clared by the Portuguese authorities composing
the prize tribunal at Rio de Janeiro, that that very army--which I
had thus left the means to pay--_had served disinterestedly at their
own expense, and that I was a mercenary and a robber!_ I may add,
too, that the Junta of Maranham contributed in no small degree to
this calumny, for, after they had secured the money, they refused to
give me a receipt, though the sum I had so lent for the use of the
army was, and still is, the indisputable property of the officers and
men of the ships of war who were instrumental in freeing this
province from a colonial yoke.

In short, great as is my desire to render you every service in my
power, I am not willing to interfere in matters over which I have
no express authority--because I do not like to risk the displeasure
of His Imperial Majesty, attended, as it might be, not only with
sudden dismissal from my official situation, but even with heavy
fines and imprisonment; not to mention the sacrifice of all those
pecuniary interests which I possess at Rio de Janeiro, where I have
enemies _eagerly watching for a pretence to deprive me of all to which
I have a claim_. Neither am I disposed to afford to those persons
any opportunity of giving plausibility to those calumnies which
they are ever so ready to utter, nor to be under the necessity of
placing myself on my defence before the world against their false
accusations.

I have the honour, GENTLEMEN,
&c. &c.

(Signed) COCHRANE AND MARANHAO.

The memorial of the inhabitants of Maranham was, together with other
complaints, forwarded by me to the Imperial Government, accompanied by
the following letter to the Minister of Marine:--

December 16th, 1824.

MOST EXCELLENT SIR,

My letters 278-279, will have acquainted your
Excellency of our proceedings here up to their respective dates, and
will also have afforded the Imperial Government such information
as I could collect regarding the origin and progress of the disputes
which have so unhappily prevailed.

It was my hope that--by taking their implements of war from
the hands of the contending parties, and removing the most disorderly
portion of the military--the public mind would have
subsided into tranquillity. It appears, however, that--from the
constant alarm occasioned by the "_Pedestres_," and other irregular
troops