y week, both to me and to my
friends, who are hurrying every thing to get to sea as quickly as
possible; as it is of the utmost consequence to free Bahia of the enemy.

_Saturday, 29th_.--His Majesty's ship Tartar, Captain Brown, arrived
to-day from England, bringing no good news of any kind. In the first
place, Lord Cochrane suffers extreme distress on learning that Lady
Cochrane and her infant daughter are on their way to Chile, so that they
will have to perform the rough passage round Cape Horn twice before he
sees them;--and in the next, Captain Brown gives a most formidable
account of a Portuguese fleet bound for Bahia, which he met on this side
of the line. I trust he is mistaken in the last, and I try to comfort
Lord Cochrane as to the first piece of intelligence, by suggestions, of
the probability, if not certainty, that the ship Lady Cochrane will sail
in, must touch in this port; however, his natural anxiety is not to be
overcome.

_Monday, March 31st_.--Yesterday the Pedro Primeiro dropped down the
harbour, as far as Boa Viage, and to-day I went with Lord Cochrane on
board of her. We found that the Emperor and Empress had been on board at
daylight. On some of the Portuguese officers complaining that the
English sailors had been drunk the day before, the Empress said, "Oh,
'tis the custom of the North, where brave men come from. The sailors are
under my protection; I spread my mantle over them." The Pedro Primeiro
is a fine two-decker, without a poop. She has a most beautiful gun-deck;
but I could not see her to advantage, as she was still taking in stores,
and receiving men. Her cabins are beautifully fitted up with handsome
wood and green morocco cushions, &c.; and I am told the Emperor takes
great pride in her. Captain Crosbie commands her; and three lieutenants
who came with us from Chile are appointed to her.

_April 1st_.--I had expected the Admiral to breakfast with me; but, to
my great disappointment, I saw the ship get under weigh, and sail. I
afterwards learned that the Emperor and Empress were on board, and
accompanied him out of the harbour as far as the light-house, so that he
could not leave them. The morning was dull and grey when the Pedro
Primeiro, the Maria da Gloria, the Una[)o], and the Liberal got under
weigh; but just as the little squadron came abreast of Santa Cruz, and
the fort began to salute, the sun broke from behind a cloud, and a
bright yellow flood of light descended behind the