ent, he would send a sufficient number of men in a steamboat,
with every kind of store and provisions required to complete us, and
we were to sail immediately.

This deep laid plot of Gameiro's was not to be carried on as
Portuguese plots are in general, but was to be done--using his own
words--_at a blow_, before anybody could know anything about it.

With this I send a copy of my answer to Gameiro's proposals, and a
letter representing the state of the ship.

I have the honour to remain
Your Lordship's obedient Servant,
JA'S. SHEPHERD.

Such were the underhand expedients of a man who was silly enough to tell
the secrets of his Government, as regarded the intended injustice of the
Brazilian Ministry towards me--in spite of stipulations thrice ratified
by the Emperor's own hand. But in confiding them to Lieutenant Shepherd,
the Envoy's want of common honesty, no less than of common sense, did
not perceive that he was imparting iniquitous projects to a brave and
faithful officer, who would not lose a moment till he had apprised me of
the whole. I should be unjust to the memory of Captain Shepherd did I
not give his written reply to the infamous proposals of Gameiro, a copy
of which was enclosed to me in the preceding letter.

Copy of my answer to Gameiro's proposals, sent in Portuguese, and
translated by Mr. March:--

MOST EXCELLENT SIR,

In answer to the wishes of your Excellency to place
myself under your immediate orders, I have to acquaint you that I
have this morning had a letter from Lord Cochrane, stating that he
had received letters from your Excellency of such a nature as to
require his immediate presence in town, where he intends to be on
Monday next. This alone--you must be aware--will entirely preclude
the possibility of putting into execution the arrangements
which you wished; the celerity of the Admiral's movements being
such as to preclude all hope of effecting them.

I am sorry to add, that all our men have this morning left
the ship in a complete state of mutiny, occasioned by their not
having received their last two months' pay, and I much fear that it
will be now more difficult than ever to get her manned--as, from
their having been so long kept in arrears, and leaving their ship
without being paid, has irritated their feelings to such a degree, that
I have no hesitation whatever in saying that they will do all i