I have used the freedom to say thus much to your Excellency as my friend--because I am well aware that the old cry of the Portuguese faction in Rio will be set up against me the moment they hear that I have caused the Junta of Fazenda of this province to pay a part of the amount of the money and bills taken on the surrender of the Portuguese authorities at Maranham. This, of course, though only one-fourth of the amount due, _will be represented as an outrageous robbery_; but I again say, that it is not from the Portuguese faction at Rio, that I expect either credit or justice. Their object is sufficiently evident, namely--_the expulsion of every foreign officer from the service, by means of privation and insult, in order that they may fill the ships with their Portuguese countrymen and dependents_; a result which I should lament to witness, because fraught with mischief to His Imperial Majesty and Brazil.
I feel myself much shaken in health by the great heat of the climate, and the anxiety occasioned by the peculiar circumstances in which I have been placed; all of which I might have saved myself under the plea of want of instructions, but for my desire to promote the real interests of His Imperial Majesty, by once more accomplishing that which His Majesty, in his instructions to me of the 31st of July last, was graciously pleased to describe as "_of no less importance than the integrity and independence of the Empire_."
On the 16th of March, the Junta--finding that I would not listen to any farther evasion--paid 30 contos (£.6000) in bills, and 3 contos (£.600) in silver, as the first instalment of the 106,000 dollars (£.21,200) for which the restoration of 425,000 dollars (£.85,000) had been commuted. The disbursement of this sum amongst the officers and men entitled to it, is fully narrated in the concluding chapter, containing a full statement of the disbursement of this and other monies charged against me, which statement is accompanied by vouchers fortunately retained in my possession, these placing the proper disbursement of the money amongst its rightful owners beyond doubt or question.
I QUIT MARANHAM FOR A CRUISE--BAD STATE OF THE FRIGATE--CONNIVANCE AT ILLICIT TRADE--WE ARE COMPELLED TO PROCEED TO ENGLAND--THE FRIGATE REPORTED TO THE BRAZILIAN ENVOY--WHO CHEATS ME OF £.2,000--HIS ASSUMPTION THAT I HAD ABANDONED THE SERVICE--MY CONTRADICTION THEREOF--ORDER TO RETURN TO RIO--REASONS FOR NOT DOING SO--BRAZILIAN ENVOY TAMPERS WITH MY OFFICER--WHO ACQUAINTS ME THEREWITH--ENVOY STOPS PAY AND PROVISIONS--DECLARES THAT THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE ME NOTHING!--CAPTAIN SHEPHERD'S REPLY--I PREPARE TO RETURN TO RIO--THE ENVOY DISMISSES ME FROM THE SERVICE--WITHOUT REASON ASSIGNED--HE DECLARES THAT I VOLUNTARILY ABANDONED THE SERVICE--RECEIPTS FOE ACCOUNTS TRANSMITTED TO BRAZIL--THESE DENIED TO HAVE BEEN SENT.