y's interposition for its salvation--your Excellency,
in the meantime, assuming the civil and military government
of the province, until His Imperial Majesty's pleasure can
become known. And we further beg of your Excellency that you will
name able magistrates, of known probity, to the respective districts,
and cause oaths to be taken, in order that the respective Camaras
may proceed to the work of saving the province from tumult and
anarchy, by observing faithful obedience to His Imperial Majesty
and by the administration of laws for the government of the people.

"Maranhao, Dec. 11, 1824."

Signed by one hundred and fifty-two
of the principal inhabitants of the province.

A similar document, signed by upwards of a hundred and fifty of the
respectable inhabitants of Alcantara--upon whom excesses had been
committed in no way less reprehensible than at Maranham--had been
forwarded to me on the 6th of December; but, as the complaints were of
the same nature, it is unnecessary to do more than advert to the
circumstance. In addition to these, I received a statistic list of the
murders and robberies perpetrated throughout the province, under the
agency of those placed in authority by the President. The whole of these
documents were retained by me as a justification of any contingency that
might arise, and are still in my possession.

The Maranham memorial reached me on the 14th of December, and had
scarcely been placed in my hands, when a letter arrived from President
Bruce, deprecating its reception, thus shewing that he had previously
been made aware of the contents, and--as I had afterwards reason to
believe--had attempted to intercept the memorial, but had failed in so
doing. After glancing at the contents, I made him the following reply:--

SIR,

I have this moment been honoured with the receipt
of your Excellency's letter, and have to state that the document to
which you allude had not been delivered to me five minutes previous
to your Excellency's communication, and that I have not yet had
time to read it.

Your Excellency may, however, rest assured that if the said paper
contains any thing injurious to the interests or dignity of his Imperial
Majesty, I shall not fail to take such steps as the occasion may
require. All papers that have been presented to me, it is my intention
to transmit to Rio de Janeiro, where the Imperial government
will