ulties. From the indiscrimination of Bruce's
troops in their career of injury and plunder, some renewed outrages had
been committed on French subjects; for which the French consul required
reparation from me, as having assumed the chief authority; at the same
time again demanding passports for himself and the whole of the French
residents, in case of my intention to quit the city and leave Bruce
again in power. The British consul also forwarded additional complaints
of similar outrages against his countrymen; but, in place of requiring
reparation at my hands, he forwarded representations to his own
government, requesting protection against the acts of Bruce, at the same
time communicating the fact of these representations to me, but
declining to furnish me with a copy of his despatch, as I had no direct
appointment from the Imperial Government for the authority I was
exercising. The demands of the French consul were, however, pressing;
but I could only reply with regard to the outrages committed against
French subjects by the adherents of the President:--"I was sorry that it
was not in my power to remedy past evils; but that such steps had been
taken as would prevent their recurrence for the future."

The subjoined is one of the letters of the British Consul:--

British Consul's Office,

Maranhao, Dec. 17, 1824.

My Lord,

Understanding that your Lordship has an intention of soon withdrawing
your presence from this province, I am forced, as the official and
responsible protector of British interests in this quarter, to make
the following statement, leaving it to be proved by the facts therein
set forth that I am, by this course, adopting the only means within
my reach, of providing for the interests confided to my attention, a
satisfactory security! and that I am, by so doing, not departing from
that line of conduct which, as a neutral officer, I am bound to
observe.

By this time your Lordship must be fully aware of the violent
character and desolating effects of the late civil commotions
throughout this province. These commotions unhappily existed during a
protracted period, and whilst they were raging, the regular pursuits
of the community were either interrupted by violent party
intrigues--suspended by a barbarous warfare--or totally stopped by
merciless outrages.

Notwithstanding this disjointed state of society, and the consequent
inefficiency