marine to be abandoned, ought not--in a national point of view--to
be regarded as inconsiderable; but whether this be of importance
or not, the consequences of such abandonment by men who have so
faithfully performed their duty, will be far from beneficial to those
short sighted and vain individuals who imagine that the employment
of foreign officers is an obstacle to their own advancement.
If the present foreign officers are compelled to abandon their
situations an explanation must be given of the cause, and public
indignation must inevitably fall on the unreflecting heads of the
prejudiced or selfish authors of such impolitic injustice.

I have heard it stated, as a motive for the delay in condemning
the prizes, that the Government--in case of a treaty of peace--
might be called upon to refund the value to the original owners.
But, Sir, let me ask such wretched statesmen, what would have
been the situation of Brazil, if foreign officers and seamen had
refused to enter the service--as would have been the case, had no
prize money been promised? In that case, it is true, the vessels
in question would not have been taken--but it is equally true that
the enemy's troops would not have been starved into the evacuation
of Bahia, nor their squadron have been intimidated to flee from
these shores. Military warfare would still have raged in the
interior, and the hostile fleet might now have been engaged in the
blockade of Rio de Janeiro itself. Would it not be infinitely better
that the Government should have to pay the value of these prizes
even twice over--than that such calamities should not have been
averted?

But how can it be argued that the Government may be required
to restore to the enemy prizes lawfully taken in war? Is it possible
that the victors can be compelled to make humiliating terms with
the vanquished? Certainly not--unless the means by which victory
was obtained are insanely sacrificed, by permitting the squadron to
go to ruin and decay. The results which have been obtained could
not have been accomplished by any other measures than those
adopted by the wisdom of His Imperial Majesty. Is it then
justifiable, to suffer the engagements which produced such results
to be evaded and set at nought? Still more monstrous--decrees
have been passed, both by the Auditor of Marine and the Court of
Admiral