I humbly hope that His Imperial Majesty will perceive that, although I had no express authority to interfere in internal disputes, yet it became my duty—­on finding the province in a state of civil war—­without any General-at-Arms, or other military officer of sufficient authority or capacity, to restore public peace—­to take upon myself powers which I trust have been used for the benefit of His Imperial service.  In order that the Imperial Government may judge of my proceedings, I have the honour to enclose copies of proclamations, and other documents relative to my transactions.

   (Signed) COCHRANE AND MARANHAO.

On the 4th of December I was not a little surprised at receiving from President Bruce a letter requiring me to banish certain persons obnoxious to himself, amongst others Francisco de Moraes, who had been the first to set the example of submission to the proclamation issued on my arrival.  This most unreasonable request I refused—­writing to Bruce that dissensions were not likely to be healed by punishing those who had laid down their arms on the faith of a proclamation issued in the name of His Imperial Majesty; further assuring him that, if he did his duty, he would not find me remiss in endeavours to relieve the province and himself from the miseries and difficulties with which he had been surrounded.

On the 5th of December I had the satisfaction of receiving a deputy from Parahyba, assuring me of the perfect pacification of the town and province.  On receipt of this gratifying intelligence I transmitted to Parahyba a general amnesty, coupled with advice as to the folly “of rebelling under erroneous impressions of circumstances with regard to His Imperial Majesty, which could not come within the sphere of their personal knowledge, and hoping that, for the future, they would duly appreciate the beneficence of a sovereign who desired that his authority —­limited by the Constitution—­should be felt by his people only through the exercise of justice and benevolence.”

It was a vexatious task to be thus constantly exhorting the disaffected in the Northern provinces to confidence in the Imperial Government, because I knew that they had but too good reason to be dissatisfied—­not with the Emperor—­but with his administration, whose hopes were founded on anarchy and intrigue.  It was therefore my practice to exhort them to rely on His Imperial Majesty—­it not being within the scope of my duty to draw the distinction between the Imperial wishes and the sinister practices of those by whom His Majesty was surrounded.