motives expressed, and from the particular consideration merited by the said admiral.

The pay referred to shall be entered in the books to which it appertains, in order to the payments when due. In attestation of that which I have hereby commanded, I give this charter under the sign manual and sealed with the great seal of the Empire.

Given in the city of Rio de Janeiro on the 25th day of the month of November, in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1823. Second of Independence and of this empire.