In consequence of the insulting conduct of the Administration, and the impossibility of obtaining compensation for the squadron, notwithstanding His Majesty’s orders to that effect, I made up my mind to quit a service in which the authority of the adverse Ministry was superior to that of the Sovereign.  Accordingly, on the 20th of March, I addressed to the Minister of Marine a letter, from which the subjoined is an extract:—­

If I thought that the course pursued towards me was dictated by His Imperial Majesty, it would be impossible for me to remain an hour longer in his service, and I should feel it my duty, at the earliest possible moment, to lay my commission at his feet.  If I have not done so before—­from the treatment which, in common with the navy, I have experienced—­it has been solely from an anxious desire to promote His Majesty’s real interests.  Indeed, to struggle against prejudices, and at the same time against those in power, whose prepossessions are at variance with the interests of His Majesty, and the tranquillity and independence of Brazil, is a task to which I am by no means equal.  I am, therefore, perfectly willing to resign the situation I hold, rather than contend against difficulties which appear to me insurmountable.  I have only to add, that it will give me extreme satisfaction to find that Your Excellency is enabled to rear an effective marine out of the materials which constituted the fabric of the old marine of Portugal—­or any Brazilian marine at all, without beginning on principles totally opposite to those which have been pursued since my return to this port.

   (Signed) COCHRANE AND MARANHAO.

This proffer of resignation was met by an assurance that I had misconstrued both the acts and intentions of the Administration, and the expression of a hope that I would not think of abandoning Brazil for which I had done so much.  The real fact was, that although the Administration was endeavouring to delay the expedition for the suppression of revolution in the North, they were afraid of its results, dreading that a republican Government might be established, as was indeed imminent.  It was only from a conviction of not being able to meet such an emergency, otherwise than through my instrumentality—­that my resignation was not accepted.

Determined to pursue the course I had now begun, I addressed the following letter to the prime minister:—­

   Rio de Janeiro, March 30, 1824.

   Most Excellent Sir,

The late Prime Minister, Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva, was pleased to express a desire that I should communicate directly with him in all extraordinary difficulties with respect to the naval service.  If I have not had recourse to your Excellency until the present juncture, it has not been from any doubt of your readiness to accord me similar indulgence, but because the evils of which I had to complain were so palpable, that