serve a lively
remembrance of such illustrious acts, I deem it right to confer upon
your Excellency the title of Marquis of Maranhao. My Secretary of
State will expedite the necessary patent which I communicate to your
Excellency for your information.

God preserve your Excellency many years.

Palace of Rio de Janeiro, 25th of November, 1823.
(Signed) JOAO SEVERIANO MACIEL DA COSTA.

The annexed is the vote of thanks awarded by the _"Assemblea 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 title which His
Majesty had graciously been pleased to confer. The reason assigned 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 Constituent and Legislative Assembly 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 Maranhao, 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 Constituent and Legislative
Assembly, 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.

God preserve your Excellency.

Palace of the Assembly, Oct. 3, 1823.

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

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

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