In consequence of what has been represented to me by the Marquis of Maranhao, First Admiral and Commander-in-Chief of the naval forces of the empire, and in consequence of the great services he has rendered, and which we hope he will continue to render to the sacred cause of Brazil, I hereby—­by the advice of my Council of State—­determine that the said Marquis of Maranhao shall be paid in full, during the period that he shall remain in the service of this empire, the whole amount of salary due to his patent; and in the case of his not wishing to continue in the service after the termination of the present war of independence, the one-half of the said pay as a pension, the same, in case of his death, being extended to his wife.

   Francisco Villela Barbosa, of my Council of State, Minister and
   Secretary of Marine, is hereby commanded to promulgate the same,
   and execute the necessary despatches.

   Given in the palace of Rio de Janeiro, the 27th of July, 1824,
   and the third of independence and the empire.

   With the Rubrica of His Imperial Majesty.

   (Signed) FRANCISCO VILLELA BARBOSA.

This decree nullified the unjustifiable portaria issued by Barbosa, limiting my services to the period of the war, which, in reality, had been ended by my expulsion of the Portuguese from Bahia and Maranham.  It recognised and established the validity of the Emperor’s original patents, of which, by the minister’s own explanation, it was a continuation, with an extension to Lady Cochrane; a boon spontaneously granted by the Emperor, as a mark of gratitude for services rendered in the preceding year.  It was, moreover, clearly left to my own option to continue in the service or to quit it on half-pay, on the termination of the war of independence.

If there was any faith to be placed in princes or ministers, nothing could be more definite or satisfactory than the preceding document, with the exception of the phrase, “in the event of his not choosing to continue therein,” which evidently contained an arriere pensee, implying, as was afterwards proved, that when I could be got rid of it would be easy to compel me to retire from the service; but even this alternative was subsequently disregarded—­though His Imperial Majesty, on my thanking him for having so far done me justice against the attempts of his Ministers—­remarked, “never mind their injustice—­they can’t deprive you of that"—­alluding to the stipulations contained in the Imperial patents, and this renewed confirmation thereof.

The concession of 200,000 dollars, as a portion of the prize money so long due to the officers and crews, was actually made to suffice, in place of an advance of wages usually given on the departure of a naval expedition; so that, in fact, the squadron was manned at its own expense! no other payment being accorded by the Government.  As His Majesty had requested that the men should not receive their money before going to sea, the squadron, with the exception of the flagship, was despatched on its voyage, the crews being satisfied—­now that the money was on board—­with my promise of payment when they should assemble at the rendezvous appointed.