of the monarchy.
Sharp discussions and angry words passed between the Brazilian and
Portuguese deputies, the news of which excited great discontent in
Brazil. An insulting decree was passed in the Cortes, ordering the
prince Dom Pedro to come to Europe, which filled the Brazilians with
alarm; they foresaw that without a central authority the country would
fall back to its former colonial state subject to Portugal. The
provisional government of Sao Paulo, influenced by the brothers Andrada,
began a movement for independence by asking the prince to disobey the
Cortes and remain in Brazil, and the council of Rio de Janeiro followed
with a similar representation, to which the prince assented. The
Portuguese troops of the capital at first assumed a coercive attitude,
but were forced to give way before the ardour and military preparations
of the Brazilians, and submitted to embark for Portugal. These scenes
were repeated in Pernambuco, where the Portuguese, after various
conflicts, were obliged to leave the country; in Bahia, however, as well
as in Maranhao and Para, the Portuguese prevailed. In the agitation for
independence continued. The two brothers Andrada were called to the
ministry; and the municipal council conferred upon the prince regent the
title of Perpetual Defender of Brazil. With great activity he set off to
the central provinces of Minas and Sao Paulo to suppress disaffected
movements and direct the revolution. In Sao Paulo, on the 7th of
September 1822, he proclaimed the independence of Brazil. On his return
to Rio de Janeiro on the l2th of October he was proclaimed
constitutional emperor with great enthusiasm.

The Cortes at Lisbon chose Bahia as a centre for resisting the
independence, and large forces were sent thither. But the city was
vigorously besieged by the Brazilians by land, and finally the
Portuguese were obliged to re-embark on the 2nd of July 1823. A
Brazilian squadron, under command of Lord Cochrane, attacked the
Portuguese vessels, embarrassed with troops, and took several of them.
Taylor, another Englishman in Brazilian service, followed the vessels
across the Atlantic, and even captured some of the ships in sight of the
land of Portugal. The troops in Montevideo also embarked for Portugal,
and the Banda Oriental remained a part of Brazil with the title of the
_Provincia Cisplatina_. Before the end of 1823 the authority of the new
emperor and the independence of Brazil were undisputed through