I conceived a remedy would—­of necessity be applied in the ordinary course of things.  But now that a system is adopted which must very soon bring the naval service of His Imperial Majesty to utter insignificance and ruin, I can no longer abstain from calling on your Excellency as Minister of State for the internal affairs of the empire, to interfere before it is too late.

   Here follow complaints of the wretched state of the squadron—­its
   want of repairs—­the neglect of pay—­the illegal imprisonment of
   officers for months without trial and on untenable grounds, &c. &c.

By the promises held out last year of punctuality in payment, and of other rewards, foreign officers and seamen were induced to enter the service—­believing in the good faith of the Government.  The result—­in the short period that has elapsed—­has been the complete expulsion of the enemy’s forces, naval and military; all of whom would have been still in arms against the independence of Brazil, had it not been for the assistance of the foreign officers and seamen.

In the course of these important services, various captures were made and sent for adjudication to Rio de Janeiro, under the authority of His Imperial Majesty’s orders to make war on the subjects and property of Portugal.  The captures made in prosecution of the war were—­according to the engagements under which the expedition proceeded—­to be the reward of the captors in return for the benefits derived by the empire for their exertions.

Judge then, Sir, of the astonishment of the officers and seamen at finding on their return to this port eight months afterwards, that the Court of Admiralty (chiefly composed of natives of Portugal) pretended to be ignorant whether the nation was at war or peace!  Under this plea they have avoided the adjudication of the prizes—­have thrown every impediment in the way of the captors—­by giving sentences equally contrary to law, common sense and justice.

Great quantities of goods in the captured ships have decayed or wholly perished from lapse of time—­great quantities more have been stolen—­whilst whole cargoes, by the arbitrary authority of an auditor, have been given up without trial, to pretended owners, without even the decency of communication to the captors or their agents.  In short, nothing has been done in furtherance of the gracious directions of His Majesty, given on the 12th ultimo, that the prize affairs should be instantly adjusted.

It is certainly a hardship to the Portuguese gentlemen in the Court of Admiralty, to be under the necessity of condemning property that belonged to their countrymen, friends, and relations; but if they have undertaken the duties of such an office, they ought not to be permitted to weigh their private feelings against their public duty—­nor to bring upon the whole Government that character of bad faith, which has been so disgraceful, and