I have, &c. &c.

   COCHRANE.

   To Gen. A.A.  DE FARIA.

These instructions were promptly complied with by the Ex-Commandant, and no time was lost in providing ships for the reception of the Portuguese troops who wished to avail themselves of permission to sail for Lisbon.  This leniency was scarcely deserved, for the Portuguese authorities had filled the gaols with respectable Brazilian citizens, who were treated with great severity; but, for obvious reasons, I was desirous to get rid of the Portuguese on any terms.

The next step was to provide for the proper administration of government, and this—­from the factions which were afterwards found to exist—­was a work of infinitely greater difficulty than had been the acquisition of the city.  Some of the more influential inhabitants, however, offering their services, I formed them into a provisional Junta, until a more popular Government could be provided.

Municipal security being thus attained, the Portuguese troops were embarked, on the 1st of August, though not without some difficulty, for, from the non-arrival of my supposed fleet and army, some amongst them began to suspect that a deception had been practised, and many—­backed by the militia—­refused to embark.  Upon this, a notice was issued that if the treaty were not instantly complied with, such steps should be taken as would render unnecessary the stipulation of safe conveyance to Europe, as I was determined that a solemn engagement should not be violated with impunity.  This, as a great portion of the troops were actually on board, and within reach of the flagship’s guns, produced the desired effect on the refractory troops ashore, though not till I was compelled to send Captain Crosbie with a large party to enforce compliance and to disarm the militia, both of which objects he effected without bloodshed.

The embarkation being accomplished, and the foreign portion of the militia disarmed, so as to leave the city in the hands of the civil authorities—­on the 2nd of August, I issued a proclamation declaring the commerce of the coast free and uninterrupted; following this, shortly afterwards by another, declaratory of my willingness to accept from consignees and others, two-thirds of the estimated value of Portuguese property liable to confiscation—­in place of sending the captured vessels to Rio de Janeiro; which—­from the state of the city, as well as from want of seamen to man them—­was impossible.

To the inhabitants of the city I had been careful to accord complete liberty, exacting, in return, perfect order, which was preserved, and property of all kinds respected; the delight of the inhabitants being unbounded at having been freed from a terrible system of exaction and imprisonment, which, when I entered the river, was being carried on with unrelenting rigour by the Portuguese authorities towards all suspected of a leaning to the Imperial Government.  Instead of retaliating—­as would have been gratifying to those so recently labouring under oppression—­I directed oaths to the Constitution to be administered, not to Brazilians only, but also to all Portuguese who chose to remain and conform to the new order of things; a privilege, of which many influential persons of that nation availed themselves.