ine:--

Desiring to give a further testimony of the high estimation in which
the Marquis of Maranhao, First Admiral of the National and Imperial
Armada, is held, by reason of the distinguished services which he
has rendered to the state, and which it is hoped that he will
continue to render for the independence of Brazil, I deem it proper
to name him Commander-in-Chief of all the naval forces of the empire
_during the present war_. The Supreme Military Council is hereby
informed thereof, and will cause this decree to be executed.

Palace of Rio Janeiro, the 23rd of February, 1824. Third of the
Independence of the Empire, with the Rubrica of His Imperial
Majesty.

FRANCISCO VILLELA BARBOSA,

Secretariat of State,

27th February, 1824.

(Signed) ANASTASIO DE BRITO,

Acting Chief Secretary.

The audacity of this _portaria_--setting aside the stipulations of His
Majesty and his late ministers in my commission, thus rendering it null
and void without my consent--was only equalled by its hypocrisy. As a
"_further testimony_ of the high estimation in which I was held,"
&c.--His Majesty's ministers were graciously pleased to annul my
commission, in order that they might get rid of me at a moment's
warning!

The document transmitted to me _did not_ bear the Rubrica of the
Emperor, though falsely asserted so to do. If the reader will take the
trouble to compare it with my two commissions, he will agree with me in
the inference that it was written by Barbosa without the Emperor's
knowledge or consent, with the object of terminating my command--the
Imperial patents notwithstanding, as will be evident from the
expression, "_during the present war;_" the war being _already ended_ by
my expulsion of the Portuguese fleet and army.

No time was lost in remonstrating against this insidious decree. After
pointing out to the Minister of Marine the agreements which had been
made with me by the late ministers, and ratified by the Imperial sign
manual, I addressed His Excellency as follows:--

The late decree inserted in the Gazette of February 28th, instead of
increasing my official rank and authority--as it professes to do--in
effect circumscribes it, because _there was no limitation of time_ in
the offer which I accepted from His Imperial Majesty. But by this
decree, my official rank and authority are limited to the duration of
the present war.