ir liberty. Officers who distinguish
themselves, will have a medal representing their victory,
which will make them known to the citizens of Bahia, who will not
be ungrateful.

Citizens of all classes are ready at a moment's warning to decide
the great cause of our liberty, and will measure the greatness of our
triumph by the sacrifices made. Constance, courage, and union,
and we shall see the despotic monster raging and tearing himself to
pieces.

All we look to, at this moment, is to destroy the Rio squadron.
The usurper who rules in that Capital thinks that, reaching the bar
with the squadron of his imaginary Empire, we should be attacked
on all sides, and compelled to make a shameful capitulation. How
much you are mistaken--new-born monster! We have abundant
force at our disposal; but in the meantime we must overthrow the
plans of the enterprising Cochrane, and wait the result of maritime
prowess.

Notwithstanding that the Portuguese opinion of the Brazilian squadron,
as expressed in the official gazette, is couched in terms of contempt,
as compared with the efficiency of their own squadron--yet most
inconsistently, they did not venture to attack us. The fact was,
however, most painful to me, being aware of its truthfulness, and I
wrote to the Minister of Marine, begging him to enable us to intercept
the numerous vessels expected at Bahia, by procuring three fast-sailing
American clippers, armed with 18 or 24-pounders, in lieu of the useless
schooners with which we were encumbered. In addition to the professed
contempt of the Portuguese authorities for the ships blockading
Bahia--the proclamation in which these expressions were contained,
termed His Imperial Majesty a "Turkish despot,"--his Prime Minister a
"tyrannical vizier," and myself "a coward;" so that I had at least the
satisfaction of being maligned in good company.

On the 2nd of June, to my great satisfaction, the Portuguese returned to
port, and I felt certain that so soon as the fireships in preparation at
the Moro San Paulo were ready, the destruction of the whole was
inevitable--the Portuguese naval officers being of the same opinion,
whatever might be the official boasts of the military Commandant.
According to the secret correspondence which I had established with
Brazilian patriots resident within the city, the Admiral's consternation
on learning that fireships were nearly equipped was excessive--