The amount of the seizures effected by the squadron was very considerable, comprising upwards of a hundred and twenty vessels, some of which contained important cargoes.  The aggregate amount of these—­together with merchandise found in the Custom-house—­Government and other public property and stores—­was several millions of dollars, and this by His Imperial Majesty’s decree of the 11th of December, 1822—­promulgated to attract foreign seamen into the Brazilian service—­was, as before mentioned, the property of the captors; the Imperial Government, by that decree, disclaiming all share in it,—­a stipulation afterwards remorselessly violated.

On the 25th of August, the province of Turi Assu sent in its adhesion to the Empire, this favourable circumstance being however counteracted by the arrival of deputies from the troops of Ceara and Piahuy, reporting their revolutionary tendency, and demanding payment for their previous service; the Piahuy troops—­consisting for the most part of Indians recruited in the interior—­even threatened to march upon Maranham and enforce their demand, although they had rendered no assistance.  The Junta, alarmed at this demonstration, now forwarded to me a request that I would appropriate some portion of the captured property to satisfy the importunity of the mutinous troops.

Considering that the tranquillity of the province in a great measure depended upon silencing these troops—­who were not only clamorous and menacing, but in a state of nakedness and destitution—­which rendered it probable that they might help themselves at the expense of the inhabitants—­I consented to the application of the Junta, placing at their disposal the monies taken in the Portuguese treasury, amounting in cash to Rs.62.560 $423 (60,560 dollars); that found in the custom-house, to the amount of Rs.54.167 $877 (54,167 dollars); and outstanding bills to the amount of Rs.147.316 $656 (147,316 dollars); making in the whole Rs.264.044 $776 (264,044 dollars):  accounts of these sums, and the urgency of their appropriation to the necessities of the public service, being duly forwarded to the Minister of Marine at Rio de Janeiro.

These sums are thus minutely set forth, because it has been erroneously represented that sixty contos of reis alone (60,000 dollars), were given up to the Junta, though reference to the vouchers themselves would have dissipated this error, which will be found to have an important bearing upon a subsequent part of the narrative.  It may be also necessary to explain how “outstanding debts” could be owing to the Government.  Contrary to the English practice of paying duties to the revenue, before goods are cleared from the custom-house, it was the habit of the Portuguese authorities to permit their clearance on receipt of bills to be paid after the goods were disposed of; hence merchants became indebted to the Government in the amount of such engagements.

It was impossible to avoid assisting the Junta, in the extremity alluded to, as the neglected troops might have caused a dangerous emeute, which would have proved injurious to the interests of His Imperial Majesty.