Narrative of Services in the Liberation of Chili, Peru and Brazil Volume II Part 27

" 24th. Paid Shepherd, Clewley, Clare, Commissary, Doctors Escriva, Jannary, and the Pilot, a proportion of 80 contos, in course of payment by the Junta.

Went on board the _Piranga_, and paid prize-money to Carter and a number of men.

" 26th. Paying prize-money to such of Jowett's men as were absent on sh.o.r.e on the 24th.

" 27th. Paying prize-money to such of the _Pedro's_ people ent.i.tled thereto, as are to remain on board that s.h.i.+p.

" 30th. Making book for distribution of double pay to those who have served on sh.o.r.e.

April 6th. Counting out the money for double pay to the men who did sh.o.r.e service.

" 7th. Paid part of the men their additional pay.

" 8th. Paying the additional pay.

" 9th. Paying additional pay. Sent Capt. Manson by January 1480 dollars prize-money.

" 10th. A decree arrives by the _Guarani _from the Imperial Government, directing the Interim President that no money shall be paid to the squadron on account of the taking of Maranham. Admiral suspects Barros to be at the bottom of it.

" 11th. Went on sh.o.r.e with the Admiral, with sixteen bags of dollars, besides Clewley's bag and mine.

" 13th. Paid Inglis and his men additional pay.

" 14th. Admiral proposed to Hesketh to s.h.i.+p cotton to the extent of forty or sixty contos, to which Mr. Hesketh (British Consul) agreed.

" 25th. Remainder of the money from the Junta promised to-morrow.

April 26th. Captain Crosbie received 2,000 dollars as his further share. Received 285 dollars, seventy-six for distribution.

More money from the Treasury.

May 5th. Wrote to the Junta, with further demand of 13,000 dollars to make up the stipulated amount.

" 11th. Paying his Lords.h.i.+p's bills.

" 12th. Paying his Lords.h.i.+p's bills.

" 17th. Received my last three months' pay to the 30th of April.

" 18th. Received the remaining money from the Treasury.

" 19th. Sailed in the _Piranga_.

" 20th. Sent sixty dollars by pilot to two soldiers on sh.o.r.e.

June 6th. Captain Crosbie appointed Captain of the Fleet, with rank of Chief of Division.

July 2nd. At Portsmouth. Agent arrived from London with two months' pay.

" 4th. Paying prize-money to men who had not been paid.

Received two months' pay to the 1st instant.

" 11th. Paid John Skirr .10 for wounds.

The amount paid by the Junta was, in fact, 105,800 dollars, partly in bills, from which a discount of 1800 dollars had to be taken. But these trifles are unworthy of notice: I have thus accounted for every s.h.i.+lling received from the Brazilian Government for the use of the squadron--to the satisfaction of my own conscience, and, I trust, to the satisfaction of all who may read this narrative.

From what has been herein stated, it is obvious that Brazil was, by my instrumentality--though with inadequate means--entirely freed from a foreign yoke, not only without national cost, but with positive gain, arising from the vast territories and revenues annexed--as well as from prizes, the value of which alone exceeded the cost of all naval equipments. It is true that, after a lapse of thirty-five years, a profession is made of adjudicating these prizes--but as nearly all the claimants are dead, and as an intention is manifested to retain my share, unless I produce accounts already transmitted--Brazil will have thus monopolized the fruits of our exertions in the cause of independence--achieved without trouble or thought to the Imperial Government. For, beyond the usual orders on the departure of the squadron, not a single instruction was given--all being left to my discretion, and accomplished on my sole responsibility. Even the favourable contraction of a loan in England--the acknowledgment of Brazilian independence by European states--and the establishment of permanent peace--were the direct consequences of my services, but for which Brazil might still have presented the same lamentable specimen of weakness without, and anarchy within, which forms the characteristics of other South American states.

Can any government then justify the conduct pursued towards me by Brazil? Can any government believe that the promises held out to me as an inducement to accept the command--may be optionally evaded after the more than completion of my part of the contract? The services rendered were fully acknowledged by those with whom that contract was made, and only repudiated by their factions successors, to whom Brazil owed nothing but prospective confusion. Can any one, then, judge otherwise--than that the present Brazilian Government is bound, in honour and good faith, to fulfil the national contract with me--not only on account of professional services accomplished--even beyond national expectation; but also on account of extra-official services which did not come within the scope of my professional duties, viz. the pacification of the Northern provinces? That the fulfilment of these obligations is due, I once more quote the Imperial invitation to adopt the cause of Brazil:--"_Votre Grace est invitee, pour--et de part le Gouvernement du Bresil, a accepter le service de la nation Bresilienne; chez qui je suis dument autorise a vous a.s.surer le rang et le grade nullement inferieur a celui que vous tenez de la Republique.

Abandonnez-vous, Milord, a la reconnaissance Bresilienne;_ a LA MUNIFICENCE DU PRINCE; a LA PROBITe SANS TACHE DE L'ACTUEL GOUVERNEMENT; ON VOUS FERA JUSTICE; ON NE RABAISSERA D'UN SEUL POINT LA HAUTE CONSIDeRATION--RANG--GRADE--CARACTeRE--ET AVANTAGES QUI VOUS SONT DuS."

"VENEZ, MILORD, L'HONNEUR VOUS INVITE--LA GLOIRE VOUS APPELLE. VENEZ, DONNER a NOS ARMES NAVALES, CET ORDRE MERVEILLEUX ET DISCIPLINE INCOMPARABLE DE PUISSANTE ALBION."