news of the recent events can be dispersed throughout the provinces, and before the discontented members of the late congress can return to their constituents—­what is the precise nature of that constitution which Your Imperial Majesty intends to bestow.

Permit me, then, humbly and respectfully to suggest to Your Imperial Majesty, as a means of tranquillising the public mind—­of averting evils at home, and preventing injurious representations abroad—­that, even before the sailing of the next packet for Europe, Your Majesty should specifically declare the nature of the government you are graciously pleased should be adopted.  As no monarch is more happy, or more truly powerful than the limited monarch of England, surrounded by a free people, enriched by that industry which the security of property by means of just laws never fails to create—­if Your Majesty were to decree that the English constitution, in its most perfect practical form (which, with slight alteration, and, chiefly in name, is also the constitution of the United States of North America), shall be the model for the Government of Brazil under Your Imperial Majesty, with power to the constituent assembly so to alter particular parts as local circumstances may render advisable—­it would excite the sympathy of powerful states abroad, and the firm allegiance of the Brazilian people to Your Majesty’s throne.

Were Your Majesty, by a few brief lines in the Gazette, to announce your intention so to do, and were you to banish all distrust from the public mind by removing from your person for a time, and finding employment on honourable missions abroad, for those Portuguese individuals of whom the Brazilians are jealous—­the purity of Your Majesty’s motives would be secured from the possibility of misrepresentation—­the factions which disturb the country would be silenced or converted—­and the feelings of the world, especially those of England and North America, would be interested in promoting the glory, happiness, and prosperity of Your Imperial Majesty.

These thoughts, hastily expressed, but most respectfully submitted to your gracious consideration will, I hope, be candidly appreciated by Your Imperial Majesty, proceeding, as they do, from the heart of

   Your Majesty’s most faithful and dutiful Servant,

   COCHRANE AND MARANHAO.

His Majesty saw good to adopt this advice in part, but in offering it—­though instrumental in establishing the political liberties of Brazil—­I had unconsciously placed myself in the position of a partisan against the powerful faction which influenced the administration, and through them every part of the empire.  My unauthorised services after the pursuit of the Portuguese fleet and army—­resulting in the annexation of the Northern provinces—­had drawn upon me the resentment of those now in power whose ultimate intentions were thus defeated.