L DELIGHT--THE MARQUISATE CONFERRED ON ME--VOTE OF THANKS BY
THE ASSEMBLEA GERAL--MY ARRIVAL AT RIO DE JANEIRO--SATISFACTION WITH MY
SERVICES--LADY COCHRANE JOINS ME.

As the province of Para was now the only one which remained under the
authority of Portugal, it became of importance to take possession of it,
whilst the _prestige_ arising from our acquisition of Maranham was in
all its freshness; for we had still no other force than the flagship,
which was necessary to maintain order there. In the absence of a
Brazilian ship-of-war, I manned the captured brig _Don Miguel_--changing
her name to the _Maranhao_--and placed her under the command of an able
and gallant officer, Captain-Lieutenant (now Admiral) Grenfell, upon
whose judicious management every reliance was to be placed.

Captain Grenfell was the bearer of a summons from me to the Junta and
garrison of Para, dated off the bar, as though a force were at hand to
second his operations. In short, he was instructed to employ the same
_ruse_ for intimidating the city as had been so successful at
Maranham--the summons as well as the terms to be granted to the
Portuguese garrison being similar in both cases. He was further
instructed to secure, if possible, the new frigate which had just been
launched for the service of Portugal, and if successful, to name her the
_Imperatrice_, in honour of the Empress--to take command of her--and
after the submission of the city to return to Rio de Janeiro with his
prize. The nature of Captain Grenfell's mission will be apparent from
the following extracts from the orders given to him:--

The enclosed orders in Portuguese you may show. They purport to be
addressed to you at the mouth of the river Para, and to be there
dated on board this ship, she being supposed at anchor there; for it
is essential to create a belief in the Government at Para that you do
not come alone, but that the squadron is at hand ready to cooperate.
You will therefore fill up the date of the Portuguese orders on the
day of your arrival at the mouth of the river. You will also fill in
the dates of the official letters to the Junta, at the same time,
without regard to the delay which may arise, from proceeding up the
river.

You will perceive that my intentions are to effect, by your means,
objects _which would otherwise require an expedition_, and therefore
the utmost prudence and circumspection are necessary. Next to t