ver put in execution. And it
is still more extraordinary, that he since refused _any pay whatever_,
to the small number of troops of the line, who are continued in
service for the preservation of the tranquillity of the city.

Since my last letters, I have been using all possible diligence to
get the remainder of the firearms out of the hands of the lower
classes of the population. Many, however, have been withheld--a
circumstance which gives additional importance to the extraordinary
fact, which I have only by accident learned--that the
Junta of Fazenda, acting under the President, issued an order
on the 6th of December (an attested copy of which is enclosed),
_authorising the sale of powder, and that too, under the false pretence
that "all motives for suspending the sale of powder had ceased."_
I have not words in which to express the astonishment I felt at this
extraordinary proceeding. I shall only add that, as soon as it
came to my knowledge, I gave orders that such sale should not be
permitted, and I have since directed the whole of the powder in the
magazines at Maranham to be embarked and deposited in a vessel
near the anchorage of the ships-of-war; by which precaution I
consider the security of the white population to be in a great
measure secured, till His Imperial Majesty shall be enabled to
take such steps as in his judgment may appear necessary.

Were I to detail to your Excellency all the facts that lead my
mind to a conclusion that this province will be entirely lost to the
empire unless a speedy remedy be applied to the evils which here
exist--it would be necessary to trespass upon you at very great
length; but as the brother of the Secretary of Government proceeds
to Rio de Janeiro by the same conveyance as this, your Excellency
and colleagues will be able to obtain from him such further information
as may satisfy your minds regarding the state of this
province.

(Signed) COCHRANE AND MARANHAO.

It was not long before I learned that in many parts troops were being
secretly organised to support the President's authority against me, but
this was met by removing from command those officers who had either
permitted or encouraged military insubordination; supplying their places
with others upon whom I could better rely.

An occurrence, however, now took place which threatened to involve
Brazil in serious diffic