To Don Agostinho Antonia de Faria, the commandant, I wrote as follows:--

Pedro Primiero, July 26, 1823.

SIR,

The naval and military forces under my command,
leave me no room to doubt the success of the enterprise in which I
am about to engage, in order to free the province of Maranham from
foreign domination, and to allow the people free choice of government
in the same manner as the inhabitants of Portugal have decided
with regard to their constitution.

Of the flight of the Portuguese naval and military forces from
Bahia you are aware. I have now to inform you of the capture of
two-thirds of the transports and troops, with all their stores and
ammunition.

I am anxious not to let loose the Imperial troops of Bahia upon
Maranham, exasperated as they are at the injuries and cruelties
exercised towards themselves and their countrymen, as well as by
the plunder of the people and churches of Bahia. It is for you to
decide whether the inhabitants of these countries shall be further
exasperated by resistance which appears to me unavailing, and alike
prejudicial to the best interests of Portugal and Brazil.

Although it is not customary amongst European nations to receive or
respect flags of truce, being armed vessels, yet as a proof that we
came here with objects far superior to the seizure of the brig of
war just released, I have paid respect to the flag, in the hope that