s, huddled together as they were amongst a
crowd of merchantmen, I hastened to Moro San Paulo, to expedite the
completion of the fireships. Returning immediately to Bahia, and again
anchoring off the entrance of the harbour, I now learned that the alarm
created by our nocturnal visit was excessive; indeed, my informants
stated that the exploit had the effect of determining the Portuguese
admiral to remove as quickly as possible from a locality in which he
could no longer consider himself safe.

On the 29th of June, information was again forwarded to me, by persons
favourable to the Imperial cause, that a council of war had been held,
at which it had been resolved to withdraw the fleet to St. Catherine's
or Maranham, and not the fleet alone but the troops also--thus
abandoning the city and province of Bahia to the Imperial squadron; the
council judging that I should be well content to permit them to pass to
another part of the coast, as their departure would result in the
Imperial occupation of Bahia.

The subjoined proclamation issued by General Madeira will shew the
straits to which the blockading squadron had reduced the city and
garrison:--

INHABITANTS OF BAHIA,

The crisis in which we find ourselves is perilous,
because the means of subsistence fail us, and we cannot secure the
entrance of any provisions. My duty as a soldier, and as Governor,
is to make any sacrifice in order to save the city; but it is equally
my duty to prevent, in an extreme case, the sacrifice of the troops I
command--of the squadron--and of yourselves. I shall employ
every means to fulfil both duties. Do not suffer yourselves to be
persuaded that measures of foresight are always followed by disasters.
You have already seen me take such once before. They alarmed
you, but you were afterwards convinced that they portended nothing
extraordinary. Even in the midst of formidable armies measures
of precaution are daily used, because victory is not constant, and
reverses should be provided against. You may assure yourselves,
that the measures I am now taking, are purely precautionary, but it
is necessary to communicate them to you, because if it happens that
_we must abandon the, city_, many of you will leave it also; and I
should be responsible to the nation and to the King if I had not
forewarned you.

(Signed) IGNACIO LUIZ MADEIRA DE MELLA.

Were it dignified to allude to the cowa