ogether unarmed,
for the purpose of uniting in an application for the redress
of grievances, or petitioning His Imperial Majesty on points connected
with public or private interests.

And whereas, military arms and ammunition have been obtained,
by numerous individuals on the pretext of using them for private
defence--it being essential to public tranquillity and general good
that people should have recourse to the protection of the laws, and
not to violence for their security--notice is hereby given, that all
persons in possession of such military arms are to deliver them up
to the chief military officers in their respective districts, to be
deposited in the public armoury. Whoever shall be found in
possession of arms after the termination of this present month of
November, shall be judged according to military law.

Given on board the _Pedro Primiero_ this 12th day of November,
1824.

(Signed) COCHRANE AND MARANHAO.

This proclamation is adduced in order to shew the condition of the
province on my arrival, which it does more fully than would pages of
description. To these difficulties were now added the chagrin of Bruce,
at having his military authority superseded, though his civil authority
was not only uninterfered with, but supported. Still, having the orders
of His Imperial Majesty to use my discretion in tranquillizing the
disturbed provinces, it was not my intention to permit His Majesty's
views to be frustrated by undue deference to a Governor, whose folly and
despotism combined, had been the chief cause of the disturbances, though
I well knew that the course I was pursuing, even though approved by His
Majesty, would bring down upon me the indignation of the Portuguese
faction in power at Rio de Janeiro.

The proclamation had the effect of procuring the surrender of arms to a
great extent, followed by the disbandment of all irregular forces
collected by the contending chieftains, so that apparent tranquillity
was everywhere enforced.

The great point was to establish permanent order, which, had we gone
away, would soon have been broken. As, since the reduction of
Pernambuco, there was no other field for my active services, and as I
had no instructions how to dispose of the squadron, I determined to
remain at Maranham, and employ myself in consolidating the good already
produced, till further commands from His Imperial Majesty; for having in
the preceding y