I have the happiness to acquaint you, for the satisfaction of the Imperial government, that Maranham is now united to the Empire, the inhabitants having proclaimed their independence of Portugal on the 28th, and elected their provisional government this day. I have embarked the Portuguese troops for Europe, and the militia are disarmed.
I have the honour to enclose a copy of the correspondence which has taken place on the occasion, with other papers and documents. We have found here a fine brig of war—a schooner—eight gunboats, and about sixteen sail of Portuguese merchant vessels. Amongst the other advantages of this important event may be mentioned, that while the expense of an express expedition has been saved, an addition of nearly a million of dollars is made to the revenue of His Imperial Majesty.
I have manned and sent the brig of war to Parà, to summon that city—offering to the enemy the same terms as we have granted here. The beautiful new frigate, lately launched at Parà, has not sailed for Portugal, and I am in expectation that the next account which I shall have the honour to send or bring to your Excellency, will communicate the pleasing intelligence that His Imperial Majesty has no enemy, either on shore or afloat, between the extremities of his empire.
I have, &c.
COCHRANE.
The Minister of Marine.
CHAPTER IV.
CAPT. GRENFELL SENT TO SUMMON PARA—THE JUNTA DEMANDS THE PRIZE PROPERTY—MY REFUSAL—IMPERIAL APPROVAL OF MY SERVICES—REALISATION OF PRIZE PROPERTY—TURI ASSU SENDS IN ITS ADHESION—MONEY CAPTURED LENT TO THE JUNTA—ITS RETURN TO THE SQUADRON EXPECTED—POSSESSION TAKEN OF PARA—INSURRECTION AT PARA—MISCONDUCT OF THE MARANHAM JUNTA—THEIR PERSECUTION OF THE PORTUGUESE—STEPS IN CONSEQUENCE—MANIFESTATION OF THE NATIONAL DELIGHT—THE MARQUISATE CONFERRED ON ME—VOTE OF THANKS BY THE ASSEMBLEA GERAL—MY ARRIVAL AT RIO DE JANEIRO—SATISFACTION WITH MY SERVICES—LADY COCHRANE JOINS ME.
As the province of Parà was now the only one which remained under the authority of Portugal, it became of importance to take possession of it, whilst the prestige arising from our acquisition of Maranham was in all its freshness; for we had still no other force than the flagship, which was necessary to maintain order there. In the absence of a Brazilian ship-of-war, I manned the captured brig Don Miguel—changing her name to the Maranhaõ—and placed her under the command of an able and gallant officer, Captain-Lieutenant (now Admiral) Grenfell, upon whose judicious management every reliance was to be placed.
Captain Grenfell was the bearer of a summons from me to the Junta and garrison of Parà, dated off the bar, as though a force were at hand to second his operations. In short, he was instructed to employ the same ruse for intimidating the city as had been so successful at Maranham—the summons as well as the terms to be granted to the Portuguese garrison being similar in both cases. He was further instructed to secure, if possible, the new frigate which had just been launched for the service of Portugal, and if successful, to name her the Impératrice, in honour of the Empress—to take command of her—and after the submission of the city to return to Rio de Janeiro with his prize. The nature of Captain Grenfell's mission will be apparent from the following extracts from the orders given to him:—