MY LORD,

I have the honour to inform your Lordship that your hopes of the union of Para to the empire of Brazil are verified.  Agreeably to your Lordship’s instructions, and in virtue of the power conferred on me, I opened the communications with the Junta, and enclose a letter from the General-at-Arms to your Lordship, and am glad to inform you that his is the only dissenting voice.  I shall pursue the tenor of your Lordship’s instructions until further orders.

   I have the honour, &c. &c.

   J. PASCOE GRENFELL.

I had directed Captain Grenfell—­in case of a declaration of independence by the inhabitants of Para—­to form a Junta, and to adopt generally the same course as had been so instrumental in preserving tranquillity at Maranham; giving him, moreover, power to employ the resources at his command in supplying the exigencies of the Imperial service generally, as might be necessary.  A Provisional Government was accordingly formed, though not to the satisfaction of a number of refractory persons, who, on the pretence of adhesion to the Imperial Government, connected themselves with a body of undisciplined troops, and made an attempt to depose the newly constituted Junta, which applied to Captain Grenfell for support.  Landing his men, the insurrection was with some difficulty put down; but as an ill feeling still prevailed, he considered it necessary to make an example by ordering the trial of five of the ringleaders, who, being condemned, were shot in the public square.

On the 9th of September, I apprised the Junta of Maranham of my intention to proceed to Para, though—­being without instructions from the Administration, I really purposed to sail for Rio de Janeiro; for as the Provisional authority temporarily established was not, by any means conducting public affairs in a satisfactory manner, I thought it as well to keep them in ignorance of our real destination, in order that they should believe me within reach, till the Imperial Government might exercise its own discretion as to the future.

The Junta of Maranham, indeed, appeared to have no other object than to shew how liberty suddenly acquired could degenerate into despotism.  It was, for the most part, composed of men, who were not only united by family connections and private friendship, but who were nearly allied, as members of one influential family.  No sooner had they been invested with power, than they dismissed all civil and military officers, and filled the vacant situations with their own friends, relations, and dependents, without consideration as to their talents or qualifications, thus equally exciting discontent amongst the Brazilians—­who were excluded, and the Portuguese—­who were dismissed.