I tell you however, that it is in my power to take advantages which may be fatal to your escape, and if, after this notice, you shall sail, you must not lay anything to my charge in the destruction of passengers, for in the obscurity of night it is impossible to discriminate ships in which they may be embarked.  If, after this notice, you embark, or continue embarked, it will be to me a subject of great regret, because I have ever desired that the dangers of war should be confined to the military and naval profession.

   COCHRANE.

   To the Junta, Bahia,

To General Madeira, commanding the Portuguese troops, I wrote as follows:—­

Understanding that you are about to embark the military forces under your command, with a view to proceed to some of the Northern provinces, humanity compels me to declare to you my duty, however painful, to take all measures within my power to dismantle whatever transports may attempt to sail from Bahia under convoy of the ships of war.  That I have the means of performing this duty, in defiance of the ships of war which may endeavour to obstruct my operations, is a fact which no naval officer will doubt—­but which to you as a military man may not be so apparent.  If, after this warning, I am compelled to have recourse to the measures alluded to, and if numerous lives should be sacrificed thereby, I shall stand acquitted of those consequences which would otherwise press heavily on my mind.

   (Signed) COCHRANE.

   Gen. MADEIRA.

To the Portuguese Admiral I addressed the following note:—­

   Sir,

I have written to the Junta and the General commanding the military force, relative to particulars which I have felt it my duty to submit to their consideration.  To you, as a professional man, I have nothing to suggest or request—­but merely to express my conviction that, for the sake of humanity, you will give that professional opinion on the subject of my letters—­should they be referred to you—­which may be expected from a naval officer of your experience.

   (Signed) COCHRANE.

   The Admiral of the Portuguese Squadron.

On the 2nd of July, the whole Portuguese force, naval and military, got under weigh, and steered out—­the troops being embarked in the armed transports and large merchantmen, whilst other vessels were filled with Portuguese families and their property—­everything moveable being put on board—­with the utmost confidence in the protection of their fleet.  As only the flagship and Maria de Gloria were present, we made no attempt to attack them whilst issuing from the mouth of the river, they no doubt ridiculing my warnings as communicated to the Junta and the commanding officers.

In this, however, they were mistaken; as every thing was in readiness, both on board the flagship and the Maria de Gloria, for immediate chase, so soon as the whole were clear of the port; though I had no intention—­as they no doubt interpreted my letters—­of attacking thirteen ships of war and numerous armed transports, with two ships alone, so long as they remained within the harbour; but when once out, the superior sailing qualities of these two ships would safely enable us to harass them with impunity.