fore, as I prize those honours, as the gracious gift of Your
Imperial Majesty, yet, holding in still dearer estimation my
character as an officer and a man, I cannot hesitate a moment which
to sacrifice when the retention of both is evidently incompatible.

I can, therefore, no longer delay to demonstrate to the squadron,
and the world, that I am no partner in the deceptions and oppressions
which are practised on the naval service; and as the first,
and most painful step in the performance of this imperious duty, I
crave permission--with all humility and respect--to return those
honours, and lay them at the feet of Your Imperial Majesty.

I should, however, fall short of my duty to those who were
induced to enter the service by my example or invitation, were I to
do nothing more than convince them that I had been deceived. It
is incumbent on me to make every effort to obtain for them the
fulfilment of engagements for which I made myself responsible.

As far as I am personally concerned, I could be content to quit
the service of Your Imperial Majesty, either with or without the
expectation of obtaining compensation at a future period, and could
submit to the same sacrifices here as I did on the other side of
the continent, even to abandoning the ships which I captured from
the enemy--without payment or reward--as I did in Chili and Peru.
After effectually fighting the battles of freedom and independence
on both sides of South America, and clearing the two seas of every
vessel of war, I could submit to return to my native country
unrewarded; but I cannot submit to adopt any course which shall
not redeem my pledge to my brother officers and seamen. Neither
can I relinquish the object which I have equally at heart, of
depriving the Portuguese faction of the means of undermining the
nationality and independence of the empire, to which--notwithstanding
their admission to places of honour and trust--they are
notoriously and naturally opposed.

It is impossible to view the prize tribunal--consisting of natives
of the hostile nation--in any other light than as a party of the
enemy, who, in the disguise of judges, have surprised and recaptured
our prizes, after we had lodged them--as we thought--safely in
port. And we have not the slightest reason to doubt that, if
suffered to proceed unmolested, they will eventually get