ration, Luiz Jose Carvalho e Mello, who had ever been my
friend, being himself a man of patriotic and enlightened views, but
without the influence to counteract the designs of his Portuguese
colleagues. As I knew from private sources, that this silence had its
objects, I addressed to Carvalho e Mello the following letter:--

Maranham, March 22nd, 1825.

MOST EXCELLENT SIR,

By the arrival of my despatches transmitted by the _George_ and other
ships, your Excellency will have been successively informed of such
public transactions and occurrences as seemed to me worthy of the
attention of the Imperial Government. But notwithstanding that three
months and upwards have now elapsed since the date of my first
communications, I have the misfortune (for so I must call it) to be
left without any precise or applicable instructions from Rio de
Janeiro. The responsibility, therefore, rests entirely on my
shoulders, and I feel this the more--being aware that not only shall
I meet with no support from the majority of the Ministry itself--but
that the most powerful faction in Rio de Janeiro will represent every
thing I have done--or may do--in the blackest colours.

I console myself, however, with the knowledge that I possess the
means of exposing the falsehood of every allegation that can be
brought against me. I have acted towards His Imperial Majesty
and the Brazilian nation, in the same manner as I should have
done for my native Sovereign and country; and I must say--that,
had I freed the shores of England from a superior hostile force, and
rescued half the country from the dominion of an enemy--the
British Government would not have left me to seek the fruit of my
labours, and those of the officers and seamen who served with me,
in the manner in which I have been compelled to seek them in
Brazil; and would never have subjected me to the necessity of
having recourse to measures capable of being so perversely represented
as to obscure for a time that credit to which I am entitled
for the successful conduct of the naval war. I am, however,
resolved never to be deterred, by fear of consequences, from using
every endeavour within my power to obtain justice for all who have
continued to perform their duty in the Imperial service. And
I have the less hesitation in persevering in this resolution--because
it cannot be denied that I have s