clumsy translation of Lodoiska, without the songs. But the after-piece
excited much emotion: it was called "The Discovery of Brazil." Cabral
and his officers were represented as just landed: they had discovered
the natives of the country; and, according to the custom of the
Portuguese discoverers, they had set up their white flag, with the red
holy cross upon it, whence they had first named the land. At the foot of
this emblem they kneeled in worship, and endeavoured to induce the wild
Brazilians to join them in their sacred rites. These, on their part,
tried to persuade Cabral to reverence the heavenly bodies, and
dissension seemed about to trouble the union of the new friends, when by
a clumsy enough machine, a little genius came down from above, and
leaping from its car, displayed the new Imperial standard, inscribed
_Independencia o Morte_. This was totally unexpected in the house,
which, for an instant, seemed electrified into silence. I believe I
clapped my hands first, but the burst of feeling that came from every
part of the house was long ere it subsided. Now I know nothing so
overpowering, as that sort of unanimous expression of deep interest,
from any large body of men. It overset me; and when I ought to have been
waving my handkerchief decorously from the great chamberlain's box, I
was hiding my face with it, and weeping heartily. When the house was
quiet again, I looked at Don Pedro: he had become very pale, and had
drawn a chair close to his own; on the back of which he leaned, and was
very grave to the end of the piece, having his hand before his eyes for
some time; and, indeed, his quick feelings could not have escaped what
affected even strangers.
At the close of the piece there were loud cries of "Viva la Patria!"
"Viva o Emperador!" "Viva a Emperatriz!" "Vivaŏ os Deputados!" all
originating in the body of the house; when Martim Francisco de Andrada
stepped to the front of one of the boxes of the Deputies, and cried
"Viva o povo leal e fiel do Rio de Janeiro!" a cry that was extremely
well seconded, especially by the Emperor, and kindly taken by the
people; and so this important day ended.
_May 6th._--To-day I rode to San Cristovaŏ, through a very beautiful
country. The palace, which once belonged to a convent, is placed upon a
rising ground, and is built rather in the Moresco style, and coloured
yellow with white mouldings. It has a beautiful screen, a gateway of
Portland stone, and the court is planted with weeping willows; so that a
group of great beauty is formed in the bosom of a valley, surrounded by
high and picturesque mountains, the chief of which is the Beco do
Perroquito.[107] The view from the palace opens to part of the bay, over
an agreeable plain flanked by fertile hills, one of which is crowned by
the very handsome barracks that were once a Jesuit establishment. I rode
round by the back of the palace to the farm, which appears to be in good
order; and the village of the slaves, with its little church, looks more
comfortable than I could have believed it possible for a village of
slaves to do. The Imperial family now live entirely here, and only go to
town on formal business or occasions of state.
[Note 107: Nearly 2000 feet high.]
_May 12th._--I have been too unwell to do any thing; and only write
to-day to notice the arrival of the Jupiter frigate, with Lord Amherst
on his way to India, and the rumour that he has some official character
at this court.
_16th._--Lord Amherst and suite went to court in such ceremony as
induces people to believe he really has a diplomatic character here. The
Alacrity has arrived from Valparaiso, and has brought me some old
letters from England that have helped my sickness to depress my spirits.
'Tis after all a sad thing to be alone and sick in a foreign land! The
Doris also is arrived from Bahia. She has had no direct communication
with Lord Cochrane's little squadron; but it seems, that with his six
ships, he keeps the enemy's fleet of fifteen sail in check. The town of
Bahia is said to be in a dreadful state for want of provisions. The
slaves are daily dying in the streets. Some houses, after appearing shut
up for some days, have been opened by the police officers, who have
found the masters escaped, and the slaves dead.--Twice a day the gates
have been opened to allow the women and children to leave the town. Some
of the officers of the Doris had the curiosity to attend on one of these
occasions, and saw 500 persons, laden with as much furniture and
clothes, as in their weak hungry state they could carry, leave the city.
The little fresh provision that finds its way into the town is
exorbitantly dear. General Madeira has proclaimed martial-law in the
place; he has seized some corn and flour out of a neutral ship, and has
raised forced loans from all classes, both native and foreign.
[Illustration]
The ship has brought two or three newspapers from Bahia. As might be
expected, they breathe the most violent, and inveterate spirit against
the Imperial government, and every body employed by it; calling the
Emperor a Turkish despot, a sultan, &c., and José Bonifacio a tyrannic
vizier. Lord Cochrane, of course, does not escape; and to all old
calumnies against him, they now add that he is a coward, for which
agreeable compliments they are likely to pay dearly I should think. The
Supplement to the Idade d'Ouro of the 25th of April gives lists of the
two squadrons, drawn up for the purpose of inspiring confidence in the
Portuguese, under-rating the force of Lord Cochrane's ships, and
representing them as so ill manned,--although, according to them, the
most oppressive measures were adopted to man them,--as not to be able to
face the Portuguese. However, they have thought fit to call in all their
vessels from the Funil and other stations where they had their small
ships placed, in order to reinforce their fleet.[108] They have
published a circular letter, calling on all officers and crews to exert
themselves, promising them the destruction of the Brazilian fleet. And,
on the same day, the 24th of April, the Admiral Joaŏ Felix Pereira de
Campos, under pretence of indisposition, turns over the command to
another officer.
[Note 108: _Brazilian Ships_.
Line-of-battle ship D. Pedro I. 64 guns, really, 78 guns
Frigate Uniăo 44 do. 50
Frigate Carolina 36 do. 44
Frigate Successo[*] 36 do. 38
Corvette Maria da Gloria 32 do. 32
Corvette Liberal 22 do. 22
Schooner Real 16 do. 16
---- Nightingale 20
Total 250 guns. ----
---- 300
----
There is besides one fire-ship and one gun-boat.
Note: *(Now _Nitherohy_.)
_Ships of the Portuguese Squadron_.
Guns.
Line-of-battle ship D. Joăo 6 74 {Commandante Capităo de Fragata
{Joaquin José da Cunha
Frigate Constituiçăo 50 {Capităo de Fragata Joaquim Maria
{Bruno de Moraes.
Dita Perola 44 Capităo de Fragata José Joaquim
d'Amorim.
Corvette Princeza Real 28 Capităo Tenente Francisco Borja
Pereira de Sá.
Dita Calypso 22 Capităo Tenente Joaquim Antonio
de Castro.
Dita Regeneraçăo 26 Capităo de Fragata Joăo Ignacio
da Silveira e Motta.
Dita Dez de Fevereiro 26 Capităo de Fragata Miguel Gil de
Noronha.
Dita Activa 22 Capităo Lieut. Isidoro Francisco
Guimarăes.
Brig Audaz 20 Capităo Tenente Joăo da Costa
Carvalho.
Corvette S. Gaulter 26 1º Lieut. Graduado Manoel de
Jesus.
Corvette Principe do Brazil 26 Lieut. Antonio Feliciano
Rodrigues.
Dita Restauraçăo 26 1º Tenente Graduado Flores.
Sumaca Conceiçăo 8 2º Tenente Carvalho.
----
Total 398 guns.
----
]
These measures were adopted, in consequence of the news of Lord
Cochrane's arrival in Brazil having been conveyed to General Madeira by
His Britannic Majesty's ship Tartar, the only vessel that sailed from
Rio during the time of the embargo. We are becoming very anxious indeed
for news from His Lordship: many rumours are afloat; but as there has
been no direct communication from the squadron, they only increase the
general anxiety.
_May 17th_.--Soon after I arrived here, in March, or rather as soon as
my patient Glennie left me, I felt that, as a stranger here, and
situated as I am, I was peculiarly unprotected, and therefore I spoke to
the minister José Bonifacio, telling him my feelings; and saying, that
from the amiable character of the Empress, I should wish to be allowed
to wait on her, and to consider her as protecting me while I remain in
the empire. She accordingly promised to fix a day for me to see her; but
a severe indisposition has hitherto confined her to her room. Now, Lady
Amherst having requested to see Her Imperial Majesty, the day after
to-morrow is fixed on for the purpose; and I have an intimation that I
shall be received on the same day, as the Empress wishes not to receive
any other foreigner before me. This is polite, or rather it is more; it
is really kind.
_19th_.--Though I was suffering exceedingly this morning, I resolved
nevertheless to attend the Empress at noon, at San Cristovaŏ. I was
obliged to take a quantity of opium, to enable me to do so. However, I
arrived at the appointed time; and, as I had been desired to do, asked
for the _camarista môr_, Jose Bonifacio's sister, and was shown into the
presence-chamber, where I found that lady and Lady Amherst, Miss
Amherst, and Mrs. Chamberlain. The Empress entered shortly after, in a
handsome morning dress of purple satin, with white ornaments, and
looking extremely well. Mrs. Chamberlain presented Lady and Miss
Amherst; and Her Imperial Majesty spoke for some minutes with Her
Ladyship. After which she motioned to me to go to her, which I did. She
spoke to me most kindly; and said, in a very flattering way, that she
had long known me by name, and several other things that persons in her
rank can make so agreeable by voice and manner; and I left her with the
most agreeable impressions. She is extremely like several persons whom I
have seen of the Austrian Imperial family, and has a remarkably sweet
expression.
The corridor through which I passed from the palace steps, and the
presence-room, are both plain and handsome. As it might be called a
private audience, there were neither guards, officers, nor attendants,
excepting the camarista môr.
The Emperor is at present at his country-house of Santa Cruz; so that
San Cristovaŏ appeared like a private gentleman's seat, it was so still.
_Saturday, June 7th_.--Since the day I was at San Cristovaŏ, I have been
confined to my room, and totally unable to exert myself, either mind or
body, from severe indisposition. The Creole is come in from Bahia, to
get provisions, preparatory to going home. The Commodore has offered me
a passage in her, and has written to that purpose; but I am in no state
to embark for a long voyage. The accounts from Bahia are sadder than
ever: as to the Bahians, though favourable to the Imperial cause the
misery, of the poor inhabitants is great indeed.
_12th._--We have been for three days kept in a state of agitation, by
reports that Bahia has fallen, and various rumours attending those
reports: they all turn out to have arisen from a _russe de guerre_ of
Madeira, who contrived to despatch a small vessel to a port on the coast
for flour, pretending that it was for Lord Cochrane, and spreading that
report to cover its real purpose.
_23d._--A brig, prize to the squadron, arrived, and also the Sesostris,
a merchant ship bound to Valparaiso, on board of which were Lady
Cochrane and her family going to Chile. Thank God, by putting in here,
she has learned where Lord Cochrane is, and is thus spared the tedious
voyage, and her excellent husband much anxiety on her account.
_14th._--At length we have true news both from and of Lord Cochrane. I
wrote to Lady Cochrane, excusing myself on account of illness from going
to her, and she kindly called on me as she landed; and a few minutes
afterwards I received letters from the Admiral, and from some others in
the squadron.
As might have been expected, from the haste in which the squadron was
equipped, the ships had to encounter some difficulties at first. Some of
the sails and cordage, which had been seventeen years in store, were
found almost unserviceable; the guns of some of the ships were without
locks, as the Portuguese had not adopted them: the cartridges were
mostly made up in canvass: but the real evil was the number of
Portuguese, both men and officers, among the crews, which kept them in a
continual state of discontent, if not mutiny.
Lord Cochrane had chosen as head-quarters for the squadron, the harbour
behind the Moro of San Paulo, about thirty miles south of Bahia, and
commanding the channel behind Itaparica; a country well watered and
wooded, and in the neighbourhood of all supplies of fresh necessaries.
There is good and sheltered anchorage in from seven to twenty fathoms
water, and on the whole it was well adapted for its purpose. As soon as
it was known that His Lordship was off Bahia, the Portuguese squadron
came out, and spread itself along the shore north of the bay. Lord
Cochrane, who had waited in vain at the place of rendezvous at sea for
the two fire-ships, which he expected from Rio, had fitted one of his
small vessels, the schooner Real, as a fire-ship, and had intended to
run into Bahia on the 4th of May; when he fell in with the Portuguese
fleet, in number thirteen[109], he having with him five ships, a brig,
and the fire vessel. He instantly ran through their line, cutting off
the four sternmost ships; and had the men done their duty, nothing could
have saved the ship they were first alongside of: but they fired too
soon; and though the fire did great execution, wounding and killing
many, both on board that ship and the Joam VI., which was immediately to
the windward of the Pedro, yet the Admiral was disappointed. The slow
sailing of the Piranga and Netherohy kept them farther behind the Pedro
than their brave commanders wished; the others were forced to keep
aloof, it is said, by the conviction that their crews could not be
trusted against the Portuguese. As to the crew of the Admiral's ship,
two of the Portuguese marines went into the magazine passage, and with
their drawn swords impeded the handing up the powder. The squadrons
separated after this. Lord Cochrane determined to attack the Portuguese
again next day. Captain Crosbie, Lieutenant Shepherd, and eleven others
were wounded; but no other damage was sustained by the Imperial
squadron, while that of the Europeans had suffered much both in crews
and rigging.
[Note 109: One ship of the line, five frigates, five corvettes, a
brig, and a schooner.]
On the morning of the 5th, Lord Cochrane looked in vain for the enemy.
He had apparently been satisfied with the skirmish of the 4th, and had
taken refuge in the harbour; so that His Lordship returned to the Moro
de San Paulo, with only the satisfaction of having driven the enemy from
the open sea.
Meantime the Brazilian Imperial force that was posted behind the city,
taking advantage of the absence of the fleet, and consequently of the
two thousand seamen who served the artillery ashore, advanced from the
sitio of Brotas, where their centre was quartered, towards the town.
Madeira marched out to meet them, and an action took place entirely in
favour of the Imperialists; and it is said that the King's fleet was
recalled in consequence of this disaster.
Lord Cochrane had no sooner returned to San Paulo than he made such
provisions with regard to his squadron, as he judged most prudent for
the public service. The vessel that has arrived here has brought down
some of the ill-affected Portuguese. All, I believe, from the report of
the officer who arrived in the prize, have been dismissed from the Pedro
Primero.
Lord Cochrane has taken the officers and English seamen of the Piranga
and Nitherohy on board the Pedro, so that now he has one ship he may
depend on: he has exchanged the eighteen-pound guns of the main-deck,
for the twenty-four pounders of the Piranga, and has placed guns along
his gang-ways; and we trust the next news we have from him, we shall
learn something favourable to the cause of independence.
As far as the government here could supply every thing to the squadron
to insure its success, it was done in the most liberal manner; and the
failures, where they occurred, were owing to the peculiar circumstances
of the times and country, which admitted of no controul. That some
things should have been imperfect was to be expected: that so much
should have been done, and well done, excites admiration. But the
Emperor appreciates the brave man who commands his fleet; and while that
is the case, a difficulty as soon as felt will be obviated.
_19th_.--My health grows worse and worse. The Creole sailed to-day. I
have amused myself for two days with some English newspapers. If any
thing can rouse me to health it surely ought to be news from England.
Lord Althorp has, I see, made a spirited but ineffectual effort for the
repeal of the foreign enlistment bill; a most interesting subject in
this country: and I see with pleasure a virtual acknowledgment from the
English ministers of the independence of Spanish America.
_22d_.--This is the eve of St. John's, whereon the maidens of Brazil
practise some of the same rites as those of Scotland do at Hallowe'en,
to ascertain the fate of their loves. They burn nuts together; they put
their hands, blindfold, on a table, with the letters of the alphabet;
and practise many a simple conjuration. I think I recollect long ago, to
have seen the maid-servants of a house in Berkshire place an herb, I
think a kind of stone-crop, behind the door, calling it Midsummer men,
that was to chain the favoured youth as he entered. For me I only wish
for the _nucca_ drop of the Arab to fall this night, so I might catch
it, and be relieved from my weary sickness.
_June 26th_.--My friend, Dr. Dickson, who has attended me all this time
with unvarying kindness, having advised change of air for me, he and Mr.
May have pitched on a small house on Botafogo beach, having an upper
story, which is considered as an advantage here, the ground-floor houses
being often a little damp; and to-day Captain Willis of the Brazen
brought me in his boat to my new dwelling. My good neighbours, Colonel
and Mrs. Cunningham, try by their hospitality to prevent my feeling so
much the loss of my friends Mr. and Mrs. May, who were every thing kind
to me while at the Gloria.
Botafogo bay is certainly one of the most beautiful scenes in the world;
but, till of late years, its shores were little inhabited by the higher
classes of society. At the farthest end there is a gorge between the
Corcovado mountain and the rocks belonging to what may be called the
Sugar-loaf group, which leads to the Lagoa of Rodrigo Freites, through
which gorge a small rivulet of fine fresh water runs to the sea. Just at
its mouth, there has long been a village inhabited by gipsies, who have
found their way hither, and preserve much of their peculiarity of
appearance and character in this their trans-atlantic home. They conform
to the religion of the country in all outward things, and belong to the
parish of which the curate of Nossa Senhora da Monte is pastor; but
their conformity does not appear to have influenced their moral habits.
They employ their slaves in fishing, and part of their families is
generally resident at their settlements; but the men rove about the
country, and are the great horse-jockies of this part of Brazil. Some of
them engage in trade, and many are very rich, but still they are reputed
thieves and cheats; and to call a man _Zingara_ (gipsy) is as much as to
call him knave. They retain their peculiar dialect; but I have not been
able, personally, to get sufficiently acquainted with them to form any
judgment of the degree in which their change of country and climate may
have affected their original habits.
His Majesty's ship Beaver arrived, two days since from Bahia. It seems
that Madeira, unable to hold the place any longer, is resolved to leave
it. He is pressed to the utmost by Lord Cochrane's squadron, which cuts
off his provisions, and by continual alarms kept up on the coast, by His
Lordship's own appearance from sea, and by the preparations he is making
in the Reconcave for an attack with fire-ships and gun-boats on the
town. It is expected, therefore, that Madeira will abandon the place as
soon as he can get shipping together to embark the troops. It is
asserted even that he has fixed the day, that of San Pedro, for
evacuating the place. The following proclamation is certainly
preparatory to his doing so; but as the time must depend on
contingencies, it cannot be so certain:--
"Inhabitants of Bahia!
"The crisis in which we find ourselves is perilous, because the means of
subsistence fail us, and we cannot secure the entrance of any
provisions. My duty as a soldier, and as governor, is to make every
sacrifice in order to save the city; but it is equally my duty to
prevent in an extreme case the sacrifice of the troops that I command,
of the squadron, and of yourselves. I shall employ every means to fulfil
both these duties. Do not suffer yourselves to be persuaded that
measures of foresight are always followed by disasters. You have already
seen me take such once before: they alarmed you; but you were afterwards
convinced that they portended nothing extraordinary. Even in the midst
of formidable armies, measures of precaution are daily used; because
victory is not constant, and reverses should be provided against. You
may assure yourselves, that the measures I am now taking are purely
precautionary: but it is necessary to communicate them to you, because
if it happens that we must abandon the city, many of you will leave it
also; and I should be responsible to the nation and to the King, if I
had not forewarned you. (Signed)
"IGNACIO LUIZ MADEIRA DE MELLO.
Head-quarters, Bahia, May 28. 1823."
This proclamation increased the general alarm to the highest pitch. The
editors of even the Portuguese newspapers use the strongest language.
One of them says, "The few last days, we have witnessed in this city a
most doleful spectacle, that must touch the heart even of the most
insensible: a panic terror has seized on all men's minds," &c.[110] And
then goes on to anticipate the horrors of a city left without
protectors, and of families, whose fathers being obliged to fly, should
be left like orphans, with their property, a prey to the invaders. These
fears abated a little on the 2d of June, when a vessel entered Bahia,
having on board 3000 alquieres of farinha; and the spirits of the troops
were raised by a slight advantage obtained on the 3d over the patriots.
But the relief was of short duration. On a rigorous search there were
found in the city no more than six weeks' provisions besides those
necessary for the ships, and the General proceeded in his preparations
for quitting Brazil. He now allowed the magistrates to resume their
functions suspended by the declaration of martial-law, and produced a
letter from the King, naming five persons to form a provisional
government; and though some of them were unwilling to accept of the
office, he caused them to take the oaths, and enter directly on their
functions.
[Note 110: _Semanario Civico_ of the 5th June.]
Madeira's preparations for his departure were accelerated by an attack
made by Lord Cochrane on the night of the 12th of June, with only the
Pedro Primeiro. The Portuguese Admiral was ashore, dining with General
Madeira; when, at ten o'clock at night, a shot was heard. "What is it?"
exclaimed the latter to the messenger, who, in alarm, entered the
room.--"'Tis Lord Cochrane's line-of-battle ship, in the very midst of
our fleet."--"Impossible!" exclaimed the Admiral; "no large ship can
have come up with the ebb tide." And there was as much consternation and
as much bustle of preparation, as if the fleet of England had entered in
a hostile manner. The Pedro Primeiro was indeed close alongside of the
Constituiçaŏ; but the Admiral disdained so small a prize, and pushed on
to the Joam VI.; had he reached her, he might have carried the whole
squadron out with him; but just as he seemed on the point of doing so,
the breeze that had brought him in over the tide failed, and it fell a
dead calm: by this time every ship was in motion, the forts began to
play, and, reluctantly, the Pedro dropped out of the harbour with the
tide, untouched by the enemy.
The daring of this attempt has filled the Portuguese with astonishment
and dismay, and they are now most willing to abandon Bahia. The church
plate, and all the cash that can be collected, are believed to be on
board the British ships of war.[111]