umber of vessels of war in the offing, accompanied by
transports filled with troops, which the superior sailing of the
flagship had enabled her to outstrip. Captain Garcao being a seaman and
well able to judge as to the sailing qualities of the _Pedro Primiero_,
was easily impressed with this story, and returned to the city with
intelligence of an irresistible force about to disembark for its
reduction.

My letters to the Governor and Junta were to the same effect; for--as
before noticed--having only a single ship, it was necessary to impress
on their imagination--that a fleet and army were at hand to add the
province to Brazil. As this is the only instance within my knowledge of
a military force surrendering itself and the province which it defended,
to a stratagem of this nature, I shall append the documents by which a
result so desirable was effected.

To Don Agostinho Antonia de Faria, the commandant, I wrote as follows:--

Pedro Primiero, July 26, 1823.

SIR,

The naval and military forces under my command,
leave me no room to doubt the success of the enterprise in which I
am about to engage, in order to free the province of Maranham from
foreign domination, and to allow the people free choice of government
in the same manner as the inhabitants of Portugal have decided
with regard to their constitution.

Of the flight of the Portuguese naval and military forces from
Bahia you are aware. I have now to inform you of the capture of
two-thirds of the transports and troops, with all their stores and
ammunition.

I am anxious not to let loose the Imperial troops of Bahia upon
Maranham, exasperated as they are at the injuries and cruelties
exercised towards themselves and their countrymen, as well as by
the plunder of the people and churches of Bahia. It is for you to
decide whether the inhabitants of these countries shall be further
exasperated by resistance which appears to me unavailing, and alike
prejudicial to the best interests of Portugal and Brazil.

Although it is not customary amongst European nations to receive or
respect flags of truce, being armed vessels, yet as a proof that we
came here with objects far superior to the seizure of the brig of
war just released, I have paid respect to the flag, in the hope that
forbearance will facilitate that harmony which all must be desirous
should exist between the government of the Royal