as their constitutional Emperor; and desiring to give your Excellency a public testimonial of gratitude for these great and extraordinary services (per estse altos e extraordinarios servicos) on behalf of the generous Brazilian people, who will ever preserve a lively remembrance of such illustrious acts, I deem it right to confer upon your Excellency the title of Marquis of Maranhao.  My Secretary of State will expedite the necessary patent which I communicate to your Excellency for your information.

   God preserve your Excellency many years.

   Palace of Rio de Janeiro, 25th of November, 1823. 
   (Signed) JOAO SEVERIANO MACIEL DA COSTA.

The annexed is the vote of thanks awarded by the "Assemblea Geral" which, as has been said, refused to recognise His Majesty’s gift of an estate in order to support in a dignified manner the title which His Majesty had graciously been pleased to confer.  The reason assigned for this extraordinary proceeding, in a lengthy debate on the subject was, that in granting me an estate His Majesty had exercised a feudal prerogative inconsistent with a free country.

The General Constituent and Legislative Assembly having been officially informed that your Excellency, after having freed the province of Bahia from the oppression of Portuguese troops, and having pursued them beyond the equinoctial line, led the squadron on your own judgment and responsibility to the port of the city of St. Louis of Maranhao, where, with your accustomed valour and singular good judgment, you dislodged the Portuguese troops, who had kept down the patriotism of its generous inhabitants, and accomplished their liberation, so that they proclaimed and spontaneously swore with unanimity their independence of Portugal and their decided union with the Brazilian empire.  The General Constituent and Legislative Assembly, acknowledging the importance of these great services has decreed in this day’s session that there shall be given to your Excellency in the name of the nation which it represents the thanks due.

   Charged as organs to transmit this resolution to your Excellency,
   we fulfil the task with pleasure, and have the honour to lay the
   same before your Excellency.

   God preserve your Excellency.

   Palace of the Assembly, Oct. 3, 1823.

   MARTIN FRANCISCO EIBEIEO DE ANDEADA,
   JOAO SEVERIANO MACIEL DA COSTA,
   MIGUEL CALMON DU PIN E ALMEIDA.

This vote of thanks by the Assembly contains a remarkable error, by averring that I “led the squadron” to Maranhao, whereas I had only a single ship, and with her singly performed all for which I received the thanks of the nation.