<5artreU Imtrerattg ffitbratg 
 
 Htljara, N*w fork 
 
 BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE 
 
 SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND 
 
 THE GIFT OF 
 
 HENRY W. SAGE 
 
 1891 
 
Cornell University Library 
 JX 1543.Z7B82 
 
 The Brazil correspondence in the cases o 
 
 3 1924 007 480 191 
 
The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924007480191 
 
THE 
 
 BRAZIL CORRESPONDENCE 
 
 m THE CASES OF THE 
 
 "PRINCE OFvVALES" AND OFFICERS 
 OF THE "FORTE." 
 
 (Reprinted from the Papers laid before Parliament.) 
 
 * 
 
 WITH 
 
 AN INTRODUCTION, 
 
 TELLING SOME TRUTH ABQUT BRAZIL. 
 
THE 
 
 BKAZIL CORRESPONDENCE 
 
 m THE CASES OF. THE 
 
 "PRINCE OF WALES" AND OFFICERS 
 OF THE "FORTE." 
 
 (Reprinted from the Papers laid before Parliament.) 
 
 wraa 
 
 AN INTRODUCTION, 
 
 TELLING SOME TRUTH ABOUT BRAZIL. 
 
 WILLIAM EIDGWAY,; '169 PICCADILLY, W. 
 
 MDCCCIiXIII. 
 
A 57^^ 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The following correspondence has been reprinted in.the hope 
 that a knowledge of the pure truth as to the recent questions 
 with Brazil may be thus more widely diffused. The paid 
 puffers of Brazil and lacqueys of its Legation have had it too 
 much their own way in the English press, and with the 
 general public. It is time that some truth about the 
 Brazilian Government should be told in support of the energy 
 with which Lord Eussell has lately endeavoured to bring 
 Brazil to proper conduct, and his firmness in a tone best 
 suited for the true, large, permanent interests of British 
 commerce, a ad for ensuring in the end stable relations of 
 friendship. 
 
 When the news of the difference with the Brazilian 
 Government first reached England, in the beginning of 
 February, the public were taken by surprise. There is a 
 general ignorance about South American Governments in 
 England, and a general indifference to Brazil, except among 
 those connected with that country by commerce or specu- 
 lation. . There is no trustworthy English book on Brazil, 
 written by any intelligent independent person who has lived 
 long enough in that country to know it. The American 
 work, " Brazil and the Brazilians," by Kidder and |JLetcher, 
 is an elaborate fulsome puff of Brazil which has done much 
 mischief. 
 
 Not the least of this mischief is its having deceived the 
 "Quarterly Beview," whose article on the Brazilian Empire 
 
IV 
 
 (October, I860,) written by a person who bad evidently 
 never been in Brazil, and bad "gotup"tbe subject from 
 books, chiefly Kidder and Fletcher's work, and French 
 publications of M. Charles Eeybaud, a busy writer in the 
 Brazilian interest, with perhaps some aid from the Brazilian 
 Legation itself, has done much harm in creating a general 
 false impression that Brazil is excellently governed. 
 
 Such a statement as the following is simply ridiculous to 
 one who knows Brazil and the Brazilian Government, and is 
 a puff in the style in which the Brazilians continually puff 
 themselves, very unworthy of a periodical of the high literary 
 character of the " Quarterly Beyiew." 
 
 "In striking contrast to the greater portion of the territory 
 that once formed the colonial Empire of Spain, there stands out in 
 grand proportions, and as an almost solitary exception to the 
 general political degradation of the South American continent, one 
 country which the constitutional statesmen of Europe, and the 
 free people of England, can regard with almost unqualified 
 satisfaction." 
 
 Here is another similar puff. 
 
 "But in Brazil the action of Government is now as steady, and 
 almost as regular, as that of the ordinary laws of nature." 
 
 Some statements which will follow as to the corruption of 
 Judges #in Brazil, are .the best commentary on the innocent 
 Keviewer's account of the administration, of justice: — 
 
 "The dispensation of justice, although, perhaps, not so perfect, 
 or free from all suspicion of corruption as that of England, is 
 conducted with becoming solemnity, and is on the whole said to 
 be satisfactory." 
 
 Mr. Layard stated in the House of Commons, on March 6, 
 that a letter had lately fallen into the English Minister's 
 hands, written by an influential official, calling on the Judge 
 in a suit .in which an Englishman, Mr. Beeves, was a party, 
 to. decide against Mr. Beeves. The Solicitor-General con- 
 firmed this statement with the additional remark that the 
 
Brazilian Government declared there was nothing unusual in 
 such a proceeding. • This incident ■ is referred to by Mr. 
 Christie in a despatch to Earl Eussell : 
 
 " Your Lordship may think we are in a position fairly to sug- 
 gest to the Brazilian Government that, while the canvassing of a 
 Judge in a suit pending before him against an Englishman by a 
 high official in the Ministry of Justice, is passed over without 
 notice, Her Majesty's Government cannot he expected to assign 
 great value to any legal proceedings in Brazil." (November 6, 
 1862, p. 204.) 
 
 The Beviewer's remarks on religion and religious toleration 
 in Brazil are a specimen of such nonsense as a man must 
 write, who is determined to praise and does not know his 
 subject. 
 
 " The principle on which the Boman Catholic system is based 
 is altogether abjured in Brazil Beligious toleration is one of the 
 fundamental principles of the Constitution. All have full and 
 entire liberty to profess and exercise any religion whatever, and to 
 erect religious edifices, with the single restriction that they must 
 
 not have steeples and bells At one remarkable 
 
 crisis a complete separation from Borne was imminent, which 
 would have been hailed, it is believed, with general satisfaction by 
 the people ; there cannot be a doubt that the ties which bind this 
 great country to the Papacy are now of the slightest character; and 
 might, with very little provocation, be snapped asunder in arday. 
 The Emperor, in imitation of the piety or custom of his predeces- 
 sors, walks bareheaded, with a taper in his hand, in the procession 
 in honour of St. George, and it is not probable that his subjects 
 will cease to find their gratification in religious displays while they 
 are thus countenanced by their Sovereign's presence. These fes- 
 tivals appear to be regarded in Brazil rather as popular festivities 
 than as religious observances. The clergy endeavour to make them 
 as attractive, and therefore as profitable, as they can. We have 
 seen ah ecclesiastical advertisement announcing that 'brilliant 
 horse-racing' will terminate the solemnities of the day ; but the 
 religion of the Church of Borne has' no. root in the land; the 
 priesthood are said to be diminishing year by . year, and .to have 
 
VI 
 
 been recently so reduced in number that the Government was 
 under the necessity of sending to Italyfor a supply to keep up th e 
 regular ministrations of the Church. We cannot but regard it as 
 an auspicious fact that the reformed faith, aB made known to the 
 western continent, was first proclaimed, under the Dutch regime, 
 within the territory of Brazil." 
 
 But this wonderful auspicious fact notwithstanding, there 
 are probably not fifty Brazilian Protestants in existence, and' 
 the state of things so complacently described by the Eeviewer 
 as satisfactory,, is nothing more nor less than decay of religious 
 feeling. Where is the merit of the mummeries which the 
 Emperor leads " in imitation of the piety or eustom, of his 
 predecessors," and of the religious observances regarded as 
 " popular festivities," and" capped by " brilliant horse- 
 racing ? " The Pope's influence may have dwindled ; but the 
 Eeviewer does not say that religion or morality grows. It 
 is also difficult to appreciate the religious toleration, so 
 delightful to the Eeviewer, which excludes "steeples and 
 bells." Such nonsense as this was probably never found in 
 a work of the literary pretensions of the "Quarterly 
 Eeview." The Brazilian clergy are notoriously immoral; 
 there is little religion in the. country and much bigotry and 
 intolerance. "Within the last two years in Ek>de Janeiro a 
 house in which Protestant worship was conducted by an 
 exemplary Englishman, and to which a few Brazilians were 
 known to resort, was surrounded and stoned, and the lives 
 of the worshippers imperilled by a Brazilian mob ; and 
 there was very little zeal shown for repression or punishment 
 by the Brazilian authorities. "Within the last two years also 
 the Custom-house authorities of Eio de Janeiro refused 
 entry to Protestant tracts, for 'no other reason than that their 
 doctrine was offensive to the religion of the State. The' 
 tribunal of the Treasury justified the exclusion of these 
 tracts ; and it was only under the pressure which has been 
 brought to bear on the Brazilian Government on the qu£&; 
 t'ions of the' " Prince of "Wales " and the " Forte," that they 
 
at last yielded to the remonstrances of the British Legation, 
 previously unheeded, and the tracts have been admitted. 
 His, by the way, is one proof of the good effects of Lord 
 Eussell's measures. At this moment the Brazilian authorities 
 are in dispute with the German Protestants in Petropolis, 
 requiring them to remove from the outside of a Protestant 
 place of worship just built representations of a Bible and 
 Crosses, — outward signs objected "to by the Government of a 
 country in which, according to the "Quarterly Beview," 
 "religious toleration is one of the fundamental principles of 
 the Constitution," and which, according to the same high 
 authority, "the constitutional statesmen of Europe and the 
 free people of England can regard with almost unqualified 
 satisfaction." 
 
 The Beviewer takes care not to mention the compulsion 
 from England under which the Brazilian Government have 
 suppressed the slave trade, nor does he even allude to the 
 long struggle of English Ministers with bad faitlj and " sub- 
 terfuges, evasions, and unfounded assertions" which preceded 
 the compulsory suppression. He also glides most gently 
 over slavery in Brazil : — ■ 
 
 " The traffic was carried on with more or less activity until the 
 year 1850, when measures were adopted for its suppression ; and it 
 is gratifying to be able to add that no Government could have 
 acted with better faith than that of Brazil in its efforts to com- 
 pletely put an end to it The moral aspect of 
 
 slavery, as it still exists in Brazil, is in striking contrast to that of 
 the United States. In the one it is an admitted evil to be got rid 
 of as speedily as possible ; • in the other it is an ' institution ' iden- 
 'tified, in the opinion of a large party, with the interests and pror 
 sperity of the country. It is probable that before many generations 
 have passed away slavery will cease to exist in Brazil ; it exists now 
 in a very mitigated form." 
 
 In the Slave Trade Correspondence, class B, presented to 
 Parliament in 1862, p. 63, there is printed a despatch from 
 Her Majesty's Minister in Brazil, commenting on the state- 
 
Vlll 
 
 ments of the " Quarterly Review " about slavery. Mr. Christie 
 says,— 
 
 "There is no such law as is stated by the Reviewer, giving the 
 slave a right to appear at any time before a magistrate, "have his 
 price fixed, and buy his freedom. This is a complete mistake. 
 Slavery may be, and I believe is,' with a considerable number of 
 enlightened and respectable men in Brazil • an admitted evil/ but 
 as your Lordship will have learnt from previous reports of mine, 
 there are no signs whatever, at present in Brazil, of abolition of 
 slavery, and there is no disposition even to entertain measures for 
 mitigating its acknowledged evils, or for preparing for ultimate 
 abolition. And slavery in Brazil certainly is, what the Reviewer 
 says that it is not, ' an institution identified, in the opinion of 
 a large party, with the interests and prosperity of the country.' It 
 would not certainly be inferred from the Reviewer's account of 
 slavery in Brazil, that there are more than 3,000,000 of slaves in a 
 population of from 7,000,000 to 7,500,000." 
 
 Mr. Christie reported, in 1860, 1861, and 1862, a proposal 
 made in. the Brazilian Senate to prohibit the public sales of 
 slaves by auction, and the separation, in sales, of husband 
 from wife, and' children from parents. The proposal has been 
 thrice rejected. 
 
 In the Slave Trade Correspondence B, presented this year, 
 p. 112, is a despatch from Mr. Christie on an internal slave- 
 trade between the Brazilian Provinces, showing that nearly 
 forty thousand have ' been deported by sea alone from the 
 Northern Provinces to Rio during, the last ten years and a 
 half. Mr. Christie says,: — 
 
 " This number does not comprise the slaves who may have come 
 with their masters, and been afterwards sold in this Province, or 
 those who may have been sent by land. In most of the northern 
 Provinces heavy duties, from 100 to 200 milreis (10Z. to 20Z.) a 
 head have been imposed on export of slaves. To evade these duties 
 many have been sent by land, the journeys being sufficiently toil- 
 some. These slaves have been principally absorbed in the coffee 
 plantations of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Geraes, and some have gone 
 
IX 
 
 to St. Paul's. There can be no doubt that this internal slave 
 traffic involves the cruelties of forced removal from home and 
 separation of families. Attempts have been made on one or two 
 occasions by independent members of the Legislature to obtain 
 the prohibition of this internal traffic, which they have denounced 
 as resembling in iniquity the foreign slave trade. But the general 
 Legislature has never done anything in the matter. 
 
 Mr. Baillie, Charge" d'Affaixes, writes to Earl Russell 
 December 6, 1861 : — 
 
 " The external slave trade has undoubtedly ceased There has 
 been, I believe, no attempt to land slaves on the shores of Brazil 
 for several years, and it is frequently said that a renewal of the 
 traffic is impossible. This may turn out to be quite true ; but 
 how far the impossibility arises from any real aversion to slavery 
 or sense of its moral wrong, or of the debasing influence it exer- 
 cises wherever instituted, is quite another question,. and I much 
 fear that the feeling of a very large class in Brazil is rather a 
 sullen acquiescence in a state of things which, owing to external 
 pressure and public opinion and other causes, cannot be helped, 
 than from any conviction of the evils of the old system of negro 
 importation." 
 
 Enough has probably been said by this time to show the 
 untnistwortbiness of the praises of the " Quarterly Review." 
 The animus of the Reviewer, or rather of those whose mis- 
 statements he has unsuspectingly taken, and his own igno- 
 rance of the subject are strikingly shown by a passage on 
 the relations of Brazil with the Argentine Republic. The 
 Reviewer states : — 
 
 " The attitude of the Argentine Confederation towards Brazil, 
 under the Presidency of Urquiza, was one of hostility, and an in- 
 cipient war between the two states was stopped by the mediation 
 of England and France. It was the avowed policy of this un- 
 scrupulous man to form a combination of Spanish American States 
 against Brazil, and to wrest from it a considerable portion of its 
 territory.'' 
 
 There is only one answer to all this, Mr. Burchell's short 
 
 b 
 
one on the " Vicar of Wakefield,"— Fudge. There was no 
 " incipient war," no " mediation," no such policy on the part 
 of- that " unscrupulous man," Urquiza. 
 
 It is not of course to be supposed fox one moment, and the 
 writer would not dream of insinuating, that this unfortunate 
 article of the " Quarterly Eeview " is to be ascribed to cor- 
 rupt motives. The Eeviewer doubtless believed all he wrote ; 
 knowing nothing himself, he blindly trusted to interested 
 information. Credit must be given him for having worked 
 up with much cleverness the bad materials by which he has 
 been imposed upon. 
 
 The article in the " Quarterly Eeview " is not a solitary re- 
 markable result of systematic e'fforts made by the Brazilian 
 Government, for a series of years, with much expenditure of 
 money, and with much adroitness, not only in England, but 
 also in France, Germany, and other countries of Europe, and 
 in North America, to create a reputation which is not borne 
 oxit by their acts at home. Money is not wanting, and . it is 
 used-: freely. In the last budget a sum exceeding 18.000Z. 
 was voted for " secret service and suppression of slave trade," 
 and a similar sum is voted annually. There is no slave trade 
 now to suppress, and this sum is for secret- service. Foreign 
 writers "of books favourable to Brazil are paid handsomely. 
 It is a chief business of every Brazilian Legation to acquire 
 as much influence as possible with newspapers, and get 
 puffing articles and paragraphs inserted wherever they can. 
 In Paris, Berlin, and Lisbon there are literary hacks in the 
 service of Brazil. In Berlin a great object is to attract 
 German emigrants, and the Brazilian Legation there is a 
 central office for working the German press in praise of 
 Brazil as a field for colonization and in disparagement of the 
 Eiver Plate countries. 
 
 The University of Oxford conferred last year, at the Com- 
 memoration, an honorary doctor's degree on the Brazilian 
 Minister, M. Moreira, and another, at the same time, on 
 Lord Palmerston. If this honour was worthy of Lord 
 
Palmerston, it is very difficult to see how M. Moreira could 
 be worthy of it. It is believed that it was intended as a 
 compliment, not to M. Moreira, but to the Brazilian Govern- 
 ment, and that it was a tribute to their suppression of the 
 slave trade, which, it was probably not known at Oxford* 
 was brought about chiefly by compulsion of Lord Palmerston, 
 who is a constant and special object of Brazilian hatred, and 
 of abuse in the Brazilian newspapers. This again is an 
 ultimate result of long and adroit agitation by Brazil in its 
 own praise, the success of which has been aided by the 
 general .indifference to Brazilian affairs, and- consequent 
 general ignorance about Brazil. ■ It could uot be supposed 
 for a moment that the University of Oxford acted knowingly 
 or directly under corrupt influences, any more than that it 
 could have wished to diminish the honour, which it offered to 
 Lord Palmerston. 
 
 It is a very remarkable circumstance that two liberal news- 
 papers, the Daily News and the Star, both vehement against 
 the Confederate States in North America on account of 
 slavery, have been the most eager defenders and protectors of 
 Brazil against their own government, and have acted in the 
 late questions as organs of the Brazilian Legation. How can 
 this be accounted for with newspapers of their opinions and 
 antecedents, closely connected with honourable and liberal 
 politicians, except by their having placed mistaken confidence 
 in information of parties whose interested motives they have 
 not suspected ? The editors of the Daily News arid .the Star, 
 who have hitherto appeared to consider that the Brazilian 
 Government is immaculate .and must always be right, and 
 that the English Government is necessarily wrong if it com- 
 plains of Brazil, would do well to study the. information as 
 .to slavery in Brazil constantly given by the Correio Mercantil 
 of Eio de Janeiro, and that annually supplied to Parliament 
 in the Slave Trade Blue-books, Class B. 
 
 The last of these Blue-books, just laid before Parliament, 
 contains, in continuation of preceding publications, much 
 
xu 
 
 correspondence, showing the bad faith of the Brazilian 
 Government and their persevering refusal to attend to the 
 representations of the English Government relative to free 
 Africans, calculated to be about ten thousand in all, who 
 have been consigned to the care of the Brazilian Government 
 under treaty, and on a guarantee of freedom, but who are ill- 
 treated and kept in slavery, and the Brazilian Government 
 will give no information. 
 
 The following are extracts from the correspondence pre- 
 sented to Parliament in 1863 : — 
 
 " If the statements contained ' in this article are well founded, 
 Which would' appear from Mr. Baillie's despatch to be the case, 
 the Brazilian Government has undoubtedly broken faith both with 
 these emancipated blacks and with her Majesty's Government, 
 under whose auspices, conjointly, with that of Brazil, the negroes 
 adjudicated upon by the mixed British and Brazilian Commission 
 were emancipated." (Earl Russell to Mr. Christie, Feb. 6. 1862.) 
 
 " Your Lordship may, I think, consider it abundantly proved 
 by- the long correspondence on this subject from Mr. Hudson's 
 time to mine, that the Brazilian Government have not fulfilled 
 their obligations as to these free blacks, and that they have treated 
 evasively, all demands of her Majesty's Government even for 
 inquiry and information. The conduct of the Brazilian Govern- 
 ment at)©ut the free blacks is not to their honour, and is such as 
 to throw doubt on the singleness and purity of their motives in 
 the abolition of the slave trade. Your Lordship will, I hope, now 
 excuse me for suggesting that the conduct of the Brazilian 
 Government about the free blacks furnishes an answer, if her 
 Majesty's Government desire to use it, to the Brazilian complaints 
 that notwithstanding the entire cessation of the slave trade, the 
 Aberdeen Act remains unrepealed, And another similar answer may 
 be derived from another question, which I brought to your Lord- 
 ship's notice in my despatch of May 24, 1861, the number of 
 slaves in Brazil, imported since 1831 in violation of law and 
 treaty, and still held in slavery, without any effort or interference 
 of the Brazilian authorities to terminate their illegal bondage." 
 (Mr. Christie to Earl Russell, May 3, 1862.") 
 
xm 
 
 " I again take occasion to say that I have yet received no answer 
 to the note which I wrote by instruction from your Lordship so, 
 far back as March 18, 1861, asking for information about these 
 free Africans, and to which I urgently recalled the attention of 
 the Government, in my note to Senhor Taques of April 17. It 
 should be to be presumed that the Government have kept a libt of 
 tiie free Africans, and of the private persons and public establish- 
 ments to which they have been assigned for service ; and it' seems 
 extraordinary that, at the end of eighteen months, they should be 
 yet unable to furnish Her Majesty's Government with a list of 
 those still living and in service, dead, or emancipated." (Mr. 
 Christie to Earl Russell, September 30, 1862.) 
 
 It is a matter of notoriety that the Brazilian Government 
 have an active agent in this country, Mr. W. H. Clark, 
 formerly Registrar of the Great Northern Railway, a mem- 
 ber of the Reform Club, paid correspondent of the chief Rio 
 de Janeiro newspaper, the Journal do Commercib, and writer 
 in the Daily News, and other newspapers. He is practically 
 a member of the Brazilian Legation. 
 
 Mr. Clark, paid correspondent of the Journal do Gommercio, 
 wrote on the 8th of February to that Journal as follows, 
 about the articles in the Daily News. 
 
 " The Times, mistaken in many of • its facts as to this event, 
 taking for granted that the Under Secretary of State spoke truth 
 in saying that English sailors had been assassinated, and, anxious 
 to protect the Cabinet at the beginning of the session by warding 
 off all serious questions, defends the proceeding. .... The 
 Daily News, better informed on the subject and on Brazilian 
 affairs generally, and without allowing its friendship for Earl 
 Russell to prevent it from speaking the truth, censures the whole 
 
 of Mr. Christie's conduct Unfortunately the Times, 
 
 ■having no correspondent in Rio de Janeiro, was not so well in- 
 formed as the Daily News, and published on the 5th an inaccurate 
 and stupid article." 
 
 It is Mr. Clark's business* to get as much . defence and 
 praise of Brazil as possible inserted in the English news-- 
 
xiv 
 
 papers ; and all the puffing paragraphs and articles which 
 appear are transmitted by him twice a month to the Journal 
 do Commercio, where they are translated in full for the Bra- 
 zilian public. The penny-a-liners have lately been very busy 
 under his direction in " remarking " that M. Moreira's 
 absence from levees was " remarked," and in recording the 
 numbers who attended His Excellency-at the railway station 
 on his departure : and these inspired paragraphs will be duly 
 reported to Kfo de Janeiro to make the Brazilian public 
 believe that M. Moreira's departure has greatly agitated the 
 English people, and that there is here general sympathy 
 with Brazil and general disapproval of the English govern- 
 ment. ' 
 
 The following are a few specimens of the many gross mis- 
 representations which have ' appeared in the -Daily News on 
 the subject of the reprisals in Brazil. It is impossible to 
 suppose that the highly respectable editor of that respectable 
 newspaper can have been aware of the falsehoods which he 
 was Tielping to circulate, falsehoods so easily exposed by 
 reference to the published correspondence, or that he can 
 have had a suspicion of the bias by which such misrepresen- 
 tations may"be explained. 
 
 " The correspondence shows that Earl Eussell in issuing instruc- 
 tions to Mr. Christie, expressly gave him authority to make another 
 reference to Her Majesty's Government concerning the response 
 that might be made to his ultimatum before resorting to reprisals, 
 and that. Mr. Christie, concealing that authority from the. Marquis 
 of 'Abrantes, preferred the abuse to the use of those instructions." 
 (Daily News, February 23.) 
 
 Malicious lying could not go further than this in mis- 
 representation. Earl Eussell instructed Mr. Christie as 
 follows, November 4th, 1862. " Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment are very reluctant to proceed to extreme measures 
 against Brazil but as a last resource, and any proposal on her 
 part for arbitration on the questions at issue may be referred 
 
XV 
 
 to Her Majesty's Government." (p. 198). That is, Mr. 
 Christie was told that he might, not must, refer to Her Ma- 
 jesty's Government any proposal made by the Brazilian 
 Ministry for arbitration. They made none. Mr. Christie 
 was not told to refer any and every answer to Her Majesty's 
 Government, and he was not told to communicate to the 
 Marquis of Abrantes the readiness of Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment to consider a proposal of arbitration. That would have 
 been equivalent to telling him to propose arbitration himself. 
 Mr. Layard observed in his speech, March 6th : " It was not 
 for the party who demanded redress, but for the party of 
 whom it was asked, to offer arbitration." 
 
 " Brazil has submitted to pay under protest such damages as 
 the Foreign Office may assess, and that submission under duresse 
 Mr. Christie with, a perversion of all sense of justice and moral 
 sense warned the Brazilian Government might aggravate the 
 amount of the assessment. Lord Russell, however, gave no sanction 
 to this monstrous doctrine of Mr. Christie, but practically rebuking 
 his .extravagance and spite, tells him, ' the sum to be fixed as in- 
 demnity will be based upon the most accurate estimate that Her 
 Majesty's Government can form.' " {Daily News, February 23.) 
 
 It is clear from the correspondence that Mr. Christie never 
 said anything of the sort to the Brazilian Government, and 
 that Lord Bussell has only done what Mr. Christie left to his 
 Lordship to do. Mr. Christie having urged the Brazilian 
 Government to refer the questions of their .responsibility and 
 of the amount of indemnity in the " Prince of Wales " case 
 to arbitration, and the Brazilian Government declining to do 
 so, and preferring to pay under protest, Mr. Christie wrote to 
 the Marquis of Abrantes : . 
 
 "The fores of a protest against responsibility cannot, I think,- 
 but be weakened by a refusal to submit the point to arbitration ; 
 but at any rate Her Majesty's Government cannot be open to any 
 imputation of indelicacy in taking on themselves to fix, as they 
 are requested to do, the amount of compensation." (January 5, 
 1863, p. 286.) 
 
XVI 
 
 Mr. Christie himself thus explains to Earl Russell that he 
 proposed to leave it to his Lordship to give the sum : — 
 
 " The Brazilian Government had declared their readiness to pay 
 immediately under protest whatever sum Her, Majesty's Govern- 
 ment might demand. I voluntarily proposed that they should 
 oblige themselves to pay whatever Her Majesty's Government 
 might demand- I was not able myself to fix the sum, and could 
 only have named a sum large enough to cover all contingencies, 
 which would have been invidious, and I wished to show perfect 
 confidence in the honour of the Brazilian Government on this 
 •point." (January 8, 1863, p.*232.) 
 
 There does not seem any extravagance or spite in this. 
 
 "A deep censure on Mr. Christie's note as to the Forte is in- 
 volved in this reference to the King of the Belgians. For so con- 
 fident in the justice- of its case in that matter did the Brazilian 
 
 Government feel, that it proposed to constitute the 
 
 British Government itself the arbitrator to judge and decide on 
 the whole case. But that did not suit Mr. Christie, he rejected 
 the proposed reference to his own Government. ■ . . . . He re- 
 sorted to reprisals, and .then, -when effectually frightened by the 
 
 storm his conduct had raised he accepted the arbitration 
 
 of another government on a single point of the case." {Daily 
 News, February 23.) 
 
 The Brazilian Goverment did not propose to make the 
 English' Government arbiter ; they proposed to instruct their 
 Minister in London to treat the question with the English 
 Cabinet. If the Brazilian Government had said that their 
 Minister would be instructed to agree to whatever the 
 English Government demanded, the question would have 
 been at- once settled, but this of course they did not say. It 
 is painful to see in a paper of the reputation of the Daily 
 News statements which must be ascribed either to extreme 
 stupidity or malicious falsehood. Some of these statements 
 have been reproduced in the Star and Morning Herald with 
 suspicious similarity. 
 
XV11 
 
 ' Who of us, we ask Lord Eussell, can trade safely with Brazil 
 or any other country, who can buy Brazilian or foreign bonds of 
 any kind, who can with common prudence invest his money in 
 the railway shares of small and defenceless states, — with great 
 Powers it is another and a very different matter, — if mines like this 
 are to be sprung under his feet by his own government." (Daily 
 News, February 2.) 
 
 Eailway shares, Brazilian bonds, there's the rub ! It would 
 evidently be more prudent to hold securities of Great Powers. 
 Traders and speculators with. weak ill-governed countries 
 take all the risks and look for higher profits. The general 
 interest clearly is that Her Majesty's Government should 
 make Brazil respect English "rights and conduct herself with 
 justice and courtesy towards England, and the traders and 
 speculators should aid tbeir own government instead of siding 
 with Brazil for their own temporary individual interests. A 
 few interested puffers make a great noise, mislead Brazil, and 
 encourage her in wrong : the puffs are all sent out to Brazil, 
 where they are mistaken for the public voice of England 
 
 The Morning Herald has lately accused Lord Eussell of 
 having "waged war on Brazil on account of three drunken 
 seamen and the opening of some boxes cast . on shore by a 
 shipwreck." If these shameful words had appeared in one 
 of the Brazilian newspapers, no one would have been 
 astonished, but that they should be deliberately written in 
 the leading columns of a newspaper which is an organ of 
 Lord Derby's party makes one almost blush for England. Of 
 the transaction, described as a mere " opening of some boxes 
 cast^n shore by a shipwreck," Viscount Palmerston, the 
 Prime Minister of England, speaking in the House of Com- 
 mons with all the responsibilities of his position and reputa- 
 tion, has said, — ; 
 . " Though we have no positive evidence on the subject, we have 
 reason to believe that the crews landed on the beach, and though 
 carrying arms for the protection of themselves and their property, 
 were overpowered by the people of the district, who with lassos 
 
XV111 
 
 dragged them from their shelter, and then murdered them in a bar- 
 barous and inhuman, manner. The Government have no evidence 
 to enable them to assert that as a positive fact, but I believe it is 
 exactly what happened." 
 
 Mr. Bramley Moore, whose motion was ignominiously 
 negatived without a division, chose to impute unworthy, 
 motives to Mr. Vereker. 
 
 " Mr. Vereker took his own view of everything, nor would he 
 admit the facts laid before him by the Brazilian authorities; in 
 short, he would believe nothing that did not suit the purpose he 
 had in view, to vindicate himself and pick a quarrel with the 
 authorities of the country." (March 6, 1863.) 
 
 Has it not occurred to this- modest and clever patriot that 
 similar language -may be applied to him ? Might it not be 
 said that Mr. Bramley Moore would believe nothing that did 
 not suit the objects he had in view, to vilify Mr. Vereker 
 and Mr. Christie, make a great man of himself, and ' curry 
 favour with the Brazilian authorities ?' Mr. Moore has a house 
 of business in Rio, and it is natural that he should wish to 
 stand well with the Brazilian Government. It is notorious 
 that the house of Moore and Co. in Rio sell their goods 
 among the Brazilians at twelve months' credit, and renew 
 their credits at 1 per cent, per month interest, and that they 
 have outstanding debts of two or three hundred thousand 
 pounds. Does this make Mr. Bramley Moore a disinterested 
 judge of the actions of public servants, who,, in the perform- 
 ance of their duties, may render the recovery of his debts 
 precarious ? Lord Palmerston, as usual, hit the naii on the 
 head in answering Mr. Moore : — 
 
 " It happens that the custom of trade in Brazil is such, that 
 those persons who trade there have always large sums due to them 
 by the Brazilian merchants. It is possible that, entirely distrust- 
 ing the Brazilian Government, some of those British merchants 
 may have thought- that those disputes might place their .debts in 
 danger, and that, while on the one. hand, they were glad, the British 
 
XIX 
 
 Government had adopted measures such as would secure them 
 against future dangers, on the other they may have thought it con- 
 venient to find fault with -the British Government on account of 
 measures which in truth they were very glad- to see adopted (A 
 laugh, and hear, hear.) That I believe to be the- case, but un- 
 doubtedly a great majority of those merchants approved of what 
 Mr. Christie had orders to do." (May 7, 1863.) 
 
 It is clear from the following passage of Mr, Layard's 
 speech in the House of' Commons on March 6, that the 
 English Government have many and long-standing causes of 
 complaint against that of Brazil, and that there is a general 
 indisposition in the Brazilian Government to do what is 
 right, which has at last compelled Lord Bussell to act 
 severely. Mr. Christie says in a despatch to Earl Bussell 
 December 8, 1862 :— 
 
 " Your Lordship will not have failed to perceive from my late 
 despatches, including several which will- have reached you since 
 the last instructions before me were penned, that the general pro- 
 ceedings of the Brazilian Government are most unsatisfactory, and 
 show a great indisposition to do justice, and I anticipate much 
 benefit for British interests in Brazil from the lesson which may 
 now be administered, and may teach them that Per Majesty's 
 Government, though patient and forbearing, will not in the end 
 allow themselves to be trifled with." (P. 206.) 
 
 Mr. Layard said, — 
 
 "There were claims on the Brazilian Government to the extent 
 of about 350,0007. His hon. friend (Mr. Seymour Fitzgerald) just 
 now said that the present government had broken up the Com- 
 mission that was to inquire into those claims, but his hon. friend 
 must have certainly known the true history of that transaction. 
 The Brazilian Government brought forward claims which had been 
 finally settled by Mixed Commission Slave Trade Courts ; the 
 English Government could not consent to these cases being re- 
 opened, and as the Brazilians would not hear of anything else till 
 these claims were admitted, the British Government were com- 
 pelled to break up the Commission. The English Government 
 
XX 
 
 would have been only too glad to settle this large amount of claims, 
 some of which had been pending for forty years. "What happened 
 onlyfour or five years ago, and still formed the subject of corre- 
 spondence between the two Governments 1 Without rhyme or 
 reason, a treble tax was imposed on British commercial houses in 
 Bahia (hear, hear) ; that enactment was still in existence, though it 
 had not been acted on recently ; many calls had been fruitlessly 
 made on the Brazilian Government to repeal this iniquitous law. 
 In the papers on the table reference was made by Mr. Christie to 
 intimidation and the purchase of justice. That was an allusion to 
 a letter which had fallen into Mr. Christie's hands from a high 
 official in the Ministry of Justice, asking a judge to give his vote 
 against an Englishman, Mr. Reeves, in a suit involving a large sum 
 of money, in which Beeves was a party. It was said that Brazil 
 had abolished the slave trade. He did not want to go into a 
 history of that question, but he knew that the credit of that 
 measure was due, not to the Brazilian Government, but to the noble 
 lord (Viscount Palmerston), who had put down the slave-trade 
 there, as he had put it down elsewhere (cheers). What were the 
 facts at this moment ? The Brazilian Government had entered 
 into distinct agreements that a large number of negroes now in that 
 country should be liberated at the end of a certain period of 
 apprenticeship. That period had elapsed, and notwithstanding the 
 remonstrances of the British Government, these negroes were still 
 treated as slaves. It was impossible to obtain a list of them, or to 
 trace what had become of them. These were some of the causes of 
 complaint existing against Brazil (hear). "Were the British Govern- 
 ment to stand with their arms folded ? "Were they to rest satis- 
 fied with the plausible and, he must add, disingenuous notes of the 
 Brazilian Minister? 
 
 It appears then that Her Majesty's Government have many- 
 other strong complaints against the innocent Government of 
 Brazil. 
 
 The Volumes of Slave Trade Correspondence B from 1845 
 to the present year show the course taken by the Brazilian 
 Government about the free blacks, and their refusal not only 
 
XXI 
 
 of all redress but of all information. Mr. Hudson, now Sir 
 James Hudson, our distinguished Minister in Italy, then 
 Minister in Rio de Janeiro, wrote to Lord Palmerston, Novem- 
 ber 17, 1846. 
 
 " Tricks are practised with respect to these Africans in transfer- 
 ring them from one master to another, until they are lost sight of 
 and forgotten, in sending them to considerable distances from Bio 
 de Janeiro, in supplying certain influential politicians and men in 
 authority and of influence with them as a means of ensuring a 
 certain line of conduct, in jobbing with them in one way or another, 
 in giving false certificates of death or disappearance, against all of 
 which it requires constant watchfulness and care." 
 
 Mr. Hudson wrote again on the 11th of November, 1850. 
 
 " The position of these Africans is most wretched ; they are ill- 
 used, ill-fed, beaten without mercy and without reason, sold, false 
 certificates given of their death, and, in short, every man's hand 
 seems to be raised against them ; they have no chance of real 
 freedom in Brazil." 
 
 Mr. Consul Hesketh, in transmitting a list of free Africans, 
 September 30, 1851 says : — 
 
 " The number emancipated by the Mixed Commission Court 
 must have been much larger, and there is but too much reason to 
 fear that many of these 'liberated Afr icans were removed far into 
 the interior and sold, remaining in an even more helpless state of 
 slavery than those whose names I now record. It will also be 
 . seen that several of the women have had ofispring, and that a 
 portion of these children have either been baptised as slaves, or 
 their births withheld from parish registration. Some of the Afri- 
 cans who presented themselves gave the names of their deceased 
 comrades, in a few instances stating that they perished from bar- 
 barous treatment." 
 
 In a valuable article in the Revue des Deux Mondes on 
 Brazil, (July 15, 1862), which does justice to the proceedings 
 of the English Goverment against that country in respect of 
 the Slave Trade, is the following passage stigmatising the 
 
XX11 
 
 conduct of Brazilian planters and the Brazilian Government 
 towards the poor free blacks : 
 
 " A clause in the treaty with England provided that the slaves 
 rescued from slavery should receive their liberty only after having 
 served an apprenticeship of seven years under the guardianship of 
 agents of the Brazilian Government. These agents were them- 
 selves planters, who received on their properties the newly-landed 
 slaves ; and in order to escape from the embarrassing obligation to 
 give them liberty, took care to exchange their names with labourers 
 old or sick Whenever one of these last died, they placed one of 
 the new comers' names on the list of deaths, and thus they made 
 it all square with the Government, which amiably closed its eyes 
 to these peccadilloes." 
 
 When the Brazilian Government have thus notoriously 
 and perseveringly neglected their duty as regards the free 
 Africans, may they not have behaved ill with regard to the 
 shipwreck of the " Prince of Wales " and the officers of the 
 "Forte?" : What is the language in which statesmen 
 like Lord Aberdeen and Sir Robert Peel have formerly 
 spoken of the conduct of the Brazilian ■ Government with 
 reference to the Slave Trade ? The Slave Trade is now 
 suppressed in Brazil, but is bad faith impossible in that 
 Government ? 
 
 The Earl of Aberdeen, in introducing the famous measure 
 empowering British Courts of Admiralty to' deal with Bra- 
 zilian Slave Trade as piracy under the provisions of our treaty 
 with Brazil of 1826, spoke as follows, July 7, 1845 : 
 
 " Your Lordships are aware that the Brazilian Government have 
 always declined to fulfil their general engagements to cooperate 
 with the British Government for the abolition of the slave trade. 
 With rare and short exceptions, the treaty has been by them sys- 
 tematically violated from the period of its conclusion to the pro- 
 sent time. Cargoes of slaves have been landed in open day in the 
 streets of the capital, and bought and sold like cattle, without any 
 obstacle whatever being imposed on the traffic. Our officers have 
 been waylaid, maltreated, and even assassinated while in the execu- 
 tion of their duty, and justice in such cases, if not actually denied, 
 
xxm 
 
 has never been fairly granted. No doubt much has happened in 
 the course of the last ten or twelve years, which would have justi- 
 fied, and almost called for, an expression of national resentment.'' 
 
 Sir Eobert Peel spoke as follows, July 24, 1845, in advo- 
 cating the same measure : 
 
 " The Government proposes this measure with regret. It would 
 have been infinitely more satisfactory to them that the Brazilians 
 should have consented to enter into a new engagement in substitu- 
 tion of the engagement of 1817, and should have acted in ready 
 concert with us in the suppression of the slave trade. Repeated 
 * exhortations were addressed to the Brazilian Government for the 
 purpose of inducing them to enter into amicable concert with us, 
 and to enable us to search Brazilian vessels, and to punish those 
 who were engaged in the slave trade, under that act which had 
 been agreed to by the Brazilian Government of its own free will. 
 But these efforts have failed. The Brazilian Government have 
 from time to time distinctly stated to us , that her views on this 
 subject are entirely at variance with ours, and from the Brazilian 
 Government we can expect no assistance or cooperation in the 
 suppression of the slave trade by her own subjects." 
 
 Viscount Palmerston said on the same occasion : 
 
 " I am sorry to say that it is impossible to state in exaggerated 
 terms the just accusation against Brazil of bad faith as to the 
 Conventions agreed to by it respecting the slave trade. All our 
 inducements, all our arguments, all our persuasions, were utterly 
 fruitless, and whenever the subject of the slave trade has been dis- 
 cussed here, the notoriously bad faith of the Brazilian Government 
 has been on all hands admitted and deplored." 
 
 The Brazilian Government have always refused to this 
 day to agree to a Slave Trade Treaty, which would render it 
 possible to repeal the " Aberdeen Act," and so late as July 
 21, 1856, when the Earl of Malmesbury took Brazil under 
 his protection in the House of Lords, the Earls of Clarendon 
 and Aberdeen spoke as follows : 
 
 Lord Clarendon said, 
 
 " The Act was not in operation at the present moment, and the 
 Brazilian Government were perfectly aware that Her Majesty's 
 
XXIV 
 
 Government had no objection to alter the provisions of that Act, 
 if provisions of equal stringency, or at all events, having the same 
 objects in view, were secured by treaty. It was therefore the 
 fault of the Brazilian Government, and not our fault, that the Act 
 still existed, and with it the power of menacing the Brazilian 
 Government." 
 
 Lord Aberdeen said, as late as July, 1856, 
 
 *' He believed that that Act was justified at the time by the cir- 
 cumstances which then existed, but undoubtedly.it was a measure 
 of extreme severity, only to be justified by strong necessity. At • 
 the time of the passing of the Act, he had assured the Brazilian 
 Government of his regret at having to prepare such a measure, and 
 that nothing would give him greater pleasure than being able to 
 move for the repeal of that Act. He had even hoped that the 
 •time for repealing the Act had come, but he regretted to find that 
 what he had imagined had been completely effected by the Bra- 
 zilian Government had not taken place, and that there were some 
 symptoms of a renewal of the slave trade." 
 
 The account given in an article in the Revue des Deux 
 Mondes, already mentioned, by M. Elisee Eeclus, of the abo- 
 lition of the Slave trade in Brazil, is a disinterested and valu- 
 able testimony : 
 
 " It was England which gave the first serious warning to Brazil 
 on slavery, in concluding with this Empire the Convention, of 
 1826 for the abolition of the slave trade. The Convention was not 
 observed, and the slave trade continued without interruption in 
 
 spite of the English cruisers Protected by the complicity 
 
 of the local authorities, the slave traders had nothing to do but 
 deposit their cargoes in some bay of the Brazilian coast. The 
 .English cruisers, exasperated by this shameful violation of treaty, 
 ' pursued the slavers into Brazilian waters, forced an entrance into 
 their ports, and went even so far as to silence the fortresses with 
 their guns. English bullets are still to be seen in the walls of the 
 fort of Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, at the entrance of the port of 
 Parana'gua. In 1845 England formally claimed by the ' Aberdeen 
 Bill' the right of seizing suspected slavers in Brazilian waters, but 
 
XXT 
 
 in spite of this energetic measure, which constituted almost a state 
 of war between the two countries, the traffic in human flesh did 
 not fail to assume every year greater proportions. The certainty 
 of receiving in the Brazilian markets 400 francs for every black 
 bought in Guinea for 100, excited the foul cupidity of innumerable 
 slave-traders, and every year fifty, sixty, or eighty thousand slaves 
 were imported. At last the Brazilian Government came to under- 
 stand its duty, and in the end of 1850 passed a law assimilating 
 the importation of slaves to piracy. The provincial authorities 
 
 long braved this measure It, however, appears that the law 
 
 is now more faithfully observed, and that the slave trade between 
 Africa and Brazil has completely ceased." 
 
 Mr. Layard mentioned a recent flagrant instance of official 
 interference in Brazil with the administration of justice, 
 where an Englishman is concerned, for "which it appears our 
 Government cannot get redress. The state of judicial cor- 
 ruption in Brazil is frightful. The following testimonies of 
 Brazilians to the corruption prevailing in their country may, 
 perhaps, help to convince honest and disinterested English- 
 men that the high praises of .Brazil, sounded by its paid 
 puffers, are not deserved, and that Lord Palmerston and Lord 
 Eussell may be justified in their complaints of the Brazilian 
 Government. 
 
 The following is an extract of a letter published in the 
 Jornal do Commercio, June 24, I860, by the Baron de Maua, 
 addressed to Senhor Nabuco, a Senator, a Councillor, late 
 Minister of Justice, now again a practising advocate, a lead- 
 ing Member of the Legislature and supporter of the present 
 Government. The Baron de Maua is a Deputy, one of the 
 leading capitalists of Brazil, a man of the highest respecta- 
 bility, well known in London, and head of the London house 
 Maua, McGregor, and Co. It will be seen that Baron de 
 Maua publicly accuses Senator, Councillor, and ex-Minister 
 of Justice, Nabuco, of having obtained a judgment by forging 
 documents for his client, speaks of him otherwise most dis- 
 respectfully, and hints at collusion of judges. It is notorious 
 
 d 
 
XXVI 
 
 in Brazil that Senhor Nabuco, having been Minister of Jus- 
 tice, and expected to be Minister of Justice again, has great 
 influence with the judges, many of whom have been appointed 
 by him. 
 
 " Your Excellency has good reason to object to questions con- 
 cerning the tribunals being discussed in the press. An advocate 
 without scruples, ready for any business which will bring money, 
 'not to enrich yourself, but to pay your debts,' as you have de- 
 clared in the Senate, it cannot certainly be agreeable to your Ex- 
 cellency that the light of publicity should penetrate into the 
 mysteries of your gains. The desire of paying your debts is just 
 and laudable, Mr. Councillor, but there should be honesty in the 
 means employed for that end. For myself, let Mr. Councillor 
 Nabuco be assured that I shall never shrink'- as long as his Excel- 
 lency has the tolerance to permit me to continue to reside in my 
 native country. And I say this seriously, for if your Excellency 
 continues in your forensic practices, finding Judges to support you, 
 and if there is a continuance ©f the plan begun of fabricating frau- 
 dulent documents to rob a man of his fortune, no one will judge 
 himself secure in the possession of his property in our land, and I 
 shall join the number of those who find themselves forced to emi- 
 grate. The desire of acquiring by means of honest labour is subor- 
 dinate to the right of keeping possession of one's own ; and if this 
 right is not guaranteed, there will only remain for those who do 
 not choose to fight a death-battle with corruption, to abandon their 
 country. You have good reason, Mr. Councillor Nabuco, not to 
 wish discussion in the press. For tomorrow some one else, animated 
 by the laudable desire of paying his debts, may employ a skilful 
 forger to imitate our signature, or that of any other commercial 
 firm worth the trouble, and by means of certain combinations, 
 judgments having been obtained, rob us of our fortune or a part of 
 it, as has just happened. If this were only a personal question, 
 your Excellency knows well that in the conviction that so great a 
 scandal, denounced by my voice and pen, might prejudice the 
 credit of our country, with which again my property is identified, 
 I should have patriotism enough to suffer resignedly the conse- 
 quences of this judgment, even though the pecuniary loss were 
 double of what it is. No, Mr. Councillor Nabuco ; No, a thousand 
 
XXV11 
 
 times No ; it is not a mere question of robbing a banking firm of 
 some thousands of pounds for the benefit of & protege of your Ex- 
 cellency. The loss sustained to day may by God's goodness be 
 recovered to-morrow ; but it is not so with principles, which 
 cannot be outraged with impunity." 
 
 Senor Sayao Lobato, then Minister of Justice, spoke of Bra- 
 zilian judges as follows, in the Senate on the 1 2th of June, 1861. 
 
 " I will say, the rule is probity and integrity ; but 1 am forced, 
 gentlemen, to confess that there are sad exceptions (cheers), on 
 which the public fixes its stigma, and which the Government, as 
 supervisor, and charged to promote by all means the responsibility 
 of public servants, should keep in sight, endeavouring in all ways 
 to fulfil this imperious duty of its mission." 
 
 Senhor Sayao Lobato was very severely attacked for 
 admitting so much ; he might have said much more. 
 
 Messrs Maua, McGregor and Co. have lately again publicly 
 denounced the judicial administration of Brazil in a circular 
 of January 10, 1863. They say:— 
 
 " We will repeat once more that the -first necessity of social life 
 is a good and correct administration of justice, which guarantees to 
 every member of society the fruit of his labour, against the attacks 
 of men of bad faith. When that does not exist, the country is on 
 the verge of an abyss. Happily, the precedents of judgments of 
 our tribunals exerciae no .influence beyond the individual ill done 
 by them, when they are, like the one of which we complain, noto- 
 riously unjust ; otherwise the continuance of monetary transactions 
 would be impossible in a country where so iniquitous a judgment 
 can be given." 
 
 The Bio newspapers of March contain vehement denun- 
 ciations against a judgment, said to be corrupt, in favour of 
 a, Brazilian magnate, the Viscount of Bomfim. The 
 Gorreio Mercantil of March 14, contains a statement signed 
 by the name of the writer, Gomes Freire, headed " Unprece- 
 dented Scandal," and denouncing by name three judges as 
 having sold themselves to the Viscount The ' Diario do 
 
XXV111 
 
 Rio of March 15, contains an article on the same subject of 
 which the following is a passage : 
 
 " Unhappy country, where he who seeks justice meets . infamy, 
 he who seeks to gain an honest living meets opprobrious death, 
 and thinking to place himself in the arms of defenders of his 
 rights, finds himself in the grasp of robbers, who despoil him in- 
 stead of protecting him ! Unhappy country, in which the cloak 
 • of justice covers a polluted hand, in which the title of Judge is a 
 flag covering rottenness and filth, and serving to shield the pirate, 
 robber, prostitute, and pervert. To rob in the high road, to attack 
 the wayfarer, to take his purse from him, to leave him in want, is 
 a virtue in comparison with the base traflickin'g in justice, the 
 degrading sale of honour, by which also the victim is reduced to 
 misery. And where is their remorse, when responsibility among 
 us is a chimera 1 There is none. For a long time Judges among 
 us stretch out their infamous hands to the party who will fill them 
 with gold ; for a long time they barter conscience and dignity for 
 money.'' 
 
 When Judges are thus publicly denounced in the leading 
 journals of Eio, gross judicial corruption must be a fact, and 
 general misgovernment may be inferred. The journals 
 which have just been referred to have been loud in protesting 
 against English aggression., 
 
 Senhor Tolentino, a Councillor, formerly the Brazilian 
 Commissioner in the Mixed Commission for Claims, and 
 since Inspector of Customs of Eio de Janeiro, was called upon 
 in 1862 by the Minister of Finance, to make a report on 
 charges of corruption made against Custom House officials, 
 and reported a state of hopeless general corruption. The 
 following is a passage of his published Eeport : 
 
 " Your Excellency is accustomed to say loudly that the Govern- 
 ment is the plague. I will accept this remark, which in its re- 
 striction is invidiously partial ; but I will admit it only as an 
 effect, in order to ascend to the cause of the symptom, and to find 
 it in the heart of our society, in the origin, the customs, the edu- 
 cation of our people ; after which, paraphrasing the sentiments of 
 your Excellency, I will say with a greater extension, ' the plague 
 
XXIX 
 
 is in the blood of the nation.' .... The acts of the Government 
 
 have the greatest part of the responsibility for the scandals which 
 are ascribed to the Custom-house. ..... Your Excellency asks me 
 
 ■what are the measures which I propose to suggest for making this 
 department moral ] I answer, none, if the Imperial Government 
 intends that subservience to the unjust demands of patronage, 
 which has extorted all nominations for the Custom-houses, is to 
 continue to be the principle that governs." 
 
 Our trade with Brazil is large. The total value of annual 
 exports and imports between the two countries may be 
 twelve millions sterling, and there may be twenty millions of 
 English capital in Brazil. The Brazilian advocate in the 
 Daily News describes Brazil as a country " whose railways 
 we are making, whose cities we are illuminating, whose me- 
 tropolis we are draining,, which has borrowed some ten 
 millions of our money." "We have," says a Brazilian 
 writer, "a country teeming with natural resources, but 
 which are of no use to us without the stranger who takes 
 oar raw material and gives us his manufactures, for we are, 
 thanks to the blunders of our rulers, reduced to be a nation 
 of consumers." Lord Palmerston said' of Brazil, in a debate 
 on Mr. Boebuck's motion in 1857, that it was an extra- 
 ordinary instance of a large Empire dependent on foreign 
 countries for everything, on North America for corn and on 
 Scotland for granite. England then is necessary to Brazil, 
 and if the Brazilian Government find that they must behave 
 properly to us, they will take care so to behave. The larger, 
 our commercial relations with Brazil, the more money we 
 send there, the more Englishmen who go there, the more it 
 behoves the English Government to insist on justice for Eng- 
 lishmen. It is the duty of Englishmen to support their own 
 Government in protecting English interests, and not to delude 
 Brazil with flattery, and incite her to resistance. It is not 
 only the duty, but it is also the interest of all Englishmen 
 trading with Brazil to support their own Government, in 
 claiming due respect to the English navy, and in protecting 
 
XXX 
 
 the rights of one of their countrymen. If we permit English 
 naval officers to be treated with contumely in Brazil, we 
 weaken, the best security of Englishmen in South America. 
 "What is today the case of Mr. Stephens, owner of the " Prince 
 of Wales," may tomorrow be the case of a Mr. Clark or a 
 Mr. Moore. One or two Englishmen may buy favour for 
 themselves, but the generality of Englishmen must look to 
 their own Government for. justice. English friends of Brazil 
 will best befriend her by advising her to attend promptly and 
 respectfully to the just demands of the English Govern* 
 ment. Let Brazil do right at home, and she will obtain 
 reputation abroad, without paying for puffs in every capital. 
 M. Moreira was here long enough to learn something of 
 English Government, English opinion, and English society ; 
 and it is a pity that he did. not learn how weak, and sure to be 
 broken by the first gust, was the reed on which he rested of 
 inspired praises and manufactured glory. The English 
 nation and English Government wish well to Brazil and 
 wish to treat her with courtesy, but they must have justice 
 in return. The English Government would never show, and 
 the English public would never sanction, violence and want 
 of moderation towards a weaker nation which was just, and 
 becomingly modest and respectful. 
 
XXXI 
 
 Abridged Translation of Letter from Rio, written by 
 a Brazilian, in the Orden of Pernambuco, of 
 February 11th, 1863. 
 
 Many months ago, the English Minister solicited ex- 
 planations from the Brazilian Government about the 
 English vessel " Prince of Wales," wrecked on the coast of 
 Albardao, whose cargo was said to be plundered and part of 
 the crew murdered with knowledge and connivance of the 
 local authorities, and about the imprisonment of three officers 
 of the English frigate " Forte," at Tijuca, as regards whom it 
 is notorious that the Chief of Police, Agostinho Luiz da 
 Gama, behaved reprehensibly. These were evidently serious 
 subjects, easy, however, to be settled pacifically, for nothing 
 else was necessary than for the Minister of Foreign Affairs 
 to require explanations from the respective authorities, and 
 having received these to confer with the English Minister, 
 who would not have contested reason and justice if these 
 had been made evident. Thus the questions might have 
 been settled diplomatically. 
 
 But there was no such good fortune' for Brazil. A nation 
 in which ministerial life consists in putting on a parrot- 
 coloured eoat, and three-cornered hat, and decking oneself 
 out with ribbons to go and kiss the hand or receive the 
 orders of the Emperor, in eating and drinking, in running 
 after amusements, in standing godfather in all directions, 
 and for these very onerous services, pocketing salary with the 
 profits" which come naturally in addition; such agnation 
 cannot, it is clear, share the advantages which belong only to 
 nations governed by a predominant sentiment of national 
 dignity. 
 
 The Marquis of Abrantes, who, unfortunately for Brazil, is 
 Minister for Foreign Affairs, conducted himself in this matter 
 as was to be expected of him. He neglected his duties, and, 
 disregarding the requests of the English Minister, let things 
 go to such a point that Mr. Christie, all hopes of amicable 
 arrangements exhausted, accepted the question at the height 
 to which the Marquis drove it, and fixed for the Brazilian 
 Government a fatal limit of time. 
 
 It was then that Abrantes began to understand the gravity 
 of the situation ; and how did this infatuated Minister endea- 
 vour to extricate himself? 
 
By proposing, on the eve of the expiration of the time 
 which the English Minister had fixed, the reference of the 
 question to London, that is, to be treated by the Brazilian 
 Minister in London with the English Govern ment. 
 
 This was to trick the English Minister, to trick the 
 English Government, to trick the Brazilians, taking from 
 them the solution of . the question whose importance had 
 excited them ; it was to trick everybody, while the Marquis 
 of Abrantes might relieve himself of the burden which his 
 abilities had created, and get time for an honourable retreat 
 from his post, saying to his successor — " He who comes after 
 me may shut the door." 
 
 But the English Minister would not fall into the trap, and 
 the exchange of notes became active ; the running to and 
 fro between the houses of Messrs. Abrantes and Sinirnbu 
 and the Palace was very remarkable ; alarm spread, agitation 
 commenced ; , the Marquis of Abrantes proposed to the Eng- 
 lish Minister to pay under protest, in London, the sum 
 demanded for the plunder of the "Prince of Wales" and 
 passengers. This proposal appeared to the English Minister 
 so degrading for the Brazilian Government that, in replying 
 to the note of M. dAbrantes, he took no notice of it what- 
 ever, and after duly informing the Marquis, he gave his 
 instructions to Admiral Warren, who, with two of his 
 steamers, made some prizes of Brazilian merchant-vessels 
 outside the harbour. The news of the reprisals increased 
 the excitement in the city, particularly on the Exchange, 
 where the effects of the folly and stupidity of the Govern- 
 ment were beginning to be felt. 
 
 The agitation increasing, and our Boeotian rulers at last 
 beginning to find the mustard too strong for their nostrils, 
 the Council of State was consulted. The Marquis of Abran- 
 tes related to this august body the history of his doings. 
 They ratified his proposal to pay under protest in London 
 what was claimed for the " Prince of Wales," and in this way 
 the English Minister, considering himself guaranteed, ac- 
 cepted the proposal, triumphantly as is to be inferred from 
 the language in which he replied ; and as to the affair of the 
 "Forte," in which he left it to the Brazilian Government 
 almost ad libitum to give satisfaction here, or refer it to arbi- 
 tration in Europe, reserving the right of refusal to the Eng- 
 lish Government, the King of Belgium was proposed as 
 arbiter and accepted by Mr. Christie. 
 
XXX111 
 
 During the agitation, the foreigners, with the exception of 
 some low fellows who are always to be found making them- 
 selves singular by eccentricities and excesses, conducted them- 
 selves admirably, particularly the English, who might reason- 
 ably fear violence and ebullitions of popular frenzy* and not- 
 withstanding that they saw their commerce threatened with 
 annihilation (!) by the projected refusal of their bills on the 
 patriotic Bank of Brazil (which, however, has not had enough 
 patriotism to give a subscription to the expenses of the coming 
 war), notwithstanding this, I say, the English made no change 
 in their habits, remained quiet in their stores and counting- 
 houses without taking part in the dispute between the two 
 Governments. Patriotism, went to the length of advising the 
 public not to buy English goods for personal use, and, in gene- 
 ral, to have nothing English, "for," said the patriots, "we want 
 nothing from England;" and in order to prejudice the public 
 more against the unoffending English, the report was set about 
 that they had made a compact to sell no more goods except 
 for ready money. It would be an unheard-of piece of good 
 fortune for the commerce of Rio, and, indeed, for the whole 
 Empire, if they would determine on this course, for it is their 
 readiness to trust every pedlar who dubs himself a merchant 
 which has ruined our commerce. This was unquestionably 
 only a false alarm, spread by some wide-awake, merchant, who 
 was already counting on catching fish in muddy waters. 
 
 As to our wanting nothing from the English^ this is very 
 fine talk, but very difficult to prove, for arguments are worth 
 nothing against facts. We have a country teeming with 
 natural resources, but of what use are they to us if the 
 foreigner does not take from us our raw material and. send us 
 manufactures, for the folly of our governors has kept us a 
 nation of consumers ? And if it were not for the money of 
 Englishmen, how far should we have proceeded with our Don 
 Pedro II. railroad? ^Without English money, would M. 
 Ottoni's Mucury shareholders have been able to get rid of 
 their scrip ? Without English money, how would Brazil have 
 freed herself from other troubles which have been got rid of 
 by loans in London, which at the end of 1862 amounted to a 
 sum exceeding seven millions sterling ? 
 
 How then can we do without the "English? How can it 
 be said that we want nothing from England ? God preserve 
 us from a war with England, for it can only happen that we 
 shall lose and she gain. Her navy will in the twinkling of 
 
XXXIV 
 
 an eye swallow up our dwarf ships, and taking possession of 
 our coast oblige us to shut ourselves up in the interior ; and 
 tliis for us who eat, drink, and clothe ourselves from the 
 foreigner, and to our shame be it added cannot do without 
 foreign -teaching. 
 
 God preserve us from the curse of a war, which is being 
 stupidly provoked by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and 
 of Agriculture. If unfortunately things should come to that 
 pass, what will be the value of these fine patriotic demonstra- 
 tions, these silly bursts of patriotism with which the capital 
 is playing carnival ? What will be the worth of this fine 
 national subscription which may reach some ten thousands of 
 pounds when millions will be wanted in a moment ? What 
 will be the worth of the fine array of Princesses, fidalgos, 
 carbineers, and all other such nonsense; which will vanish at 
 the fire of the first gun 1 
 
 And where will the Treasury go for money to meet such 
 /Urgent and sacred expenses, when all the public employes in- 
 cluding the court are pining for their salaries, getting more and 
 more into arrear, and when the Minister of Finance is thinking 
 of giving the Bank of Brazil the power of illegally quadrupling 
 its notes in order to be able to obtain from it a large loan for 
 alleviating the difficulties of the State ? And how repel 
 English aggression when the Admiral of our miniature fleet 
 is an Englishman ; when we have no army though we- have 
 a Field Marshal ; when we are completely deprived of forti- 
 fications' by the carelessness and stupidity of our rulers ; 
 when, in fine, we are without everything in which our adver- 
 sary abounds. 
 
 Far from us a war with the English,- which will be for 
 Brazil a calamity. . If this nation has committed violences 
 against us, which I do not deny, let the facts be examined, 
 and let it be seen whether they have not arisen out of want 
 of attention or respect in the Brazilian Government Even 
 in this question we see the Marquis of Abrantes refusing to 
 the English Minister the title of Excellency; which the latter 
 lavishly bestows on the Marquis. 
 
 I foresee that I shall be taxed with being a degenerate 
 Brazilian, perhaps with being an Englishman. However my 
 conscience tells me that I yield to none in patriotism. 
 Patriotism against justice may be the patriotism of any one 
 else who chooses, but will never be the patriotism of 
 
 CENSOK. 
 
LIST OF PAPERS. 
 
 No. 
 
 1. Consul Vereker to Lord J. Russell 
 
 2. Consul Vereker to Lord J. Russell 
 
 3. Mr. Layard to Consul Vereker 
 
 4. Mr. Layard to the Secretary to the 
 
 5. Earl Russell to Mr. Baillie 
 
 6. Mr. Stephens to Earl Russell . 
 
 7. Mr. Stephens to Earl Russell . 
 
 8. Mr. Layard to Mr. Stephens . 
 
 9. Earl Russell to Mr. Baillie 
 
 10. Mr. Layard to Mr. Stephens. , 
 
 11. Mr. Stephens to Earl Russell . 
 
 12. Mr. Baillie to Earl Russell . 
 
 13. Consul Vereker to Earl Russell 
 
 14. Mr. Stephens to Earl Russell . 
 
 15. Mr. Layafd to Mr. Stephens . 
 
 16. Mr. Stephens to Earl Russell . 
 
 17. Mr. Layard to Mr. Stephens . 
 
 18. Mr. Stephens to Earl Russell . 
 
 19. Consul Vereker to Earl Russell 
 2"0. Mr. Baillie to Earl Russell . 
 
 21. The Secretary to the Admiralty to 
 
 22. Earl Russell to Mr. Baillie . . 
 
 23. Consul Vereker to Earl Russell 
 
 24. Earl Russell to Mr. Christie -. 
 
 25. Consul Vereker to Earl Russell 
 
 26. Consul Vereker to -Earl Russell 
 
 27. Mr. Christie to Earl Russell , 
 
 28. Mr. Christie to Earl Russell . 
 
 29. Earl Russell to Mr. Christie . 
 
 30. The Secretary to the Admiralty to 
 
 31. Consul Vereker to Earl Russell 
 32'. Consul Vereker to Earl Kiissell 
 
 33. Consul Vereker to Earl Russell 
 
 34. Earl Russell to Mr. Christie . 
 
 35. Mr. Stephens to Earl Russell . 
 
 36. Mr. Layard to Mr. Stephens . 
 
 37. Consul Vereker to Earl Russell 
 
 38. Mr. Christie to Earl Russell . 
 
 39. Earl Russell to Mr. Christie . 
 
 40. Consul Vereker to Earl Russell 
 
 41. Mr. Christie to Earl Russell . 
 
 42. Mr. Stephens to Earl Russell . 
 
 43. Mr. Christie to Earl Russell . 
 
 44. Earl Russell to Mr. Christie . 
 
 Page 
 
 . 
 
 . June 25, 1861 
 
 1 
 
 
 . July 5, „ 
 
 6 
 
 . 
 
 . Sept. 5, • „ 
 
 12 
 
 Admiralty 
 
 . Sept. 6, „ 
 
 13 
 
 
 . Sept. 6, „ 
 
 14 
 
 
 . Sept. 20, „ 
 
 15 
 
 
 . Sept.- 23, „ 
 
 16 
 
 , , 
 
 . Sept. 26, „ 
 
 16 
 
 
 . Sept. 26, „ 
 
 17 
 
 
 . Oct. 4, „. 
 
 17 
 
 . 
 
 . Oct. 19, „ 
 
 18 
 
 
 . Nov. 5, ,, 
 
 19 
 
 
 . Oct. 18, „ 
 
 20 
 
 
 . Jan. 3, 1862 
 
 24 
 
 
 . Jan. 6, ,, 
 
 25 
 
 f t 
 
 . Jan. 7, „ 
 
 26 
 
 
 . Jan. 11, „ 
 
 27 
 
 , t 
 
 . Jan. 15, ,, 
 
 27 
 
 
 . Dec. 14, 1861 
 
 27 
 
 
 , Jan. 6, 1862 
 
 34 
 
 Mr. Layard 
 
 . Eeb. 4, „ 
 
 35 
 
 
 . Feb. 8, „ 
 
 36 
 
 
 . Dec. 31, 1861 
 
 37 
 
 
 . March 14,1862 
 
 38 
 
 
 . March 20, ,, 
 
 38 
 
 
 . April 14, „ 
 
 .41 
 
 
 ■ *lay 5, „ 
 
 52 
 
 
 . May 7, „ 
 
 59 
 
 
 . . June 4, „ 
 
 63 
 
 Mr. Layard 
 
 . June 3, ,, 
 
 63 
 
 
 . April 16. ,, 
 
 68 
 
 
 . :April24, „ 
 
 70 
 
 
 . May 12, „ 
 
 71 
 
 
 . J«iy 3. ,. 
 
 75 
 
 , , 
 
 . July 2, „ 
 
 76 
 
 , , 
 
 . J% 9, » 
 
 76 
 
 . , 
 
 . May 23, „ 
 
 77 
 
 , , 
 
 . June 17, ,, 
 
 78 
 
 
 . July 23, „ 
 
 81 
 
 
 . June 4, ,, 
 
 $1 
 
 
 . June 23, ,, 
 
 96 
 
 
 . August 11, „ 
 
 98 
 
 
 . July 20, „ 
 
 99 
 
 
 . August 30, „ 
 
 101 
 
LIST OP PAPERS. 
 No. 
 
 45. Mr. Christie to Earl Russell . . . 
 
 46. The Secretary to the Admiralty to Mr. Layard 
 
 47. Mr. Layard to the Secretary to the Admiralty 
 
 48. Mr. Christie to Earl Russell 
 
 49. Mr. Christie to Earl Russell 
 
 50. Mr. Christie to Earl Russell . 
 
 51. The Secretary to the Admiralty to Mr. Layard 
 
 52. Earl Russell to Mr. Christie 
 
 53. Earl Russell to Mr. Christie . . . 
 64. Earl Russell to Mr. Christie . . 
 
 55. Mr. Hammond to the Secretary to the Admiralty 
 
 56. Mr. Stephens to Earl Russell ,' 
 
 57. Mr. Christie to Earl Russell .... 
 •58. Mr. Christie to -Earl Russell . . 
 
 69. Mr. Hammond to Mr. Stephens . . . 
 
 60. Mr. Hammond to the Secretary to the Admiralty 
 
 61. Earl Russell to Mr. Christie .... 
 
 62. Earl Russell to Mi 1 . Christie .... 
 
 63. Earl Russell to Mr. Christie .... 
 
 64. Mr. Christie to Earl Russell .... 
 
 65. Mr. Christie to Earl Russell .... 
 
 66. The Secretary to the Admiralty to Mr. Hammond 
 
 67. Mr. Stephens to Earl Russell . . . 
 
 68. Mr. Christie to Earl Russell .... 
 
 69. Earl Russell to Mr. Christie .... 
 
 70. Mr. Christie tp Earl Russell ... 
 
 71. Mr. Christie to Earl Russell .... 
 
 72. Mr. Christie to Earl Russell .... 
 
 73. .Mr. Christie to Earl Russell .... 
 
 74. Mr, Christie to Earl Russell .... 
 
 75. The Secretary to the Admiralty to Mr. Hammond 
 
 76. Earl Russell to Mr. Christie .... 
 
 77. Mr. Hammond to the Secretary to the Admiralty 
 78; M. Moreira to Earl Russell .... 
 
 79. EaijL Russell to M. Moreira .... 
 
 80. Mr. Christie to Earl Russell .... 
 
 81. Earl Russell to M, Moreira 
 
 82. Earl Russell to Lord Howard de Walden 
 
 83. M. Moreira to Earl Russell .... 
 
 84. Earl Russell to M. Moreira .... 
 
 85. M. Moreira to Earl Russell .... 
 
 86. Eai;l Russell to M. Moreira .... 
 
 87. Lord Howard de Walden to Earl Russell 
 
 88. .M. Moreira to Earl Russell .... 
 
 89. Eorl Russell to M. Moreira 
 
 90. M. Moreira to Earl Russell 
 
 91. Earl Russell to M. Moreira .... 
 
 August 7, 1862 120 
 
 Sept. 3, „ 120 
 
 Sept. 5, „ 121 
 
 August 23, „ 122 
 
 August 23, „ 141 
 
 August 23, „ 159 
 
 Oct. 4, „ 160 
 
 Oct. 8, ,,162 
 
 Oct. 8, ,, 165 
 
 Oct. 8, „ 168 
 
 Oct. 8, „ 168 
 
 Oct. 20, „ 168 
 
 Sept. 15, „ 169 
 
 Sept. 24, ,, 170 
 
 Oct. 29, „ 199 
 
 Nov. 4, „ 199 
 
 Nov. 4, „ 200 
 
 Nov. 8, „ 200 
 
 Nov. 8, „ 201 
 
 Nov, 6, „ 202 
 
 Nov. 6, „ 213 
 
 Dec. 3, „ 215 
 
 Dec. 9, „ 216 
 
 Dec. 8, „ 216 
 
 •Jan. 5, 1863 218 
 
 Dec. 15, 1862 218 
 
 Dec. 24, „ 224 
 Jan. 8, 1863 228 
 
 Jan. 9, ,, 299 
 
 Jan. 9, „ 299 
 
 Feb. 4. „ 303 
 
 Feb. 7, „ 306, 
 
 Feb. 7, „ 306 
 
 Feb. 9, „ 307 
 
 FeTj. 12, „ 309 
 
 Jan. 23, „ 310 
 
 Feb. 22, „ 322 
 
 Feb. 24, „ 322 
 
 Feb. 26, ,, 323 
 
 Feb. 28, „ 325 
 
 March 2, „ 326 
 
 March 4, „ 329 
 
 March 4, „ 330 
 
 May 6, „ 332 
 
 May 19, . „ 334 
 
 May 25, „ 835 
 
 May 23, ,, 339 
 
CORRESPONDENCE, &c. 
 
 No. 1. 
 Consul Vereker to Lord J. Itussett. — {Received September 2.) 
 
 Bio Grande do Sul, Jane 25, 1861. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 I have the honour to enclose, under flying seal for the 
 Board of Trade, a despatch dated this day reporting the total 
 wreck, upon the coast of this province, of the barque " Prince 
 of Wales," of Glasgow, and venture to call your Lordship's 
 special attention to the various circumstances in connexion 
 with that wreck, as related in my report. 
 
 Your Lordship will perceive from this report that there 
 is every probability that all the persons who had been on 
 board perished. The measures which I adopted, proceeding 
 to the coast (seventy miles) and saving all possible, are also 
 reported, as well as my application that the bodies of the 
 persons wrecked from that barque should be brought to the 
 cemetery of this city, and, after an inquest had been held 
 thereon, should be decently buried. 
 
 I have placed myself in direct communication with his 
 Excellency the President of this Province, with reference to 
 the savage and wicked proceedings of the natives in con- 
 nexion with the wreck, as the case was one of urgency, and 
 the referring it in the- first instance to Her Majesty's Mission 
 at Eio de Janeiro would have caused unnecessary delay. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) H. P. VEREKER 
 
Enclosure 1 in No. 1. 
 Consul VereJcer to the Secretary to the Board of Trade. 
 
 Rio Grande do Sal, June 25, 1861. 
 
 Sib, 
 
 It is my painful duty to report the total loss, on the coast 
 of Albardao, at about seventy miles to the southward of 
 this city, of the British barque "Prince of Wales," of 
 Glasgow, official No. 26,598, master unknown, and bound 
 from Glasgow to Buenos Ayres, with a general cargo. I 
 regret to state that it is but too probable that all on board of 
 that vessel have perished. 
 
 In order that this sad case may be fully understood, as 
 well as my reasons for supposing the vessel- lost to be the one 
 stated, and the motives of my proceedii^which I hope may 
 meet with the approval of Her M^&ty's Government, I 
 shall proceed to report the circumstances as they came to 
 my knowledge : — 
 
 On the evening of the 12th instant Senhor Bento Venancior 
 Soares, the Justice of the Peace of the district of Albardao, 
 arrived in this city, and mentioned, in conversation, that 
 some bodies had come ashore on the coast opposite his house 
 (four miles distant). Questioned as to whether he had any 
 knowledge of a wreck having taken place, he denied all 
 knowledge of such a casualty. This report reached me on 
 the 13th, and in view of the large number of British vessels 
 navigating on this coast, I instituted inquiries, but could 
 obtain no further information, Senhor Bento having left for 
 the country (Pelotas). Anticipating, I may say that on the 
 9th it was known in his neighbourhood that the wreck had 
 taken place. 
 
 On the 14th I was informed, casually, by a gentleman who 
 had spoken with the Delegate of Police on business, that the 
 latter had just received from the Sub-Delegate of Tahim 
 notice of a wreck at Albardao, and my informant added that 
 from a paper he had seen he suspected the vessel must be 
 British. I immediately proceeded to the Delegate of Police, 
 but the papers, were in the hands of his Secretary, to whom 
 I went and found that the despatch was very vague, not even 
 hinting the nationality of the vessel ; and the only paper 
 enclosed was that which I herewith send, being the receipt 
 of the Shipping Master of Glasgow for shipping the crew o| 
 
the " Prince of Wales." Feeling ^convinced from 'this paper, 
 and the manifest desire of "concealing the fact, that the vessel 
 wrecked was British property, my efforts in such cages being" 
 well known, I took possession of that paper somewhat against 
 the will of the Delegate's secretary, and brought it to the 
 Municipal and Commercial Judge (who under. Brazilian law 
 is the authority appointed to act in such cases). I pointed 
 out to him my belief that the vessel wrecked was English, 
 and my determination to proceed immediately to the spot, 
 and requested him to accompany me ; with the utmost 
 frankness, and without hesitation, he consented to do so as 
 soon as horses could be arranged. I had obtained a force of 
 soldiers, and also invited the Inspector of the Custom-house 
 to send down some officers ; this he did, ordering to accom- 
 pany me the assistant chief guard and two armed officers. 
 As soon, therefore, as possible, we proceeded, journeying 
 about thirty-eight miles that evening, and the next day about 
 forty miles, 'when we arrived at night at the house of Senhor 
 Bento Venancio Soares already mentioned, the nearest to the 
 wreck, being most grudgingly admitted to shelter, and not 
 receiving food either for ourselves or horses ; a few biscuits 
 which I had happily carried in my saddle-bags being the 
 principal support of the party. 
 
 I desired to proceed at once to sleep on the coast, but 
 some of the party were so exhausted -that this could not 
 be done. 
 
 At the first light on the 1 6th, we proceeded to the wreck, 
 and the scene which then presented itself was melancholy in 
 the. extreme, the whole coast appeared spread with empty 
 crates, barrels, and boxes, and with remnants of the vessel ; 
 most of these were crowded within a short distance west- 
 north-west from where the hull was discovered. At this 
 point were the longboat and gig, the oars, seamens' chests, 
 supply of provisions, and various parts of the rigging, with 
 part of the figure-head (a male figure with hand outstretched), 
 and some pieces of the hull, chiefly the after part, including 
 furniture of cabin and berths (red .' velveteen), a portion of 
 the stern with the name "Prin." I also happily rescued 
 from the waves a bundle of dockets or orders to receive 
 cargo ; they were torn and imperfect, and massed with sand. 
 I was enabled, however, after returning home, to make out 
 from them the list enclosed. I also found a written paper 
 with a note of wages due to crew of last voyage, at Monte 
 
Video ; this paper was afterwards carried away by the wind. 
 The only other papers found were part of a log-book, not 
 written upon, and various portions of Bibles and Prayer 
 books. 
 
 Satisfied of the identity of the vessel, I claimed the 
 property as British, and enclose a list of articles saved, 
 which, as well as various spars, &c, on the coast, I ordered 
 to be brought to this city. I have added a note of the 
 marks of various cases found on the shore, and a description 
 of four bodies found near thereto. 
 
 Upon my return to this city, I addressed to the Delegate 
 of Police the despatch of which a copy is enclosed to his 
 Excellency the President of the Province. In this despatch 
 you will find details showing the atrocious proceedings of 
 the residents on the coast of Albardao. 
 
 Ten bodies are reported to have been found, including 
 those of two ' females ; they were stated to me to have 
 been all buried (five being in one place). 
 
 Nothing has, however, been found to lead to the know- 
 ledge of the names of any, except a brass plate on the 
 broken cover of a trunk, which, as mentioned in the 
 list, bears the name of "John McKinnon, Whitley Bay, 
 Arran." I presume this would be the same person as 
 John McKinnon, the number of whose certificate of com- 
 petency of service is 5,395, who was master of the " Prince 
 of Wales" some time since, as appears -by Lloyd's list. 
 
 I should mention that when we proceeded to the shore, 
 we were met by the Inspector of the District, Senhor 
 Paustino, and an armed force collected in the neighbour- 
 hood, which outnumbered that which accompanied the 
 Municipal Judge and myself. 
 
 It was the duty of the Inspector to protect ■ the pro- 
 perty and save all possible^ in the absence of those who 
 should. take charge. How he performed that duty may 
 be judged of by the circumstance that although many of 
 the crates and some of the barrels had been manifestly 
 broken by the force of the waves, many more were vio- 
 lently broken open and < rifled of their contents ; many 
 barrels which had contained beer were in this category ; 
 and every case and box had been burst open and robbed 
 of all its contents. A number had contained manufac- 
 tured goods in tins, in most- cases the tins had been cut 
 open, and the contents taken away ; but in others the 
 
tins had been bodily carried off. I would call- special 
 attention to the seamens' trunks, all .of -which had been, 
 violently burst open, and not' a single article left inside, 
 
 . and yet they appeared quite dry within, the paper linings 
 of some not having been even soiled, leading to the sus- 
 
 . picion that they . had come safely in the boats. 
 
 As an illustration I may mention that I claimed at Senhor 
 Bento's house a beautiful edition of the Bible, with Eadie's 
 Commentaries, and a smaller Bible, both perfect, and showing 
 no stains or signs of having been damp ; these, as it was 
 confessed to me, had been taken out of the trunks. 
 
 Viewing the whole circumstances, I was most involuntarily 
 led to the conclusion that those persons who so. shamelessly 
 had robbed the property on the shore, and who with depraved 
 cunning had withheld" all papers which might have led io 
 the discovery of the real facts, would not have hesitated to 
 commit personal violence in order to attain tbeir objects. 
 
 I therefore requested to be shown where the bodies were 
 buried, but ' this proposition was received with evident un- 
 willingness, and consultation between the Inspector and his 
 party. I then requested the Municipal Judge to proceed to 
 an inquest on the bodies, but he declined to do so. I cannot 
 blame him for this, as he was supported by but a small force, 
 which in the probable event of resistance would have been 
 easily overpowered. I therefore considered it best to proceed 
 at once to this city, in order that an investigation might be 
 instituted ; as to proceed to Tahim, where the nearest political 
 -authority resides, would have been nearly as distant" and I 
 had no reason to expect assistance from the Sub-Delegate of 
 that place, Senhor Delfino Francisco Goncalves, who had 
 shown culpable negligence in the case. 
 
 Before leaving I requested the Municipal Judge to cause 
 search to be made in the neighbourhood with aview to dis- 
 cover the goods, clothes, &c, plundered ; this he consented 
 to do, and proceeded to examine one district, whilst I, with a 
 .guard of soldiers, accompanied the Inspector in the adjoining 
 district. Nothing was found in the houses, but it appeared 
 to me from the conduct of those we visited, that the goods 
 were probably concealed in the thickets, &c, near their 
 
 . houses, and that not only Were they prepared for such a visit, 
 but that they all acted in combination. 
 
 \ Having taken an inventory of the goods saved, and 
 arranged for the conveyance to this city of all worth the 
 carriage, I returned here. 
 
I suppose the wreck will have taken place on the 7th or 
 '8th instant, probably in the same gale in which the " Hound " 
 of Greenock and other vessels were lost, and the close com- 
 bination among those on the coast of Albardao is sufficiently* 
 exemplified by the delays in forwarding information, by 
 which they had ample opportunity to hide their plunder, ; 
 nevertheless some of the cases on the shore had been but 
 recently broken; 
 
 On arrival here I immediately requested that the ten 
 bodies which had been found should be conducted to this 
 city, in order that they might receive decent burial and that 
 an inquest should be held thereon. Yesterday four out of 
 the ten bodies - arrived, the others being withheld. I was 
 present at the inquest, but have not yet received the report 
 of those four bodies ; three had been found unburied in the 
 open plain. These bodies were found away from the shore, 
 and far from the remnants of the wreck. 
 
 It will be my duty further to report «my proceedings upon 
 this painful matter. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) H. P. VEREKER. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 1. 
 
 Consul Vereker to Senhor de Bitancourt, June 20. 1861. 
 
 [See Enclosure 3 in No. 2.] 
 
 No. 2. 
 Consul Vereker to Lord J. Russell. — {Reeevoed September 2.) 
 , , ■ Rio Grande do Sul, July t, 1861. 
 
 MyLobd, 
 In my despatch of the 25th ultimo I had the honour to 
 enclose a report to the Board of Trade, respecting various 
 circumstances connected with the wreck, at about seventy 
 miles to the southwards of this city, of the British barque 
 "Prince of Wales," of Glasgow. On the same occasion I 
 
respectfully called your Lordship's attention to that report. 
 Therein the violent plunder of the cargo of the barque was 
 referred to; the alleged deaths by drowning of all the 
 persons on board ; the circumstances under which the 
 bodies were stated to have been found, far from the locality 
 where the boats and principal portions of the wreck and 
 cargo were remaining ; the repugnance manifested against 
 holding an inquest, as I requested, or even showing me the 
 places where the bodies were buried ; the circumstance that 
 the authorities of the coast did not hold an inquest, as it 
 was their duty to do j , and various- other occurrences, lead- 
 ing to the suspicion that violence may have been used 
 towards some at least of those who had been on board the 
 vessel, and even that those washed on shore may not have 
 been buried, as was asserted, — were mentioned in the same 
 report. 
 
 Under those circumstances, and as I could not, in view of 
 the facts, rely on the efficiency or impartiality of the 
 authorities of the coast district, I returned to this city, 
 where I arrived on the night of the 18th ultimo. I im- 
 mediately communicated verbally with the Delegate of 
 Police, and afterwards addressed to him my despatch of that 
 date (of which a copy is enclosed) requesting that the- bodies 
 of those who had belonged to the barque might be brought 
 to. the cemetery of this city, to be there,, after an inquest had 
 been held, decently buried. 
 
 The Delegate of Police promptly complied with my request, 
 and on the following day sent down a force to bring up the 
 bodies of those unfortunate persons ; making itj however, a 
 condition that I should guarantee the expenses, as he stated 
 he had no authority to incur them. I felt bound to agree 
 to this proposal, in order to omit no effort to discover the 
 truth and punish "the criminals ; considering, also, that the 
 decent burial of those unfortunate people was a matter whicji, 
 in due regard to British character and dignity, I should 
 provide for : but I stated that, inasmuch as the expenses 
 were principally caused by the negligence of the Brazilian 
 authorities on the coast, in not holding an inquest, or causing 
 the bodies to be regularly buried, I considered that the 
 expense, as far as it resulted from that circumstance, was 
 one which should properly fall on the Brazilian Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 I have now the honour to request your Lordship's authority 
 for the expenses I have incurred in this matter. • 
 
8 
 
 In OTder that the whole circumstances may be before your 
 Lordship, I. enclose an extract from my despatch to the 
 Delegate of Police, a copy cf which accompanied my des- 
 patch of the 25th ultimo to your Lordship ; I also enclose a 
 translation of the despatch of the Delegate of Police in 
 reply, and of. his instructions to the Sub-Delegate of Tahim, 
 sent therewith. 
 
 I should observe, that instead of the bodies of the ten 
 persons who had been wrecked from the " Prince of Wales," 
 and were stated to have been buried, only four were delivered 
 up, and of these three had been found away from the coast, 
 unburied, and completely stripped of their clothes. The 
 retention of six bodies (five of which, including those of 
 two females, and of one called the captain, had been buried 
 in the one place) serves only to augment the very grave 
 suspicions which rest on the inhabitants of the coast, and to 
 justify my measures for a searching investigation into the 
 facts. The ridiculous allegation on which the non-compliance 
 with the orders of the Delegate of Police is based — viz., the 
 place of burial not being discovered, in consequence of the 
 change's in the territorial appearance of the locality, is wholly 
 untenable. 
 
 On the 25th ultimo the four bodies which had been 
 delivered up were buried in the cemetery for Protestants of 
 this city; the funeral was attended by a large number of 
 the British residents, and the ceremony made as imposing as 
 could be done consistently with economy. I have paid the 
 expenses. 
 
 In conclusion, I have to observe that the course I adopted 
 seems to have met the sanction of all Christians in this 
 place, causing a sensation in the locality of the wreck, but, 
 I believe, producing a wholesome effect, and, in the event of 
 similar disasters recurring, the residents will at least under- 
 stand that crimes will not be allowed to pass unperceived, and 
 may be induced to pay greater respect to those who suffer 
 the misfortune of being driven upon these shores. 
 
 Although the wilful delays of conveying information have 
 caused considerable difficulties in this case, I shall not relax 
 my' efforts to discover the truth. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) H. P. VEREKER 
 
Enclosure 1 in No. 2. 
 
 Consul Vereker to Senhgr de Bitancowrt. 
 
 Bio Grande do Sul, June 18, 1861, at night 
 
 Sib, 
 
 Having ascertained by a visit to the coast of Albardao, to 
 the plaee where the British barque " Prince of Wales " was 
 wrecked, whence I returned this day, that the, bodies of ten 
 persons (eight men, one woman, and one girl), who had 
 been conveyed in that barque, have been found on the shore 
 and there put into the sands, I have to request that you 
 will order that the said bodies may be" conveyed to a cemetery 
 of this city, to be there decently buried, and that an official 
 inquest should take place on the said bodies, as soon as they 
 should be conveyed here, in order to ascertain whether those 
 persons died by natural causes, accident, or violence. The 
 urgent necessity of having an immediate inquest held, I 
 have already had the honour verbally to point out to you 
 
 I would also request you to inform me when the bodies 
 of those British subjects arrive, and of the time of the 
 inquest, in order that I may be present. You will.no 
 <U>ubt, direct that clothes or any other articles found ad- 
 joining or near to the deceased, may be conveyed at the 
 same time, with a note as to how they were found. 
 
 Feeling full confidence that you will act in this matter 
 with zeal and discretion, I avail myself, &c. 
 
 (Signed) H. P. VEKEKER. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 2. 
 
 Senhor de Bitancowrt to Senhor Goncalves. 
 
 (Translation.) 
 
 Delegacy of Police of the District, June 19, 1861. 
 
 Sib, 
 The English Consul.having required by a despatch of this 
 day, that the bodies of those who formed the crew of the 
 barque "Prince of Wales," and are buried on the shore, 
 should be disinterred, you will with all urgency proceed to 
 this duty, ordering here the bodies with the same clothes 
 
10 
 
 with which they were buried, contracting for this purpose 
 means of conveyance, which will be here paid by the 
 respective Consul. I avail myself of the occasion to recom- 
 mend you to employ all energy in order that an account 
 may be taken of the goods of said barque, which with so 
 much scandal were robbed by some residents of that district, 
 pointing out at the same time who were the authors of so 
 heinous a crime ; and they being known, you will cause them 
 to be arrested, that they may be processed and punished, 
 in order that thgse degenerate Brazilians may not stain 
 the good name of the country in the eyes of the stranger. 
 God 'preserve, &c. 
 (Signed) 
 ANTONIO ESTEVAO DE BITANCOURT E SILVA. 
 
 Enclosure 3 in No. 2. 
 Con&ul Vereker to Senhor de Bitanconrt. 
 
 Kio Grande do Sul, June 20, 1861. 
 (Extract.) 
 
 I shall now refer to the deaths of the crew and passengers 
 whose bodies have been fqund, viz., eight men, a lady, and ft. 
 girl ; and without drawing any conclusion on the sub- 
 ject, it becomes my painful duty to place the facts before 
 you, as I myself saw them, and to request that the most 
 energetic steps, without distinction of persons, may be 
 taken to discover the truth. . I have stated that the long- 
 boat and the greater part of the cargo and appurtenances 
 of the barque were found in nearly the same spot, also the 
 seamen's and captain's chests. The long-boat was broken 
 at theprow.apparently from striking on the sands ; the gig in 
 a perfect state,_ and the oars of both were also found there. 
 In the same spot were found many light objects, such k$ 
 large pieces of cork, feather pillow-eases, &c.;' and the 
 trunks, -which had been broken open appeared in some 
 instances quite dry inside, showing no signs of damage by 
 sea-water. Now, in view of the position of the hull, which 
 seems to be anchored outside, it is almost certain that some of 
 the crew were not only in the long-boat but in the gig, and, 
 supposing they were drowned it is reasonable to presume 
 
11 
 
 that the bodies would have been washed ashore in the locality 
 where the objects I have mentioned were found. The bodies 
 are, however, stated to have been discovered at a distance of 
 from two to three leagues from the spot, and beyoiad the 
 point'where parts of the cargo were washed ashore. 
 
 It is to be observed that the ship's jolly-boat was found 
 on shore at about one league from the central point.I have 
 mentioned. It seems probable that the captain, or others 
 of the crew, were in this boat and steering to the north- 
 wards, when they got aground. Near this boat it is stated 
 some bodies were found; but how the bodies of those 
 who, as far as can be judged, were conveyed in the long- 
 boat and gig could have reached this point, and even the 
 Eio da Baeta, a place much to the northwards, seems to be 
 a matter worthy of the most serious investigation and 
 consideration ; and it is to be noted that ten persons woiild 
 not be conveyed in the jolly-boat. 
 
 Under the circumstances I have detailed, it was manifestly 
 the duty of the Sub-Delegate of Police, Senhor Delfiho 
 Francisco Goncalves, to order an immediate inquest on 
 the bodies found, and to -have proceeded to the spot to pro- 
 tect the property. It also might have been expected that 
 the Justice of the Peace would have communicated on 
 the 9th the fact of the wreck, and that the Inspector of the 
 district, who states he proceeded to the wreck on the 11th, 
 would on that occasion have sent despatches to the Sub- 
 Delegate of Tahim and to you ; nevertheless, it was only 
 on the 14th that an account that a wreck had taken place 
 reached this city, and even the nation to which the vessel 
 belonged was not stated : although it cannot be doubted that 
 on the body of the captain and others there would have 
 been papers to prove the nationality, yet all such proofs 
 seem intentionally to have been kept back ; and though 
 the vessel was fitted up with much luxury, and it is evident 
 from the remnants found that persons of independent 
 position were on board, there do not appear watches, money 
 or even a coat or shirt belonging to the captain or passengers. 
 
 "Viewing the whole circumstances, I regret to come to the 
 conclusion that much of the sad result in this case is 
 attributable to the culpable negligence or connivance of the 
 local authorities, and that information respecting the loss 
 of the barque "Prince of Wales" was intentionally delayed 
 and concealed. I therefore repeat my request that you 
 will adopt every means in your power searchingly to inves- 
 
12 
 
 tigate this painful case, and I hope that you will assist in 
 promoting measures to prevent a repetition of the savage 
 and disgraceful scenes which have marked it, as discreditable 
 alike to the Brazilian authorities and to residents upon 
 this coast. 
 
 Enclosure 4 in No. 2. 
 Senhor de Bitancourt to Consul Vereker. 
 
 Delegaoy.of Policf, Rio Grande do Sul, 
 June 22, 1861. 
 (Translation.) 
 Sir, 
 Acknowledging the receipt of your despatch of the 
 20th instant, I have to answer that on the 19th I for- 
 warded the convenient orders to the Sub-Delegate of 
 Police of Tahirn, not only that he should disinter the 
 bodies of those wrecked from the barque " Prince of 
 "Wales," as well as to inquire respecting all in reference 
 to the wreck of the said barque, ,as you will see by the 
 said despatch which I send you in -copy. 
 
 As this Delegacy is not competent to proceed against 
 any persons who were the authors or accomplices of so 
 heinous a . crime, but only the Municipal and Commercial 
 Judgeship, to this you ought to apply from this day forth 
 for what may be necessary, being however able to count 
 on the assistance of the police to imprison those ' who had 
 share in the perpetration of the crime. I proceed to 
 reiterate my orders to the respective Sub-Delegate. 
 God preserve, &c, 
 (Signed) ' 
 ANTONIO ESTEVAO DE BITANCOUET E SILVA 
 
 No. a 
 
 Mr. Layard to Consul Vereker. 
 
 Foreign Office, September 5, 1861. 
 
 Sir, 
 I am directed by Lord Bussell to acknowledge the 
 receipt of your despatches of the 25th of June and 5th 
 
13 
 
 -of July, in which you report the circumstances which 
 attended the wreck of the vessel " Prince of Wales," of 
 Glasgow, ,.i-.. 
 
 It is evident from your despatches' that there has teen 
 gross negligence, if not misconduct, on the part of the 
 Brazilian local authorities, and that there is even reason 
 to suspect that the plunder of the cargo and of the 
 effects of the passengers, "and even the murder of some 
 of the survivors from the wreck, have ' been the result of 
 that negligence. 
 
 - Lord Eussell has instructed Her Majesty's Charge" 
 d' Affaires at Rio, to whom you will doubtless have for- 
 warded copies of your despatches on this subject, to lose 
 no time in calling the attention of the Brazilian Govern- 
 ment to this case, and to request that a searching inquiry 
 may be instituted With a view, to the punishment of the 
 parties convicted of negligence or of being concerned in 
 the plunder of the vessel, and that those who may be 
 convicted of outrages upon those who survived the wreck 
 may be brought to justice. 
 
 You will in the meanwhile use your utmost endeavours 
 to procure full information on the subject. • 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) A. H; LAYAED. 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 Mr. Layard to the Secretary to the Admiralty. 
 
 Foreign Office,»September 6, 1861. 
 SlE, 
 I am directed by Lord Eussell to state to you that his 
 Lordship has received from Her Majesty's Consul at Eio 
 Grande do Sul an account of the circumstances under which 
 the vessel " Prince of Wales" of Glasgow was wrecked on 
 the coast of Albardao, in Brazil, and from which it. appears 
 not only that the local authorities on the coast exhibited 
 gross negligence, if they were not guilty of actual mis- 
 conduct, but that there are grounds for. suspecting that the 
 calamity of the wreck was followed by the plunder of por<- 
 
14 
 
 tions of the goods saved from the vessel, and that some of 
 the crew or passengers- who may have been saved from thg 
 wreck have been unfairly dealt with. . 
 
 Under- these circumstances Lord Russell will by the next 
 mail instruct Her Majesty's Charge* d' Affaires at Rio to re- 
 quest the Brazilian Government to cause a searching investi- 
 gation to be instituted into all the circumstances of- the case, 
 with a view to the punishment of any persons found guilty 
 of such outrages, and Mr. Baillie will also be desired to com- 
 municate with the Admiral on the Station in order that, if 
 possible, one of Her Majesty's vessels should proceed to the „ 
 coast where* the wreck occurred, both to assist in the recovery 
 and protection of the property wrecked, and also, if occasion 
 offered, to cooperate in the proposed inquiry. 
 
 I am, &c. . 
 (Signed) A. H LAYAED. 
 
 No. 5. 
 Earl Russell to Mr. Baillie. 
 
 Foreign Office, September 6, 1861. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 You will have received from Mr. Consul Vereker an ac- 
 count of the wreck of the vessel "Prince of Wales" of 
 Glasgow on the coast of Albardao, arid of the steps taken by 
 him for the recovery of the property saved from the wreck 
 
 It is evident from Mr. Vereker's reports that there has 
 been gross negligence, if riot misconduct, on the' part of the 
 Brazilian local authorities, and there is even reason to suspect 
 that the plunder of the cargo of the vessel and of the effects 
 of the passengers, and even the murder of some of them who 
 may have survived the wreck of their vessel, have been the 
 result of that negligence. ' 
 
 Should you not have done so already before the receipt of 
 this despatch, you will lose no time in calling the serious 
 attention of the Brazilian Government to this case, and you 
 will, request that a strict inquiry may be instituted into the 
 circumstances, and that the parties convicted of such culpable 
 negligence may be suitably punished, and that those who 
 •may be convicted of outrage upon the survivors from the 
 wreck may be brought to justice. 
 
15 
 
 You will also communicate with the Admiral command- 
 ing Her Majesty's naval forces on the station, as it will be 
 desirable that one of Her Majesty's vessels of war should, if 
 possible, visit the coast where the wreck occurred both to 
 assist in the recovery and protection of the property wrecked, 
 sad also, if occasion offered, to cooperate in the inquiry which 
 the Brazilian Government will doubtless institute on your 
 communicating with them on this subject. 
 
 I enclose a copy of a despatch which I have addressed to 
 Mr. Consul Vereker regarding this case.* 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) RUSSELL. 
 
 Kb. 6. 
 Mr. Stephens to Earl Russell. — (Received September 2&.) 
 
 Newry, Dimdalk, Drogheda, and Dumfries Screw Steam- 
 packet Office, 58, Oswald Street, Glasgow, September 20, 1861, 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 I beg to bring to your notice the documents received by 
 the Board of Trade from the British Consul at Eio Grande, 
 relative to the loss of my barque " Prince of Wales," and it 
 is with great pain I have come to the conclusion that my 
 captain and his lady, and the whole crew, have been brutally 
 murdered by the Brazilians, after safely escaping shipwreck. 
 I need hardly say to you, my Lord, the heart-rendings this 
 -has caused; the widows of the first and second mates with 
 their families have been driven to the poor-house, and I have 
 lost a faithful and invaluable servant who was about seven- 
 teen years in my service- ; he was a quiet and peaceable man, 
 and the voyage before last discharged a cargo at Bahia. He 
 would not think> I am certain, of carrying any weapons of 
 defence with him. 
 
 You will also see the cargo and stores have been plundered, 
 and part of the plunder was found in the Justice's house, 
 who, it was plainly seen, aided and protected the plunderers 
 and murderers. 
 
 *No. -3, 
 
16 
 
 Under the circumstances I am advised the Brazilian go- 
 vernment are liable in restitution of the cargo and stores, 
 valued at .£5,500 (exclusive of the ship,) and I hope you will 
 not only insist on payment, thereof, but also for the sake of 
 humanity insist on the Brazilian authorities exerting them- 
 selves to find out and punish the murderers, so that an 
 example may show that the British Government will not 
 allow their subjects to be robbed and murdered, in any 
 country, with impunity. 
 
 Britain may be proud of such a man as Consul Vereker. 
 May he meet with the reward he deserves, is the prayer of 
 yours, &c, 
 
 ' (Signed) R P. STEPHENS. 
 
 No. 7. 
 
 Mr. Stephens- to Sari Russell. — (Received October \.) 
 
 Newry, Dundalk, Drogheda, and Dumfries Screw Steam- 
 packet Office, 58, Oswald Street, Glasgow, September 23, 1861. 
 
 My Lord, 
 In addition to the claim already sent you for the stores and 
 goods plundered by the Brazilians ex the " Prince of Wales," 
 near Bio Grande, I omitted to add my claim for the freight of 
 the goods, which amounted to £1,025,. 19s. It will be satis- 
 factory to the relatives of. the murdered crew of this ship if 
 you will inform me what steps are taking in this matter. 
 
 I. remain, &c. 
 (Signed) R P. STEPHENS. 
 
 No. 8. 
 
 Mr. Layard to Mr. Stephens. 
 
 Foreign Office, September 26, 1861. 
 ' -Slfi, 
 I am directedby Earl Russell to acknowledge the receipt 
 of your letter of the 20th instant, stating that you have 
 reason to suppose that the, captain of your vessel " Prince of 
 
17 
 
 Wales," his wife, and the. whole of the crew, after escaping 
 shipwreck, were murdered by the Brazilians ; and Y am to 
 state to you, in reply, that Her Majesty's Charge d' Affaires at 
 Kio de . Janeiro was instructed by the last mail to address 
 a strong representation to the Brazilian Government respect- 
 ing the circumstances attending the loss of your vessel. 
 
 I am to add that a copy of your letter will be sent to Her 
 Majesty's Charge" d'Affairesat Bio. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) A. H. LAYAED. 
 
 Nb. 9. 
 .Earl Russell to Mr. Baillie. 
 
 Foreign Office, September 26, 1861. 
 SlK, 
 
 With reference to my despatch of the 6th instant, I en- 
 close for your information, copies of two further letters from 
 Mr. Stephens on the subject of his claim against the Brazilian 
 Government on account of the wreck of his barque the 
 " Prince of Wales " on the Brazilian coast.* 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) ' EUSSELL. 
 
 No. 10. 
 
 Mr. Layard to Mr. Stephens. 
 
 Foreign Office, October 4, 1861. 
 SlK, 
 I am directed by Earl Eussell to acknowledge the receipt 
 of your letter of the 23rd ultimo, respecting your claim to 
 receive compensation from the Brazilian Government in the 
 matter of the wreck of your vessel the '' Prince of Wales ;" 
 and I am to state to you, in reply, that when, an answer is 
 
 * Nos. 6 and 7. 
 
18 
 
 received from the, Brazilian Government to the representa- 
 tions which Her Majesty's Charge" d' Affaires has been in- 
 structed to make, his Lordship will be better enabled to con- 
 sider what further steps can be taken in this matter. 
 
 I am, &c.,~ 
 (Signed) A H. LAYARD. 
 
 No. 11. 
 
 Mr. Stephens to Earl- Russell. — [Received October 22.) 
 
 Newry, Dundalk, Drogheda, and Dumfries Screw Steam-packet ■' 
 Office, 58 Oswald street, Glasgow, October 19, 1861. . 
 
 My Loed, 
 
 I have just received a despatch from the Marine Depart- 
 ment of Privy Council respecting the late ship "Prince of 
 Wales," and regret again being obliged to trouble your Lord- 
 ship on this subject; but it is evident to me, the delay in 
 holding an inquest is intentional on the part of the Brazilian 
 Government. Will you therefore please direct your Consul 
 to hold one by British residents ? Far be it from me to 
 harrow up further' the feelings of the relatives of the captain, 
 his wife, and creW of the ill-fated ship, or bring disgrace 
 upon the Brazilian nation by publishing the accounts of the 
 massacre, which I have hitherto refused to dp. If, however, 
 ray claims are not at once settled, and an additional sum paid 
 as compensation for the murder of the people, which I hereby 
 authorize your Charge" dAffaires to fix at Rio de Janeiro, and 
 with which I will be content, and will on receiving the same 
 undertake to relieve them from all claims from this country 
 respecting the plunder and murder, and also refrain from 
 publication of the affair. It will then rest with themselves 
 as a matter of conscience whether they are taking the neces- 
 sary steps to punish the guilty parties. 
 
 I may at the same time ask you, my Lord, if you are going 
 to let such a barefaced and wholesale murder and plunder be 
 committed, on British property, and allow routine or any 
 cause whatever to defeat justice. 
 
 My Lord, I don't think I am asking too much, or more 
 than the exigency of the case requires, that you should at 
 
19 
 
 once send in a man of war, and insist at once on restitution, 
 and no more humbugging on the part. of the Brazilian 
 authorities, which in this case has been most disgraceful. I 
 have been sending vessels there this last twenty-five years, 
 and had many acts to complain of, but never for a moment 
 dreamt they would murder a whole crew in order to hide 
 their plunder. It is horrible, horrible. I am sick while 
 writing, and hope I will not again have to trouble your Lord- 
 ship on this matter. 
 
 I remain, &c, 
 (Signed) E, P. STEPHENS. 
 
 No. 12. 
 Mr. Baillie to Earl Russell. — (Received December 4). 
 
 Kio de Janeird, November 5, 1861. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 In compliance with the instructions contained in your 
 Lordship's despatch of the 6th of 'September, I communi- 
 cated to Senhor Taques the circumstances connected with 
 the wreck of the " Prince of Wales," of Glasgow, off the 
 coast of Albardao ;• requesting that a strict inquiry might be 
 instituted with a view to the punishment of the local 
 authorities convicted of negligence, and that those who com- 
 mitted outrages on the survivors might be brought to justice ; 
 and his Excellency has informed me that instructions in that 
 sense would be immediately forwarded to the President of 
 the Province. 
 
 I also addressed a despatch to Mr. Consul Vereker, re- 
 questing him to give me any further information on the sub- 
 ject which he might have received. 
 
 Mr. Vereker states that he has not heard from the President 
 what has been the result of the investigation he ordered im- 
 mediately after the intelligence of the circumstances' con- 
 nected with the- wreck had been communicated to his Ex- 
 cellency. 
 
 * It appears, however, that an Indian named Mariano has 
 been arrested as implicated in the robberies ; he is stated to 
 be an employe" of Senhor Bento Venancio Soares, the Justice 
 of the" Peace of the district of Albardao, and has been a long 
 
20 
 
 time in jail ; but it is said that no evidence can be obtained 
 against him, the residents on the coast even disobeying the 
 judicial orders to appear as witnesses. Two others, both in 
 the employ of Senhor Soares, are stated to have fled to the 
 Republic of Uruguay. Senhor Soares himself has been ex- 
 amined, but nothing elicited ; and Mr. Vereker informs me 
 that he was not given the opportunity of being present at 
 the examination either of this person or of the Indian 
 Mariano. 
 
 It is much to be hoped that the Government will punish 
 some of the local authorities, who have been clearly, guilty 
 of the most- culpable negligence ; and I have requested the 
 Admiral to send a ship, if possible, to the coast where the 
 wreck occurred, to assist in the recovery of the property 
 wrecked,and to cooperate in the inquiry which will be insti- 
 tuted ; but I much fear that it will be very difficult to con- 
 vict the real culprits in a country where the administration 
 of justice is extremely faulty, and an acquittal almost in- 
 variably granted to those who can pay" for it. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) EVAN P. M. BAILLIE. 
 
 P.S. — Since writing the above, I have had an opportunity 
 of speaking to Admiral Warren, who has only arrived here 
 from the Eiver Plate within the last few days, and he informs 
 me that he proposes to send two vessels to lie off the coast of 
 Eio Grande, and to instruct an officer to place himself in 
 communication with Mr. Vereker for the purpose of watch* 
 ing the inquiry, and rendering every assistance in his power. 
 
 E. P. M. B. 
 
 No. 13. 
 Consul Vereker to-Earl Russell. — {Received December 4). 
 
 Rio Grande do Sul, October 18, 1881. 
 
 My Losd, 
 
 , I have the. honour. to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. 
 Under-Secretary Layard's despatch of the «th September last,- 
 referring to the lamentable propeedings which took place on 
 the occasion of the wreck of the British barque " Prince of 
 Wales," of Glasgow, upon the coast of Albardao in this pro- 
 
21 
 
 vince, the neglect of the local authorities being specially 
 reprehensible. 
 
 As soon as I became aware of the events which had taken 
 place in connexion with the wreck, I communicated*with his 
 Excellency the President of this province and with thelocal 
 authorities, urging a searching investigation into the matter ; 
 and have now the honour to enclose copies of my despatches 
 to his Excellency Senhor Antao, and translations of his re- 
 plies. I also enclosed, under flying seal, to Her Majesty's 
 Mission my despatches on the subject addressed to youf 
 Lordship and to the Board of Trade, at the same time sug- 
 gesting that the cage appeared to be one in which a represen- 
 tation to the Brazilian Central Government might properly be 
 made with a view to the punishment of the criminals, and 
 the prevention of such proceedings in future. 
 
 I have now further forwarded to Her Majesty's Charge* 
 d' Affaires at Bio de Janeiro copies of the principal des- 
 patches referring to the wreck, besides giving such addi- 
 tional information as has come to my knowledge. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) H. P. VEREKEK. 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 13. 
 
 Consul Vereker to Senhor Leao. 
 
 Bio Grande do Sal, June 20, 1861. 
 
 The Undersigned, &c, has the honour to lay before his 
 Excellency Senhor Joaquim Antao Fernandes Leao, Pre- 
 sident of this Province, the translation of a despatch which 
 he has this day forwarded to the Delegate of Police of 
 this district* in reference to the scandalous proceedings 
 which took place on the coast of Albardao in connexion 
 with the wreck of the British barque " Prince of Wales." 
 The Undersigned invites his Excellency's serious attention 
 to the information conveyed in that despatch, and to the 
 
 * Enclosure 1 in. No,, 2. 
 
22 
 
 culpable negligence of the local authorities, and trusts his 
 Excellency will adopt efficient measures in the case. 
 •. The Undersigned, &c., 
 
 (Signed) H. P. VEEEKEE. - 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No.. 13. 
 
 Senhar Leao to Consul Vereker. , 
 
 Palace of the Presidency in Porto Alegre, 
 June 27, 1861. 
 (Translation.) 
 
 Acknowledging the receipt of the despatch which the 
 Honourable Henry Prendergast Vereker, Her Britannic 
 Majesty's Consul in the city of Eio Grande, addressed to 
 me, dated 20th instant, in which he enclosed a copy of 
 that he addressed to the Delegate of Police of the district 
 of the same city, detailing criminal agts practised by the 
 inhabitants of Albardao on the occasion of the wreck of 
 the " Prince of Wales," it becomes my duty to signify to 
 the Consul that precautions have been taken to proceed 
 with all the rigour of the laws against the individuals 
 who robbed the objects cast upon the shore ; as well as that 
 it may be known whether the persons who formed the crew 
 of that vessel .were or not assassinated, as the Consul 
 presumes : certain that, proceedings will also be taken 
 against the authorities of Tahim if in effect they omitted 
 immediately to take, as was their duty, the necessary 
 measures to prevent such robberies, being certain that in fit 
 time he will be given the knowledge of the investigations 
 to which, for the present, orders are given to proceed. 
 I avail, &c. 
 (Signed) 
 
 JOAQUIM ANTAO FEENANDES LEAO. 
 
 Enclosure 3 in No. 13. 
 
 • Consul Vereker to Senhor Leao. 
 
 Rio Grande do Sul, June 28, 1861. 
 
 Sir, 
 Eeferring to my note of the 20th instant enclosing the 
 
23 
 
 translation of a -despatch I had addressed to the Delegate, of 
 Police of this city, respecting the proceedings which 
 had taken place on the coast of Albardao, on the occasion of 
 the wreck of the British barqtte ' Prince of Wales," I 
 have the honour, for your Excellency's information, to 
 enclose a copy of the reply received* 
 
 Your Excellency will perceive from these papers that the 
 Delegate of -Police, though he acted with, prompt e'hergy 
 respecting my application to have the bodies of the 
 unfortunate persons who perished brought to the cemetery 
 of . this . city, now wishes, to throw the responsibility of 
 investigating this serious case upon the Municipal Judge, 
 who on his part seems to consider that it is the police 
 authorities who . should conduct the investigation. The 
 result of such disputes is that the guilty parties, remain 
 unpunished, and are given- time to conceal the proofs of 
 their criminality. 
 
 I would also observe to your Excellency on the manifest 
 inefficiency of the authorities' on the coast of Albardao. 
 Although the orders of the Delegate of Police were positive 
 that the ten bodies which had appeared should be conducted 
 to the cemetery of this city, only four were delivered up 
 and allowed decent burial, and of these three were found 
 in the open plain ; yet I had been assured by the Inspector 
 of the District that all had been buried, and that five 
 (including the bodies of two females, and one which 
 appeared to be that of the • captain,) had been buried in the 
 one spot. It is therefore indubitable that with proper 
 energy the persons in whose presence or by whom they had 
 been buried, could have been found and compelled to point 
 out the place. The non-delivery of those bodies, coupled 
 with the shameless plunder of the cargo, and the rumours 
 existing of violence having been offered to the crew, is a 
 Very suspicious circumstance, and shows at least that in 
 such a case the authorities should not have paused in the 
 performance of their duties, and for the honour of Brazil 
 should have searched out the truth. 
 
 I avail, &c. 
 (Sighed) H. P. VEKEKER 
 
 * Enclosure 4 in No. 2. 
 
24 
 
 -Enclosure 4 in No. 13. 
 Senhor Leao to Consul Vereker. 
 
 Palace of the Presidency in Porto Alegre, 
 July 11, 1861. 
 (Translation.) 
 
 There has been before me the despatch whiohMr. H. P. 
 Vereker, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul in the City of Eio 
 Grande addressed to me on the 28th June last, communicating 
 to me that although the Delegate of Police of the district 
 of that same city had comported himself with promptness 
 and energy respecting his request that the bodies of the 
 unfortunate persons wrecked from the barque "Prince of 
 Wales" should be brought to the same, city, there only 
 arrived there four, whilst the respective Inspector of the 
 district had asserted to him that the number of those who 
 had been buried was larger, and that accordingly if the neces- 
 sary diligence had been, employed the result would have been 
 different. 
 
 Taking into consideration what is stated by the said 
 Consul, I declare to him that on this occasion I reiterate my 
 order' to the Chief of the Police in order to proceed with 
 all energy to search into this fact, according as had been 
 ordered. 
 
 I avail, &c. 
 (Signed) 
 JOAQITIM ANTAO FEKNANDES LEAO. 
 
 No. 14. 
 
 Mr. Stephens to Earl Russell. {Received January 6.) 
 
 . 58, Oswald Street, Glasgow, January 3, 1862. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I would take it a. great favour if you would direct that I 
 should be advised the reply of the Brazilian Government 
 respecting the barque " Prince of "Wales " wrecked on the 
 coast of Brazil, of which the crew were murdered on the 
 6th June last, by tomorrow's post, as the mail leaves the 
 next week, which gives little time for reply should it be 
 necessary. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) R P. STEPHENS. 
 
25 
 
 No. 15, 
 Mr. Layard to Mr. Stephens. 
 
 Foreign Office, January 6, 1862. 
 
 Sir, 
 In reply to your letter of the 3rd instant I am directed 
 by Lord Bussell to inform you that he learns from Her 
 Majesty's Charge" d' Affaires in Brazil that an inquiry is 
 being made on the spot into the circumstances of the 
 wreck of the " Prince of Wales " and the murder of her 
 crew on the Brazilian coast ; and I am to add that the 
 result of that inquiry must be awaited before any further 
 steps are taken in the matter, and that you will be informed of 
 that result. 
 
 I am, &c 
 (Signed) A. H. LAYAED. 
 
 No. 16. 
 
 Mr. Stephens to Earl Russell. — (Received January 8. J 
 
 Glasgow, January 7, 1 862. 
 MY LOKD; 
 I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 
 of the 6th inst., and beg to inform you that the ship "Prince 
 of Wales," which was lost seven months ago — say, on the 6th 
 of June, 1861 — I have ascertained that the captain, his wife, 
 and crew, landed safely with his boats on the Brazilian terri- 
 tory, with his British flag, chronometer, nautical instruments, 
 log-book, clearance, and his British register in his pocket, 
 with provisions, and all pther necessaries, except fire-arms, 
 or weapons of defence. These were all taken possession of, 
 and the captain and the crew were immediately plundered 
 and murdered, and four of the crew, who escaped aboutlour 
 miles inland, were then murdered and partially plundered, 
 and their nationality, as well as that of the ship, attempted 
 to be destroyed.- This was fortunately discovered, after some 
 days, by the British Consul, who also found the captain's 
 Bible, which had been purchased in Glasgow, new, about two 
 months previously, (the name of the captain was on the 
 Bible,) in the house of the Brazilian " Justice of Peace," 
 
26 
 
 whose residence was three miles distant, and the nearest 
 house to the wreck. Said "Justice of Peace" acknowledged 
 to have taken the Bible from the captain's trunk. Therefore 
 the Brazilian authorities can have no- delay or difficulty in as- 
 certaining that the crew of the boats, with all the baggage, 
 luggage, &c, &c, were all landed in perfect order and safety, 
 and that they were all barbarously murdered, in the expec- 
 tation thereby to enjoy the plunder without question. We 
 need hardly refer your Lordship to the law of this country 
 which compels restitution to be made by the country where 
 the wreck is plundered, and I hope you will now see the ne- 
 cessity to urge upon the Charge" d'Affaires in Brazil to insist 
 upon instant reparation being made for the loss of the lives, 
 as well as the loss of property. Although our own loss of 
 the captain has been very great indeed, the. loss of the people 
 depending upon him and the crew for their support is much 
 greater ; and as you will observe a very great deal of delay 
 has been already incurred, we hope you will see fit for the 
 credit of the British nation, that the matter should now be ' 
 promptly settled. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) E. P. STEPHENS. - 
 
 No. 17. 
 Mr. Layard to Mr. Stephens. 
 
 Foreign Office, January 11, 1862. 
 SlE, 
 
 I am directed by Lord Russell to state to you that 
 his Lordship would be glad to -receive from you such 
 evidence and information as you can furnish in support .of 
 the statement contained in your letter of the 7th instant," to 
 the effect that the captain of the vessel " Prince of Wales," 
 together with his wife and crew of the vessel,' landed on 
 Brazilian territory after the wreck of the "Prince of Wales," 
 and were subsequently plundered and murdered by the 
 people of the coast. 
 
 ' I am, &c. 
 (Signed) AH. LAYARD.' 
 
27 
 
 No. 18. 
 Mr. Stephens to Earl Russell. — (Received January VI.) 
 
 Glasgow, January 15, 1862. 
 
 My Loed, 
 I am favoured with your letter of 11th instant, and regret 
 the- trouble you have had at this time with the matter of the 
 barque " Prince of Wales," but from the state of that portion 
 of the Brazilian territory it will be necessary now to teach 
 them to respect the lives of any shipwrecked crew. 1 had 
 my information from the captain and crew of the schooner 
 " Hound," wrecked in the same gale, near the town of Eio 
 Grande, who saw five of the bodies with knife-euts and 
 other wounds, and some of them with their heads battered, 
 their clothes rent, and evidence of violent struggles. Three 
 or four had got away a mile or two. inland, but were over- 
 taken and killed. This is confirmed by the despatches of 
 the Consul to. the Board of Trade, which will satisfy you 
 they all landed safely, with their whole baggage, &c, &c. ; 
 not even the paper of their trunk linings wet. If you think 
 it would be necessary, to enable you to understand the matter 
 more clearly, I. would gladly go to London any day after this 
 week you could spare time to go into this matter. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 * (Signed) E. P STEPHENS. 
 
 No. 19. 
 Consul Vereker to Marl Russell. — (Received February 3, 1861.^ 
 ' Eio Grande do Sul, December 14, 1861. 
 
 My Loed, 
 
 Referring to my despatch of the 18th October last, and 
 previous ones, regarding the scandalous proceedings which 
 took place on the coast of this province upon the occasion of 
 the wreck of the barque "Prince of Wales," of Glasgow^ I 
 have tne honour to enclose translations of further corres- 
 pondence upon this matter which has taken place between 
 this Consulate and the Presidency of this province. 
 
 After the receipt of Mr. Under-Secretary Layard's despatch 
 of the 6th September last, I addressed to his Excellency the 
 
28 
 
 Acting President, my despatch of the 27th of Hovember last, 
 of which I enclose' a copy, requesting to know the result, of 
 the investigations ordered: the President in his reply of the 
 J st. instant states that he has not received the required in- 
 formations,, but has again demanded them, and will commu- 
 nicate to me the result. Subsequently his Excellency Senhor 
 Correa da Camara, by despatch dated 10th instant, conveys 
 to me the information he has collected, which appears by a 
 despatch from the Chief of Police of the province to his Ex- 
 cellency, a despatch *from the Delegate of Police of this city 
 to the Chief of Police; and a further despatch from the Chief 
 of Police to the Delegate of Police of Rio Grande. 
 
 Translations of those despatches are enclosed ; the most 
 notable are those from the Delegate of Police of this city to 
 the Chief of Police, and from the last named to the former. 
 The Delegate of Police in his despatch confirms the principal 
 statements made in my previous reports ; however, I differ 
 largely from him when he says that the proceedings of the 
 Sub-Delegate of Tahim and. of the Inspector of the district 
 cannot be blamed. The former was bound to hold an inquest 
 on the bodies of those that died, and to protect the property 
 —neither of which he did ; the latter had to collect such 
 goods as he could in benefit of the Customs, and yet most of 
 the goods which he delivered to me had been taken out of 
 their cases, and there is no real doubt but that those cases 
 were broken "by his order, and the goods of least value given 
 up. In making this statement according to my conviction, 
 I feel it right to say I cannot legally prove it ; and in the 
 despatch of the Delegate of Police of this city, whom I be- 
 lieve to be an honourable man, anxious to perform his duty, 
 it will be seen that when the authorities of the country can- 
 not obtain proofs of that which is well known, the difficulty 
 with the Representative of another Government will be yet 
 greater. 
 
 In conclusion, I would respectfully observe that in my 
 opinion the inquiry instituted into this 'case has, . as far as I 
 am informed of it, been meagre and insufficient ; no investi- 
 gation seems to have been made to ascertain whether any 
 violence had been offered to the crew, and yet this was surely 
 a most serious part of the case : besides it is not shown that 
 active measures were taken to prevent the flight of some en* 
 gaged in the plunder of the cargo, or to bring to justice those 
 wealthy inhabitants of the coast whom the Delegate of 
 
29 
 
 Police does not hesitate to point to as the principal 
 criminals. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 
 (Signed) H P. VEKEKER 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 19. 
 
 Consul Vereker to Smhor da Gamara. 
 
 ilio Grande do Sul, Nov.ember 27, 1861. 
 
 Sir, ' 
 Her Majesty's Government being desirous to obtain the 
 fullest information respecting the plunder of the cargo and 
 other objects of the British barque "Prince of Wales"' 
 wrecked on the coast of Albardao, as mentioned in my 
 despatches to the Presidency of the 20th and 28th June last, 
 audit being specially important to ascertain whether violence 
 was offered to any of the crew, I have the honour to request 
 that your Excellency may be so good as to communicate to 
 this Consulate^ the results hitherto obtained in consequence 
 of the orders of the Presidency energetically to inquire into 
 this very serious case, and the probability which may exist 
 of discovering and punishing the guilty parties. 
 
 I avail, &c. 
 (Signed) H.. P. VEREKER 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 19. 
 
 Senhor da~Gamarato Consul Vereker. 
 
 Palace of the Presidency in Porto Alegre, 
 December 1, 1861. 
 
 (Translation). 
 
 In possession of the despatch which the Honourable 
 Henry Prendergast Vereker, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul 
 in the city of Rio Grande, addressed to me on the 27th of 
 November last, I have to signify to him that, as my prede- 
 cessor had ordered that the necessary investigations respect- 
 ing the facts which had occurred in connexion with the 
 robbery of the cargo and other articles of the British barque 
 " Prince of Wales " should be proceeded with, and as such 
 informations have not yet been received on this occasion, I 
 recommend the Chief of Police to give information of the 
 result of the investigations he was ordered to make ; and as 
 quickly as they are given to me I shall bring them to the 
 
30 
 
 knowledge of the same Consul, to whom on this occasion 
 I renew, &c. 
 
 (Signed) PATEICIO COEEEA DA CAMAEA. 
 
 Enclosure 3 in No. 19. 
 
 Palace of the Presidency in Porto Alegre, 
 December 10, 1861. 
 (Translation). 
 
 In accordance with what I . promised in the despatch 
 which, on the 1st instant, I addressed to the Honourable 
 Henry Prendergast Vereker, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul 
 in the city of Bio Grande, I transmit to the same Consul a 
 copy of the despatch of the Chief of Police of this province^ 
 dated the 5th of this month, and other papers which accpM* 
 pany it, giving information regarding the state of the process 
 which was ordered to be instituted. respecting the robbery of 
 the goods saved from the barque " Prince of Wales." 
 
 By the communications referred to the same Consul will 
 recognize that every effort (" diligencia ") has been employed 
 to advance the respective process, but have not been success- 
 ful in view of the causes which the Delegate of Police of the 
 district of the city of Eio Grande points out. In the mean- 
 time the Chief of Police again recommends him, notwith- 
 standing that the accused compromised in that robbery have 
 escaped (" tern se evadidos "), that even so he should include 
 them in the process ; and that, once condemned, he should 
 send him a certificate of the condemnation, and a note of 
 the characteristic signs of each, in order that they may be 
 followed, besides other measures appearing from his despatch, 
 a copy of which I also send to the Consul mentioned, to 
 whom on this occasion I renew, &c. 
 
 (Signed) PATEICIO COEEEA DA CAMAEA. 
 
 Enclosure 4 in No. 19. 
 
 Senhor Otdlado to Senhor da Camara. 
 
 Secretary of the Police iu Porto Alegre, 
 December 5, 1861. 
 
 (Translation), 
 Sib, 
 The Delegate of Police of the district of Eio Grande, whom 
 on the 3rd of September of this year I ordered to give me 
 information of the state of the process ordered to be insti- 
 
81 
 
 tuted respecting the robbery of the goods saved of the 
 English barque " Prince of Wales," as your Excellency's pre- 
 decessor had recommended to me by despatch of the 2nd of 
 the same month, gave me the information adjoined by 
 despatch, dated the 18th of the said month, pointing out .the 
 difficulties with which he contends, and the want of means 
 to conclude as quickly as recommended the process men- 
 tioned, showing even the impediments which prevented him 
 from knowing the real culprits, as the persons who were said 
 or suspected to be involved in that robbery had passed to, the 
 Oriental State. To that despatch I gave the reply appearing 
 from the copy No. 2, on which, not having to the present 
 date a solution, I proceed again to send a despatch to the 
 authority referred to, requiring a rapid solution of this 
 question, which I shall bring to the knowledge of your Ex- 
 cellency immediately when it comes to my hands. 
 
 This is the -information which for the present I can give to 
 your Excellency in compliance with your despatches of the 
 1st and 3rd instant. 
 
 (Signed) DARIO KAFAEL CALLADO. 
 
 Enclosure 5 in No. 19. 
 
 Senhor Garcez to SenTwr Cdllado. 
 
 (Translation). .. , 
 
 Rio Grande do Sul, September 18, 1861. 
 SlE, 
 Eeplying to your despatch of the 3rd instant, in which 
 you order me to give information respecting the state in 
 which is the process which was directed to be instituted 
 about the robbery of the goods saved from the English barque 
 " Prince of Wales," it is my duty to assure you that I have 
 adopted every measure, I have done every thing . possible for 
 the advancement of that process, which it is not possible to 
 advance, seeing that, it being necessary to have the depositions 
 of witnesses to form the accusation against the only culprit 
 who is in jail, this cannot be obtained, because havjng 
 ordered three times that, various persons of the Albardaoand 
 neighbourhood should be notified to appear in this city they 
 all refused, they did not appear before the officer of justice, 
 pretending that they were sick ; some who may know some- 
 thing have absented themselves to the Oriental State ; others 
 who are known to be criminals have permanently fled for 
 
32 
 
 that neighbouring State, so that I have not been able to ad- 
 vance that process, to the injury of the unfortunate person 
 (perhaps the least guilty of all) who is imprisoned without 
 seeing an end to this process, which, with attention to the 
 difficulties with which I contend and the absence of resources 
 for these investigations, &c, &c., I do not know when it will 
 be ended. It results from the inquiries to which the Sub- 
 Delegate of Tahim proceeded, that the prisoner Mariano 
 Pinto brought to his house manufactured goods which he met 
 with on the shore, and that, having them spread out in his 
 house, they were apprehended by the Inspector when he 
 passed there" on this investigation ; it is not proved that there 
 was violence, or that Mariano Pinto broke open the cases 
 which contained manufactured, goods; which were merely met . 
 with in his house : in view of this I consult you whether I 
 can concede -bail to that prisoner in order that he should be 
 released and thus await the result of this tiresome process. 
 The cargo of the barque was all sacked. Mariano Pinto and 
 Manuel Maria Bodrigues (who fled for the Oriental State); 
 were not the only ones who robbed it ; it is known that many 
 of the inhabitants, perhaps the wealthiest of the place, are . 
 devoted to this industry, but against these no proofs appear 
 — -there will be no witnesses who would depose against them. 
 With regard to the notice of the wreck having been spread 
 on the 9th of June, and its being officially known in this 
 city on the 14th, this cannot be attributed otherwise than to 
 the .circumstance that the Inspector resides more than six 
 leagues from the place of the casualty, and the Sub-Delegate* 
 of Tahim as much or more, and that those authorities only 
 knew of the wreck after the inhabitants of the more neigh- 
 bouring parts, interested in concealing it, having robbed 
 almost all, communicated it to them, as has been the custom 
 to practise at other times and in identical circumstances, as I 
 had the occasion of verifying respecting this wreck in which 
 it was only on the 11th day of the month of June that the 
 Inspector, having on the previous evening notice of the 
 wreck, proceeded to the shore, ordering, on that day, to give 
 information to the Sub-Delegate of Tahim, who communi- 
 cated what had happened respecting the wreck to the Dele- 
 gate Of this city on the 14th. In view that there is no reason 
 to blame either the Inspector or the Sub-Delegate, and that 
 the residents are alone criminal, whom there are no means of 
 prosecuting in consequence of the absolute want of proofs 
 
33 
 
 which" only appear against the unfortunate Indian Mariano 
 Pinto* in my idea one of the less guilty because he did not 
 hide the thing robbed, and immediately gave it up to the 
 Inspector who claimed it. 
 
 God preserve, &c. 
 (Signed) ANTONIO FERREIRA GARCEZ. 
 
 Enclosure 6 in No. 19. 
 Senhor Callado to Senhor Garcez. 
 
 Secretaryship of the Police in Porto Alegre, 
 September 21, 1861. 
 (Translation.) 
 
 In answer to your despatch dated the 18th instant, respect- 
 ing the moroseness with which the process instituted against 
 the robbers of the goods saved from the English .barque 
 " Prince of Wales " proceeds, I have to point out to you that 
 as that process should terminate, and the reluctance of the 
 witnesses to come before Court cannot serve as a motive to 
 delay it, you should make use of the resources of the law, 
 ordering them to appear under the rod of justice (" debaixo 
 da vara "). It does not matter that the accused most com- 
 promised in that robbery have escaped ; it befits to include 
 them in the process, and, once condemned, you ought to send 
 me a certificate of the condemnation, and a note of the 
 characteristic signs of each one in order to cause them to be 
 followed. With regard to Mariano Pinto, he can only be 
 bailed if the denouncement was of a crime in which bail is 
 allowed, because in the* contrary case he should await the de- 
 claration of the sentence, or should use the resource of habeas 
 corpus if he were illegally imprisoned. 
 
 Finally, if the witnesses should refuse to swear the'truth 
 against the wealthy inhabitants of the . locality or the wreck 
 who, according to your opinion, are the principal criminals, 
 shown guilty of perjury they ought as such to be processed, 
 it being necessary determinately to show (" determiriar ") to 
 the Sub-Delegate of Tahim, and to the Inspector of the Dis- 
 trict, that they should investigate where the articles robbed 
 remain and who detain them, in order that they may be 
 brought to judgment ; you informing me of the progress of 
 
 D 
 
u 
 
 the process in order to give an account to the Ministry -for 
 Foreign Affairs, which urgently presses ('"insta") for the 
 result. 
 
 God preserve, &c. 
 (Signed) DAKIO KAFAEL CALLADO. 
 
 No. 20. 
 
 Mr. Baillie to Earl Russell. — (Received February 3-.) 
 
 Kio de Janeiro, "January 6, 1862. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 'With reference to my despatch of the 5th of November, 
 respecting the "wreck of the " Prince of Wales " off the coast 
 of Albardao, in which I stated that I had requested the 
 Admiral Commander-in-chief on this station to send a ship, 
 if possible, to the coast where the wreck occurred, or a naval 
 officer to be present at the inquiries about to. be instituted^" I 
 have the honour to inform your Lordship that it was deemed 
 advisable by the Admiral, upon further consideration, not to 
 .take any steps of that kind before having Mr. Vereker's 
 opinion as to the advantages that would be likely to result 
 from the presence of such an officer and the time when he 
 should arrive at his destination. . ., 
 
 I accordingly wrote to Mr. Consul Vereker on the subject, 
 and I have now the honour to enclose his reply, from which 
 your Lordship will see that he does not think that, the 
 presence" of a British officer would have a beneficial effect^ 
 unless the manner of the inquiry were altered in conse-. 
 querioe of instructions from the Brazilian Government. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) EVAN P. M. BAILLIE 
 
 Enclosure in No. 20. 
 
 Consul Vereker to Mr. Baillie. 
 
 Rio Grande do Sul, December 2, 1861. 
 SlK,~ 
 
 In reply, to your despatch of the 20th ultimo, I have the 
 
 honour to' state that I do not think that the presence of a 
 
35 
 
 British Naval officer at. the inquiry as now conducted, into 
 circumstances attending the wreck of the barque " Prince of 
 Wales," would have beneficial effect; but if the manner of 
 the inquiry were altered in consequence of instructions 
 from the Brazilian Government, it is not unlikely that the 
 presence of such an officer might be advisable. As soon as 
 the nature of the further inquiry now proposed is manifested, 
 I shall have the honour again to communicate with you on 
 the subject of your despatch. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) H. P. VEEEKEE. 
 
 No. 21. 
 
 The Secretary to the Admiralty to Mr. Layard. — (Received 
 February 5.) 
 
 Admiralty, February 4, 1862. 
 
 See, 
 With referenca.to your letter of the 6th of September 
 last, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the 
 Admiralty to transmit herewith, for the information of Earl 
 Eussell, a copy of a letter dated 23rd December last, from 
 Eear- Admiral Warren, respecting the wreck, of the "Prince 
 of Wales," of Glasgow, on the coast of Albardao, in Brazil, 
 and stating that there appears to be little doubt that the 
 vessel was plundered and the crew unfairly dealt with: 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) ,..-, W. G. BOMAINE. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 21. 
 Hear Admiral Warren to the Secretary of the Admiralty. • 
 
 "Forte," at Sea,.Lat. 27° 56' S., Long. 46° 37' W., 
 December 23, 1861. 
 
 My Lord, 
 With reference to your letter of the 7th?September, 1861, 
 enclosing the copy of a letter, from Her Majesty's Under- 
 Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, respecting the wreck 
 of the. merchant vessel "Prince of WaieSj" ;;of, Glasgow, ? 
 
 D 2 
 
on the coast of Albardao in Brazil, . and desiring me 
 to put myself in communication with Mr. Baillie, Her 
 Majesty's Charge" d' Affaires at Bio, on the subject; I 
 have now the honour to acquaint you, for their Lord- 
 ships' information, that having communicated with Mr. 
 Baillie, and received from him the details forwarded by Mr. 
 Vereker, the Consul at Bio Grande de Sul, on the subject of 
 the wreck of the "Prince of Wales," there appears to be 
 little doubt that the vessel was plundered, and the crew un- 
 fairly dealt with. 
 
 2. Having no vessel of sufficiently light draught to cross 
 the bar at the Bio Grande, I offered to send an officer to assist 
 at the investigation, if it was thought he ceuld be of service. 
 Mr. Baillie has. since acquainted me thai .Mr. Vereker is of 
 opinion that in the present- state of the inquiry it is not 
 necessary, I have consequently given up the intention^ but 
 when' I can command the services of a vessel of war that 
 can pass the bar of Bio Grande with safety, I shall send her 
 to communicate with Her Majesty's Consul there. 
 
 I have, &e. 
 (Signed) EICHD. L. WAEBEN. 
 
 No. 22. 
 
 Earl RuSsell to Mr. Baillie. 
 
 Foreign Office, February 8, 1852. 
 SlE, 
 
 You will have received from Mr. Consul Vereker a copy of 
 his despatch to me of the 14th of December, reporting the 
 result of his correspondence with the Provincial authorities, 
 regarding the case, of the wreck of the vessel "Prince 'of 
 Wales." 
 
 1 cannot consider the explanations which have been given 
 by the Brazilian authorities in this matter as being satisfac- 
 tory, and I concur in the opinion which Mr. Vereker has ex- 
 pressed as to the culpability of the authorities of the district, 
 and as to the insufficiency of the inquiry instituted, consider- 
 ing the serious nature of the case. Under these circumstances 
 I have to refer you to the instructions conveyed in my des- 
 patch of the 6th of September last, and to desire you to state 
 
37 
 
 to the Brazilian Government that Her Majesty's* Government 
 expect that a more searching; investigation shall be institorted, 
 with a view to the punishment of the parties actually con- 
 cerned in the outrage,, and of the local authorities who may 
 be convicted of negligence in dealing with the case, as- also, 
 with a view to adequate 'compensation to the owners of the 
 Vessel, whose property, by the admission of the" Brazilian au- 
 thorities themselves, has been plundered or wantonly de- 
 stroyed, and to the surviving relatives of those who may be 
 proved to have been murdered. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) BUSSELL 
 
 No. 23. 
 Consul Vereker to Earl Russell.— Received March 5, 1862. 
 
 Bio Grande do Sal, December 31, 1861. 
 (Extract.) 
 
 With- regard, to thaf part of my account current with the 
 Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury which refers 
 to expenses incurred for the discovery of the bodies of those 
 persons who were wreckedfrom the barque " Prince of Wales," 
 and for the inquests upon and burial of the same bodies, I 
 would respectfully observe that in my despatch of the 5th of 
 July, last L applied for special authority in regard to those 
 expenses, as it did not appear that they could properly be 
 chargeable to the Board of Trade, not only from the peculiar 
 character of the case, but from the absence of proof that 
 those buried were seamen ; and from the salvage of the ves- 
 sel the balance was trifling. 
 
 I may be permitted to observe that, as the expenses referred 
 to were caused by the neglect of the Brazilian authorities to 
 hold the required inquests, and to provide for the proper 
 burial of those wrecked, it is probable that those expenses 
 might justly, be claimed from the BrazilianGovernment. 
 
 Under those circumstances I have the honour again to re- 
 quest your Lordship's approval of the expenses as shown by 
 the account and incurred, ..by. me in .this serious, ease. 
 
38 
 
 No. 24. 
 Ea,rl Russell to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, March 14, 1862. 
 
 Sib, 
 I enclose an extract of a despatch from Mr. Consul Vereker* 
 respecting the expenses which lie has incurred in connexion 
 with the inquests held on the bodies of the crew of the 
 "Prince of "Wales," which, as appears from the account, 
 amount to i?32 2s. Id. 
 
 It seems to me that the Brazilian Government ought pro- 
 perly to repay this money, and, if you are of the same opinion, 
 you will bring the matter before them. 
 I am, &a 
 
 (Signed)' KUSSELL. 
 
 No. 25. 
 Consul Vereher to Earl Russell. — (Received June 3.) 
 
 Kio Grande do Sul, March 20th, 1862. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 I have the honour to enclose the copy of a despatch re- 
 ceived from his Excellency the Acting President of this 
 Province, transmitting copies of despatches from the Chief of 
 Police and from the Municipal Judge and Delegate of Police 
 of this city, in reference to the plunder of the cargo of the 
 barque " Prince of Wales." 
 
 These papers throw but little additional light on the sub- 
 ject, but the despatch of the Delegate of Police seems to point 
 to a combination or understanding among the inhabitants of 
 the coast not to give information in the case, which course, 
 fair from implying their innocence, seems rather to ' designate 
 mutual guilt. 
 
 I have taken the. liberty to delay the transmission of these 
 papers, as I was anxious to forward at the same time copies 
 
 •No. 23. 
 
39, 
 
 of the reports of inquest held on the coast of Albardao and at 
 the cemetery of this city upon the bodies of those wrecked ; 
 but notwithstanding all my efforts, I have not yet been able 
 to obtain from the Brazilian authorities copies, of those, 
 reports. 
 
 In the report of the examination of the bodies on the 
 coast, among other allegations not creditable to the local re- 
 sidents, "it is stated by. those appointed to examine the body of 
 one of the unfortunate persons from the wreck that he was 
 strangled. Such statements may. account for the unwilling- 
 ness of the authorities to give the required information, and 
 possibly for the limited nature of the inquiry instituted, as 
 there seems to exist a fear that under a more searchinginves- 
 tigation disclosures might be made which would throw, dis- 
 credit on the country. . , 
 
 If this is so (I put the suggestion forward only hypothetic- 
 ally,) it shows on the part ,^f the local authorities either a 
 culpable sympathy with evil-doers, or a. want of mo ?al courage 
 which is highly reprehensible, ,„.„„_.„ 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) . H. P. VEEEKEE. 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 25. 
 Senhor da Gcmara to Consul Vereker. 
 
 Palace of t$fe Presidency in Porto Alegre, 
 December 28, 1861. 
 (Translation.) 
 
 In addition to the despatch which on the 10th instant I ad- 
 dressed to the Honourable H. P. Vereker, Her Britannic 
 Majesty's Consul in the city of Eio Grande, I transmit to him 
 on this pcpasion a copy of the despatch which I have just re- 
 ceived from the Chief of Police of this province, dated the 
 27th of this same month, accompanied by another of the 
 Delegate of Police of that city, giving an account of the diffi- 
 culties he has met with in concluding the process instituted 
 against the robbers .of the goods saved from the barque 
 " Prince of Wales," and of its present state. 
 
 I avail, &c. ' 
 (Signed) PATEICIO COEEEA DA CAMAEA. 
 
40 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 25. 
 Senhor Cullado to Senhor da Oamara 
 
 Secretaryship or Police in Porto Alegrey 
 December 29, 1861. 
 (Translation.) 
 Sis, 
 In execution of your Excellency's despatches of the 1st 
 and 3rd instant, I pass to your hands the enclosed copyof the 
 despatch, of the Municipal -J adge and Delegate of Police of 
 the district of Bio Grande, dated the 19th of .this month, giv- 
 ing an account of the difficulties he has met with in conclud- 
 ing the process instituted against the robbers of the goods 
 saved froimthe English barque "Prinee of Wales;" it. being 
 my duty to intimate to your Excellency that at this date I 
 give new orders to the authority referred to that he should 
 make the process to take its course against the accused, who 
 are vagabonds ; . having, nevertheless, . to consider' that the 
 local conditions impede the regular administration of justice, 
 inasmuch as the wreck of that barque took place on a desert 
 and inhospitable shore, with easy transit to foreign territory.; 
 God preserve, &c. • ? 
 
 (Signed) DAPJO EAEAEL CALLADO. 
 
 . Enclosure 3 in No. 25. 
 
 Senhor Gar cez to Senhor Oallado. 
 
 City of Bio Grande, December 19, 1861. 
 (Translation.) 
 •Sir, 
 Answering your despatch dated the 5th instant, in which 
 you order me to declare as soon as possible the result of the 
 process instituted against the robbers of the goods saved from 
 the English barque' " Prince of Wales," it is' my duty- to 
 declare to you that all the investigations to know who had 
 been the robbers of those goods, having been unfruitful, and 
 one on whom rested suspicions having succeeded in escaping 
 
41 
 
 to the Oriental State, and another, Manoel Maria Rodriguez, 
 who was met with having articles of those goods saved, and who 
 immediately fled without it being possible to succeed in taking 
 him, I instituted the process against one only, Mariano Pinto, 
 native of Buenos Ayres, who also was found with articles in 
 his house. The difficulty of making the witnesses residing 
 on the coast of Albardao to come to this city, it being neces- 
 sary for me, in order to advance with the process, to notify 
 some of those residents who perchance might appear in the 
 city ; the repugnance which these residents have to appear 
 before judicial authority ; the fear of being reckoned as 
 accomplices in that robbery of the goods saved from the 
 barque ; the want of resources forcibly Jk> make them come 
 to give evidence, — all this delayed Mariano Pinto's process to 
 this day, and barely now has it come to an end. And in 
 view of what I have exposed to you, you will know what is 
 the result of the process instituted against the robbers of the 
 goods saved from the English barque ".Prince of Wales." 
 All the criminals remaining summed up in Mariano Pinto, 
 the only one who could be processed ; and on this occasion 
 it is my duty to declare to you that I used every diligence to 
 know of some other persons who may have robbed the cargo 
 of the English barque ; but all was unsuccessful : it resulting 
 thence that the real robbers will remain perhaps unpunished, 
 without justice having means to discover and process them. 
 God preserve, &c 
 
 . (Signed) ANTONIO FEEEEIEA GAEOEZ, 
 Municipal Judge, Pirst Substitute of the Delegate. 
 
 No. 26. 
 
 Consul Vereker to Earl Russell. — (Received June S.) 
 
 Bio Grande do Sul, April 14, 1862 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 I have the honour to submit the following observations, 
 
 showing my proceedings to this day in connexion with the 
 
 arrival at this port of Her Majesty's gunboat " Sheldrake," 
 
 conveyiag on board Captain Saumarez, of Her Majesty's 
 
42 
 
 frigate "Forte," who had. been nominated to cooperafe with 
 me in regard to any inquiry which the Brazilian authorities', 
 might, on a renewed demand, institute, into the circumstanced, 
 attending the wreck of the British barque "Prince o£ 
 Wales." 
 
 The gunboat " Sheldrake," arrived in this port on the 31st 
 instant, and Captain Saumarez communicated the object of 
 his coming, of which I had, on the 29th ultimo, received 
 information by Mr. Christie's despatch of the 18th ultimo,-; 
 of which a copy is enclosed. 
 
 I suggested to Captain Saumarez that the only effective 
 inquiry which could now be adopted would be one conducted; 
 at the locality of the wreck, superintended by a Brazilian 
 functionary of sufficient authority, and accompanied by 
 a sufficient force to command respect ; and that it would be 
 advisable to request his Excellency . the President, Senhra 
 Francisco de Assis Pereira Rocha,to order such an enquiry 
 as soon as possible. I also pointed out that there was no 
 authority at Eio. Grande who would act in the matter without 
 previously receiving instructions from the Presidency. 
 Captain Saumarez quite concurred in these views, and 
 offered to accompany me to. the coast to assist in such an 
 ■-inquiry should it be instituted; 
 
 As there was no opportunity at the time to send despatches. 
 by the ordinary conveyances to the capital, Porto Alegre r 
 where the President resides, and the sending- by express 
 overland would be uncertain and might cause delay, it was 
 determined to proceed in the " Sheldrake " to Porto Alegre, so;, 
 that Captain Saumarez and myself might personally call- the* 
 President's attention to the pending question, under circum- 
 stances apparently the best calculated to ensure compliance 
 with the request for a full and' searching -inquiry into this 
 case. 
 
 The "Sheldrake/' on board of which I had embarked, left 
 this port on the 4th instant, and reached Porto Alegre on the 
 6th. I immediately addressed to his Excellency the Presi- 
 dent my note of that date, requesting him to name a time to 
 receive Captain Saumarez and myself. I enclose a copy of 
 this note, and received in reply his Excellency's courteous 
 letter of the same date. It Will be perceived that, he makes 
 therein no mention of receiving Captain Saumarez; 
 
 Notwithstanding the apparent inadvertency above men- 
 tioned, it 'seemed important that Captain Saumarez should be 
 
48 
 
 recognised by the authorities of this country as. holding a 
 special position in connexion with the investigation contem- 
 plated, as the proceedings might thus have more impressive- 
 ness and authority. It: will accordingly be seen that in the 
 interviews which took place on the 6th and 7th instant, this 
 question formed part o$ the subject-matter of the conversa- 
 tion, of which I enclose memoranda. 
 
 At the first interview his Excellency Senhor Eoeha inti- 
 mated that he had received no information since taking charge 
 of the Presidency upon the case of the barque "Prince of 
 Wales," and that no communication had reached him from 
 the Brazilian Government respecting the service on which 
 Captain Saumarez was engaged. When the urgency of an 
 investigation in the locality of the wreck was pointed out to 
 his Excellency, he seemed unwilling to express an opinion at 
 the time ; and in order that there should be no appearance of 
 pressure, I suggested that Captain Saumarez and myself 
 would wait upon him when his Excellency should have had 
 leisure to inform himself fully on the case, and this course was 
 agreed upon. 
 
 At the interview on the 7th instant his Excellency, having 
 apparently become better informed of the circumstances, de- 
 clared in effect that he would direct the Chief of Police to 
 undertake a searching inquiry into, the case, but that Captain 
 Saumarez could not i be recognized as having any connexion 
 therewith in an official capacity. 
 
 I caused the memoranda (Nos. 5 and 6) to be read over 
 both to his Excellency the President and to Captain Saumarez, 
 and subsequently supplied them with copies ; and both parties 
 declared that they formed a correct summary of the conver- 
 sations referred to. 
 
 Subsequently to the interview above reported, the Secretary 
 to the Provincial Government, who was present -throughout; 
 informed me that it had been ordered that a Brazilian steamer 
 should be ready to go to Pelotas, where the Chief was at the 
 time, to convey the necessary instructions in the case ; and 
 on the following morning (8th instant) his Excellency the 
 President stated to me that the Chief of PoHee would be 
 directed to come to an understanding (." entender-se ") with me 
 before entering upon the required inquiry, in order that I 
 might have an opportunity of attending the same. 
 
 On the 8th instant his Excellency Senhar Bocha .courte- 
 ously returned (on hoard Her Majesty's gunboat ^'Sheldrake") 
 
44 
 
 the official visits which Captain Saumarez and myself had 
 paid them. ; - > • - 
 
 I have the honour to enclose the copy of a despatch dated 
 the 8th instant, which I 'received from Captain Saumarez, 
 requesting to know whether, under the circumstances which 
 had occurred, I considered his services would be further 
 needful. I also enclose a copy of my reply, intimating that 
 if Captain Saumarez considered that he could, consistently 
 with his instructions, accompany me to the locality of the 
 wreck to cooperate in the promised inquiry even though he 
 were not recognised in an official capacity by the Brazilian 
 authorities, I hoped he would await for a limited time to 
 ascertain the decision of those authorities. Captain Saumarez 
 replied verbally that he did not consider himself precluded 
 from accompanying me in the manner suggested. Accord- 
 ingly I felt it right to inform his Excellency the President of 
 this circumstance, in order that there might be no delay in 
 commencing the inquiry. I beg to enclose a copy of my 
 despatch to his Excellency. 
 
 Her Majesty's gunboat " Sheldrake " returned to this port 
 on the 9th instant. On the 10th instant the Chief of Police 
 arrived in this city. I visited him, and he returned the 
 compliment ; but as I did not meet him there was no oppor- 
 tunity of discovering whether he had received any instructions 
 from the Presidency, regarding the case of the barque " Prince • 
 of Wales." It may, however, be presumed that he had not, as 
 he proceeded to Porto Alegre on the 11th instant, and no 
 steamer had been despatched thence to Pelotas, as was 
 expected. 
 
 • I have the honour to observe that, throughout the occur- 
 rences reported, both Captain Saumarez and myself have 
 maintained the utmost reserve regarding the object *of his 
 visit. I regret, however, to state that rumours that it is in 
 connexion with the case of the barque " Prince of Wales " 
 have reached this city from Porto Alegre, and have been 
 published. I therefore fear, especially in view of the delay 
 which is taking place, that the persons implicated will have 
 the opportunity to conceal many Vestiges of their scandalous 
 and inhuman proceedings on the occasion of the wreck. 
 
 I feel it right to remark, that I have received much assistance 
 from Captain Saumarez, Who has been acting in perfect harmoriy 
 with me, showing a desire to adopt the Various suggestions 
 which I have thought it riry duty to propdse, in order that 
 
45 
 
 no effort majtbe omitted to discover the- truth regarding the 
 painful questions which have rendered his presence here 
 adyisable. v 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) H. P. VEEEKEB. 
 
 _ Enclosure 1 in No. 26. 
 Captain Sawmarez to Consul Vereker. 
 
 "Sheldrake," Kio Grande do Sul, April 3, 1862. 
 SlE, " 
 
 Having- -this day arrived in Her Majesty's gunboat 
 " Sheldrake," with instructions to cooperate with you in the 
 inquiry relative to the wreck of the British barque "Prince 
 of Wales," and the English. Minister at Kio having informed 
 the Brazilian Government that an officer would be sent round 
 here for that purpose, I have the, honour to request you will 
 be pleased to inform' the authorities of my arrival for the 
 above purpdse, and you may depend on my affording you 
 every assistance and most cordially cooperating with you. 
 
 I have, &o, 
 (Signed) T. SAUMAEEZ. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 26. 
 Mr. Christie to Consul Vereker. 
 
 Petropolis, March 18, 1862. 
 
 Sib, 
 I enclose you a copy of a despatch which has been received 
 from Earl Eussell on the subject of the wreck of the "Prince 
 of Wales." I have addressed a note, in accordance with its 
 contents, to the Brazilian Minister for Ibreign Affairs ; and I 
 have requested Admiral Warren to send one of the gunboats 
 now under his command to Bio Grande do Sul, with an officer 
 capable of giving you useful aid. I have informed the Bra- 
 zilian Government of my request to Admiral Warren, and 
 have- stated that the naval officer who may be sent* will, 
 according to the wish of Her Majesty's Government, be ready 
 
46 
 
 to cooperate in any inquiry which may be instituted, if the 
 Brazilian Government should wish it. 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) W.^D. CHEISTIE - 
 
 Enclosure. 3 in No. 26. 
 Consul VereJcer to Senhor Rocha. 
 
 'Porto Alegre, April 6, 1862. 
 
 The Undersigned the Honourable Henry Prendergast 
 Veieker, Doctor of Laws, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul 
 at Eio Grande do Sul, has the honour to inform Ms Excel- 
 lency Senhor * Desembargador Francisco de Assis Pereira 
 Eocna,, President of the Province of Eio Grande do Sul, that 
 Captain Saumarez, of Her Majesty's frigate "Forte," of 51 
 guns, has arrived in this port in Her Majesty's gunboat 
 " Sheldrake/' on special service, and desires to be received 
 by your Excellency. The Undersigned also desires to pay 
 his respects to your Excellency. Under these circumstances, 
 the Undersigned requests . your Excellency will please to 
 appoint an hour to receive Captain Saumarez and the Under- 
 signed, and that this may be at your Excellency's earliest 
 convenience. 
 
 (Signed) H. P. VEEEKEE 
 
 The Undersigned, &c. 
 
 Enclosure 4 in No. 26. 
 Senhor Rocha to Consul Vereker. 
 
 Palace of the Presidency in Porto Alegre, 
 April, 6, 1862. 
 (Translation.) , 
 
 ,- Mb, Consul, 
 Acknowledging the receipt of your despatch, of this day, I 
 have to answer to you that, with the greatest satisfaction, 
 I will receive you. to-day at 4 o'qlockin the evening, or to- 
 morrow at any hour which, may be most conveniont,to you. 
 (Signed) I avail, &c, 
 
 feancisco.de ASSIS PEEEIEA EOCHA. 
 
47 
 
 Enclosure 5 in No. 26. 
 
 Memorandum of a Conversation which took place on the 6th 
 of April, 1862, between Senhor Rocha, Captain Saumarez, 
 and Consul Vereker. 
 
 Captain Saumarez suggested that it had been communi- 
 cated by the British Mission to the Brazilian Government 
 that an officer would be sent down here to assist in an 
 inquiry, and. wished to know whether the President had 
 received any information on the subject. 
 
 The President replied, that since his, arrival he had re- 
 ceived none. 
 
 The Consul observed that the communication suggested 
 should probably have reached by one of the last two mails 
 from the Brazilian Minister for Foreign Affairs, or of the 
 " Empire." 
 
 The President repeated that he had received no communi- 
 cation such as that referred to. 
 
 The Consul perceiving that there were various persons at 
 the door within hearing pointed out that the conversation 
 ought to be carried on in a more private manner ; and the 
 President agreeing, conducted him, as well as Captain Sau- 
 marez and Dr. Mello Mattos, into an inner room. 
 
 Captain Saumarez, before explaining the object of his visit, 
 hinted to the President an inquiry as to whether he desired 
 Dr. Mello Mattos, the only other person present, to remain ; 
 and as his Excellency offered no objection, Dr. Mattos re- 
 mained 
 
 J?he Consul then, at Captain Saumarez's request, proceeded 
 to explain -the object of that officer's arrival, in connexion 
 with the circumstances attending the wreck of the British 
 barque " Prince of Wales," and stated the readiness of Captain 
 ' Saumarez to assist in any measures which the_President might 
 adopt thoroughly to investigate the case. 
 
 The President replied that his attention had not previously 
 been called to the case, and that he was not informed of the 
 particulars ; and after more conversation on the same theme, 
 the Consul, for his Excellency's information, gave a brief 
 summary of the proceedings which had taken place up to the 
 present time, remarking that the former proposed inquiry into 
 
48 
 
 the cause of the deaths of the crew and the plunder of the 
 cargo had resolved itself into a mere prosecution of Mariano 
 Pinto and Francisco Maria Kodriguez ; that' no efficient inves- 
 tigation into the cause of the deaths of the crew had taken 
 place ; that five of the bodies of those persons had not been 
 delivered up, on the false pretext that the place where they 
 were said to be buried could not be found in consequence of 
 territorial changes; and that no part of .the cargo had been 
 recovered excepting the insignificant portion delivered by 
 Faustino Jos4 da Silveria. Finally, the Consul manifested 
 his own opinion that an inquiry, to be really effective, should 
 take place at the locality under some independent authority, 
 with "a force sufficient to impose respect ; and under those 
 circumstances he requested to know the President's determi- 
 nation in the case. 
 
 The President appeared to desire to consider the question 
 more fully ; and as his Excellency had other pressing engage^ 
 ments, the Consul suggested that if his Excellency so wished, 
 he Would wait upon his Excellency at another time ; and that 
 there were also other matters, unconnected with this case, to_ 
 which he wished to call the attention of the Head of the 
 Provisional Government. 
 
 His Excellency replied that a postponement would be con- 
 venient, Dr. Callado, the Chief of Police, having lately returned- 
 to Pelotas; and he' appointed at 11 o'clock A.M. on the fol- 
 lowing day to receive Captain' Saumarez and Her Britannic 
 Majesty's Consul, in order to communicate his resolution in 
 the case. 
 
 Enclosure 6 in No. 26. 
 
 Memorandum of a Conversation held on the 7th of April, 1862, 
 between Senhor Rocha, Captain Sauma/rez, and Consul 
 
 The Consul, acting with and interpreting for Captain 
 Saumarez, requested to know from the President whether 
 he had formed any decision respecting the inquiry proposed 
 the previous day into the circuins'tances attending the'wreljk 
 of the "Prince of Wales." 
 
 The President replied" that "he was now more informed of 
 the case, and that he was ready to order a full investigatibff 
 
& 
 
 by the Chief of Police, who was now, at Pelotas ; that he 
 considered the most important inquiry would be into the 
 manner of death of the crew, but that it would be difficult 
 to find proofs in consequence of the time that had elapsed. 
 
 Captain Saumarez asked whether there was any doubt as 
 to the plunder of the cargo, and the President and the Secre- 
 tary of Government, who was present, replied that there 
 was not. 
 
 The President proceeded to say that although no objection 
 could be made to Mr. Vereker the Consul assisting in the 
 inquiry, Captain Saumarez could not be recognized as holding 
 an official capacity in the matter. 
 
 The Consul pointed out the circumstances under which 
 Captain Saumarez had arrived, and expressed a doubt as to 
 whether he (the Consul) should properly proceed to the coast 
 to assist in the inquiry unless with Captain Saumarez recog- 
 nized in his official capacity; and the Consul further observed 
 that he had presented Captain Saumarez officially, and that' 
 he had confirmed the statement that a communication showing 
 his object here had been made on the part of the British 
 Mission to the Brazilian Government. 
 
 The President repeated that he had received no communi- 
 cation on the subject from the - Brazilian Government, and 
 that until he received orders from them he could, not recog- 
 nize Captain Saumarez as having authority to act officially in 
 the Province. „- <■' -■)■- 
 
 Captain Saumarez said he did not wish to perform authori- 
 tative acts, but to assist and be present. 
 
 The President. added that he recognized Captain Saumarez 
 as an officer, but not as having connexion with the investiga- 
 tion proposed, but that he would be ready to wait for the 
 instructions which he might receive on the matter from the 
 Brazilian Government. '' 
 
 The Consul, in conclusion, observed that it would rest 
 wholly in his Excellency's discretion •whether he would order 
 an immediate inquiry or wait for theinstructions referred to, 
 and he pointed out the probability that if there were any 
 delay the inhabitants of the coast would be forewarned, and 
 would consequently defeat the object of the inquiry. . 
 
 The conversation then turned to other matters. 
 
 Before' separating, his Excellency the President' stated that 
 there would be no objection to Captain Saumarez attending 
 the inquiry proposed and obtaining all possible information, 
 
50 
 
 but that he could not, be. recognized as possessing any official, 
 capacity in regard to- the said investigation unless the Bra- 
 zilian Government should so determine. 
 
 Enclosure 7 in No. 26. 
 Captain Saumarez to Consul Vereher. 
 
 " Sheldrake," Porto Alegre, April 8, 1862, 
 SlE, 
 After the conversations with his Excellency the President, 
 in which he assures us that he will order a strict and search- 
 ing inquiry into the loss and plunder of the British barque 
 "Prince of Wales," in which he admits there is not the 
 slightest shadow of doubt that the cargo was plundered by 
 Brazilian, subjects in this Province, and that the Chief of 
 Police will ibe ordered to ascertain the causes of the deaths 
 of the captain, his wife, and crew, and his Excellency stating 
 he cannot recognize me in any official capacity in such in- 
 quiry, but that he would not object to my being present, it 
 now remains with you to inform me if you have further need 
 of my services, or if I can in any way further cooperate in 
 any inquiry which may be instituted. 
 
 (Signed) ' T. SAUMAEEZ.' 
 
 Enclosure 8 in No. 26. 
 
 Consul Vereker to Captain Saumarez. 
 
 " Sheldrake,'' Porto Alegre, April 8, 1862. 
 SlK, 
 
 I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 despatch dated this day, in which you request me to inform 
 you whether your services are further required in connexion 
 with the inquiry which his Excellency the President of this 
 Province has stated he would immediately order the Chief of 
 
51 
 
 Police to conduct respecting the wreck of the barque "Prince 
 of Wales." 
 
 In reply, I have to inform you that his Excellency Senhor 
 Pereira Bocha, the President, declared to me that he would 
 direct the Chief of Police, in the- first instance, to come to an 
 understanding with me regarding the inquiry to be instituted. 
 It seems probable that any inquiry now attempted would 
 take place at the locality of the wreck, and in the event of 
 your considering that you could, consistently with your 
 instructions and official position, attend such an investigation, 
 notwithstanding your not being recognized by the Brazilian 
 authorities as having any official capacity in connexion there- 
 with, I am of opinion it .would be beneficial that you should 
 do so ; as the presence of a British naval officer of your 
 rank could not fail to exercise an useful influence, and as I 
 would probably assist in an investigation carried on in your 
 presence, your cooperating with me on the occasion would no 
 doubt strengthen my means of discovering the truth. 
 
 Under these circumstances, I would trust that you will 
 await the communication which, in compliance with orders 
 from the Presidency, may be made to the British Consulate ; 
 provided there should be no excessive procrastination on the 
 part of the Brazilian authorities in communicating to this 
 Consulate their intentions regarding the proposed. inquiry. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) H. P. VEEEKEE. 
 
 Enclosure 9 in No. 26. 
 
 Consul Vereker to Serikor Rocha. 
 
 "Sheldrake," Porto Alegre, April 8, 1882. 
 SlE, 
 I feel it right to transmit to 'your Excellency a copy of the 
 memorandum I had drawn out respecting the conversations 
 which Captain Saumarez, EN., and myself, had the honour 
 to hold "with your Excellency on the 6th and 7th instant, the 
 memorandum having been already read over to your Excel- 
 lency land found correct. 
 
 Subsequently to the interviews referred to, as- your Excel- 
 
 e 2 
 
52 
 
 lency expressed, readiness to direct the Chief of Police to 
 institute the proposed inquiry without delay, and previously 
 to come to an understanding with this Consulate on .the 
 subject, I requested to know from Captain Saumarez whether 
 under his instructions he could accompany me on 1;hat 
 inquiry, though not recognized by the Brazilian authorities 
 as possessing any official capacity in connexion therewith^ 
 and it appears that he can do so. 
 
 . I have the honour to inform your Excellency of this cir- 
 cumstance, as I should desire, with Captain Saumarez, to 
 accompany the Chief of Police. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) H. P. VEEEKER , 
 
 No. 27. 
 Mr. Christie tq Harl Russell. — (Received June 3.) 
 
 Bio de Janeiro, May 5, 1862. 
 
 ..... My Lobd, 
 
 I -acted on the instructions contained in your Lordship's 
 despatch of the 8,th of February, addressed to Mr. Baillie, ^y 
 • writing a note to Senhor Taques, of which I enclose a copy, 
 stating that Her Majesty's Government expected that- a more 
 searching . investigation should be made by the Brazilian 
 Government into the circumstances attending the wreck of 
 the " Prince of Wales" off the coast of Bio Grande do Sul in 
 June of last year, with' a view to the punishment of the 
 offenders and of any local authorities convicted of. negligence, 
 and also, with a view, to suitable indemnities. 
 
 I also addressed a letter to the Admiral who commands on 
 this station, requesting; him to send a gunboat to. Eio Grande 
 do Sul, and with it an officer of sufficient rank and experience 
 to give effective aid to Mr. Consul Vereker. And your Lprd- 
 ship will perceive that in .the enclosed note to Senhor Taques 
 I mentioned that I had made this request of the "Admiral, 
 and I offered the services of the naval officer whom he might 
 send for cooperation, if the Brazilian Government would 
 accept it, in the further inquiry which I demanded 
 
53 
 
 Admiral Warren, without delay, sent 'Her Majesty's gun- 
 boat "Sheldrake" to Eio Grande 'do Sul, accompanied by Her 
 Majesty's ship " Oberon," carrying his Flag-Captain, Captain 
 Saumarez, to consult and cooperate with Mr. Consul Vereker. 
 
 I received by this packet a despatch dated April 14 from 
 Mr. Consul Vereker to your Lordship, reporting his proceed- 
 ings subsequent to the arrival of Captain Saumarez, and your 
 Lordship will see that the President of the Province had 
 promised to order an inquiry ; that he had, in the absence of 
 instructions from Eio, declined to admit Captain Saumarez to 
 cooperate, but that he had made no opposition to his presence 
 with Mr. Consul Vereker at the inquiry to be made. It 
 appeared likely that Captain Saumarez would prolong his 
 stay in order to accompany Mr. Consul Vereker, unofficially, 
 in attendance at the promised inquiry, and it is to be hoped 
 that he has stayed. 
 
 I have now received from Senhor Taques a note, of which 
 I enclose a translation, stating that fresh orders have been 
 sent by the President of the Province for further information, 
 and requiring him to proceed with the utmost severity against 
 persons proved to be implicated in the serious offences charged, 
 and against agents of the public authority who have not 
 acted with proper zeal, diligence, and discretion. In this note 
 Senhor Taques declines the offer of the aid of a British naval 
 officer for inquiry. 
 
 Before announcing to me the fresh orders given, Senhor 
 Taques states in his note that "not only is the Imperial 
 Government free from responsibility for the acts ascribed to 
 the inhabitants of the coast of Albardao, accused of having 
 plundered the wreck of the ' Prince of Wales,' but also the 
 local authorities did their duty as far as was permitted by the 
 distances and other difficulties in the way of their acting 
 more promptly and effectively." This is a complete exonera- 
 tion of the Brazilian Government and its agents,, and the 
 •charges of murder are set aside with the remark that no proof, 
 or even substantial ground of suspicion, of murder has been 
 elicited. 
 
 It is, however, admitted in the same note that there has 
 been a want of evidence owing not only to the flight of some 
 individuals to Montevidean territory, but also to the absence 
 of others who were still in Brazil. Why was the presence, of 
 these not enforced? > 
 
 Senhor Taques makes a distinction between a public 
 
54 • . 
 
 authority and ", a mere agent of authority. '| I do not know 
 whether your Lordship will find anything in this distinction- 
 affecting the responsibility of the Brazilian Government. _ - 
 
 The note makes no allusion to the question of indemnities^ 
 or it is, indeed, to be understood as refusing to entertain that 
 part of the question. 
 
 I indicate to your Lordship these doubtful points in the 
 note of Senhor Taques; but I have thought it better to 
 abstain, for the present, from making any rejoinder to his 
 note, and, indeed, I do not feel myself competent to discuss 
 thij question with the Brazilian Government at its , present 
 stage. 
 
 I have had an interview on the subject- with, the Minister 
 of/Justice,* to whose Department this question more par- 
 ticularly belongs, and he has given me very strong assurances 
 that everything which can be done in the way of inquiry and 
 punishment shall be done, and I have much confidence in the 
 rectitude of the present Minister of Justioe. I hear also that 
 the President of the Province of Eio Grande do Sul is a man 
 of good reputation. 
 
 (Signed) W. D. CHEISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure 1 in KTo. 27. 
 Mr. Christie to Senhor Taques. 
 
 Petropolis, March 17, 1862. 
 M. LE MlNISTEE, 
 
 I have the honour to refer your Excellency to a note ad- 
 dressed to you by Mr. Baillie on the 27th of October, relative 
 to the sad wreck of the " Prince of Wales " near Albardao, 
 in the province of Eio Grande do Sul. 
 
 Since Earl Eussell sent to Mr. Baillie the instruction under 
 which that note was written, he has received an account of 
 the result of Mr. Consul Vereker's correspondence with the 
 provincial authorities, and I am now instructed to state that 
 Her Majesty's Government do not consider the explanations 
 given by these authorities as satisfactory, and are of opinion 
 
 * Senhor Sayao Lobato. He ceased to be Minister of Justice .in 
 May, when there was a change of .government, and Senhor Taques was 
 at the same time succeeded as Minister for Foreign Affairs by the Mar- 
 quis of Abrantes. 
 
55 
 
 that the authorities of the district are culpable, and that no 
 sufficient inquiry has been made. I am further instructed to 
 state that Her Majesty's Government expect that a more 
 S&ratinMng investigation shall be instituted, with a view 
 to thepunishment. of the parties concerned in the outrage, 
 and of the local authorities who may be convicted of neg- 
 ligence in dealing with the case ; as also with a view 
 to adequate compensation to the owners of the vessel, whose 
 property, by the admission of the provincial authorities 
 themselves, has been plundered and wantonly destroyed, and 
 to the surviving relatives of those who may be found to ha«re 
 been murdered. 
 
 I write, under Lord Eussell's instructions, to the Admiral 
 commanding Her Majesty's Naval forces on this station, who 
 is now at Monte Video, to request him to send one *o£ Her 
 Majesty's vessels to the spot, with some experienced officer 
 capable of advising and aiding Mr. Consul Vereker in this - 
 afflicting case ; and this officer will be ready to cooperate in 
 any inquiry which may be instituted, if such cooperation be 
 agreeable to the Imperial Government. 
 
 I avail, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 27. 
 
 Senhor Toques to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bio de Janeiro, 
 April 19, 1862. 
 (Translation). 
 
 The Undersigned, &c, has to acknowledge the receipt of 
 the note which, under the date of the 17th ultimo, was ad- 
 dressed to him by Mr. William Dougal Christie, &c, for the 
 purpose of calling the attention of the Imperial Government 
 to the note which, on the 27th of October last, Mr. E. M. 
 Baillie, then in charge, of Her Britannic Majesty's Legation, 
 addressed to this Ministry respecting the wreck of the English 
 barque "Prince of Wales," near Albardao, in the Province of 
 Bio Grande de Sao Pedro do Sul. 
 
 Declaring that his Government does not consider the expla- 
 nations given by the authorities of that Province to the 
 British Consul satisfactory, but is, on the contrary, persuaded 
 that the authorities of the district are criminal, and also that 
 the steps taken for the discovery of the truth were insuffi- 
 
56 
 
 cient, Mr. Christie. informs tiie. Imperial Government,, ia^his 
 note to which the tfndersignel' replies, that he has. received 
 instructions to state to^ the Government of His Majesty the 
 Emperor that Her feritannic Majesty's Government hopes that 
 more minute investigations will t>e made, in, order, that not 
 only the persons concerned in the outrage which is presumed 
 to have been committed on the occasion of the, shipwreck,, 
 but also the authorities, whose negligence on that occasion 
 can be proved, may be punished, and further, that a. reason- 
 able indemnification will be granted to the owners of the 
 vessel, whose cargo is said to have been robbed with the con- 
 sent of the said local authorities, and to the families of those, 
 English subjects who may be proved $p have been murdered. 
 
 In giving to this grave subject all the consideration^ which 
 it deserves, the Undersigned will , begin his reply to. , Mr. 
 Christie's note by assuring him that immediately after, the 
 receipt of Mr. Baijlie's first note of the, 25th October last, he. 
 addressed himself to the President of th'e Province of Eio, 
 Grande do Sul, not only calling for all necessary information, 
 about the facts as stated, but very particularly ordering the 
 President to take all suitable measures for obtaining a perfect 
 knowledge of the, truth, and to proceed against every one 
 who might be inculpated, taking the most energetic measures 
 which the case required. 
 
 In obedience to the orders of the Imperial Government, 
 the Vice-President of that Province forwarded to this Ministry 
 the information furnished by the several police authorities on 
 the subject. 
 
 From this information it is seen that the indictment made 
 by the Delegate of Police of Eio Grande could not be fol- 
 lowed up for want of the witnesses to make depositions in the 
 statement of the case ; it happening that those who should 
 have most knowledge of what took place, or had part in it, 
 had either absented themselves or got. away to the Oriental 
 State ; one individual, named Mariano Pinto, in whose, house, 
 the Inspector of the District fouQo! goods, which were seized, 
 remaining in prison awaiting the conclusion of the triaj. 
 
 In obedience to the orders sent by tie Imperial, Govern- 
 ment, the Chief of Police of the. Province gave the necessary 
 instructions to his Delegate to proceed with the accusation, 
 and on the 26th of December fresh orders were sent from tiiis. 
 Ministry to the President of that Province on this grave 
 matter. 
 
57 
 
 Under such circumstances, the. Undersigned has reason to 
 hope that the measured promptly taken by the Imperial 
 Government will not be useless, and he assures Mr. Christie 
 that this Government will not spare any means within its 
 reach for the establishment of the facts, and the punishment 
 of those who have taken any part in the crime, always ob- 
 serving the laws of the country. 
 
 ' From the information to which the Undersigned has re- 
 ferred, it does not result that the Inspeetor of the Quarter, 
 who, by the way, is not an authority, but a mere agent of 
 authority, and who resides at a distance of six leagues from 
 the place of the shipwreck, or that the Sub-Delegate of Tahim, 
 who resided at an equal if not greater distance, were to 
 blame for what happened. 
 
 •The Undersigned, meanwhile, assures Mr. Christie, that if 
 it should be ascertained that these officials have been culpably 
 negligent, the President of the Province, whose rectitude and 
 zeal for justice inspire the greatest confidence, will take the 
 necessary measures in order that such conduct may not re- 
 main without due censure. 
 
 The care and decision displayed by the Municipal Judge 
 of Eio Grande, who, together with Her Britannic Majesty's 
 Consul, proceeded to the spot where the event occurred; and 
 searched the neighbouring houses endeavouring to make dis- 
 coveries, are acknowledged and attested by the said Consul. 
 And if some delay took place before the appearance of that 
 authority, that delay is accounted for by the same causes 
 which prevented the Consul from being there more promptly. 
 
 The Undersigned does not understand why the Consul at- 
 tributes blame to the Judge of the Peace of "the District foT 
 not having given notice of this fact at once to the superior, 
 authorities. The competent authority for that proceeding 
 was the Sub-Delegate, and he did his duty, as is seen in the 
 Consul's own report, and from the information addressed to 
 the Imperial Government. 
 
 As no proof existed, nor any material data whereby it could 
 be suspected that any one of the shipwrecked persons had 
 been murdered, Mr. Christie will permit the Undersigned to 
 observe that without any basis whatever so atrocious and 
 wicked a crime cannot be imputed to any one. 
 
 From what the Undersigned has just explained, Mr. 
 Christie will doubtless be convinced, not only that the 
 Imperial Government is not in any.way^responsible for the 
 
58 
 
 conduct attributed to the inhabitants of the coast of Albardao 
 who are accused of having appropriated the goods -saved from 
 the wreck of the barque " Prince of Wales/' but also that the 
 local authorities performed their duty, so far as they were 
 permitted by the distances and difficulties which obstructed 
 their proceeding in a more prompt and efficacious manner. 
 
 The Undersigned will further observe to Mr. Christie that 
 it cannot be doubted that the authorities on that occasion 
 took every possible- measure, although they arrived later on 
 the spot than could have been wished. The presence of the 
 Municipal Judge of Commerce, of the Custom-house officers, 
 and of the military force, to which Mr. Baillie refers in his 
 already mentioned first note, proves this assertion of the 
 Undersigned. 
 
 No government, as Mr. Christie well knows, can bfr answer- 
 able for prejudices caused by outrages committed without its 
 concurrence or instigation, in its territory, or by its subjects, 
 against foreigners. 
 
 The duties and efforts of a just and conscientious govern- 
 ment cannot go .further than the employment of the whole 
 means within its reach to ensure the conviction of the fact, 
 and the punishment of those proved to be the criminals. 
 
 The Undersigned flatters himself that Mr. Christie will 
 acknowledge that the Imperial Government has acted thus 
 in this important matter ; and he will add, in order to 
 confirm Mr. Christie in this opinion, that having already 
 conferred with the Ministers of Justice and Finance, he now 
 again addresses himself to the President of Rio Grande de 
 Sao Pedro do Sul, calling for fresh and more complete infor- 
 mation, and instructing him to cause the greatest severity to 
 be exercised, against not only those who are implicated in 
 the crime, but also against those agents of public authority 
 who may not have acted with due zeal and^ diligence and 
 circumspection. 
 
 As regards the offer made by Mr. Christie in his note to 
 which this is an answer, of, the cooperation of a naval officer, 
 who will proceed in one of Her Majesty's ships to the place 
 of the shipwreck in order to assist the Consul in this deplor- 
 able affair, the Undersigned, returns thanks to Mr. Christie, 
 but cannot understand what assistance the authorities of the 
 country could, receive from a British officer, nor what he could 
 do-in furtherance of the ends of justice, and he declines. to 
 accept the Minister's^ offer. 
 
59 
 
 The TJndersigned will conclude the present note by frankly 
 stating to Mr. Christie that the Imperial Government feels its 
 dignity pledged to the prosecution of the individuals who, in 
 violation of the most sacred laws, committed the acts of de- 
 predation of which the inhabitants of the coast of Albardao 
 are accused ; and that whatever delay there may be in col- 
 lecting the necessary proofs for proceeding legally, it will not 
 desist from the intention to punjsh so great an atrocity,, and 
 make an example of its authors. 
 
 The Undersigned, &c., 
 (Signed) B. A. DE MAGES, TAQUES. . 
 
 No. 28. 
 Mr, Christie to Earl Russell. — (Received June 3). 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, May 7, 1862. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 Since I wrote my despatch of the 5th instant, I have re- 
 ceived from Eear- Admiral Warren a despatch of which I 
 enclose a copy, reporting the return of Captain Saumarez to 
 Monte Video. I also enclose a copy of a letter from Mr. 
 Consul Vereker to Captain Saumarez, of which a copy was 
 enclosed in Admiral Warren's letter. 
 
 After receiving on the 6th or 7th from the President of the 
 Province at Porto Alegre, a promise to give immediate orders 
 for an inquiry by the Chief of Police, Captain Saumarez and 
 Mr. Consul Vereker returned to Eio Grande do Sul on the 
 8th, and up to the 1 8th no communication whatever had been 
 received from the President or Chief of Police on the. subject 
 of the promised- inquiry and Mr. Consul Vereker seems to be 
 of opinion, that the President had changed his mind, and had 
 referred the matter to Rio. 
 
 Your Lordship will perceive that Admiral Warren com- 
 plains of- want of proper courtesy to his Mag-Captain, and I 
 shall be glad to know if your Lordship wishes me to take any 
 notice of this to the Brazilian Government. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) W. T>. CHRISTIE, 
 
60 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 28. 
 Rear-Admiral Warren to Mr. Christie. 
 
 "Forte," Monte Video, April 23, 1862.. 
 
 Sib, 
 
 I had the honour to inform you by mail of the 1st instant, 
 that in compliance with your wish, " that a naval officer should 
 be sent to Bio Grande do Sul to assist Her Majesty's Consul 
 at that port at an investigation which was to take place into 
 the circumstances" attending the wreck of the ' Prince of 
 Wales,' of Glasgow, on the coast of Albardao, in June last," 
 I intended that Captain Saumarez, my Flag-Captain, should 
 proceed on that service. 
 
 Captain Saumarez left this for Eio Grande on the 1st 
 instant, taking with him a gunboat of light draft of water. 
 Immediately on his arrival at Eio Grande, Her Majesty's 
 Consul and himself proceeded in the gunboat to Porto Alegre, 
 where -the President of the Province resides, and waited -on 
 his Excellency, informing him of the object of their mission. 
 
 His Excellency undertook that a searching inquiry should 
 be immediately instituted, and that although he could not 
 recognize the official right of Captain Saumarez to attend at 
 the investigation, he had no objection to his being present as 
 a private individual. 
 
 Captain Saumarez and Her Majesty's Consul then returned 
 to Eio Grande, daily expecting intimation when the inquiry 
 was to be held ; but no steps whatever being taken, — Captain 
 Saumarez having waited till the 18th instant, when Her 
 Majesty's Consul and himself being of opinion that his 
 remaining any longer was useless, — he rejoined me here. 
 
 The President was perfectly aware of Captain Saumarez's 
 rank, and I consider it a great want of courtesy to that officer 
 the President taking no further notice after promising the 
 inquiry. Had he altered his intention and determined to 
 communicate with his Government previous to entering into 
 the business, Captain Saumarez had a right to be informed 
 of it ; but day after day passes without any steps being taken, 
 or any. communication made either to Her Majesty's Consul 
 or to that officer. J 
 
 Captain Saumarez informs me Mr. Vereker iold him that 
 
61 
 
 the President had full power to order the investigation, with- 
 out any reference to the Government at Rio. 
 
 (Signed) RICHARD L. WARREN. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 28. 
 Consul Vereker to Captain Savmarez. 
 
 Bio Grande do Srd, April 16, 1862. 
 SIR, . . 
 
 . I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 despatch of this day's date, in which you inform me, that in 
 view of the procrastination of the Brazilian authorities, with 
 regard to the promised- inquiry into the circumstances at- 
 tending the wreek of the barque "Prince of Wales;'' you 
 propose at once to return to Monte Video, unless I should 
 advise otherwise. 
 
 Referring to my despatch of the 8th instant, I have to 
 state, in reply to your communication, that the immediate 
 urgency of the inquiry proposed was fully explained in our 
 interviews with his Excellency the President, and he promised 
 that the Chief of Police would he directed to come to an un- 
 derstanding with me on the subject Nevertheless, I have 
 good information that the Chief of Police on the 9th instant 
 received despatches from the Presidency, which it is to be 
 presumed referred to the proposed inquiry, as the steamer of 
 war Which conveyed them left Porto Alegre subsequently to 
 Her Majesty's ship "Sheldrake," but he made no communi- 
 cation to this Consulate on the subject, merely returning my 
 visit by a card,, delivered by a servant after his departure for 
 Porto Alegre, which took place on the 11th instant, in the 
 steamer "Maria." The last-named steamer, which carried 
 mails from Rio de Janeiro, after an unusual delay at Porto 
 Alegre, arrived here yesterday evening, and on the 10th in- 
 stant, the Brazilian steamer of war " Fluminense" had also 
 arrived, and conveyed despatches from the Presidency for the ' 
 Brazilian gunboat " Parnahilla," which was ordered immedi- 
 ately to proceed to Rio de Janeiro ; but no communication 
 from. the Presidency regarding the object, of your visit has 
 reached either the Consulate or yourself, notwithstanding that 
 on the- 10th instant, after the arrival of the Chief of Police, 
 
62 
 
 that object was clearly pointed to by publications in the 
 daily newspapers: through these the guilty inhabitants- of . 
 the coast will have received warning to conceal the last 
 vestiges of their crime, the delays which have occurred giving 
 them ample opportunities so to do, and if not to defeat, at 
 .least to diminish greatly, the efficacy of any inquiry now 
 undertaken. 
 
 The request conveyed to the Presidency by yourself and me, 
 for a full and searching investigation in the locality into the 
 circumstances attending the wreck referred to, was simple, put 
 forward with the utmost courtesy, its urgency clearly shown, 
 and its necessity acknowledged by the President, who conceded 
 the demand, stating he would order the inquiry, but no infor- 
 mation is conveyed of action on the part of the Provincial 
 authorities" in the case, though they have had ample opportuni- 
 ties to declare their intentions and. to institute proceedings. 
 
 Under these circumstances, I fully concur in the view you 
 have expressed, that you should not longer remain in this 
 port. I do not think such a course would be consistent with 
 the circumstances of your arrival here, of in conformity with 
 the respect due to the reasonable request of Her Majesty's 
 Government. I may add, that the Provincial authorities have 
 power to form a determination upon the case as it was sub- 
 mitted to the Presidency, and your remaining here in one of 
 Her Majesty's vessels, after full opportunities (though without 
 known result) have been given to those authorities to com- 
 municate their decision, might lead to inconvenient interpre- 
 tations. 
 
 In conclusion, I would express my gratification and thanks 
 for your zealous cooperation with this Consulate, on all points, 
 since your arrival at this port, and I would hope that if the 
 Brazilian authorities should finally show a desire to discover 
 the truth regarding, the deaths of the crew of the barque 
 " Prince of Wales," and to punish those who instigated the 
 plunder of the cargo, I may yet, at a future time, have the 
 benefit of your assistance, should a genuine inquiry be in- 
 stituted. 
 
 I have; &c, 
 (Signed) H. P. VEEEKER 
 
63 
 
 , to. 29. 
 
 Earl Russell to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, June 4, 1862. 
 SIR, 
 With reference to your despatches of the 5th and 7th of 
 May, I have to instruct yon to insist upon a proper inquiry 
 into the circumstances of the wreck of the vessel " Prince of 
 Wales," and that a British officer should be on the spot at 
 the time of the investigation. 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) EUSSELL. 
 
 No. 30. 
 
 The Secretary to the Admiralty to Mr. Layard. — (Received 
 
 June 6.) 
 
 Admiralty, June 3, 1862. 
 
 Sir, 
 I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the 
 Admiralty to send you herewith, for the information of Her 
 Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with reference 
 to your letter of the 6th September last, a copy of a letter 
 dated the 24th April, from Rear-Admiral Warren, with its 
 enclosures in original, reporting the proceedings of Captain • 
 Saumarez, of the " Forte," in assisting Her Majesty's Consul 
 at Rio. Grande, in demanding an inquiry by the Brazilian 
 Government into the circumstances attending the plunder of 
 portions of the goods saved from the " Prince of Wal^s," of 
 Glasgow, wrecked on the coast of Albardao. 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) C. PAGET. 
 
64 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 30. 
 Rear-Admiral Warren to the Secretary to the Admiralty..* . ■ 
 ' '■ ' , "Forte," Monte "Video, April 24, 1862* 
 
 My Lokd, 
 
 In my letter of the 23rd of December last respecting the 
 wreck of the " Prince of Wales," of Glasgow, oif the coast of 
 Albardao,' which vessel was plundered, and the crew supposed 
 to have been unfairly dealt with, I had the honour of acquaint- 
 ing you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of 
 the Admiralty, that I had offered to send an officer to Rio 
 •Grande to assist Her Majesty's Consul in the investigation 
 demanded by the British Minister. My offer was declined ; 
 Mr. Vereker, the Consul at Rio Grande, not considering that 
 in the then state of the business an officer could be of any 
 assistance to him. 
 
 2. On the 29th ultimo, I received a letter from Mr. Christie, 
 Her Majesty's Minister at Rio, informing me that Earl Russell 
 had again demanded a searching inquiry into the whole 
 circumstances of the wreck, and requesting that a naval 
 officer might be sent to assist. Accordingly I sent Captain 
 Saumarez, of this ship, to Rio Grande with a gunboat, which 
 enables him to proceed to Porto Alegre, 1 80 miles up the 
 Lago dos Patos,' accompanied by Mr. Vereker, Her Majesty's 
 Consul, when he waited upon the President of the Province. 
 A copy of his instructions is herewith forwarded. 
 ' 3. Captain Saumarez returned to Monte Video after an 
 . absence of twenty days, not having succeeded in obtaining 
 an inquiry. The enclosed letter, detailing his proceeding's, 
 will give their Lordships all the information on the subject 
 
 (Signed), RICHARD L WARREN 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 30. 
 Mr. Christie to Rear-Admiral Warren. 
 
 Potropolis, March 17, 1862. 
 
 ... Sib, 
 Earl Russell has lately. sent instructions for a renewed 
 demand for a searching inquiry by the Brazilian Government 
 into the circumstances of the wreck of the " Prince of Wales," 
 
65 
 
 at Albardao near Bio Grande do Sul, and has referred me to 
 his earlier instructions* under which Mr. Baillie in Novem- 
 ber last requested you to send, if possible, a vessel of war to 
 the aid of Mr. Consul Vereker in this matter. You were then 
 unable to comply with Mr. Baillie's request ; but as I am 
 informed that two or three gunboats of light draft have 
 since joined the station, I hope that it may now be. in your 
 power to give effect to Lord Bussell's wishes. If you can 
 send a gunboat to Bio Grande do Sul, I hope it may also be 
 in your power to send with it an officer of ranis and expe- 
 rience sufficient to insure his giving effective, cooperation to 
 Mr. Consul Verefcer in this afflicting case. I have mentioned 
 to the Brazilian Government that I address to you this request, 
 and that the naval officer whom you may send will, in accord- 
 ance with the wish of Her Majesty's Government, be.ready to 
 cooperate in any inquiry which may be instituted, if it shall 
 be agreeable to the Brazilian Government.. 
 
 I have, &a, 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure 3 in No. 30. 
 Orders addressed to Captain, Saumarez, , 
 
 By Bkjhard L. Warren, Esq. &c. 
 
 Her Majesty's Minister at Bio having acquainted me thafrEarl 
 BusseE has again called upon the Brazilian Government for a 
 searching inquiry to be made into the circumstances attending 
 the wreck of the " Prince of "Wales," of Glasgow, at Albard&o, 
 . in June last, and suggested that an officer of rank and experience 
 should proceed to.Ei© Grande do Sul to cooperate with the 
 Honourable Mr. Vereker, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul, 
 in the inquiry, and having selected you for this service; you 
 will therefore proceed, as soon as convenient, to Bio Grande 
 do Sul, in the "Oberon," taking with you the " Sheldrake " 
 gunboat, there not being sufficient water for the "Oberon" 
 tfti-cross the bar. 
 
 On arrival at Bio Grande you can send the "Oberon" to 
 cruise under sail, calling off the bar at such times as you 
 may find necessary, and you will rejoin my flag by the 13th 
 of April, if possible,. 
 
66 
 
 For your enforraation is enclosed the copy of a correspon- 
 dence between Mr/ Consul Vereker aind the British Legation 
 on this subject ; also the copy of a letter to me from Her 
 Majesty's Minister at Rio. 
 
 Given under my hand on board the " Forte," at Monte 
 Video, this 31st- of March, 1862. 
 
 (Signed) RICHARD L. WARREN, 
 
 To Captain Sauinarez, 
 
 Her Majesty's ship "Forte." 
 By command of the Commander-in-chief. 
 
 (Signed) Hugh F. Pullen, Secretary. 
 
 Enclosure 4 in No. 30. 
 Captain Saumarez to Rear-Admiral Warren. 
 
 " Forte," Monte Video, April 21, 1862. 
 
 Sib, 
 
 Having this day returned r in the gunboat " Sheldrake " from 
 Rio Grande, I have the honour to forward a brief summary of 
 my. proceedings since the 1st instant, full details of which' I 
 gave in my letters of the 4th, 10th, and 1 7th instant and their 
 enclosures. 
 
 I arrived off .Rio Grande do Sul on the 3rd of April, crossed 
 the bar in the " Sheldrake," and communicated with the 
 Honourable H. P. Vereker, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul ; 
 finding from him that nothing could.be done without authority 
 from the President, who resides at Porto Alegre, at the head 
 of an inland iake some 1 80 miles distant, and thinking the 
 presence of one of Her Majesty's vessels thus far in the 
 interior of the heart of the province would carry greater 
 weight with the President, and strengthen our demands for 
 an inquiry into the circumstances attending the wreck of the 
 barque " Prince of Wales," and fate of her crew, we arrived 
 there on the 6th instant, and the. same afternoon his. Ex- 
 cellency the President, Senhor Francisco de Assis Pereira 
 Rocha, received the Consul and myself, when I informed him 
 of the cause of my visit. He requested an interview on the 
 following day, when I particularly pointed out to his Excel- 
 lency that no inquiry had been made into the causes of the 
 deaths of" the captain and crew, and went most fully into the 
 
67 
 
 subjeafc«pd Her Majesty's Consul gave full details, pressing 
 for an immediate inquiry, pointing out that the inhabitants of 
 the coast -would be* forewarned in the event of any delay, and 
 consequently defeat the object in view. The President, in 
 reply, acknowledged as to the plunder of the vessel, and that 
 he would order an instant and fall inquiry, for which purpose 
 he would direct the Chief of Police to put himself in com- 
 munication with the Consul on the subject, but that he could 
 in no way recognize me in any official" capacity on such 
 inquiry, but that I niight be present. 
 
 Agreeably with the request of. Her Majesty's Consul I re- 
 mained till the 17th instant, when, finding no steps of any 
 kind had been taken by the Chief of Police, and feeling by 
 my presence there I was sanctioning such procrastination on 
 the part of the Brazilian authorities', I thqught it best to leave 
 that port, receiving the accompanying letter from Her Majesty's 
 Consul ; and X have also the honour to enclose the minutes of 
 conversation held with his Excellency the President on the 
 6th and 7th instant. 
 
 T n fl.VP. &C 
 
 (Signed) T. SAUMAREZ. 
 
 Enclosure 5 in No. 30. 
 
 Memorandum, of Conversation which took place on the 6th of 
 April, 1862, between Senhor Rocha, Captain Saumarez, and 
 ■Consul Vereker. 
 
 [See Enclosure 5 in No. 26.] 
 
 Enclosure 6 in No, 30. . 
 
 i 
 Memorandum of Cont^ersation held on the 7th April, 1862, 
 ijw&ioeen JSenhor Mocha, Captain Sawmarez, and Consul 
 Vereker. 
 
 [See Enclosure 6 in No. 26.] - 
 
 t. 2 
 
68 
 
 Enclosure 7 in' No. 30. 
 
 Consul Vereker to (faptain Saumarez, April 16, 1862. 
 [See Enclosure 2 in No. 28.] 
 
 No. 81. 
 
 Consul Vereker to Earl Russell. — '{Received June 20.) 
 
 Eio Grande do Sni, April 16, 1862. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 I have the honour to enclose copies of two despatches con- 
 taining further correspondence with Captain Saumarez; E.N., 
 respecting his visit to this port in connexion with the serious 
 circumstances attending the wreck of the barque " Prince of 
 Wales." 
 
 It will be seen from these papers that Captain Saumare? 
 having. waited, at my requ'est, from the 7th instant to this day 
 for the fulfilment of the President's understood promise for a 
 full and complete inquiry into that case under the Chief of 
 Police, and ample opportunities haying occurred for such an 
 inquiry being set on foot, and for his Excellency the Presi- 
 dent to declare his intentions, nevertheless no signs of action 
 appeared, and consequently Captain Saumarez considered that 
 it would not be. proper longer to delay in this port, but offered 
 to be guided by my opinion. ,* 
 
 I concurred'in Captain Saumarez's views, as by delaying 
 here he would- have had the appearance of awaiting the con- 
 venience of the provincial authorities, though they already 
 were given full time to act, and the urgency of the case had 
 been most strongly pointed out to them ; their postponements 
 then assumed the character that the demand put forward on 
 the part of .Her Majesty's Government was received with in- 
 sufficient courtesy, or, it may be, little respect. I therefore 
 felt it right to advise Captain Saumarez as I did in my 
 despatch of. this date. 
 
 I have, &c* 
 (Signed) H. P. VEREKER 
 
Enclosure 1 in No. 31. 
 Captain Sawmarez to Consul Vereker. 
 
 " Sheldrake," Bio Grande do Sill, April 18, 1862. 
 
 Sib, 
 Having now waited in this port since the 10th instant, to 
 assist and cooperate with you in any inquiry which the 
 President might order (agreeably with your request) ; the 
 Chief of Police having arrived here on the 10th instant, and 
 left on the 11th instant ; no communications of any kind as . 
 to such inquiry having been made to -you either by the 
 President or Brazilian authorities, though the former faith- 
 fully promised us at our interviews on the 7th and 8th 
 instant, that such inquiry should instantly take place; and 
 the object of my mission here evidently having been made 
 public, as Witness the daily papers in which the one abuses 
 the other for stating that some of the crew of "the shipwrecked 
 barque "Prince of Wales" met their death by strangulation ; 
 and as there has been frequent cominunication since with 
 Porto. Alegre; as also steamers of war at the President's 
 disposal,^-I consider it would not be consistent with my 
 position to await such procrastination, the more so as it is 
 quite evident that the President will not" move in the matter 
 till he has heard from Rio, to which port he sent the " Para- 
 hyba" gunboat on the 11th instant. Under these circum- 
 stances I propose at once to. proceed to Montfr Video in this 
 gunboat, though at much inconvenience to myself, as I 
 consider my waiting here any. longer would be sanctioning 
 such delays on the part of the. President, who promised quite 
 otherwise. 
 . . I, of course, shall be guided by your reply, and should you 
 think.it best for me to remain under the above circumstances 
 I am at your disposal ; and it only remains for me to add 
 how gratified I am at findinq our views and acts thus far 
 have been most cordial and unanimous. . 
 
 I have-, &c. 
 . (Signed) T. SAUMAREZ. 
 
70 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 31. 
 
 Consul Vereker to Captain Sawmarez, April 16, 1862: 
 
 [See Enclosure 2 in No. 28.] 
 
 No. 32. 
 Consul Vereker to Earl Russell. — (Received June 20 J 
 
 Bio Grande do Std, April 24, 1862, 
 
 My Lokd, 
 
 Referring to my previous despatches regarding the case 
 of the barque " Prince of Wales," I have the honour to report 
 that on the evening of the 21st instant I received a despatch 
 of the same date from the Delegate of the Police of this city, 
 informing me that he had to proceed this day (24th) to the 
 coast of Albardao, to inquire respecting the assassinations 
 which I suspected had taken place on the crew of that 
 barque, and inviting me to accompany him ; this I declined 
 to do, and I trust that your Lordship will approve my deter- 
 mination in view of the reasons I proceed to point out. 
 
 The President of this Province had stated most positively 
 that the inquiry would be conducted by the Chief of Police, 
 who is a principal member of the Provincial Government, 
 and is appointed by the Central Government : his presence 
 would therefor^ have carried with it much weight, and 
 shown the earnestness of the Provincial Government ; but 
 the case became much altered when an inferior officer, 
 appointed and removable at the will of the President, was 
 nominated to conduct the investigation. I could not, there- 
 fore, consistently with the dignity of my position, associate 
 myself with that officer, in view of the little regard paid by 
 the President to the engagement entered into in the con- 
 versation which took place at the Presidency on the 7th 
 instant, as reported in my despatch of the 14th instant, his 
 Excellency not having even informed me of his changed 
 resolution. 
 
 I should further observe that the inquiry now under- 
 taken is not calculated to satisfy the expectations of Her 
 
71 
 
 Majesty's Government It is conducted by an officer of the 
 same rank as he who accompanied me in June 1861, with 
 a force less imposing than that on the former occasion ; its 
 necessity is alleged by his Excellency the President to 
 arise from my having reported to Her Majesty's Government , 
 that the crew of the barque had been assassinated, and the 
 Delegate in his despatch invites me to be present, as it were 
 to sustain my suspicions ; thus the inquiry comes to bear the 
 character of an attempt- to disprove those alleged statements, 
 which, as your Lordship is aware, were never uttered : for 
 though I have endeavoured most faithfully to report the facts, 
 I have with equal caution avoided hitherto drawing any con- 
 conclusion Besides, the inhabitants of the Albardao have 
 now been long aware of the projected inquiry, and have had 
 at least ten days to conceal the last open proofs of their 
 guilt. 
 
 As my name has been prominently brought forward in 
 connexion with this case, by the Brazilian press and other- 
 wise, I feel it suitable at this time, and after mature consider- 
 ation of the various bearings of the case, to declare my 
 opinion that the deaths of some of those who composed the 
 crew of the "Prince of Wales " cannot, in view of the facts 
 and circumstances and position of the bodies, be accounted 
 for in any reasonable manner, excepting on the supposition 
 that they were the result of assassination. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) H. P. VEREKEB. 
 
 No. 3a 
 Consul Vereker to Earl Russell — (Received Jnrie 20.) 
 
 Rio Grande do Sul, May 12, 1862. 
 
 Mt Loed, 
 
 I have the honour to inclose a translation of a despatch of 
 the 5th, instant, received from the Chief of Police of this 
 Province, and a copy of my reply, relating to. the circum- 
 stances attending the wreck* of the barque " Prince of 
 Wales." 
 
 Immediately after receiving the despatch ,of the Chief of 
 Police I visited him, and verbally explained, such facts within 
 
72 
 
 my knowledge as seemed calculated to assist the investigation 
 proposed ; he appeared to feel but little interest in the serious 
 points of the case brought forward, and repeated that the 
 indications were opposed to the opinion that any assassination 
 -had taken" place. Before leaving, I offered to give the Chief 
 of Police all the information in my power, showed myself 
 ready to accompany him to the locality of the wreck if he 
 should desire' to proceed thereto, and requested to be present at 
 any meeting or examination he might hold on this subject. 
 I left, however, with the irresistible impression that the 
 present" proceeding was not undertaken for the purpose of 
 discovering the truth] but rather to satisfy the British and 
 Brazilian Governments, by hushing up, through a mock 
 inquiry, that part of the question which relates to the 
 possible violence which may have been offered to all or some - 
 who had been in .the vessel mentioned. 
 
 This impression was strengthened when, on the 8th instant, 
 I was invited to attend the only inquiry at which my presence 
 was expected. The witnesses examined, the character- of 
 the questions, and the manner in which they were put, 
 seemed to imply that the objeet of this inquiry is to main- 
 tain that no assassination took place ; this your Lordship!' 
 will be better acquainted with when I send you a copy of 
 the evidence, for which I intend to apply. 
 
 I beg leave to enclose two translated extracts from a local 
 newspaper, relating to the case under consideration. 
 
 I have, &c 
 (Signed) H. P VEREKER 
 
 Enclosure 1 in ISTo. 33. 
 
 Senhor Callado to Consul Vereker. 
 
 Office of the Chief of Police of the Province of Rio Grande! 
 May 5, 1862. 
 (Translation.) .< 
 
 Finding myself in this city by order of the Imperial 
 Government, to direct personally the investigations com- 
 menced with the object of more minutely verifying the 
 circumstances of the wreck of the British vessel " Prince of 
 Wales. ;" seeing that the information afforded in former dates 
 by the authorities of the distriet are rec6gnized as being 
 
73 
 
 unsatisfactory, I thus communicate to you, requesting you 
 to furnish me with the explanations which you may judge 
 useful to discover the truth, and punish the guilty. 
 
 We propose to examine into two orders of facts, — the 
 plunder of the cargo and moveable articles thrown on the 
 shore, and the assassination of the crew and passengers, alto- 
 gether or partly. With regard to the plunder the local 
 authorities proceeded long since, and a summary criminal pro- 
 cess is under judgment, three individuals being pronounced 
 guilty. New investigations are being made by means of the 
 Delegate of Police, Dr. H. B. M. Canarim ; it is a recognised 
 fact, and its authors will be brought before the Tribunal. 
 With regard, however, to the assassination, up to the present' 
 the result of all the inquiries is negative. I am going to 
 adopt new examinations, and therefore request you to furnish 
 to me the reasons of your judgment, when you presumed- that 
 this crime took place. And if it is apparent to you that any- 
 part of the cargo of the barque "Prince of Wales" may still 
 exist in any one's power, or that you should have knowledge 
 of the persons who sold it, you will do me a special service 
 in communicating. I beg of you to deign to let me know 
 if it suits you to assist at the investigation in this city, and 
 elsewhere. ,- I avail, &c, 
 
 (Signed) DAEIO KAFAEL CALLADO. 
 
 , Enclosure 2 in No. 33. 
 
 Consul Vereker to Senhor Callado. 
 
 Rio Grande do Sill, May 5, 1862. 
 
 Sib, 
 I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your de- 
 spatch of this day's date, in which you inform me of your 
 -arrival here, to inquire respecting the 'supposed murder of 
 some of the crew, and the robbery of the cargo, of the barque 
 "Prince of Wales." I have already verbally' explained to you 
 many facts in connexion with that wreck, and will be ready 
 to give you all further information in my power in order to 
 elucidate the truth I should also desire to have the oppor- 
 tunity of attending an inquiry which you may make in this 
 city, on the subject, or to accompany you outside should you 
 
74 
 
 judge right. to continue the investigation in the iepalij^of.the 
 wreck. I have, &c, 
 
 (Signed). H. P. VEBEKEJL 
 
 Enclosure 3 in No. 33. ' 
 Extract pmn the " Echo do SuV of May 7, 1862. 
 
 (Translation.) 
 
 Investigation. — The Dr.. Chief of Police, accompanied by 
 the Ensign and two or three police soldiers, went yesterday 
 morning on horseback, and with luggage, outside the town. 
 
 We believe that his Excellency proceeded to Albardao,* the 
 classical district of depredations, robberies, assassination, and 
 strangling. 
 
 The distinguished Dr. Chief of Police goes very late in 
 search of the criminals. We believe, however, that, if his 
 Excellency should- so desire, he will still meet with many 
 vestiges of crime. 
 
 Enclosure 4 in No 33. 
 Extract from the " Echo do Sul" of May 10, 1862. 
 
 The English Claim. — A portion of the press of the capi- 
 tal has looked upon: the question of the English claim under 
 the point of view of an exaggerated and ill understood 
 patriotism, and of a susceptibility not quite justifiable. 
 
 The manner in which contemporaries think is not for our 
 account, and where they discover a preponderance or abuse of 
 superiority of force we barely see a just and very reasonable 
 proceeding, because the gunboats did not force the entry of 
 our port ; they came with despatches qf our Minister in Monte 
 Video, and by his authority, which represents the Government, 
 did the "Sheldrake" plough the Lake Patos. 
 
 There is not, on the side of England, any preponderance or 
 abuse in claiming a guarantee for the lives and goods ofeits 
 subjects, nor for Brazil any loss of dignity in attending to 
 
 * The Chief of Police only proceeded about one-third of the way to Albardao, 
 and resumed on the next day the 7th instant. — H. V. V. 
 
75 
 
 such just claims. It is not the 1 Armstrong cannons which 
 exact a satisfaction ; it is the right of nations, the code which 
 regulates international relations. 
 
 The humiliations of 1851 cannot enter into the same 
 account with that which now happens. Then ther.e was 
 abuse, now there is only a just claim to be satisfied. 
 
 Note.— The Editor then proceeds, in yepjy to another news- 
 paper article, to point out that the condemnation of three 
 persons for robberies of the cargo of the " Prince of Wales " 
 was not in consequence of the arrival of the British gunboats, 
 es the sentence had been passed previous to the arrival of 
 those vessels, and was only delayed because the authorities 
 of'the coast had not proceeded to an act of inquest, and that 
 through the absence of this essential evidence the culprits 
 could only be condemned for the crime of theft instead of for 
 that of robbery. 
 
 No. 34. 
 Earl Rwsell to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, Jiilv 3, 1862. 
 
 Snt, 
 
 I have received Mr. Vereker's despatches of the 16th and 
 24th of April and 12th of May, which have also passed 
 through your hands, regarding the case of the "Prince of 
 Wales.' ? > 
 
 I regret to observe that there seems to be very little hope 
 of arriving at a satisfactory conclusion in this affair, but Her 
 Majesty's Government must hold the Brazilian Government 
 responsible fox correctly ascertaining the facts of the case. 
 
 You will continue to urge the matter on the attention of 
 the Brazilian Government, and to press, for the payment of 
 all expenses incurred ; and I cannot but think that the Bra- 
 zilian Government, on a full consideration of the facts of the 
 case, will be disposed to make some compensation to the" 
 sufferers. 
 
 Whether the charge of culpability in ..this .matter is or is 
 net brought hamg to the Brazilian local authorities, there is 
 dp doubt that an. outrage has been committed which reflects 
 
76 
 
 but little credit on the state of Brazilian civilization, arid 
 tinder such circumstances it would appear natural that the 
 Brazilian Government should be anxious to make every repa- 
 ration in their powerf 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) EUSSELL. 
 
 , No. $5. 
 
 Mr. Stephens to Earl Russell. — (Received July 4sl) 
 
 V-)L 15, Dixon Street, Glasgow, Jiriy 2, 18681. 
 
 My Lord, . 
 .. It is. now more than, twelve months since my ship, "the 
 " Prince of Wales," Captain McKinnon, was wrecked near Bio 
 Grande, the captain, his^wife, and the whole crew murdered by 
 the Brazilians, the ship stores and cargo* all plundered and 
 carried away by the Brazilians, employes and subjects. Up 
 to this time I have got no redress. . I am going to London 
 to take . action in this matter, -and> will be obliged by your 
 Lordship's causing me to be informed if the British Charge" 
 d' Affaires at Bio has got any redress, or if you intend to com- 
 pel them to give it without further delay. 
 
 Waiting your reply, I am, &c, 
 (Signed) E. P. STEPHENS. . 
 
 No. 36. 
 Mr. Layard to Mr. Stephens. 
 
 Foreign Office, July 9, 1862. 
 
 Sib, 
 
 I am directed by Lord Eusseil to acknowledge your letter of 
 the 2nd instant, asking whether any redress has been given by 
 the Brazilian Government for the outrage on the wreck of 
 your vessel the " Prince of Wales." 
 
 • I regret to inform you, in reply, that the last accounts from 
 Her Majesty's Consul at Eio Grande hold out but little hope 
 of arriving at a satisfactory conclusion in this affair. 
 
 But Her Majesty's Government are .taking active steps 
 with a view of correctly ascertaining the facts of the case; 
 
T7 
 
 and Her Majesty's Minister at- Rio de Janeiro has been 
 desired to urge upon the Brazilian Government the. necessity 
 of making coaipensatieu to the sufferers by this outrage. 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) A. H. LAYAKD. 
 
 No. 37. 
 
 Consul Vereher to Earl Russell, — (Received July 22.) 
 
 Rio Grande do Snl, May 23, 1862. 
 
 My Lohb, 
 
 In continuation of the reports which it has been my duty 
 to forward in reference to the wreck of the barque " Prince of 
 Wales," and the renewed inquiry on the subject, the necessity 
 ■of which latter- has, after the lapse of eleven months, been 
 acknowledged by the Brazilian authorities, I have to state 
 that the Chief of Police, who was charged with the investiga- 
 tion, -left this city for Portp Alegre on the present instant. 
 "With regard to his proceedings I have little positive informa- 
 tion, as the only inquiry Which Twas invited to attend was 
 the trifling examination referred to in my despatch of the 
 12th instant. 
 
 After the departure of the Chief of Police, Dr. Canarim, 
 the Delegate of Police of this 'city, informed me this day that 
 they had obtained proofs against six or seven individuals for 
 plundering the cargo, but that rro arrest had taken place, as 
 they were satisfied that others of greater influence were 
 involved, and it was feared that the principals would escape 
 if those of less note with whom the others had combined 
 should be prosecuted; they wished to connect-the proofs so as 
 to reach the principals. The Delegate added that almost all 
 the inhabitants of the coast were implicated in the xobberi es. 
 Dr. Canarim furtSier said that the Sub-Delegate of Tahim, 
 Delfim Francisco Gongalves, had been dismissed in con- 
 sequence of not having performed his duties in connexion 
 with the wreck of the " Prince of Wales ;" that Faustino Jose 
 da Silveira, who had been nominated to the same office., had 
 been removed and would be prosecuted for his proceedings 
 in connexion with that wreck ; and- he expressed an opinion 
 that no assassination had taken place on the occasion. 
 
78 
 
 Dr. Canarim, the Delegate of Police, is an active officer, 
 and though I report the above statements as communicated to 
 me, I cannot yet confirm them; and it appears that the 
 opinion that no murder could have taken place is hazarded 
 on partial, and insufficient evidence. , 
 
 (Signed) H P. VEREKER 
 
 Mb. 38. 
 
 Mr. Christie to Earl Russell — (Received July 22,/ 
 
 Bio de Janeiro, June 17, 1862. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I enclose, for your Lordship's confidential information, a 
 copy of a private letter which I received-, some time since 
 from Mr. Consul Vereker on the subjeet of the wreck of the 
 " Prince c?f "Wales." It seems to me desirable that your 
 Lordship should have knowledge of this letter for the general 
 judgment which Her Majesty's Government will haye. 
 ultimately to form on this affair. I felt it right confidentially 
 to inform the late Minister of Justice * of the contents of Mr. 
 Vereker's letter. He assured me that full inquiry should be 
 made about* the conduct of the officials denounced by Mr. 
 Vereker, and that if blame was found to attach to them 
 they should not be spared. I am glad to infer from Mr. 
 Gohsul Vereker's despatch of May 23, which I herewith 
 forward, that the late Minister of Justice acted up to his 
 promise. Your Lordship will, however* perceive that, the 
 Brazilian authorities, while now showing apparently goodwill 
 and energy in this affair, still refuse assent to Mr. Verekej's 
 opinion that some of the crew were murdered, 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) W. D. QHRISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 38. " 
 Consul Vereker to Mr. Christie, 
 
 Bio Grande do Sul, March 29, 1862. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 I have this day received and acknowledged your despatch 
 
 * Senhor S&y&o Lobato. 
 
79 
 
 of the I8th instant. As the Government are evidently taking 
 an interest in the wreck of the barque " Prince of Wales," i 
 feel it right to convey to you privately information which 
 could not conveniently be mentioned in the official despatches, 
 and which may assist your communications with the autho- 
 rities. 
 
 "When I went down to the coast of Albardao (about seventy 
 miles) on hearing of the wreck, we went to the house of 
 Senhor B. V. Soares, the nearest to the wreck ; for though I 
 was anxious to proceed to sleep on the coast, others of the 
 party required rest, and my desire was overruled. Senhor 
 Bento is the- chief man of the district : he is Justice of the 
 Peace, and most of those around are his relatives, compadres, 
 or retainers. Those hitherto prosecuted or found with wreck 
 goods are of the latter class. When we reached the house, 
 we were unwillingly received, though we offered to pay for 
 everything ; and it appeared that his daughter (married to 
 F. J. da Silveira) was the only person to act, Senhor Bento 
 having left for Pelotas, in the- country. She was exces- 
 sively suspicious and fearful, and, above all things, hearing 
 that I was the English Consul, she seemed incom- 
 moded - That night we remained without refreshment,' and 
 the next morning proceeded to the coast, where we found 
 Senhor F. J. da Silveira with about ten armed men, who had 
 stopped on the shore all night. On our arrival on the coast we 
 found all the cargo plundered, and the cases broken open, 
 some apparently quite recently (probably the previous night), 
 as the smell of the wood and turpentine was quite fresh. On 
 my pointing this out to Faustino, he at first roughly denied 
 that anything had been touched, stating that all came so from 
 the wreck. When, however, I showed him the forcible break- 
 ages and the marks of the instruments, he did not answer. 
 After taking an inventory of the things on the coast, and 
 directing the transport of such as I thought would pay the 
 carriage, I rejoined the Municipal Judge and proposed an im- 
 mediate examination of the bodies. F. J. da Silveira was 
 present, and seemed greatly taken aback. He quickly turned 
 his horse and joined his followers^ and they seemed to have 
 an earnest conference. Faustino then rode up to us again, 
 and asserted that it was impossible to go that night to where 
 the bodies were, &c. ; and finally, the Judge, I presume yield- 
 ing to prudence, as he had no force to cope with the others, 
 declared that he had no power to do what I required. I -then 
 
80 
 
 proposed a search in the neighbouring houses, which Faustino 
 most readily agreed to. It was then arranged between the 
 Judge and the others that Senhor Faustino and myself should 
 proceed through one district, and the Judge-and Custom-house 
 guard- through another. Two soldiers were assigned to me 
 as an escort, and Faustino took, two of his men ; all the 
 others went with the Judge. This placed me in a. difficult 
 position, as only one of my followers was to be relied on ; 
 and.so there was a preponderance against me, to be increased 
 if any difficulty arose with the inhabitants ; for it was 
 evident they were acting with Faustino. But after one or 
 two visits I found that all were evidently prepared for the 
 search, and of course nothing was apprehended. Each person 
 pretended that they had never heard of the wreck, or of 
 bodies being found, though this had taken place close" to 
 their doors ten days before. When I was at the house of 
 one who so alleged, a young man came in, to whom Faustino 
 spoke in an undertone ; but I heard the word " cadaver," and 
 as we were riding away I asked him what the lad said about 
 a dead body. Faustino replied that he had sent him in the 
 morning to bury the' last body found. I then asked, " Who 
 is he 1" " Oh, the son of the man you have been speaking 
 to." This incident shows the falsity and collusion of the 
 inhabitants of the coast. 
 
 When I returned to Senhor Bento's, I questioned one of his 
 boys about the discovery of the wreck ; aud ascertained that 
 the boy, having gone out after cattle early on the mornings of 
 the 9th of June, seeing the objects on the shore, had immedi- 
 ately returned and told his family of the shore being strewed 
 with straw, &c. ; that is to say, three days before Bento 
 pretends to have first heard of the wreck as a rumour in the 
 streets of Tahim (several leagues distant), when he was about 
 .to go. to Pelotas, and two days before Senhor. Faustino, who lives 
 close by, acknowledges to have had any information of the 
 occurrence. I also saw in Senhor Bento's house two cases 
 belonging to the " Prince of Wales," empty, but dry and in 
 perfect order. "I noted the marks, and am informed from 
 Glasgow, by the shipowners, that they had contained fine 
 manufactured goods ; yet no part of those goods were given 
 up. The flight of Senhor Bento to Pelotas, apparently until 
 the excitement respecting the wreck and crew should be 
 calmed down, leaving Senhor Faustino, his son-in-law, to 
 act as District Inspector, is also eminently suspicious. 
 
81 
 
 • From what I have stated you will form your own con- 
 clusions ; and' not to detain your valuable time, I shall 
 merely further mention my conviction, in view of the in- 
 fluence which B. V. Soares, Justice of the Peace, and F. J. 
 da Silveira, Inspector of the District and Substitute, and now 
 Acting Sub-Delegate of Police, exercise over the inhabitants 
 of the coast of Albardao, that unless these men are put in 
 jail, or otherwise signally disgraced, no useful evidence or 
 results will be obtained by further investigations into this 
 painful case. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) H. P. VEEEKER 
 
 No. 39. 
 Earl Russell to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, July 23, 1862. 
 
 Sir, - 
 
 I have read with great regret your last report, upon the 
 investigations into the outrage committed on the occasion of 
 the wreck of the " Prince of Wales." 
 
 Her Majesty's Government cannot believe that the Brazilian 
 Government will allow the ends of justice to be defeated in 
 this case by the influence of local authorities, to whom strong 
 suspicion attaches of having at any rate connived at the 
 crime that has been committed. 
 
 You will inform the Brazilian Government that Her 
 Majesty's Government take a deep interest in this serious 
 case, and look to the Government of Brazil for justice, not- 
 withstanding local opposition and influence. 
 
 Her Majesty's Government are also convinced that if it is 
 proved that a crime has been committed, the Brazilian Govern- 
 ment will cause the perpetrators to suffer the punishment due 
 to their offence, and proper compensation to be made. 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) EUSSELL 
 
 No. 40. 
 Consul Vereker to Earl Russell. — (Received August 6.) 
 
 Rip Grande do Sal, June 4, 1862. 
 
 My Lord, . t 
 
 Having at length received from the local authorities copies 
 
 G 
 
82 
 
 of the. reports of inquests held on four bodies of those 
 wrecked from the barque " Prince of Wales, 1 " I have the 
 honour to inclose translations of those documents, sending at 
 the same time the originals to Her Majesty's Mission, 
 
 With regard to the report from Albardao, I have omitted to 
 repeat the mere opening and closing formal expressions, but 
 the translation of the report made- here I forward entire ; and 
 I have in both cases added confidential observations, which 
 may assist your Lordship in appreciating truly this mysteri- 
 ous 'case. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) H. P. VEEEKER. 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 40. 
 
 Report of Inquest held at Albardao on the Bodies Wrecked 
 from the" Prince of Wales." 
 
 Translated Extract. 
 Act of Disinterment. 
 
 (Signed) Goncalves. 
 
 22nd day of the month of 
 June in the year of the birth 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 1861, at 3£ o'clock in the 
 evening, on the coast of Al- 
 bardao, situated in this dis- 
 trict, and close to the rivulet 
 of Baeta, there being present 
 Delflm Francisco Goncalves, 
 the Sub-Delegate of Police, 
 with me the undersigned 
 Secretary of his office, and 
 the witnesses undersigned, 
 and Manoel da Fonseca and 
 Leonidio Pereira de Sousa, 
 the skilled persons nominated, 
 who are not professionals, 
 both residents in this district, 
 
 Consul's Observations. 
 
 It is to be noted that only 
 one body was disinterred ; the 
 others were found unburied 
 
 I am informed that this 
 Leonidio Pereira de Sousa 
 headed a party of plunderers 
 on the occasion of the wreck, 
 
83 
 
 Translated Extract. 
 
 and on the same shore a small 
 cross was met, which indi- 
 cated a burial ; and the said 
 Judge, proceedingtheretowith 
 me the Secretary, skilled per- 
 sons, and witnesses, the said 
 Judge ordered that they should 
 proceed to the disinterment of 
 that which was there found, 
 in order to proceed to an ex- 
 amination thereon, which in 
 effect was done in the pre- 
 sence of the said Judge and 
 of me the Secretary, skilled 
 persons and witnesses, and 
 other persons who were there, 
 of which I give faith And 
 there was disinterred a corpse 
 in a state of complete putre- 
 faction ; and there the Judge 
 administered to the skilled 
 persons the oath on the Holy 
 Evangelists, that they should 
 well and faithfully perform 
 their mission, declaring with 
 truth that which they should 
 discover or meet with, and 
 that which in their consciences 
 they should understand ; and 
 he charged them that they 
 should proceed to an exami- 
 nation on the corpse, which 
 was present, and that they 
 should answer the following 
 questions : — 
 
 1st Question. — That they 
 should recognize if the person 
 is white or coloured. 
 
 2nd Question.— If it be 
 man or woman. 
 
 Consuls Observations. 
 
 and directed their movements ; 
 also, that he is brother-in-law 
 of Bento Venancio Soares, 
 upon whom much suspicion 
 rests. The impropriety of 
 nominating him to examine 
 and report becomes, there- 
 fore, very manifest, more* es- 
 pecially when it appears that 
 the Sub-Delegate proceeded 
 from the house of his host, 
 Venancio Soares, to make the 
 inquest. 
 
 G 2 
 
84 
 
 Translated Extract. 
 
 3rd Question. — What is 
 the state of the body ? 
 
 4th Question. — What was 
 the immediate cause of death ? 
 
 Consequently, the skilled 
 persons passed to make the 
 examinations and investiga- 
 tions ordered, and those which 
 they judged necessary : the 
 whole concluded, , they de- 
 clared the following : — 
 
 To the 1st question they an- 
 swered that it is white ; to the 
 2nd question they answered 
 that -it is a man, as it has beard 
 and fair hair ; to the 3rd ques- 
 tion they answered that it ap- 
 peared to have been eaten by 
 animals in the private parts, 
 and that it has one foot booted, 
 and is dressed with trousers 
 and smock-frock ; to the 4th 
 question, that it was drowned, 
 • and that in their opinions they 
 judge it to be of the English 
 barque "Prince of Wales," 
 lately wrecked here. And 
 these are the declarations 
 which, in their consciences . 
 and under the oath adminis- 
 tered, they have to make ; and 
 as there was nothing more, 
 the examination ordered was 
 concluded ; and .of all this 
 present Act was drawn, which 
 is written by. me and counter- 
 signed by the Judge, and 
 signed ' by the same, the 
 skilled persons and wit- 
 nesses, with me the Secre-' 
 tary, Joao" Leonardo Dutr 
 
 Consul's Observation*. 
 
 The' insufficiency of this 
 tardy inquest is shown by the 
 replies, which are not only 
 meagre, but in part inaccu- 
 rate. The body was evidently 
 that of a seaman, middle- 
 aged, dressed with a thick 
 blue shirt, a pair of trousers, 
 thick worsted stockings, and 
 on one foot a sea-boot, with 
 part of a pair of oil-cloth 
 trousers attached ; The man 
 had apparently been drowned 
 the body showing no marks 
 of violence ; but the parts im- 
 mediately below the belly 
 were open, and the intestines 
 putrid, when the body came 
 to the cemetery. The skin, 
 except where mentioned, was 
 quite perfect. I therefore do 
 not understand the grounds 
 on which it is said to have 
 been eaten by animals. The 
 beard and whiskers were dark, 
 the hair of the scalp" of a 
 lighter colour. 
 
85 
 
 Translated Extract. 
 
 who 'made it and signed it, 
 of all which I give faith. 
 
 (Signed) 
 Delfim Francisco Goncal- 
 
 VES. 
 
 Luis Manoel da Fonseca. 
 Leonidio Peeeiea de Sottza. 
 Jose .Alves de Freitas 
 
 Ramos. 
 Joao Feenandes Ribeieo. 
 Joao Leonardo Dtjtra 
 
 Act of Inquest. 
 
 1st Question. — If there is 
 really death. 
 
 2nd Question. — "What its 
 immediate cause. 
 
 3rd Question.— What the 
 means employed to produce it. 
 
 4th Question. — What the 
 incident which produced it. 
 
 5th Question. — What its 
 state. 
 
 In consequence, the skilled 
 persons proceeded to make 
 the examinations and investi- 
 gations ordered, and those 
 which they judge necessary ; 
 the which concluded, they 
 declared the following :— 
 4 To the 1st question, that it 
 is truly dead; to the 2nd 
 question they answered, that 
 drowned by the sea ; to the 
 3rd question they answered, 
 that the same sea ; to the 
 4th question that wrecked as 
 it appears ; to the 5th ques- 
 tion they answered,' that 
 strangled, and eat by animals 
 in various parts, and that it 
 is white, and is a man, who 
 
 Consul's Observations. 
 
 The next paper, headed 
 " Act of Inquest," refers to 
 the inquest on the second 
 body, which was found un- 
 buried. The preliminary 
 observations and the persons 
 engaged are the fame as be- 
 fore, and the examiners are 
 directed to proceed to the ex- 
 amination of the corpse which 
 is before them (no mention 
 being made of the position or 
 circumstances in which the 
 corpse was found), and to 
 answer the questions along- 
 side. It is to be noted that 
 this second . examination is 
 stated to have taken place at 
 1 o'clock in the afternoon, 
 though the previous exami- 
 nation is stated to have been 
 at half-past 3 in the evening 
 of the same day, 22nd June. 
 
 The corpse here treated of, 
 as well as the two others next 
 mentioned,, were found a con- 
 siderable distance from the 
 shore, and the questions 
 asked, and answers, show 
 little difference. My obser- 
 vations thereon will be found 
 at the conclusion. It may be 
 mentioned in this place that 
 the body treated of appears 
 to have been of the lower 
 orders, -and was partly dressed 
 with coarse trousers, and shirt 
 and stockings : the type was 
 
86 
 
 Translated Extract. 
 
 has fair hair and beard. And 
 these are the .declarations 
 which, in their consciences 
 and under the oath adminis- 
 tered, they have to make. 
 
 In continuation. 
 
 To the first question they 
 answered that it is truly dead; 
 to the second question they 
 answered that drowned by 
 the sea-; to the third question 
 they answered that the same 
 sea ; to the fourth question 
 they answered that wrecked 
 as it appears ; to the fifth 
 question they answered that 
 all eat by animals ; that it is 
 man as it has yellow-reddish 
 beard and hair, and that it is 
 white. And these are the 
 declarationswhich in their con- 
 sciences and under the oath ad- 
 ministered they have to make. 
 
 In continuation. 
 
 To the first question they 
 answered that it is truly dead ; 
 to the second question they 
 answered that drowned by 
 the sea ; to the third ques- 
 tion they answered that the 
 same sea; to the fourth ques- 
 tion they answered that 
 wrecked as it appears ; to 
 the fifth .question they an- 
 swered that all eat by animals, 
 that it is a white man, hair 
 and beard reddish yellow. 
 These are the declarations 
 that in their consciences and 
 under the aforesaid oath they 
 Have to make. 
 
 Consul's Observations. 
 
 scarcely that of an English- 
 man. 
 
 The closing and signature 
 being' the same as before- are 
 omitted. 
 
 The opening of the next 
 examination' of a corpse is 
 the same as before, and also 
 the questions, which are 
 therefore omitted ; this ex- 
 amination is stated to have 
 taken place at two o'clock 
 and twenty minutes on the 
 same 22nd day of June. 
 
 The answers are as stated 
 alongside. 
 
 The conclusion and signa- 
 tures being the same as before 
 are omitted. 
 
 . The next examination of 
 a corpse is stated to have 
 taken place at half-past two 
 o'clock on the same day. 
 The opening and questi6ns 
 being the same as before are 
 omitted ; th£ answers are 
 given alongside. 
 
 The conclusion and sig- 
 natures being the same as 
 before are omitted. 
 
87 
 
 Conclusion of Consults Observations. 
 
 It appears to me that the foregoing report of inquest is un- 
 worthy of confidence, because the persons appointed to make 
 the examination were unfit for the duty which they had to 
 perform, one of the two especially being a person who ought 
 not to have been nominated, and whose declarations in a 
 ease where he is so nearly interested could carry no weight. 
 Again it is shown by the last three reports that the questions 
 are word for word alike, and answers nearly so, yet there 
 was no small difference in the cases in regard to those three 
 corpses : there was one in almost a perfect state, dressed 
 with trousers, shirt, and stockings, the parts below the belly, 
 as in the first-named case, had disappeared, and the inne.r 
 parts were shown in a decomposed state, but the skin other- 
 wise was perfect, though the skull was fraetured ; this I 
 state as the body appeared when brought to the cemetery. 
 The other two, according to the assertion of the carter who 
 brought them up, were stated to have been found embraced 
 together ; the head and features, hands, arms, and feet, of 
 both were in a sound state, as also the skin of the breast 
 with the exception of two openings between the ribs, in the 
 one corpse large, in the other lesser, which the doctor assured 
 me might have arisen by the stretching of the skin, or from 
 birds ; one of those corpses was more decayed than the 
 
 , other, the rest of the bodies were mere skeletons. With 
 regard also to the position and circumstances of the three 
 last-mentioned corpses, the report is ominously silent : the 
 escort who conducted those bodies stated they were found 
 in the plains near the Kio da Baeta, and were completely 
 stripped of clothes. All the bodies are stated to have had 
 light hair, yet one of them had thick jet black hair. 
 
 ■ The word "strangled " (" estrangulado " having the same 
 meaning in Portuguese and in English), used in reference to 
 the corpse secondly-mentioned, caused the authorities lately 
 to apply to the examiners for an explanation, and they now 
 explain in effect that they did not use the word in its com- 
 mon signification, but to show that the body was in a very 
 bad state. In order to test how far such a declaration should 
 be believed, it may be observed that the examinations are 
 stated to have taken place at 3.30 p.m., 1 p.m., 2.20 p.m., 
 and 2.30 p.m., respectively. It may, therefore, be inferred 
 that the two -last examinations related to the corpses found 
 
88 
 
 in juxtaposition, which were in a much worse condition than 
 the other- two ; and it scarcely seems credible that the word 
 " estrangulado " should have been applied, with the fantas- 
 tical meaning now sought to be attached, to the corpse which 
 was in a better state, and omitted in regard to the two others 
 which were in a far worse state, more especially as 'there is 
 no other notable difference in the answers. In order to form 
 a just opinion upon this difficult point it should be noted that 
 the examiners are made to declare that the body alluded to^ 
 had been drowned and death caused by the sea ; but the word 
 "strangled" is well known in the country parts and is often 
 applied to death caused by the lasso. No difficulty would, 
 however, .occur in the interpretation were it supposed, : that 
 the examiners believed that the body had been found drowned, 
 and afterwards had been dragged to the position where it was 
 found. 
 
 The neck of the corpse in question I did not examine, 
 as I had then no knowledge of the report now sent ; there- 
 fore I cannot say if there were any mark • of strangulation 
 thereon. 
 
 It. .will be remembered that I applied to. the authorities on 
 the 18th of June, 1861, to send with the corpses any clothes 
 or other articles found adjoining or near to the deceased, and 
 a note as to how. they were found." Nothing" is said in the 
 reports on this subject, and the last two corpses were wholly 
 without even a remnant of clothes. No statement is made 
 as to the clothes which were on the second corpse, and regard- " 
 icg those on the first the statements are not correct. All 
 these circumstances show at least an unpardonable negligence 
 on the part of the authorities charged with the inquiries in 
 so serious a case. 
 
 British Consulate, Rio Grande do Sill, 
 June 4, 1862. 
 
 (Signed) H. P. VEREKEE, Consul. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 40. 
 
 •Report of Inquest at the, Cemetery, for Protestants of Rio Grande 
 do Sul on Four Bodies wrecked from the Barque " Prince 
 of WalOT 
 
 Translation. ConsuVs Observations. 
 
 Act of examination and in- 
 
89 
 
 Translation. 
 
 quest made on fbuT corpses 
 sent from . Tahim by the 
 Sub-Delegate of Police in 
 virtue of the request which 
 Her Britannic Majesty's 
 Consul made to this Dele- 
 gacy, and which are said to 
 belong to the crew of the 
 English barque " Prince of 
 Wales," wrecked at Eo- 
 mejro. 
 
 ■On the 24th day of the 
 month of June in the year 
 from the birth of Our Lord 
 Jesus Christ 1861, in this 
 city of Rio Grande do Sul, in 
 the cemetery for Protestants 
 outside the fortifications ; pre- 
 sent: Captain Antonio Estevao 
 de Bitancourt e Silva, with 
 me, the Secretary of his office, 
 and witnesses undersigned : — 
 Doctor Jos§ de Pontes Franca, 
 skilled person, the Hon. Pren- 
 dergast Vereker, Consul of 
 Her Britannic Majesty, the 
 Delegate administered to the 
 skilled person in his hands 
 the oath on* the Holy Evange- 
 lists well and faithfully to de- 
 clare with truth that which he 
 should meet with, and in his 
 conscience understand, and 
 charged him that he should 
 proceed to an examination on 
 the corpses which were there 
 having come from outside, 
 and which are said to belong 
 to the crew of the English 
 barque "Prince of "Wales," the 
 which were ordered to be dis- 
 interred in virtue of the re- 
 
 Consul's Observations. 
 
 The Secretary and witnesses, 
 undersigned, were not pre- 
 sent ; but this circumstance 
 seems immaterial, as the 
 habit of making such false 
 declarations in public docu- 
 ments is common in Brazil 
 My clerk was present, but 
 was not asked to sign as a 
 witness. 
 
90 
 
 Translation. 
 
 quest of the respective Consul, 
 and that he should answer 
 the following questions •: — 
 
 1 st. If the death was made ? 
 
 2nd. If the death was due 
 to drowning? 
 
 3rd. What the damage 
 caused ? 
 
 And the skilled person 
 having proceeded to the ex- 
 amination ordered declared, 
 -the following : — 
 
 That one of the four corpses, 
 which the conductors affirmed 
 had been disinterred, was of 
 the ordinary stature, above 
 fifty inches, thin, skin white, 
 with little hair, and those of 
 the head were from four to 
 five inches long, thick, and of 
 a light chestnut colour, the 
 whiskers the colour of fire 
 and almost up to the angles 
 of the lips, face oblong, nose 
 aquiline, he had no mark 
 natural or made, the skin was 
 easily detached, the genitals 
 in complete putrefaction, and 
 also the lower part of the 
 belly, where the intestines 
 were seen in complete putre- 
 faction. He was dressed with 
 a shirt of blue baize turned , 
 over the. head, and only at- 
 tached to the body by the 
 neck and wrists, which, were 
 buttoned; old drawers of fight 
 white baize with three mend- 
 ings in the part facing the 
 thighs, the left foot and leg 
 naked, and the right with 
 stocking and thick boot ; and, 
 
 Consul's Observations. 
 
 One body only was disin- 
 terred, the others were found 
 unburied. 
 
91 
 
 Translation/. 
 
 therefore, he answers to the 
 first question. 
 
 There is not any indication 
 which makes to suspect that 
 the death was caused by 
 another ; to the second, that 
 it is probable that the death 
 was due to drowning in water; . 
 and that he cannot "value the 
 damage caused. And as there 
 was nothing more to examine 
 and declare upon this corpse, 
 the Delegate concluded this 
 examination, and passed to 
 examine the second body 
 which the conductors de- 
 clared had not been disin- 
 terred, but really met with on 
 the ground. 
 
 He declared that the corpse 
 was of regular stature, more 
 than fifty inches in height, 
 fat, skin white, without cha- 
 racteristic mark, natural or 
 made, the hairs of -the head 
 six to seven inches long, 
 thick, and of a black colour, 
 face large and rounded, whis- 
 kers black, and fronting the 
 ears a little more than two 
 inches wide, the nose small 
 and in complete putrefaction, 
 also the genitals and lower 
 belly, where there was a large 
 opening, whence came out an 
 abundant flowing of putrid 
 blood from the intestines, 
 which by that place were seen 
 in complete putrefaction ; the 
 skin was detached by the 
 least compression. He was 
 with shirt and trowsers of 
 
 Consul's Observations. 
 
 It is to be remarked that the 
 Portuguese word "chap " used 
 here, in the original, to desig- 
 nate groundj regularly means 
 the solid ground, and the soil 
 of which it is composed; it 
 would scarcely be applied to 
 the immediate shore of the 
 sea, or to those parts reached 
 by the high tides. 
 
92 
 
 Translation. 
 
 thick canvass and old, with 
 dark stockings and without 
 shoes ; and, therefore, he 
 answers to the first question, 
 if the death was made ? No, 
 there is . no indication or sig- 
 nal which points out that the 
 death was produced by 
 another. To the second, 
 that it is probable' that the 
 death was due to drowning 
 in water ; and that he cannot 
 value the damage caused. 
 
 Consul's Observations. 
 
 The above evidence is somewhat exaggerated; where the 
 opening existed below the belly there was certainly coagu- 
 lated blood, but not that abundant flow stated. The examin- 
 ing doctor pressed the skin with his cane in various parts, 
 but did not break it. The word used in the original is 
 "epiderme," meaning the epidermis, or thin outward skin; 
 but I do not understand the medical meaning- of the word 
 "destacava-se" (was detached) as employed in this case. 
 Again, when the examiner, states that "there is no indication 
 or signal which points out that the death was produced by 
 another/' I agree with him in so far that there was no proof 
 that the individual had suffered by the hands of another, and . 
 I see no sufficient reason to think he had ; but the skull was 
 fractured, the indenture on the left side, and the fracture 
 over the left eye, and discoloration of- the bone.and skin on 
 the . left temple; being quite perceptible, and immediately 
 noticed by several who attended the funeral. . The fact of the 
 fracture ought certainly.to have been mentioned in the Eeporl 
 of Inquest, and the withholding of the information only adds 
 another to the many incidents which show that the Brazilian 
 authorities desire in this case to conceal all which might 
 create a suspicion that any belonging to the * Prince of 
 "Wales" were murdered. My reasons. for not attributing 
 the death of , the body under consideration to assassina- 
 tion are as follows : — The modes of assassination adopted 
 in this country are usually three — strangling with the 
 lasso, stabbing with knives, or killing with the "bolas" 
 
9&" 
 
 (leaden or iron balls covered with- leather). Now in 
 this particular case I did not examine the neck, so 
 can say nothing with regard to the possible strangling ; on 
 the .body no marks of stabs were found ; and the indenture 
 of the skull was so great that it scarcely seems possible to 
 have been the result of a blow from the " bolas," but rather 
 as though a heavy body, such as a spar, had crushed the 
 skull, or the head had been driven with violence against such 
 a body. Besides, though there "were fourteen persons on 
 board the barque, and the bodies of ten were acknowledged 
 to have been found, the bodies of four only were delivered 
 up ; it is therefore against all probability that those proving 
 crime would have been exhibited when the others' were- wil- 
 fully withheld. The examination then proceeds as "follows :— 
 
 Translation. > 
 
 And there being nothing 
 more to examine nor to de- 
 clare upon this corpse, he 
 passed to examine the other 
 two, which were also found 
 on the ground, the Delegate 
 ordering that the same skilled 
 person should answer regard- 
 ing them ■ by the questions 
 presented respecting the first ; 
 and the aforesaid skilled per- 
 son, Dr. JosS de Pontes 
 Franga, passing to make the 
 examinations ordered, decla- 
 red : That these two corpses 
 (of the fourNiome from out- 
 side) were in] complete putre- 
 faction and destruction of the 
 cqvering, there remaining 
 some skM on the ribs, face,, 
 and skull, which showed they 
 were of clear persons, as. well 
 as the hairs of the head and 
 beard were five to six inches 
 in" length, light chestnut 
 colour,; or almost reddish-yel- 
 low ; of regular Stature, above 
 
 Consul's Observations. 
 
 I was present when the 
 inquiries were made of the 
 police-escort who had con- 
 ducted the bodies. The mat- 
 ter, made a great impression 
 on my mind at the time, . and 
 has since been continually 
 brought to my recollection. 
 My remembrance, therefore, 
 of the sense of the. answers is 
 very perfect, though I might 
 not " state the very words 
 used. The delegate asked the 
 police, where the bodies had 
 been found. ; They said, Near 
 the JRiver Baeta. He asked 
 whether they "were on the 
 shore. _ They replied, that the 
 one buried was on the shore, 
 but the others unburied were 
 " no campo," which means in 
 the open plain. He asked 
 again, how far they were from 
 the shore. And the soldier 
 Pedro,; an intelligent Indian, 
 who was the spokesman,, re- 
 plied, that they were at least 
 
94 
 
 Translation. . 
 
 50 inches in height, wholly 
 stripped ; and therefore he 
 answers that he can say 
 nothing regarding the pro- 
 bable cause of the death of 
 these two individuals : also 
 thafhe makes no valuation 
 regarding the' damages caused, 
 the conductors having decla- 
 red that these corpses were 
 unburied in a place of the 
 solid earthy ground, ("terreno 
 solido "), and within reach 
 of the great tides. And as 
 there was nothing more the 
 Delegate finished these ex- 
 aminations, of which the pre- 
 sent act is drawn up, which 
 goes written by me, and 
 countersigned by the Dele- 
 gate, signed by the same 
 skilled person, the Consul of 
 Her Britannic Majesty, and 
 witnesses present, with me 
 the Secretary Francisco Vi- 
 cente Nobrega, who wrote, it, 
 and of all give faith. 
 
 (Signed) Antonio Estevao 
 
 DE BlTANCOURT 
 E SlLVA. 
 
 doctor- jose* de 
 Pontes Franca. 
 
 H. P. Vereker, 
 Her Britannic 
 Majesty's Consul 
 Rio Grande do 
 Sul, as having 
 been present. 
 
 Apolinario Jesu- 
 inodeOliveira,' 
 Porto Alegre. 
 
 Consul's Observations. 
 three to four quadras from 
 the shore. The quadra, as 
 generally used here, means 
 the distance from one street 
 in a town to another, or about 
 300 feet ; thus the bodies 
 would, have been at least 900 
 feet distance from the shore, 
 and the words used clearly 
 show that those bodies were 
 not brought to such a position 
 by the sea, as upon this shore, 
 the line of the reach of the 
 sea is most clearly marked, in 
 
 # consequence of the coast in 
 the lower parts consisting 
 wholly of fine sand ; and there 
 is a rising of the sand or an 
 eating away of the land 
 in those parts where the 
 highest tides reach, which 
 clearly divide the shore from 
 the inland parts. It will thus 
 be seen that the declaration 
 made by the Police Secretary 
 that the two last corpses were 
 found within reach of the high 
 tides is not only gratuitous on 
 his part, but is manifestly 
 false and even contradicting 
 the previous evidence. Again, 
 in this instance, is exhibited 
 the desire of the Brazilian 
 authorities to prevent the sus- 
 
 • picion of assassination. Al- 
 though I am most unwilling 
 to refer to. words which may 
 have been intended to be pri- 
 vate, yet I feel that in so 
 serious a case I ought not .to 
 omit to mention that when the 
 Delegate of Police heard 
 
95 
 
 Translation. 
 
 Manoel Martins 
 
 Vianna. " 
 Francisco Vi- 
 cente NOBREGA. 
 It agrees. 
 
 The Secretary, 
 Signed) Francisco Vicente 
 Nobrega. 
 
 Consults Observations. 
 
 Pedro's answer as to the dis- 
 tance of the bodies from the 
 shore, he shook his head, and 
 turning from the soldiers 
 towards nie, he ' muttered 
 partly as it were to him- 
 self, " All goes to .prove it, 
 all goes to prove it," or words 
 to that effect, evidently allu- 
 ding to previous conversations 
 we had held regarding the 
 possibility of violence having 
 been offered tq the crew. 
 When returning he asked me, 
 in the presence of Dr. Franca 
 and Mr. Aveline, not to 
 state in my report anything 
 that would compromise the 
 country, as the case was a 
 disgrace to Brazil.' I replied 
 that my duty was a painful 
 one, but I must report what 
 I believed to -be the truth. 
 I should add here, that when 
 the. last two corpses, en- 
 tangled or clasped together, 
 were being taken out of the 
 cart which had brought them, 
 the carter, a man of ap- 
 parently Spanish extraction, 
 exclaimed, " That is the way 
 the poor fellows were found 
 together ! " or wards to that ' 
 effect. In view of that asser- 
 tion I have stated that those 
 bodies were found together. 
 
 Finally, I should observe 
 that when this Eeport of 
 Inquest was presented tp me 
 for signature, I objected to 
 affix my name, as I did not 
 agree in all the statements 
 
96 
 
 Translation. - Consul's Observations. 
 
 made ; the Police Secretary 
 who brought it, however, 
 averred that my signature 
 only implied my having been 
 present, and though this was 
 clearly the fact, I yet con- 
 sidered it right to sign, -with 
 the saving clause that I did 
 so merely ."as having been 
 present," thus clearly point- 
 ing out that I did not agree 
 in the Eeport, though I did 
 not consider it necessary to 
 protest against the false state- 
 ments made. 
 
 British Consulate, Rio Grande do Sal, 
 June 4, 1862. 
 
 (Signed) H. P. VEBEKEE. 
 Comal. 
 
 No. 41. 
 Mr. Christie to Earl Russell. — (Received August 6.) 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, June 23, 1862. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 I enclose a. translation of a passage from .the Annual Ee- 
 port of the Department' of Foreign Affairs, lately presented 
 by Senhor Taques to the Legislature, relating to the ship- 
 wreck of the barque " Prince of Wales." 
 
 None of the correspondence on this subject is published in 
 the Appendix to the Eeport. Senhor Taques states that full 
 and 'stringent instructions were given to the President of Eio 
 Grande do Sul before any complaint or demand was received 
 from Her Majesty's Government, and he makes no mention of 
 . the second demand for further inquiry and reparation made 
 by me on the' 17th of March, in consequence of which steps 
 have been taken, showing that the President of Eio Grande 
 admits that his former proceedings were insufficient. The 
 object of Senhor- Taques in his statement is (> 'as usual, to 
 assume the credit for the, Brazilian authorities of doing, of 
 their own accord, all that is proper. 
 
 The recent visit of Her Majesty's ships "Oberon" and. 
 
97 
 
 " Sheldrake " had caused much comment and some excitement. 
 Senhor Taques makes no mention of the visit of these men of 
 war, but this event has doubtless increased his anxiety to save 
 the dignity of the Brazilian Government before the Brazilian 
 public. 
 
 I have* &c. 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE. 
 
 u Enclosure in No. 41. 
 
 Extract from the Report of Senhor Taques to the Legislative 
 Assembly of Brazil, presented on the 13th of May, 1862. 
 
 (Translation.) 
 
 The Shipwreck op the English Bakqt/e "Prince op 
 "Wales." — By a despatch from the President of Bio Grande 
 de Sao Pedro do Sul, dated the 3rd of last July, the Imperial 
 Government was informed of the wreck of the English barque 
 " Prince of Wales," at the place called Albardao, on the coast 
 of that province, and that the English Consul, the Judge of 
 Commerce, the Assistant of the Chief Custom-house Guard, 
 with a sufficient force, had proceeded to the spot for the pur- 
 pose of taking charge of the goods saved, and to succour the 
 shipwrecked persons. 
 
 At the same time the Imperial Government was informed, 
 not only that many of the goods saved were supposed to have 
 been stolen, but that the British Consul attributed to the 
 want of .necessary exertions on the part of the competent 
 authority the fact that only four corpses of the shipwrecked 
 crew had been met with, while the Inspector of the place 
 asserted that a greater number had been buried, thus leading 
 to the suspicion that some of them had been murdered. 
 
 In replying to these commumcations of the President of 
 Bio Grande do Sul, the Imperial Government very pressingly 
 instructed that functionary to give to this matter his most 
 serious consideration, in order that the truth might be elicited, 
 and that those who might be proved guilty of the alleged 
 outrage might be prosecuted and punished 
 
 Subsequently, under date of the 25th of October, Her 
 Britannic Majesty's Legation at this Court, referring to com- 
 munications from the Consul in Rio Grande, addressed the 
 Imperial Government, stating the above-mentioned facts, and 
 calling for the punishment of their authors. 
 
 H 
 
98 
 
 . The imperial Government communicated to the President 
 of Eio Grande this demand, and repeated, its instructions, 
 celling the President that in order to arrive at the desired 
 "esult, the discovery of the truth, he should spare no effort, 
 for the Government considered its dignity involved in this 
 affair, and was firm in the intention of punishing so great a 
 crime, and making an example of its authors. 
 
 The difficulties inseparable from the inquiries in question, 
 considering the distances, ' localities, and the qualities and 
 conditions of the individuals who reside in or pass through 
 them, have retarded the action of the authorities, so that 
 ; these have not yet been able to arrive at a positive and exact 
 knowledge of the facts complained of. 
 
 It is, however, gratifying to me to announce to you, that 
 if, from, the correspondence up to this time received from the 
 President of Kio Grande do Sul there is reason to believe 
 that some articles saved from the wreck were stolen, it 
 happily appears that the suspicions entertained of murders 
 having been committed on the occasion- of the shipwreck 
 of the vessel are without foundation.. 
 
 It is not less gratifying to me also to communicate to you 
 that the President of the Province of Eio Grande do Sul, 
 corresponding to the wishes and 1 confidence of the Imperial 
 Government, has proceeded in this affair with the greatest 
 solicitude, judgment, and propriety ; wherefore the Govern- 
 ment nourishes a well-founded hope that the truth. will soon 
 be discovered, and justice accomplished, as the morality and 
 civilization of our country require. 
 
 No. 42. 
 
 - Mr. Stephens to Earl Russell. — {Received August 15.) 
 15, Dixon Street, Glasgow, August 11, 1862. 
 
 My Lokd, 
 I am greatly troubled by the relatives of the captain and 
 crew of the late barque " Prince of Wales," who seem dis- 
 satisfied with the delay of obtaining redress. I intend going 
 to London tonight, and if your Lordship or your Secretary 
 could spare a. few minutes for an interview oh this affair, 
 it may enable me to give them some hope of redress. I 
 
99 
 
 would be obliged by your favouring me with a reply, to 
 Ryder's Hotel, Fleet Street, 
 
 I ll3iV6 &C 
 
 (Signed) R. P. STEPHENS. 
 
 No. 43. 
 
 Mr. Christie to Earl Russell. — (Received August 22.) 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, July 20, 1862. 
 
 My Loed, 
 
 I enclose a copy of a note which I have addressed to the 
 Marquis of Abrantes since receiving your Lordship's despatch 
 of June 4, instructing -me to continue to insist on a searching 
 inquiry into the wreck of the " Prince of Wales " to be made 
 in the presence of a British officer. 
 
 I am without any further communication from the Brazilian 
 Government on this subject since the note of Senhor Taques, 
 of April 12, which was in your Lordship's possession when 
 you sent me this last instruction ; but having learnt by 
 despatches from Mr. Vereker to your Lordship, which have 
 since passed through my hands, that a new inquiry had 
 taken place, and that certain minor officials were in conse- 
 quence removed or to be removed, I was anxious to learn 
 from the Marquis of Abrantes, before acting on your Lord- 
 ship's last instruction, whether it was bis intention shortly 
 to make any communication to me. I therefore sought his 
 Excellency, and ", asked him the question. His reply, in 
 general terms, was that .proceedings were being taken against 
 certain parties ; he made no mention of officials, . He stated 
 that he was waiting for further information before he could 
 make any communication to me, and he added that the 
 Brazilian Government were convinced that the charge of 
 murder was entirely disproved. T replied that Her Majesty's 
 Consul continued to be of a different opinion,; and after this 
 interview I thought it well to address to his Excellency the 
 note of which a copy is enclosed, and- in which your Lord- 
 ship will see that I have, mentioned the opinion of Admiral- 
 Warren and Captain Saumarez, that the latteT had not been 
 treated by the authorities of Eio Grande do Sul with due 
 courtesy and consideration. 
 
 I am aware that since the last information which your 
 
 H 2 
 
loo 
 
 Lordship had ' when you sent me your last instructions, 
 Mr. Consul Vereker has been requested to attend an inquiry 
 held by the Delegate of Police, and has declined to do. so for 
 reasons which he has reported to your Lordship. But I have 
 not felt . certain whether by a British officer your Lord- 
 ship meant a British naval officer or generally a British 
 functionary. 
 
 In the enclosed note I have used your Lordship's words. 
 This note may yet stimulate the Brazilian Government to 
 further proceedings and admissions. The tone of it is, I 
 think, such that your Lordship will find no difficulty, if you 
 should wish it, from cause hereafter shown, or even on 
 account of additional information already in your possession, 
 in modifying or receding from the demand of a new inquiry' 
 in the presence of a British officer. * 
 
 The disingenuous statement lately published- on this sub- 
 ject by Senhor Taques in his Annual Report, to which I have 
 called your Lordship's attention in my despatch of June 23, 
 has helped to determine me to write the enclosed note ; and 
 generally, the slowness of the Brazilian Government, and 
 their unwillingness to admit themselves in fault, make as 
 much pressure as possible desirable. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE. 
 
 'Enclosure in No. 43. 
 
 Mr. Christie to the Marquis of Abrantes. 
 
 Bio de Janeiro, July 16, 1862. 
 M. LE Mabquis, 
 
 I forwarded to Lord Russell a copy of the note addressed 
 to me by Senhor Taques, oh the 19th of April, on the subject 
 of the unfortunate events connected with the wreck of the 
 English barque "Prince of "Wales," and replying to Mr. 
 Baillie's note of the 27th of October of last year,, and to mine 
 of 17th March last. 
 
 While stating the desire of Her Majesty's Government for 
 a more searching inquiry into all the painful circumstances 
 connected with the wreck in question, with a view both to 
 punishment and indemnity, I had informed Senhor Taques, 
 in my Note of the 17th of March, that I had requested the 
 British Admiral to send an experienced naval officer to Rio 
 
101 
 
 Grande do Sul, and I offered his assistance in any inquiry 
 which, the Brazilian Government should institute. Senhor 
 Toques, in his note of the 19th of April, stated that .fresh 
 instructions hadbeefn sent to the President of Eio Grande do 
 Sul for further investigation, and for punishment of the 
 guilty parties, but he declined the offered aid of a British 
 naval officer. 
 
 In the meantime the British Admiral had sent from Monte 
 Video to Eio Grande do Sul his flag-captain, Captain 
 Saumarez, and this officer had proceeded with Her Majesty's 
 Consul, Mr: Vereker, to Porto Alegre, to wait on the President 
 of the Province. The President promised Captain Saumarez 
 and Her Majesty's Consul to ' give orders immediately to the 
 Chief of Police to hold a new inquiry, at which it was agreed 
 that Captain Saumarez should, with Her Majesty's Consul, be 
 present, though the President declined to admit him to take 
 an official part in it. Captain Saumarez then returned with 
 Her Majesty's Consul to Eio Grande do Sul, where they were 
 to receive a communication as to the promised inquiry from 
 the Chief of Police, and having waited there from the 8th of 
 April to the 18th without hearing anything, either from the 
 President of the Province,: or from the Chief of Poliee, who 
 was in Eio Grande do Sul in the interval, Captain Saumarez 
 returned to Monte 'Video for other duties, and he returned 
 with the feeling, which is shared by the Admiral who sent 
 him, that he had not been treated by the Brazilian authorities 
 with due consideration and courtesy. 
 
 Her Majesty's Government having before them the note of 
 Senhor Taques of the 19th of April, and being informed of 
 the return of Captain Saumarez to Monte Video, have 
 instructed me to say that they are of opinion that this ques- 
 tion, full of painful suggestions, cannot be satisfactorily dis- 
 posed of without a thorough inquiry made in the presence of 
 a British officer. 
 
 (Signed) W.' P. CHEISTIE. 
 
 No. 44% 
 
 Earl Russell to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, August 30, 1862. 
 
 Sir, , * 
 
 I approve of the note which you addressed to M. d'Abrantes, 
 
102 
 
 and copy of which is enclosed' in your despatch of the 20th 
 ultimo, pressing for a further and more satisfactory investiga- 
 tion into the circumstances of the wreck of the vessel " Prince 
 of Wales." • 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) RUSSELL 
 
 No. 45. 
 
 , Mr. Christie to Ep/rl Russell. — (Received September 2.) 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, August 7, 1862. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 1 have to bring a disagreeable incident to your Lordship's 
 knowledge, and I enclose — - v 
 
 1. Copy of a letter from Bear-Admiral Warren dated June 
 22, complaining in very- strong terms of ill-treatment by 
 Brazilian police authorities of three officers of his flag-ship, 
 one of them the chaplain. 
 
 2 to 5. Copies of reports' made to the Admiral by Captain 
 Saumarez and by the three officers enclosed in Admiral 
 Warren's letter to me. 
 
 ! 6 arid 7. Copy of report made to. me by Her Majesty's 
 Acting Consul, and translation of the letter of the Chief of 
 Pplice to him. 
 
 8. Copy of a note to me from the Marquis of Abrantes> 
 Minister for Foreign Affairs, dated July 17, and enclosing a 
 report from M. Sinimbu, the Acting Minister of Justice, of 
 the result of an inquiry into the affair instituted by the 
 Chief of Police. 
 
 9 to 11. Translations of M. Sinimbu's despatch to the 
 Marquis of Abrantes, and of report of Chief of Police to M. 
 Sinimbu, and summary of documents enclosed in the report 
 of the Chief of Police. 
 
 12. Copy of reply of the three officers to the report of the 
 Chief of Police. 
 
 Your Lordship will observe that the Minister for Foreign 
 Affairs in transmitting to me M. Sinimbus report expresses 
 no opinion on the affair, but that M. Sinimbu thinks the 
 report of the Chief of Police convincing, and the complaint 
 of Admiral Warren groundless. 
 
 Immediately on receipt of the Marquis of Abrantes' note 
 
103 
 
 of the 17th of July, I wrote 4o him asking for a copy of the 
 evidence taken by the Chief of Police. It was immediately 
 /promised, but I -did not receive the evidence till late in the 
 evening of the 2nd instant, Saturday, and I should not have 
 received it even then but for my having written pressingly 
 to M. Sinimbu, and it appears from his reply to me, of 
 which Enclosure 13 is a copy, that no steps had been 
 taken for copying the evidence, and he sends me the original 
 ■depositions. 
 
 I have received these depositions too late to be able to 
 forward translations of them by this packet, or even to act 
 upon them in any way before the packet leaves. Imme- 
 diately after the departure of the packet they will be com- 
 municated to the three officers for any observations they may 
 wish to make on them ; and I shall then confer with the 
 Admiral on the whole question, and afterwards with the 
 Marquis of Abrantes, and I shall make a further report to 
 your Lordship by. the French steamer leaving this on the 
 25th instant, which you will receive in the middle of Sep- 
 tember. 
 
 I make the present incomplete report, the Admiral sendiiu^ a 
 similar one to the Admiralty, for the following reason. Hie 
 hot weather, and other reasons,' may render the Admiral's 
 departure for the ftivqr Plate desirable in December, and it 
 may in that case be important for us to receive instructions 
 from Her Majesty's Government in the beginning of Novem- 
 ber. The preliminary reports now sent, may, therefore, 
 facilitate the sending of final instructions by the English 
 packet of October. 
 
 I reserve for my next report my own opinion on the ques- 
 tion, and will simply say now that the Admiral regards the 
 affair as more serious than that for which he has lately, under 
 a threat of force, obtained satisfaction at Monte Video. 
 
 The Brazilian Government do not seem to regard it at all 
 in the same light, 'and I think it important to explain to 
 your Lordship in detail the apathy and slowness which they 
 have hitherto shown. The Admiral's letter dated the 22nd 
 June was handed by him to me on the morning of Monday, 
 the 23rd, just as I was leaving Eio for a week, under engage- 
 ments of some standing, to pay some visits, and for change 
 of air on account of my health. On my way out of town I 
 called at the house of the Marquis of Abrantes; and in his 
 absence, saw his. Secretary. I explained to the, latter the 
 
104 
 
 object of my visit, read to hin> the Admiral's letter, begged 
 him to represent the matter to his chief as urgent, and told 
 him that Admiral Warren particularly wished an early 
 inquiry, as he might be obliged to leave Eio in a few days, 
 and it would be inconvenient to him to find himself com- 
 pelled to leave the chaplain and the other two officers behind 
 him. I begged the Secretary to state this to the Marquis, 
 and to add that Mr. Eliot would call on . his Excellency the 
 next morning before 10, his usual hour of receiving, in. order 
 to apply to him officially on my behalf for a full and early 
 inquiry. Mr. Eliot went and placed in the hands of the 
 Marquis of Abrantes the Admiral's letter and its enclosures. 
 His Excellency expressed great concern for what had hap- 
 pened, for the matter had become the talk of the town, and 
 there was a general feeling that the officers had been treated 
 shamefully, and he promised to take the proper steps imme- 
 diately for an inquiry. 
 
 When I had returned to Eio on the 29th June no inquiry 
 had taken place, .and' no steps had been taken for holding 
 one. The Admiral had,, in the meantime, proceeded to Monte 
 Video, leaving the three officers .behind, him. 
 
 I then went, accompanied by the Senior Naval Officer in 
 port, to the Marquis of Abrantes to urge him again to have 
 an immediate inquiry, and enable these three officers to make 
 their statements that they might be" free to proceed in a 
 few days to join the Admiral at Monte Video in one of 
 Her Majesty's ships which was going there. He referred 
 me to the' Acting Minister of Justice, whom I found with 
 some difficulty, and it was then arranged -that 'the Qhief 
 of Police should hold an inquiry, and hear the officers, on 
 the 2nd July. 
 
 The Marquis of Abrantes transmitted to me on the 17th 
 the report of the Chief of Police, but not the depositions. 
 
 I have already explained that I immediately asked for a 
 copy of the depositions, that they were promised me, and 
 that on the 2nd of August no steps had been taken for 
 having them copied for me. The consequence is that Admiral 
 Warren and myself are prevented from making complete 
 reports by this packet, which leaves Eio seven weeks after the 
 incident. 
 
 It appears to me that the "Brazilian Government have pro- 
 ceeded with a slowness and indifference quite unsuitable .to 
 the gravity of the incident and the serious character of 
 
105 
 
 Admiral Warren's complaints* and quite inconsistent with 
 the first tone and promises of the Minister for Foreign 
 Affairs. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D. CHEISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 45. 
 
 Rear-Admiral Warren to Mr. Christie. 
 
 " Forte," Kio de Janeiro, June 22, 1862. 
 
 Sib, 
 
 A most brutal outrage was committed on three officers be- 
 longing to Her Majesty's ship " Forte " on the evening of the 
 17th instant by the guard stationed on the Tijuca-hill, the 
 details of which you will learn from the enclosed copies of 
 the statements of the officers themselves, and I have the 
 honour to request your cooperation in obtaining from the 
 Brazilian Government a searching inquiry into this most 
 atrocious outrage in order that the offenders may be brought 
 to punishment, and ample reparation made for the indignities 
 placed on the national honour, by the brutal assault made on 
 the persons of these officers. 
 
 By the above-mentioned statement you will perceive that 
 the officer of the guard was perfectly aware of the rank and 
 nationality of these officers when he submitted them to the 
 indignity of marching into the city as if they had been the 
 worst of criminals, for on the remark of Lieutenant Pringle, 
 he says, "Although you are officers you are only ordinary 
 prisoners." 
 
 "When brought to the filthy den in which they were con- 
 fined for some time with the lowest and worst description of 
 prisoners, the official who received them there also stated that 
 he was perfectly aware of their rank and nation. 
 
 Even the application of Her Majesty's Consul was not for 
 some time successful in obtaining their removal into a decent 
 place of confinement, and to crown all after having been sub- 
 jected to this disgraceful treatment for forty hours they are 
 told to go about their business ; no inquiry whatever having 
 been gone into. A more outrageous proceeding altogether I 
 have never heard of. 
 
 The Captain of Her Majesty's ship " Forte " himself went 
 to the Chief of Police, stated who the officers were, and 
 
106 
 
 pledged himself to- produce them when called for ; but that 
 official refused to accede to this request,,, arid does Hot appear 
 even' then to have taken any steps to remove themto a proper 
 place of confinement, although made acquainted by the 
 Captain with their rank and nationality. 
 
 When you have perused these details I feel convinced you 
 will agree with me that not a moment should be. lost in de- 
 manding from the Brazilian Government the most searching 
 inquiry and reparation. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 
 (Sighed) R L. WARREN. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 45. 
 
 Captain. Saumarez to Rear-Admiral Warren. 
 
 "Forte," Eio de Janeiro, June 20, 1862. 
 SlE, 
 
 When walking on shore with Captain Henry of the 
 " Stromboli" about 5 o'clock P.M., of the 18th instant, I was 
 informed that two officers of 'Her Majesty's ship " Forte " 
 were in prison. I at once went to the Chief of Police, the 
 Consulate being closed, and requested to know if such was 
 the case, and the charge against them, pointing out that one 
 was the Clergyman of the. ship, the other a Lieutenant, and 
 requested their immediate release, pledging to produce them 
 at any moment he wished to see them ; he refused, stating 
 they were in for striking the guard, and the depositions would 
 be taken next morning. I pointed out to him the rank of 
 these officers, and more especially as to one being a minister 
 of religion ; but all in vain, he refused in any way to release 
 them. I then requested to be informed who was the next in 
 rank I could see ; he said the Minister of Justice, but even 
 he pould not release them. 
 
 I then proceeded to the Brazilian flag-ship. The Admiral 
 not being on board, I stated the circumstances and gave the 
 name and rank of these officers, requesting his assistance. 
 
 Next morning I proceeded with the Vice-Consul to the 
 
 Chief of Police, whom we found out, but an order for the 
 
 release of these officers had been given, and on whom I have 
 
 called for their depositions, which I beg to annex. 
 
 • I have, &c. 
 
 (Signed), THOS. SAUMAREZ, Captain. . 
 
107 
 
 P.S. — I may add that these officers were in plain clothes, 
 having obtained permission to go into the country. 
 
 (Signed) T. SAUMAEEZ. 
 
 Enclosure 3 in No. 45. 
 
 The Rev. G. Ckmenger to Captain Saumarez. 
 
 " Forte," Rio de Janeiro, June 20, 1862. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 In compliance with your order I have the honour to lay 
 before you- a statement of a most unwarrantable and brutal 
 assault made against my person and liberty on the evening of 
 Tuesday 17th June. 
 
 "When returning from Tijuca to take the " Machambomba " 
 at 7 o'clock for Eio, and passing by a Police guard-house, a 
 sentinel advanced towards me and made a motion with his 
 musket and fixed bayonet. I addressed him in the following 
 words, " Que quiere V. V He immediately struck me on the 
 chest with the butt of his musket, and made an attempt to 
 stab me, at the same time calling out the whole of the guard, 
 who rushed on me with bayonets and swords, the aforesaid 
 sentry striking me a second time with his musket. 
 
 I was then dragged into the guard-room and placed in con- 
 finement till the officer of the guard came and asked for an 
 explanation and my address, which I gave him. 
 ■ During this time Mr. Pringle and Mr. Hornby had been 
 most grossly treated, and afterwards placed in confinement. 
 Several times during the evening I told the officer of the guard 
 who I was. 
 
 On Wednesday morning I was placed under an escort of 
 seven soldiers, policemen, and obliged to walk into Eio, though 
 I had requested to be allowed to hire a conveyance, which 
 was refused On my arrival at the police-station I was ordered 
 to give my name and address, and then was confined in a 
 prison' full of men and boys of the lowest grade of society 
 for the space of two hours, but through the intercession of 
 Mr. Tupper was removed to another prison something cleaner 
 than the first ; here I remained for one hour and a half. I 
 was then removed to the head police-station and treated with 
 every courtesy requisite. 
 
 On Thursday morning at 11 o'clock an officer came into our 
 room; and informed us that we were liberated^" without giving 
 
108 
 
 us any information why we had been confined, or what charge 
 had been brought against us. 
 
 I have to request that, you will have this matter thoroughly 
 investigated, that English naval officers may no more suffer 
 such ignominious treatment as we have. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) G. CLEMENGER. 
 
 Enclosure 4 in No. 45. 
 Lieutenant Priiigle to Captain Saumarez. 
 
 "Forte," Bio de Janeiro, June 20, 1862. 
 SlE, 
 
 In compliance with your orders I have the honour to sub- 
 mit to you the following account of a most brutal outrage 
 which was committed against my person and liberty by some 
 of the guard at Tijuca Hill at about 6.40 P.M. on Tuesday, 
 ]7th June, 1862. 
 
 While hastening down to catch the " Machambomba," with 
 Mr. Clemenger, chaplain, and Mr. Hornby, midshipman, I 
 saw Mr. .Clemenger accosted by a sentinel. The former 
 stopped, and said, " Que quiere V. ?" The words were scarcely 
 uttered, when, in the most unwarrantable manner, the sentry 
 struck him in the chest with the butt of his musket and called 
 for the guard, who immediately hurried out and seized us in 
 a most rough manner arid took my stick out of my hand.. I 
 then requested them to unhand me ; they not doing so I re- 
 sisted, and attempted to resume my walk, but was over- 
 powered by numbers of police with drawn swords and 
 bayonets, who struck me with them and maltreated me in the 
 grossest manner ; I being also struck near the groin with the 
 butt of the sentinel's musket. I. was then forced into a prison 
 in the guard-house, where I called for the officer of the guard, 
 who, afte» some delay, inquired into our case, and asked for 
 our names and address, which we gave in full on two occa- 
 sions. We explained to him fully the circumstances of the 
 case, and complained to him of the gross treatment we had 
 received ; also making him fully aware, as also the rest of the 
 guard, that we were British naval officers. At his request we 
 wrote to the English Consul and to yourself, which letters he 
 promised to forward early on Wednesday morning. 
 
 The following morning, Wednesday 18th June, he ordered 
 
109 
 
 us to march down to Rio under an escort. We then asked 
 him to allow us a carriage, the expense of which we offered 
 to defray. He, however, refused ; giving as a reason that al- 
 though we were officers we were ordinary prisoners. We were 
 then marched down to Bio at 9 o'clock in an ignominious 
 manner under an escort of seven policemen. At the Eid 
 police-office we again gave our names in full, rank, and ad*- 
 dress, and were then ushered into a filthy den, where were 
 men and boys of the lowest society. At the threshold of this 
 detention-room I asked the official if he were perfectly aware 
 of our rank and country ; he answered in the affirmative, and 
 we went in, where we remained for two hours. The Consul 
 having us Temoved to a better prison, which was notwith- 
 standing filthy, we were kept there about an hour and a half, 
 when, through the intervention of Mr. Tupper and the Con- 
 sul, we were removed in a carriage to a barrack in the town 
 and placed in comfortable quarters, where we were well 
 treated. 
 
 Oh Thursday morning, a little before noon, the officer, of the 
 guard showed us a letter from the Chief of Police, ordering 
 him to set our bodies at liberty. I then inquired the reason 
 and on what grounds we were liberated, our case not having 
 been heard by a judge or any competent person, and whether 
 we were on remand or bail ; but he afforded me no informa- 
 tion further than that we were free. 
 
 I also must mention the perversion of truth of which the 
 officer commanding the guard at Tijuca was guilty : firstly, 
 in not forwarding our letters, as he promised to do ; secondly, 
 in his charge against us calling us three unknown foreigners, 
 as we refused to give our names ; this latter being a most 
 direct falsehood, we having, as stated above, given our names, 
 ranks, and addresses on two separate occasions. Through 
 this latter falsehood he was able to get us put into the filthy 
 detention- room of the police when we arrived at Rio. 
 
 The charges also, which I heard by an indirect source, will 
 by the above statement, be shown to be most egregiously 
 
 Hoping that you will take such steps as you consider 
 necessary to obtain redress for this gross outrage offered by 
 Brazilian officials to three unoffending British naval officers, 
 as also to prevent its recurrence. 
 
 (Signed) ELIOT PEISTGLE 
 
110 
 
 Enclosure 5 in No. 45. 
 Mr. Hornby to Captain Saumarez. 
 
 , "Forte," Rio de Janeiro, June 20, 1862. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Whilst coming down from Tijuca on Tuesday, the 17th 
 instant, in company with Mr. Clemenger, and Mr. Pringle, for 
 the purpose of meeting the " Machambomba," leaving at 7 
 o'clock, we passed the Tijuca guard-house. The sentry 
 advanced towards us, and Mr. Clemenger, not knowing him to 
 be a police, addressed him with the words, " Que quiere, V. 1 
 The sentry immediately made two or three thrusts at him 
 ■with his fixed bayonet, and then struck him in the chest 
 with the butt, at the same time calling out for the whole 
 guard, who immediately rushed out on us, took our sticks 
 and Mr: Clemenger' s umbrella, and overpowered us and 
 conveyed us into the guard-house ' by main force, at the same 
 time making free use of the fiats of their swords and bayonets. 
 The guard consisted of from twenty to thirty persons. "We 
 were then locked up, and remained there till the officer of 
 the guard arrived, when each' of us was called out and 
 we explained that we had not the least idea of creating a 
 disturbance, and also told him we were English officers. 
 
 "We were again shut up for the night, and having written 
 two letters, — one to yourself and the other to the Vice-Consul, 
 — explaining where we were and how we had got there, we 
 -were then told that they should be sent immediately, and that 
 they would arrive at their destination at about 9 o'clock next 
 morning. 
 
 In the morning we were informed that we were to be 
 removed with a guard to Eio. "We offered to pay for a 
 conveyance, or take the " Machambomba," both of which 
 were refused us ; but we were told that if we walked about 
 an hour's walk to another station, we should there get a 
 conveyance to save us the unpleasantness of being marched 
 through the town with a guard of seven police, as we eventu- 
 ally were. 
 
 On arriving at the Eio Station, we were asked to sign our 
 names and ranks,- which we all did, and were then locked up 
 in the most disgusting den possible, among all the blackguards 
 of the town. 
 
 We then managed to send a note to the Consul, asking him 
 if he had received our previous letter, and begging him to 
 
Ill 
 
 come and demand that, as officers, we should be treated as 
 
 such and not degraded in the way we were. 
 
 . The Consul came, and had us removed to a place a little 
 
 better, but still most filthy, and informed us that we should 
 
 remain there till the Chief of Police came, who we should 
 
 see. 
 
 He came, but we did not see him ; however, he gave an 
 order for us to be removed to the State prison, where we were 
 better treated. 
 
 I hope, Sir, you will be kind enough to cause an investiga- 
 tion to take place to prevent such proceedings for the future, 
 
 (Signed) GEOFFEEY HOKNBY, Midshipman. 
 
 Enclosure 6 in No. 45. 
 
 Acting Consul Hollocombe to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, June 30, 1862. 
 SlE, 
 
 I have the honour to lay before your Excellency the follow- 
 ing report of my visit to the Police Office in this city on the 
 18th instant, the day following the arrest of three officers 
 belonging to Her Majesty's ship " Forte." 
 
 On hearing that the Chaplain of the "Forte" was im- 
 prisoned, I immediately proceeded to the police station, and 
 there saw that officer, together with two others, confined in 
 the " xadrez " or common lock-up. 
 
 The Chief of Police not being then in the office, I called on 
 the Secretary, who informed me that the prisoners referred to 
 had been apprehended for shooting without a license ; and 
 that as soon as the Chief of Police returned he would acquaint 
 him of my visit, when he had no doubt they would be set at 
 liberty. The Secretary, immediately I informed him that the 
 prisoners were officers in Her Majesty's navy, ordered them 
 to be removed to another place of confinement, and this I saw 
 effected before I left the station. 
 
 The charge brought against these officers, as given to me 
 by the Secretary, appeared so frivolous that I fully expected 
 they would be at once released, and ' therefore did not call 
 again to see the Chief of Police ; but later in the day, on 
 sending to the station, I ascertained that the three officers had 
 been removed- to the- Quartel dos Permanentes. On the 20th 
 instant I addressed a note to the Chief of Police, asking, for 
 
112 
 
 the information of Captain Saumarez, the reason why tibese 
 officers had been' apprehended, and the nature of the charge 
 made against them ; and I have now the honour to enclose a 
 translation of the reply to my note. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) THOS. HOLLOCOMBE. 
 
 Enclosure 7 in No. 45. 
 Senhor da Gama to Acting Consul Hollocombe. 
 (Translation). 
 
 » Police Office, Rio de Janeiro, June 21, 1862. 
 
 SlE, 
 I have to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch dated 
 yesterday, and in reply I have to state that the three officers 
 belonging to the frigate " Forte," alluded to therein, were 
 taken prisoners on the 1.7th instant by the ensign command- 
 ing the detachment at Tijuca for having attacked the sentry 
 of that detachment and for attempting to force an entry into 
 the respective guard-house. 
 ' God preserve, &c. 
 
 (Signed) AGOSTINHO LUIZ DA GAMA. 
 
 Enclosure 8 in No. 45. 
 
 The MarqyCis of Air antes to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, le 17 Juillet, 1862. 
 Mon cher Monsieur, 
 "Sous ce pli j'ai l'honneur de remettre a votre Excellence les 
 documents que vous avezs bien voulu me Conner relatif aux 
 trois officiers de la frigate " Forte," ainsi que la copie des 
 informations que M. de Sinimbu m'a transmisea sur cette 
 affaire. 
 
 Je profite, &c. 
 (Signe) MARQUIS OF ABR ANTES. 
 
 Enclosure 9 in No. 45. 
 
 Senhor SinimbA to the Marquis of Abr antes. 
 
 Ministry of the Affairs of Justioe, 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, July. 9, 1862. 
 (Translation.) 
 
 Most Illustrious and Excellent Sir, 
 I have the honour to transmit to your Excellency, for your 
 
113 
 
 Excellency, for your information and that of Her Britannic 
 Majesty's Minister, the copy of a Report made to me by the 
 Chief of Police of this capital concerning the imprisonment 
 of some officers of the English frigate "forte," by a detach- 
 ment of police stationed at Tijuca, and from this document 
 your Excellency will see that the reasons on which the Com- 
 mander-in-chief of that frigate founds the representation 
 which he addressed to the Minister of his nation are insuf- 
 ficient. 
 
 I avail, &c, 
 (Signed) 
 
 JOAO LIN'S VIEIEA CANSANSAO DE SINIMBU. 
 
 Enclosure 10 in No. 45. 
 
 Senhor de Gama to Serihor SirvimbA. 
 
 Police Office, Bio de Janeiro, July 5, 1862. 
 
 (Translation.) 
 
 Most Illustrious and Excellent Sib, 
 
 The despatch of the 28th of June last, ordering that in 
 view of the representation addressed by Admiral Warren, 
 Commander-in-chief of the English frigate " Forte," to Her 
 Britannic Majesty's Minister at this Court, against the con- 
 duct of the soldiers of the police detachment of Tijuca, on the 
 afternoon of the 17th, towards some officers of the said 
 frigate, who, after having been" ill treated by the said soldiers, 
 were detained during that night in the guard-house, and were 
 on the next day sent to the city, I should inform your Ex- 
 cellency, on this incident, ordering a minute investigation 
 into the facts, I was anxious personally to make the most 
 searching inquiries on the subject, interrogating, in the 
 presence of those officers, the commander and soldiers of the 
 police detachment of Tijuca, as well as two other persons, 
 who might furnish some elucidations of these facts. 
 
 From these interrogatories, which I have the honour 
 to transmit, in original, to your Excellency, it results as 
 follows :— 
 
 1. That on the afternoon of the 17th of June last, three, 
 foreigners, having dined at the hotel of Robert Bennett, on 
 the Tijuca Hill, where they had two bottles of Bordeaux 
 wine, "and half a bottle of Cognac, were proceedingto the city. 
 
 2. That on the road the said foreigners annoyed the passers 
 
1W 
 
 by, attempting to unhorse an equestrian who was going home 
 quietly, violently seizing the reins of the horse. 
 
 3. That at 7 o'clock in the evening the said strangers 
 arrived at the station of the detachment, and going up the 
 steps before the house, approaehed the sentinel there posted, 
 -one of them, named Clemenger, asking him, What are you 
 doing there ? And upon the sentinel telling them to retire, 
 they broke out into threats with the sticks which they carried, 
 threats which they put into execution, and began to strike 
 the sentinel, who defended himself with the stock of his gun, 
 without using his bayonet, in order not to wound them, and 
 .called the guard. 
 
 4. That the guard, coming out at the call of the sentinel, 
 as also the ensign commanding it, all gentle measures were 
 used for the apprehension of the three foreigners, who op- 
 posed the greatest resistance, laying hold of the soldiers, and 
 falling on the ground with them, until at- last they were taken, 
 fox which purpose the use of moderate force was indispen- 
 sable. 
 
 5. That on the three foreigners being deposited in the 
 t guard-house, the ensign in command endeavoured to learn 
 their names and descriptions, and, as they appeared ignorant 
 of the Portuguese language, he employed the Austrian, 
 Eodolph Muller,. who lives in the neighbourhood, to put 
 questions, which they did not choose to answer, showing 
 themselves haughty and scornful. 
 
 6. That notwithstanding their not choosing to give their 
 names and conditions, the three strangers were treated by the 
 commander of the detachment with the greatest kindness 
 and urbanity, not only furnishing them with writing paper 
 and playing cards, at their request, but also placing at their 
 
 , disposal his own bed, the only one in the guard-house. 
 
 7. That although these three foreigners were not completely 
 drunk, they appeared not to be in full possession of their 
 mental faculties. 
 
 8. That on the following day the three strangers were sent 
 to this city, without their having informed the commander 
 of the detachment of their ranks as English naval officers, 
 nor even given a hint on the subject. On the arrival of these 
 
 .three foreigners in this city, they were placed, not in the 
 slaves' prison, but in that of freemen, where there might also 
 be persons of colour, as, according to our legislation, there is 
 
 Jug difference of prison on account of such condition. 
 
115 
 
 As soon as it was known that these three individuals be- 
 longed to the. English navy, they were immediately removed 
 to another special prison, and upon Her Britannic Majesty's 
 Vice-Consul declaring that they were officers of the English 
 frigate " Eorte," I -sent them without loss of time to the bar- 
 racks of the police corps, as appears from the official Keport 
 (copy No. ] ), accompanied by the captain commanding the 
 company of foot soldiers. ' At the same time I caused an 
 order to be sent to the Sub-Delegate of the parish of Engenho 
 Velho (copy No. 2), at whose disposal the English officers 
 were in prison, to furnish me, immediately, with a circum- 
 stantial report of the imprisonment, and to transfer them to 
 my disposal. 
 
 Having received on the 19th of June; before 9 o'clock in 
 the morning, the official reply of the Sub-Delegate (copy No. 
 3), and finding that there was no ground for instituting pro- 
 ceedings; as the acts of the English officers were merely the 
 result of the state in which they were at the time, I at once 
 gave orders for their discharge, as appears by the copy 
 No. 4; not having done it before, . as solicited by Captain 
 Saumarez, because I had not yet received the official report 
 of the Sub-Delegate, transferring them to my disposal, and 
 ignorant of the cause of their imprisonment, 
 
 God preserve, &c. 
 
 (Signed) AGOSTINHO LUIS DA GAMA 
 
 Enclosure 11 in No. 45. 
 
 Pre'cis of Documents connected with Arrest of Officers of 
 the "Forte." 
 
 (Translation.) 
 
 No. 1. June 18, 1862. A L. de Gama, Chief of Police, 
 to M. P. Drago, Commandant of City Police.— Eequests that 
 George Clemenger, Eliot Pringle, and Geoffrey Hornby; may 
 be kept in custody at disposal of Sub-Delegate of Engenho 
 Velho. 
 
 No. 2. June 18. F. J. de Lima, Secretary of Chief of 
 Police to Sub-Delegate of Engenho Velho. — The Chief, of 
 Police calls for a report on imprisonment of G. Clemengei', 
 &c. and has them transferred to his own superintendence. 
 
 No. 3. June, 19. Sub-Delegate of Engenho Veiho to 
 Chief of Police.— Encloses report of officer commanding 
 
 I 2 
 
116 
 
 detachment to Tijuca: transfers prisoners to the Chief of 
 Police. 
 
 No. 4. June 19. Chief of Police to Commandant of City 
 Police. — Directs that G. Clemenger, &c, be set at liberty. 
 
 No. 5. Enclosure to No. 3, June 18. Officer commanding 
 detachment at Tijuca to Sub-Delegate of Engenho Velho. — ■■ 
 I make known to you that I have ordered, to be kept in the 
 prison of the police, waiting' your orders, three Englishmen 
 who would not give their names, for attacking the sentry of 
 this guard-house, and trying to enter it forcibly, it being 
 necessary to use some force to put them in the prison. 
 
 ' Enclosure 12 in No. 45. 
 
 Meply of Mr. Clemerlger, . Chaplain, Lieutenant Pringle, and 
 Mr. Hornby, Midshipman, of the "Forte," on the State- 
 ment of the Chief of Police relative to an attack made on 
 those officers by the Police stationed on Tijuca Hill. 
 
 Chief of Police states :— 1. " That on the afternoon of the 
 17th June last, three foreigners, having dined at the hotel 
 of Kobert Bennett, on the Tijuca Hill, where they had two 
 bottles of Bordeaux wine and half a bottle of Cognac, were 
 proceeding to the city." 
 
 Officers' reply :— We beg to state that we arrived at the 
 hotel at 3 p.m., where we had a glass of brandy and seltzer 
 water. About an hour and a half after this we had dinner, 
 drinking two bottles of claret. This comprised the whole of 
 the refreshments we partook of, our hotel bill amounting to 
 the sum of ten milreis. 
 
 Chief of Police : — 2. ' "That on the road the said foreigners 
 annoyed the passers by, attempting to unhorse an equestrian 
 who was going home quietly, violently seizing the reins of 
 his horse." 
 
 Eeply : — That on the road we annoyed no passers-by, nor 
 did we attempt to unhorse an equestrian. 
 
 Chief of Police : — 3. " That at 7 o'clock in the evening the 
 said strangers arrived at the station of the detachment, and 
 going up the steps.before the house, approached the. sentinel 
 there posted, one of them, Clemenger, asking him, ' What are 
 yon doing there T , And. upon the sentinel telling them to 
 
117 
 
 retire, they broke out into threats with the sticks which 
 they earned, threats which they put into execution, and 
 began to strike the sentinel, who .defended himself with the 
 stock of his gun, without using his bayonet, in order not to 
 wound them, and called the guard." 
 
 Eeply : — At 7 o'clock in the evening we were passing 
 the police station, but did not ascend the steps before the 
 house ; that Mr. Clemenger did address the sentry in. the 
 following words, ' Que quiere V.?' on the sentry rushing 
 towards the steps ; that no threats whatever were used, nor 
 sticks. Mr. . Clemenger had only a light umbrella in his 
 hand. We did not strike the sentry, nor in any way give 
 the slightest provocation for the cowardly manner in which 
 the sentry struck Mr. Clemenger with the butt of his musket, 
 and for the attempts with the point of his bayonet. The 
 sentry did call' the guard. 
 
 Chief of Police : — 4. " That the guard coming out at. the 
 call of the sentinel, as also the Ensign commanding it, all 
 gentle measures were used for the apprehension of the three 
 foreigners, who opposed the greatest resistance, laying hold 
 of the soldiers and falling on the ground with them, until at 
 last they were taken, for which purpose the use of moderate 
 force was indispensable." 
 
 Eeply :— That the guard did turn out, but the Ensign 
 commanding did not appear until after we had been incar- 
 cerated in the Tijuca guard-room about ten minutes ; that 
 far from the guard using gentle measures, they rushed out 
 with drawn swords and bayonets. No resistance whatever 
 was made by two of the officers, and by the third only afte,r 
 he had received gross treatment. We were beaten with the 
 backs of swords and drawn bayonets, as also several times 
 by the butts of the sentry's musket ; and that even after the 
 third officer had been secured,, they continued their brutal 
 treatment. 
 
 Chief of Police : — 5. " That on the three foreigners being 
 deposited in the guard-room, the Ensign in command 
 endeavoured to learn their names and descriptions ; and as 
 they appeared to be ignorant of the Portuguese language, he 
 employed the Austrian, Eudolph Muller, who lives in the 
 -neighbourhood, to put them questions, which they did not 
 choose to answer, snowing themselves haughty and scornful." 
 Eeply ; — On our being deposited in the guard-house the 
 
118 
 
 Ensign then, appeared for the first time, and asked us our 
 names, which we gave him verbally and in writing. An 
 Austrian did interpret for us, and fully explained to the 
 Ensign our rank and profession, and we answered all his 
 questions. 
 
 Chief of Police : — 6. " That notwithstanding their not 
 choosing to give their names and conditions, the three 
 strangers were treated by the Commander of the detachment 
 with the greatest kindness and urbanity, not only furnishing 
 them with writing paper and playing cards at their request, 
 but also placing at their disposal his own bed, the only one in 
 the guard-house." 
 
 Reply : — We beg to state most positively that we did give 
 our names and professions several times to the police offieer 
 and interpreter. We were, in some respects, treated with 
 civility by the officer of the guard, inasmuch as he provided us 
 with paper, on which we wrote two letters, one to Captain 
 Saumarez of the " Forte," the other to the British Consul, and 
 which the officer of the guard promised to forward ; but on 
 this point he broke his word, and the letters were never 
 received by those to whom they were addressed. He also 
 provided a pack of cards, and was kind enough to offer a bed 
 to one of the officers. 
 
 Chief of Police : — 7. " That although these three foreigners 
 were not completely drunk, they appeared not to be in full 
 possession of their mental faculties." 
 
 Eeply ; — We consider it derogatory to us as officers to be 
 forced into the statement that we were not drunk, but in full 
 possession of our mental faculties. 
 
 Chief of Police : — 8. " That on the following day these 
 three strangers were sent to the city without their having in- 
 formed the Commander of the detachment of their rank as 
 English naval officers, nor even given a hint on the subject 
 On the arrival of these three foreigners in this city they were 
 placed not in the slave prison, but in that of free men, where 
 there might also be persons of colour, as, according to our 
 legislation, there is no difference of prison on account of 
 colour, but only on account of such condition. 
 
 " As soon as it was known that • the three individuals 
 belonged to the English navy they were immediately removed 
 to another special prison, and upon Her Britannic Majesty's 
 Vice-Consul declaring that they were officers of the English 
 
119 
 
 frigate the ' Forte,' I sent them, without loss of time, to the 
 barracks of the Police Corps, as appears from the official Eeport 
 (copy No. 1), accompanied by the Captain commanding the 
 company of foot soldiers. At the same time I caused an order 
 to be sent to the Sub-Delegate of the parish of Engenho 
 Velho (copy No, 2), at whose disposal the English officers 
 were in prison, to furnish me immediately with a circum- 
 stantial account of their imprisonment, and to transfer them 
 to my disposal. 
 
 " Having received on the 19th of. June, before 9 o'clock in 
 the morning, the official reply of the Sub-Delegate (copy 
 No. 3), and finding that there was no ground for instituting 
 proceedings, as the acts of the English officers were merely 
 the result of the state in which they were at the time, I at 
 ence gave orders for their discharge, as appears by Copy 
 No. 4, not having done it before, as solicited by Captain 
 Saumarez, because I had not yet received the official report 
 of the Sub-Delegate transferring them to my disposal, and 
 was ignorant of the cause of their imprisonment." 
 
 Reply : — The following day we were sent to the city on 
 foot, under an escort of seven police ; and it is needless to 
 state that the Ensign of Police was fully aware of our rank 
 as English naval officers whilst enforcing this unnecessary 
 proceeding, we having offered to pay for a conveyance to the 
 city. On arriving at the city prison, we again gave in 
 writing our names and ranks in full to an official ; and, 
 before entering the filthy detention-room, we asked the official 
 who showed us in if he were fully aware of our rank, and he 
 answered in the affirmative. After the lapse of two hours we 
 were removed to another prison, less filthy than the last, 
 where we remained one hour and a half. We would observe 
 that the subsequent fabrication of the charge of drunkenness 
 brought against us was not mentioned in the original charge 
 of Alfdres • Amaral, of which we have a copy. It merely 
 appears to be brought up as a means to give colour to their 
 false accusations, and screen their cowardly proceedings ; 
 also the grave charge of attacking a sentry, &c, being made 
 against us, while no grounds were found for instituting pro- 
 ceedings. 
 
 And we declare that our replies, as above given, are true, 
 and that we are ready to swear to the same if called on to 
 do so. •'- - 
 
120 
 
 Dated on board the " Forte," at Eio de Janeiro, 4th 
 August, ] 862. 
 
 (Signed) GEORGE CLEMENGEE, Chaplain. 
 ELIOT PEINGLE, Lieutenant. 
 GEOFFEEY HOENBY, Midshipman. 
 Approved, and signed in my presence, August 4, 1862. 
 (Signed) T. SAUMAEEZ, Captain. 
 
 Enclosure 13 in No. 45. 
 Senhor SinimM, to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Calete, le 2 Aoflt, 1862. 
 MOH CHEE M. CHRISTIE, 
 
 J'etais .persuade qu' on vous avait deja.envoye les deposi- 
 tions prises a la police relatives au sujet des officiers de la 
 frigate " Forte," mais sachant par votre lettre qu'on ne'a pas 
 fait je m'empresse de vous les transmettre nielne en original 
 afin de satisfaire a votre desir. 
 
 Je vous demane pardon de ne vous avoir pas repondu plus 
 tSt,mais vous savez les occupations. dont je suis actuellement 
 eharge\ 
 
 (Signe) J. C. SINIMBU. 
 
 No. 46. 
 
 The Secretary to the Admiralty to Mr. Layard. — (Received 
 September A.) 
 
 Admiralty, September 3, 1862. 
 
 Sir, 
 I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admi- 
 ralty to send you herewith, for the informatipn of Her 
 Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a 
 letter, dated the 6th ultimo, from Eear-Admiral Warren, 
 with its enclosures in original, reporting the particulars of a 
 collision between three officers of Her Majesty's ship "Forte" 
 and a police guard stationed in the neighbourhood of Eio de 
 Janeiro in the month of June last. 
 I am, &c. 
 
 (Signed) W. G. EOMAINE. 
 
121 
 Enclosure in No. 46. 
 
 Rear-Admiral Warren to the Secretary to the Admiralty. 
 " Forte," Rio de Janeiro, August 6, 1862. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 I regret being called on to report to their' Lordships an 
 ■unfortunate collision, which took place on the 18th June 
 between three officers of my flag-ship and a police guard 
 stationed on the Tijuca Hill near this city, and in which the 
 police appear to have behaved in a very cowardly and brutal 
 manner, using unnecessary Violence when taking these 
 officers in charge, and subsequently subjecting them to the 
 indignity of marching through the public streets to goal, 
 after being made acquainted with their names and rank. 
 
 Immediately I received a report of the circumstance from 
 Captain Saumarez of the " Forte," who transmitted to me the 
 statements of the three officers, I communicated the same to 
 Mr Christie, Her Majesty's Minister, and urged him to lose 
 no time in having the matter thoroughly investigated, with 
 a view of taking the- necessary steps to obtain satisfaction 
 for the gross insult offered to British officers. 
 
 " On the 2nd instant Mr. Christie informed me that he 
 had not yet received the depositions of the witnesses who 
 were examined before the police authorities, but merely the 
 statement of the Chief of Police as enclosed.* He also 
 acquainted me that he should report the case as it at present 
 stands to Earl Kussell ; consequently I consider it advisable 
 to put their Lordships in possession of all the information 
 I have received on this question up to the present time. 
 
 I JIELVG &C 
 
 (Signed) RICHARD L WARREN. 
 
 No. 47. 
 
 Mr. Layard to the Secretary to the Admiralty. 
 
 Foreign Office, September 5, 1862. 
 
 Sir, 
 With reference to your letter of the 3rd instant, I am 
 directed by Earl Russell to request that you will state to the 
 
 * Enclosure 10 in No. 46. 
 
122 
 
 Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty? that his Lordship has 
 received a report from Her Majesty's Minister at Rio, regard 
 ing the collision between the officers of the " Porte " and a 
 Brazilian police guard ; but as Mr. Christie has stated that 
 he will send, further details by the next opportunity, Lord 
 Russell will wait further information before pronouncing an 
 opinion as to the course to be pursued in this matter; 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) A. H. LAYAED. 
 
 No. 48. , 
 
 Mr. Christie to Earl Russell. — (Received September 22). 
 
 Bio de Janeiro, August 23, 1862. 
 
 My Lokd, 
 
 With reference to my despatch of the 7th instant, on the 
 ill-treatment of officers of Her Majesty's ship '' Forte," I have 
 now the honour to enclose a translation of the evidence 
 taken by the Chief of Police, accompanied by some marginal 
 observations of my own ; also a copy of a statement made by 
 the three officers after reading the evidence ; and a copy of a 
 note dated the 19th instant which I have addressed to the 
 Marquis of Abrantes in transmitting to him the statements of 
 the officers. 
 
 A few days before I wrote this note to his Excellency I 
 called on him by. appointment to discuss the whole question 
 with him. . Besides a special appointment, made" two days 
 before, it had been some time since agreed, on his suggestion, . 
 that after. I had read the evidence taken by the Chief of 
 Police, I should see him and discuss the question with hint 
 But his Excellency -was so little prepared for a discussion 
 when I went to him on the 17th instant, that he imme- 
 diately stated that he had not read any of the documents 
 which he had transmitted to me. I therefore told him that 
 I thought this grave outrage had merited earlier attention' ; 
 that it was, of course, useless for me to proceed if he was 
 entirely unprepared ; that it was my duty to make a full 
 report to your Lordship by the French steamer on the 25th ; 
 that I would furnish his Excellency with copies of the 
 officers' replies ;. and that I sincerely hoped that the Brazilian 
 Government would profit by the interval which must elapse 
 
123 
 
 before I could receive instructions from yourLordship to offeu 
 proper satisfaction. 
 
 I have carefully discussed the whole question with Admiral 
 Warren, and our opinions are the same. 
 
 We both think that the guard, as is too often the case 
 in these .countries, brutally attacked the Chaplain without 
 taking time to understand him ; that the three officers were 
 afterwards treated with unnecessary and shameful violence ; 
 that after their names and professions were known they were 
 treated with gross indignity ; and that these officers are to be 
 believed, and that the defence is a trumped-up story. 
 
 Your Lordship will observe that only one of the witnesses 
 could by possibility know anything of what happened 
 up to the moment when the guard turned out. So far, indis- 
 putably, there are the declarations of the three officers to be 
 set against that of the sentry, a man of the lowest class. 
 
 The officers declare -that the Ensign did not appear till 
 about ten minutes after they were imprisoned. If he was 
 absent from the guard-room he was neglecting his duty, and 
 became liable to punishment ; and it is not surprising that 
 he should not admit this, or that the soldiers under him 
 should agree with him in declaring that he turned out with 
 the guard • 
 
 The words put into the Chaplain's mouth by the sentry 
 and by four other witnesses who were present, namely, "Que 
 figura faz voss6 ? " are a Portuguese slang phrase, which the 
 Chaplain, who knows no Portuguese, had neyer heard of. 
 The words he used were Spanish, "Que quiere V. ?'•' &c, 
 " What do- you want?" — a very natural and inoffensive reply 
 to a loud hail from a sentry. 
 
 None of the officers speak Portuguese or attempt to speak 
 it. When they tried to explain themselves later in Spanish, 
 of which they have learnt something in the Eiver Plate, it is 
 very likely that the witnesses might take their Spanish for 
 Portuguese. 
 
 The Austrian witness, whose statements are in flat contra- 
 diction to "those of the officers, is an unknown man, of so 
 little consideration that neither the Ensign nor any of the 
 soldiers knew his name, though he lives in the immediate 
 neighbourhood. 
 
 I have conversed with all the three officers on this subject, 
 and feel satisfied of the truth of their statements. 
 
 They had started early in the morning on a long walking 
 
124 
 
 excursion, and it was already dark when they reached the 
 Tijuca guard-house on their return. The sentry was pro- 
 bably asleep, and hearing loud voices close to the guard-house 
 called out, and without waiting to understand a foreigner, 
 proceeded, as is too much the custom of the low Brazilian 
 soldier's, to administer blows and bring out his arms. 
 
 I have pointed out to the Marquis of Abrantes how the 
 delay which took place .before any inquiry was instituted 
 gave time for the concoction of a false story in defence. 
 
 Admiral Warren agrees with me in thinking that the 
 Ensign should be dismissed, and he also thinks that soma 
 punishment should be inflicted on the corporal, who, the 
 officers say, distinguished himself particularly by his violence 
 in the ill-treatment administered after the guard turned out. 
 But the officers have not stated this in writing. I would 
 suggest that some punishment should in any case be inflicted 
 on the sentry with whom this disturbance began. 
 
 The Admiral agrees with me in thinking that the Brazilian 
 government should be required to publish a statement ex- 
 pressing their regret for what has happened, and animadverting 
 on the conduct of the official who received the officers at the 
 Eio police-station, and on the Chief of Police who in his 
 Report to the Minister of Justice imputed intoxication to the 
 officers without one particle of evidence. 
 
 I should observe that the officers were not in uniform, 
 having received permission from the Captain to be in plain 
 clothes, as they were going into the country. But I submit 
 that, as soon as they declared that they were naval officers, in- 
 quiries should have been made, if their statements were not 
 believed, before subjecting them to the ill-treatment which 
 followed their imprisonment. The Midshipman, Mr. Hornby, 
 wore a waistcoat with naval buttons. 
 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure 1 in -No. 48. 
 
 Record of Replies to Questions put to Bran Cupertino doAmaral, 
 Ensign of the Police Corps of this Capital. 
 
 (Translation.) 
 
 , On the 2nd day of July, 1862, in this capital, and in the 
 
 police-office, came and appeared before Dr. Agostinho Luis da 
 
123 
 
 Gama, Chief of Police, and the undersigned Clerk of the Court, 
 Braz Cupertino do Amaral, Ensign of the police corps of this 
 city ; and the Chief of Police then and there read to him a 
 despatch from Admiral Warren, Commander-in-Chief of the 
 English frigate " Forte," in which he complains of his conduct 
 towards several officers of that frigate, who were arrested by 
 the detachment under his command, and in order that he 
 might explain the facts which constitute the* complaint ; 
 and the said Ensign deposed as follows : — 
 
 That at seven o'clock in the evening of the 17th of last 
 month, three foreigners were coming down from Tijuca, dis- 
 puting on the road with the passers-by, and with the patrol, 
 who at that time were going their rounds, pointing at them 
 with the sticks they carried, and using threats. That on 
 approaching the detachment commanded by the deponent, 
 they met a person on horseback whom they stopped, 'cheeking 
 the bridle, and were on this occasion abused by the indi- 
 vidual, who went on his way. 
 
 That on their arrival at the guards-house of the detachment, 
 which is situated a little way from the road, they ascended 
 the steps of the house, and approaching the sentinel, one of 
 them, who I afterwards knew to be named Clemenger, said to 
 the sentinel in Portuguese, "What are you doing there 1" 
 ("Que figura faz vosse" ahi ?" or "What part are you playing 
 there ?") And on the sentinel desiring them to go away, the 
 said Clemenger said that " Brazilian soldiers were only fit for 
 being held by the trowsers and thrown away," and imme- 
 diately raising their sticks they' began to beat the sentinel, 
 who, seeing himself thus attacked, called out the guard, and 
 fixed his bayonet, but thrpugh fear of wounding any of these 
 strangers he defended himself with the butt-end of his mus- 
 ket ; that when the guard and he (the deponent) had turned 
 out,* they endeavoured to arrest the persons of those foreigners, 
 who continued to resist, and it becoming necessary to employ 
 the butt-ends of their muskets for that purpose, they did so 
 by order of the deponent. That when arrested they were 
 placed in the guard-house prison, where there were no other, 
 prisoners at the time, and after being shut up, they continuejd 
 to talk and throw everything about that was in the" room, 
 
 * Up to this moment, according to the Ensign's own confession,, he 
 has been relating what he did not see. But the officers say that this 
 Ensign did not appear till about ten minutes after .they had been im- 
 prisoned in the guard-house. — W. D. C. 
 
126 
 
 and to make a great noise. That on the deponent going 
 to them and requesting them not to. act in such a manner, 
 and to tell him their names, they pretended not to under- 
 stand the" Portuguese language, and continued to behave in 
 the same manner ; that the deponent meanwhile sent to call 
 a German, who resides near the guard-house, to speak to 
 them, who, on arrival, spoke in . French to the shortest, now 
 known as a lieutenant, requesting him to tell their names ; 
 and on this one speaking to the tallest, who we now know is 
 a chaplain, addressed himself to the deponent with their 
 names written on a paper, but the said chaplain hesitated 
 to deliver it, tore up the paper and threw it on the floor. 
 That he does not know the name of the interpreter, and only 
 knows that he resides on the same hill, in a house next to 
 an individual known by the name of " The Commander." 
 That the German told the deponent that the answers given 
 by the strangers to . whom he spoke were insulting to the 
 deponent and the detachment. That the prisoners continuing 
 to be turbulent, and principally the chaplain, they were sepa- 
 rated, two of them being left in the prison, and the chaplain 
 removed to a room which served as a refectory, and thus they 
 passed the night; and on the! following morning, at about 
 eight o'clock, they were sent under escort of seven soldiers 
 to the city prison, accompanied by a report to the respective 
 Sub-Delegate, and on foot, because there were no orders to 
 forward prisoners in any other manner. That not one of 
 these' individuals- under arrest declared that he was a naval 
 officer, nor could the deponent, from their behaviour, be con- 
 vinced that they'were such. That on the occasion of their 
 attack upon the sentry, and during their subsequent conduct 
 in prison, they showed that they were elated from excessive 
 use of spirituous liquors; one of them arrived carrying a 
 metal flask strung across his shoulder,* which contained that 
 description of drink. That all the three arrived dressed in 
 plain clothes, and without any signs of being officers, or of 
 belonging to the navy, nor did they make any declaration 
 to this deponent, but it is true that they asked for paper and 
 playing cards> which on being given to them the chaplain 
 wrote a note to the Consul, and sealed it, which was not 
 forwarded for want of the means of conveyance. On this 
 
 • This metal flask was an opera-glass slung over the Chaplain's 
 shoulder.— "W. D. C. 
 
127 
 
 deponent being asked whether he remembered the name of 
 the soldier who was on duty as sentry, he answered, that his 
 name is Manoel Luis Teixeira. On his being asked how 
 many soldiers answered to the call of the gentry in order to 
 secure the foreigners, he replied they were about eight, and 
 that he remembered that among the number were the soldiers 
 Britto, Albino, Domingos, Pereira, Parente, and the Quarter- 
 master Goncalves. 
 (Signed) 
 
 ANTONIO LUIS XAVIEE DE MELLO, Clerk. 
 
 AGOSTINHO LUIS DA GAMA. 
 
 BEAZ CUPEKTINO DO AMAEAL, Ensign. 
 
 Deposition of the Police Soldier Manoel Luis Teixeira. 
 
 On the same day hereinbefore written the soldier of the 
 police corps, Manoel Luis Teixeira came and appeared before 
 the Chief of Police, and by virtue of the questions put to him, 
 he answered as follows : — 
 
 That on the 17th of last month, at about seven o'clock in 
 the evening, he (the deponent) being on duty as sentry at the 
 door of the guard-Aouse of the detachment of Tijuca, he 
 saw three individuals descend the hill, who appeared to be 
 foreigners, ill-clad, who, meeting a passer-by on horseback 
 going up, seized the bridle and made the horse stop, hut the 
 horseman went shortly on his way, after- abusing them on 
 account of their behaviour. That they then proceeded to the 
 guard-house, and went up the steps in front, and the tallest 
 of them asked the deponent what he was doing there ? To 
 which he replied) that that was a guard-house, and that if 
 they had no business there they were to retire. To which 
 that individual retorted, that "Brazilian soldiers are a 
 miserable set, and were to be held by the trowsers and well 
 kicked ;" accompanying that saying by endeavouring to lay 
 hold of his (the deponent's) leg, upon which the other two 
 companions of the aggressor, armed with stieks; attacked the 
 4eponent, who, in order to defend himself from the former, 
 hit him with the butt-end of his gun, and fixed on his 
 bayonet against the other two, calling out the guard, when 
 the Commandant and soldiers of the detachment came out 
 to effect the imprisonment of those strangers, who did not 
 choose to surrender That after their imprisonment, the 
 
128 
 
 Commander of the detachment sent an individual who speaks 
 French or Spanish to ask them their names, and the shortest 
 of them wrote the names on a paper, but as he was going to 
 deliver it to the Commander, the tallest of them took the 
 paper from him and. tore it up. That when those individuals 
 addressed the deponent they spoke in Portuguese, and did 
 not declare that they were officers. That when attacked he 
 was acting as sentry inside the building, and that when 
 secured the three strangers were placed in the guard-house 
 prison, where they passed the night, and were on the follow- 
 ing morning sent to the prison of this department, he (the 
 deponent) forming one of the escort. 
 (Signed) 
 
 ANTONIO JOAQUIM XAVIEE DE MELLO, Clerk. 
 
 AGOSTWHO LUIS DA GAMA. 
 , MANOEL LUIS TEIXEIEA. 
 
 Deposition of the Quarter-master of the Police Corps, Joao 
 Ooncalves da Silvd. 
 
 And on the same day hereinbefore written, came and 
 appeared the Quarter-master of Police Corps, Joao Goncalves 
 da Silva, who, by virtue of the questions put to him by the 
 Chief of Police, replied as follows : — 
 
 That he (the deponent) forming a part of the detachment 
 at Tijuca, on the 17th of last month, three strangers, at about 
 seven o'clock at night, clad in plain clothes, approached the 
 guard-house, and the tallest of the three, addressing..- the 
 sentry, asked' him what Tie was doing there ? and upon the 
 sentry telling him that that was a guard-house, the said indi- 
 vidual, raising the stick which he carried,* attacked the 
 sentry, for which reason the latter repelled him with the 
 butt-end of his musket, and called out the guard, when 
 the Ensign commanding the detachment, he (the deponent), 
 and the rest of the soldiers forming it came out,f and pro- 
 ceeded to arrest the aggressors, who, after resisting, were 
 locked up in the prison of the guard-house, were they- passed 
 the night, and were on the following day removed to the 
 
 • He had no stick, only an umbrella j but this witness is describing 
 what he did not see. — W. D. C. 
 
 t This Quartermaster could know nothing of what occurred of his own 
 knowledge up to this moment. — W. D. C. 
 
129 
 
 prison of the police in this city, and on foot, because there 
 was no order to conduct the prisoners in a coach, he {the 
 deponent) forming part of the escort. That when those 
 strangers were in the prison, the Commander- of the detach- 
 ment asked them to tell their names, and the tallest of- them 
 having written them on a paper did not choose to deliver it to 
 that officer, but tore it up and threw it away. 
 (Signed) 
 
 ANTONIO JOAQUIM XAVIEE DE 
 
 MELLO, Clerk 
 AGOSTINHO LUIS DA GAMA 
 JOAO GONCALVES DA SILVA. 
 
 Deposition of the Soldier of the Police Corps, Manoel Parente 
 
 Bnbeiro. 
 
 And on the same day hereinbefore written, came and 
 appeared the soldier of the police corps, Manoel Parente 
 Eioeiro, who by virtue of the questions . put to him by the 
 Chief of Police replied as follows : — 
 
 That he was not present at the imprisonment of the three 
 Englishmen, because he was away patrolling at Tijuca, but 
 that on his return to the detachment after 11 o'clock at night, 
 he heard those individuals making a great noise in the prison : 
 the most excited of them was the tallest and bald-headed", 
 who used scornful expressions about the soldiers and nation. 
 That when he went on his rounds he met with them on the 
 road, and that the tallest of them, the same who was the most 
 troublesome in the prison, pointed to the patrol with his 
 stick ; but that the deponent seeing that they were tipsy, the 
 patrol passed, leaving them behind. That on the deponent's 
 return to the guard-house, his companions told him that those 
 strangers were imprisoned for having addressed the sentry, 
 and asked him what he was doing there ; and the sentry 
 having replied that $iat was a guard-house and desired them 
 to retire, one of them retorted, that " the soldiers of Brazil 
 were a miserable set, and weie to be held by their trowsers 
 and-thrown away," accompanying that language with threats.* 
 That the sentry had defended himself with the butt-end of 
 his musket and called out the jjuard, upon which the Gom- 
 
 * All this is confessedly hearsay evidence. — W. D. 0. 
 
130 
 
 mander of *the detachment and the soldiers having come', out 
 and endeavoured to arrest the aggressors, the tallest of them 
 struggled with the soldier Albino, wrenched the small brush 
 from his uniform, tearing the latter, and was finally placed 
 with the others in the prison, where they passed the night, 
 without declaring that they were officers. The deponent 
 further declared that the stranger who struggled with the 
 soldier Albino is the one whom he now recognizes as the 
 Lieutenant, and not the tallest who is said to be the Chap- 
 lain, f That all of them were in plain clothes, without any 
 signs whereby they might be known as officers. That on the 
 following, day they were placed in the city prison, having 
 been escorted on foot from Tijuca. 
 (Signed.) 
 
 ' ANTONIO JOAQUIM XAVIER DE 
 MELLO, Glerk. 
 
 AGOSTINHO LUIS DA GAMA. 
 
 MASTOEL PARENTE RIBEIRO. 
 
 In continuation, Clemenger, Chaplain ; Pringl'e, Lieutenant ; 
 and Hornby, Midshipman of the English frigate " Forte," 
 being present, the Chief of Police caused to be read to them 
 the declarations made by the officer and soldiers, translated 
 . from the Portuguese into the English language by the sworn 
 interpreter, Joao Baptista Cosmelli, and they all maintained 
 the correctness of the remonstrance made by Admiral Warren, 
 it being a true narration of the facts ; and in regard to the 
 declarations read to them, that they contained inaccuracies 
 in some parts, and in others were contrary to the truth ; that 
 they had told the officer that they belonged to the " Forte " 
 frigate, one of them being an officer, another being a mid- 
 shipman, and another a chaplain, saying it in Spanish, which 
 was well understood by the officer, and subsequently in 
 French to a German who was called by that officer to serve 
 as interpreter. That it is true they were not in uniform, but 
 that besides the declarations they had made, the midshipman 
 had on a' waistcoat with anchor buttons. That they were 
 passing peaceably when the sentiy who was about six feet 
 distant from them, called to them, and on their approaching 
 
 t How could he know which straggled with Albino, as he was not 
 present 1—W. D. 0. 
 
131 
 
 the place where the sentry stood, they asked him what he 
 wanted ; this being followed by a thump, without the sentry 
 having stirred from his post, when he called out the guard, 
 and a number of soldiers immediately came out, who beat 
 them with their swords and arrested them without any 
 opposition. on their part ; that on the appearance of the other 
 soldiers, the sentry came down into the road and gave a 
 second blow with the butt-end of his gun. That even after 
 being in prison the officer was there beaten by the soldiers, 
 and that the one who most distinguished himself in that 
 aggression wore two stripes on the arm of his uniform, and 
 that they could single him out again on seeing him. That 
 when they were ordered to come to the city they proposed 
 being sent in .the " machambomba " (omnibus), they paying 
 the expense, but that they met with a refusal ;' that this is 
 the truth : that they were not intoxicated, because they had 
 only drunk at dinner two bottles of Bordeaux wine ; that 
 they brought no flask of spirits with them, but only a 
 telescope which was taken for a flask. That the declarations 
 which relate to the Chaplain, and which assert that he carried 
 a stick, are inaccurate, because he only carried an umbrella;, 
 and that it was the other two who carried sticks ; that the 
 Lieutenant besides his walking-stick carried another stick 
 which he had bought on the road ; that the Lieutenant was 
 behind the others when his companions reached the sentry, 
 and that on his approaching he was also assaulted. ' And 
 when these replies were read to them by the interpreter, 
 finding them correct, they affixed their signatures hereunto 
 along with me the Clerk, the Chief of Police, and the 
 interpreter. 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 ANTONIO JOAQUIM XAVIEE DE 
 MELLO, Clerk. 
 
 AGOSTINHO LUIS DA GAMA. 
 " GEORGE G. W. CLEMENGER, Chaplain 
 •of Her Majesty's ship '' Forte.' ; 
 
 GEOFFREY HORNBY, Midshipman of 
 Her Majesty's ship " Forte." 
 
 JOHN ELIOT PRINGLE, Acting Lieu- 
 tenant, of Her Majesty's ship " Forte." 
 
 JOAO BAPTISTA COSMELLI, Interpreter. 
 
 k 2 
 
132 
 
 Deposition of Robert Bennett. 
 
 On the 4th day of July, 1862, came and appeared before 
 the Chief of Police in his office in this city, Robert Bennett, 
 a native of England residing at Tijuca, who, by virtue of the 
 questions put to him by the Chief of Police, replied as 
 follows :■ — That one day of the last month, perhaps a fortnight 
 ago, he the deponent being at home, saw three individuals 
 passing in front of his house, who appeared to be English- 
 men, singing merrily, and returning from his hotel where 
 they had dined ; . and that on the following morning, learning 
 that they had been imprisoned- on the preceding evening 
 for having quarrelled with the guard at Tijuca, he asked the 
 manager of his hotel what liquors they had been served with, 
 when he was told that the three had had two bottles of 
 Bordeaux wine and half a bottle of cognac : he, the deponent, 
 not knowing whether the said three Englishmen had taken 
 any other liquor in any of the other inns between his hotel 
 and the guard-house.* 
 (Signed) 
 
 ANTONIO JOAQUIM XAVIER DE 
 MELLO, Clerk. 
 
 AGOSTINHO LUIS DA GAMA. 
 
 ROBERT BENNETT. 
 
 Deposition of Rodolph Mutter. 
 
 And at the same place, and on the same day last before- 
 written, came and appeared. Bodolph Miiller, a native of 
 Austria residing at Andarahy pequeno (Tijuca), and by virtue - 
 of the questions put to him he deposed as follows : — That, on 
 the night of the 17th of June last he, the deponent being at 
 home, was called by the Ensign commanding the detachment 
 at Tijuca to go and speak with him ; and on his reaching the 
 "guard-house,- that officer told him that three Englishmen, 
 then present, had been made prisoners for having wanted to 
 beat the' sentinel, and as they appeared to be ignorant of the 
 Portuguese language he requested the deponent to act as 
 interpreter, and to tell them the reason of their imprisonment 
 by competent authority, and to demand their names, That 
 
 * How could he know . what they did or did not take, elsewhere ? 
 This is an impertinent insinuation. — W. D. C. 
 
133 
 
 tho deponent complying therewith, and having explained to 
 them his position, they answered him crossly without de- 
 claring their ranks as officers of the English navy"; that'they 
 afterwards called for beds to sleep on, and being told by the 
 commanding officer, through the deponent, that there were 
 none, but that he would voluntarily cede his own to them, 
 they refused to accept it because it could not accommodate all 
 the three. That he observed the three Englishmen not to be 
 in their perfect senses, it appearing to him that they had 
 drunk too much, the tallest of them being the most disorderly 
 and unreasonable. 
 (Signed) 
 
 ANTONIO JOAQUIM XAVIEE DE 
 MELLO, Clerk. 
 
 AGOSTINHO LUIS DA GAMA. 
 
 EODOLPH MULLER. 
 
 Deposition of Dumingvs Jose da Silveira, Corporal of the 
 Police Corps. 
 
 On the same 4th of July, 1862, in the police-office of this 
 city, came and appeared before the respective Chief of Police, 
 Domingos Jose da Silveira, a corporal in the police corps, and 
 by virtue of the questions put to him, he replied as follows : 
 — That on the 17th of June last, at half-past 7 at night; this 
 deponent being inside the guard-house at Tijuca, heard the 
 sentry "calling out the guard, and that on coming out with the 
 other soldiers, he saw three strangers wrestling with the 
 sentry, trying to throw him over the parapet on which he 
 stood ; that he, the deponent and the soldiers endeavoured by 
 fair means to separate the strangers without any employment 
 of force, but that their efforts proving useless, as the strangers 
 showed themselves desperate, violently repelling the soldiers 
 and struggling with them, so much so that one of them, not 
 the tallest, seized the deponent and threw him down, from 
 which fall he was wounded in the middle finger of his right 
 hand, the scar of which still exists. That finally the detach- 
 ment having succeeded in arresting those three foreigners, 
 they were placed in a room which serves as a refectory. That 
 after the imprisonment, of the strangers, they were treated 
 with the greatest civility by the officer in command, who gave 
 them paper, and even playing cards, they having asked for 
 
134 
 
 both. That the said officer sent to call a foreigner who re-, 
 sides in that neighbourhood, and who speaks Portuguese, to 
 find out from the prisoners who and what they are, which 
 they did not choose to tell. That the said strangers were in 
 a disordered state of mind, and that the tallest of them car- 
 ried a flask slung across the shoulder. That soon after this 
 affray it became known that the said strangers had come from 
 the Hill of Tijuca, wrangling with the passers-by, first with a 
 Woman, then with an equestrian, seizing the reins of his 
 horse,* and that on approaching the sentry, who was standing 
 on a parapet, they asked him in very intelligible Portuguese,' 
 what he was doing there ; and upon the sentry telling'them 
 that that was a military post commanded by an officer, they 
 contended with him for- a few moments, attempting to lay 
 hold of his legs and to throw him over the parapet, when the 
 sentry, in order to free himself from that aggression, shoved 
 one of them off with, the butt end of his gun, and backing 
 himself against 'the house, called out the guard. That while 
 the prisoners were in the guard-house not one of them ever 
 declared that they were officers'in the English navy. 
 (Signed) 
 
 ANTONIO JOAQUIM XAVIEE DE 
 MELLO, Clerk. 
 
 AGOSTINHO LUIS DA GAMA. 
 
 DOMINGOS JOSE DA SILVEIKA. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 48. 
 
 Messrs. Olemenger, Pringle, and Hornby, to Rear-Admiral 
 
 Warren. 
 " Forte," Rio de Janeiro, August 16, 1862. 
 
 Sib, 
 
 In compliance with your order, we the undersigned have 
 the honour to submit to you some observations on the accom- 
 panying depositions : — • 
 
 B.G- do Amaral, Ensign, and Officer of Guard. — 1. The de- 
 positions of the officer of the guard, relative to our proceedings 
 previous to being put in the guard-house prison, we entirely 
 repudiate, as he did not make his appearance for ten minutes 
 after that time, and his evidence is grounded upon hearsay, 
 
 * Why were not this woman and the equestrianproduced 1 Not one 
 witness has said that he saw these scenes. — W. D. C. 
 
135 
 
 and we therefore do not acknowledge it in. any way up to this 
 time. • ■ ' t 
 
 2. That so far from throwing everything about in the 
 guard-house prison, it was ah impossibility to-do so, as there 
 were no moveable articles there, nor did we create a disturb- 
 ance there. 
 
 3. That the officer of the guard requested our names, and 
 that we gave them in full with rank and ship on two separate 
 occasions, written on a piece, of paper which he provided for 
 that purpose, and one of which papers he himself threw on 
 the floor in a contemptuous manner after reading it. That an 
 Austrian appeared and acted as interpreter, and that 
 Lieutenant Pringle states that he made the Ensign fully aware 
 of our names, rank, and ship, through the interpreter, as well 
 as of the treatment we had received during Ms absence' from 
 the guard. 
 
 4. That we all removed to the room called the refectory 
 during the evening, where we gave our names as above 
 stated, and conversed with the Ensign personally, as well as 
 through the Austrian? That we were not separated on account 
 of making a disturbance, nor was Mr. Clemenger removed to 
 another room, inasmuch as Messrs. Clemenger and Hornby 
 slept in the refectory, and Lieutenant Pringle voluntarily in 
 the prison, he preferring it as sleeping quarters ; this being 
 the way we passed the night. 
 
 5. That none of us carried a metal flask slung across the 
 shoulder, but that Mr. Clemenger had one which contained no 
 spirituous liquor, and had an opera glass slung across his 
 shoulder. 
 
 6. That Mr. Clemenger also wrote to Captain Saumarez. 
 M. L. Teixeira, Sentry. — 1. That we stopped no horse in- 
 
 the vicinity of the guard-house by checking the bridle, nor do 
 we recollect seeing one there. 
 
 2. That we did not ascend the steps of the guard-house or 
 make any attack on the sentry, neither did we use any dis- 
 paraging reflections on the Brazilian soldiery, as we cannot 
 speak the Portuguese language. 
 
 3. That on passing close to the guard-house the sentry ad- 
 vanced and challenged Mr. Clemenger, who stopped and re- 
 plied in Spanish, "Que quiere V. ?" when the sentry immedi- 
 ately struck him on the breast with the butt of his rifle. That 
 no attempt was made by Mr. Clemenger to seize the sentry's 
 leg. That the statement of our attacking the sentry with 
 
136 
 
 sticks is entirely false, as well as that the officer of the guard 
 turned out with the guard who attacked us. 
 
 4. That Messrs. Clemenger and Hornby did not offer the 
 slightest resistance to the guard, neither did Lieutenant 
 ' Pringle until he had been very roughly handled, although we 
 were all struck repeatedly with the backs of drawn swords 
 and bayonets. The remainder of this witness's evidence has 
 been confuted. 
 
 J. 0. da Silva, Quartermaster.— =-1. That the tallest, who 
 addressed the sentry, did not raise his stick, as he merely 
 carried a light umbrella, nor did he in any way, attack or 
 molest the senjjry. 
 
 2. That the officer commanding the detachment did not 
 turn out with the aggressing guard. No new matter being 
 opened by this witness's evidence, we consider it unnecessary 
 to make any further reply. 
 
 M. P. Ribeiro, Private. — 1. That we could not have made 
 a noise in the prison after 11 o'clock, as Lieutenant Pringle 
 was the only person in the prison at that hour, he being then 
 asleep. 
 
 2. That we deny that Mr. Clemenger pointed at the patrol 
 with his stick, as he had none. 
 
 JR. Miiller. — 1. Lieutenant Pringle states that he spoke 
 German to this witness, and through him gave verbally to the 
 officer of the guard our ranks and ship, and also answered 
 questions which were put to him through witness by the 
 Ensign ; and' Lieutenant Pringle feels i quite satisfied that the 
 Ensign perfectly understood Mm by the suitable replies that 
 he received 
 
 2. We should desire an opportunity of confronting this 
 witness. 
 
 D. J. da'Silveira, Corporal. — 1. We beg leave to state that 
 at half-past 7 o'clock on the afternoon of June 17, 1862, we 
 had been prisoners for three-quarters of an hour, and conse- 
 quently could not have been descending the hill at that time. 
 
 2. We have totally denied having ascended the steps of the 
 guard-house, nor did we wrestle with the sentinel, or try to 
 throw him over the parapet, such an operation being impos- 
 sible from the road on which we were passing. 
 
 3. We have before stated that Messrs. Clemenger and 
 Hornby made no resistance to the guard, who grossly mal- 
 treated them, striking them repeatedly with the backs of 
 drawn swords and bayonets after they were prisoners. 
 
137 
 
 4. We have already denied molesting passengers. The rest 
 of this witness's evidence has already been answered. 
 
 Statement of Proceedings. 
 
 Starting from Botafogo at 8 A.M. on June 17,' on foot, we 
 arrived by the sea-road at Bennett's lower hotel at about 
 3 o'clock in the afternoon, where we each drank one glass of 
 brandy and seltzer-water, and ordered dinner, whilst we 
 strolled about the grounds.* About 5 o'clock we dined, at 
 which we drank two bottles of Bordeaux between the three. 
 This together with the above was all the liquor we partook of. 
 At 6 o'clock we started to catch the last " Machambomba," 
 which leaves at 7 o'clock for the city. On our route we had 
 no refreshments of any kind. We met many passengers, but 
 so far from molesting them, we gave several blaeks coppers. 
 We also met the patrol, but -took no notice of them. 
 
 On arriving at the Tijuca guard-house, Messrs'. Clemenger 
 and Hornby, being some yards in advance of Lieutenant 
 Pringle, the former walking on the extreme left of the road, 
 in passing very near the guaTd-house, was accosted by a 
 sentry who moved towards him. Mr. Clemenger stopped and 
 asked him what he wanted in Spanish (." Que quiere V.?"). 
 The words were scarcely uttered when he received a blow On 
 the chest from the sentinel's musket, who at the same time 
 called for the guard, which immediately turned out with drawn 
 swords and .bayonets, and came down on the road and 
 attacked Messrs. Clemenger and Hornby, who offered not the 
 slightest resistance. .Lieutenant Pringle coming up at this 
 time was received in the same cowardly manner, and, after 
 remonstrating, endeavoured to free himself from the cowardly 
 assault and renew his journey, but was overpowered ; 
 during which time Mr. Clemenger received a second blow on 
 his chest, and we were all three brutally struck and mal- 
 treated, even after Lieut. Pringle had been secured ; he, while 
 in a helpless position, received a vicious thrust in the left 
 groin from the butt of the sentinel's musket. We were then 
 'driven in the guard-house prison, most unnecessary force 
 being used, and then locked up. We immediately, through 
 the bars, requested the guard to send for the officer, who had 
 not, up to this time, made his appearance. ' He arrived in 
 ten minutes or a quarter of an hour accompanied by a soldier, 
 who evidently had been sent for him, but he would riot 
 listen to us until he had asked questions of most of the men 
 
138 
 
 composing the.guard. We were then called out of the prison 
 one by one to explain matters to the Ensign, who seemed very 
 much excited, and were removed to a room called the refec- 
 tory, where Mr. Clemenger, in compliance with the Ensign's 
 request, wrote our names and' ranks on a piece of paper pro- 
 vided for that purpose, and we gave him most fully to under- 
 stand that we were British naval officers. Mr. Clemenger 
 gave him our names and rank again later in the evening. 
 An Austrian was sent for to act as interpreter, and Lieutenant 
 Pringle states that he spoke to this man in German, and, 
 through him, fully explained our ranks, and that we were 
 British naval officers. Lieutenant Pringle feels perfectly 
 satisfied that he was understood on this point, by the suitable 
 answers that he received ; the attention of the Ensign being 
 at the same time called to the naval buttons which Mr. 
 Hornby wore in his waistcoat. The officer of the guard 
 provided us with writing materials, with which Mr. Clemenger 
 wrote one letter to Captain Saumarez, and one to the British 
 Consul, which letters the Ensign promised should be forwarded 
 early the following morning, which promised' was never 
 fulfilled ; we have since had a paltry excuse offered that he 
 had no means to forward the latter, but the one to Captain 
 Saumarez, the address of which might alone have indicated 
 our profession, he affects to ignore. 
 
 In the course of the evening we gave the ensign to under- 
 stand that we should, as soon as possible, call him to account 
 for his conduct towards us ; he then called our attention to 
 the fact that he had removed us from the prison to the refec- 
 tory directly he understood we were British naval officers. 
 
 We passed the night as follows : — Lieutenant Pringle 
 removing to the prison, which he preferred as sleeping quar- 
 ters, Messrs. Clemenger and Hornby occupying the refectory^ 
 
 On the following morning, June 18th, we were told to 
 prepare to march into Bio under an escort, and on objecting 
 to this ignominy, requested a passage in the "Machambomba," 
 or a conveyance, the expenses of which we offered to defray. 
 This was refused, the reason given by the Ensign through, 
 the Austrian, who acted as interpreter, that although we 
 were officers, yet we were ordinary prisoners. 
 
 At 9 o'clock we started on foot under an escort of seven, 
 and arrived at the city police-court at ] 1 o'clock. We here 
 again wrote our names, rank, and ship, and were sent into a 
 filthy den, where were collected men and boys of the dregs of 
 
139 
 
 society. At the threshold of this detention-room, I again 
 asked the official, whether he was fully aware that we were 
 English officers ; he said that he was, and we were locked 
 up. Managing to communicate with the British Consul, he 
 came and interceded for us, and after we had been two hours, 
 we were removed to a less dirty one, where four or five 
 prisoners were. After a lapse of another hour and a half 
 we were removed to the police barracks, where we were very 
 civilly treated 
 
 At 11.30 a m. June 19, we were" released by written order 
 of the Chief of Police, but no reason was assigned. 
 
 In the original charges preferred against us by the officer 
 of the guard, of which we received a copy, no allusion was" 
 made to our insobriety, which fabrication appears to have 
 been used to give colour to their statements, which they 
 were obliged to make in order to screen their dastardly pro- 
 ceedings. 
 
 In conclusion, we beg leave to state that we were most 
 decidedly sober. 
 
 (Signed) G. G. W. CLEMENGEE, Chaplain. 
 
 J. ELIOT PEINGLE, Acting Lieutenant 
 GEOFFEEY HOENBY, Midshipman. 
 
 Enclosure 3 in No. 48. 
 Mr. Christie to the Marquis of Air antes. 
 
 Bio de Janeiro, August 19, 1862. 
 
 M. le Makqtjis, 
 
 I have the honour to enclose copies of statements made 
 by the three officers of Her Majesty's ship "Forte," who 
 were imprisoned by the guard of Tijuca on the 17th of Juno, 
 after they had read the report of the Chief of Police to M. 
 Sinimbu, and the depositions taken in the inquiries of 2nd 
 and 4th of July. 
 
 These depositions, of which I asked your Excellency for a 
 copy immediately after receiving your note of 17th July, I 
 received from M. Sinimbu in original in the evening of 2nd 
 of August, in consequence of a note which I had addressed 
 to him on the same day, begging- him to hurry the sending 
 of the copies promised by your Excellency ; and it then 
 appeared that the making of the promised copies had not 
 
1 40 
 
 been begun, and that M. Sinimbii was under the impression 
 that they had been long before sent to me. 
 
 Your Excellency will perceive from the enclosed document 
 that the three officers totally and indignantly deny the 
 statements of the Brazilian Ensign and his witnesses. They 
 deny that they were intoxicated ; they deny the allegation 
 of disorderly conduct on the road ; they declare that the 
 guard began the assault ; they declare that they were treated 
 with brutal violence ; and they declare that they gave their 
 names, and proclaimed their profession and ranks, and that 
 these were immediately and perfectly known to the Ensign, 
 of the guard, and to the officer who received them at tie 
 Rio police-station. Various statements of the officers on 
 minor points merit your Excellency's attention. 
 
 It will not escape your Excellency's penetration that of 
 four witnesses who relate in detail the beginning of the 
 fray, imputing misconduct to the English officers, only one 
 eould speak of his own knowledge, and the rest could 
 know only what they heard from that one whose evidence 
 they all faithfully reproduced. 
 
 The British officers declare that the Ensign did not make 
 his appearance until ten minutes after they were imprisoned 
 in the guard-house, and that then he was fetched He him- 
 self states that he turned out with the guard. According to his 
 own statement, his evidence is worthless up to the moment 
 of his turning out with the guard ; having by his own con- 
 fession declared as to what he did not see before that moment, 
 he is as likely to declare to what he did not see afterwards. 
 If he was absent from the guard-house when the distur- 
 bance began, he would not be likely to own to this breach of 
 duty. 
 
 The three officers wished to be confronted with the -German 
 Muller, whose statements they deny. 
 
 I regret that no attention was paid to my first urgent 
 request that the inquiry should be held immediately. It is 
 clear that the interval from the 23rd of June, when I saw 
 your Excellency's Secretary, to the 2nd July, added to the 
 six days already elapsed since the event, gave superabundant 
 time for concoction of a false story in defence of a proceed- 
 ing which has caused general disgust and indignation, 
 
 I regret to see that the Chief of Police in his report to M. 
 Sinimbu of 5th July, explains his liberation of the officers 
 on the 19th June without inquiry or apology by imputing 
 
141 
 
 inebriety, when the report of the Ensign of the Tijuca guard 
 to the Sub-Delegate of Engenho Velho, which at that time 
 was all his information, makes no such charge. 
 
 I lately expressed to your Excellency, in conversation, my 
 regret that the Imperial Government had not hitherto pro- 
 ceeded in this matter with more promptitude' and zeal. I 
 will not yet give up the hope that, better appreciating the 
 Character of this lamentable event, the Government of the 
 Emperor will anticipate any demand from Her Majesty's 
 Government, to whom I have made a full report, by a spon- 
 taneous offer of suitable satisfaction for a shameful outrage, 
 aggravated by the attempt to impute intoxication to the 
 aggrieved officers. 
 
 I avail, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE. 
 
 No. 4-9. 
 
 Mr.- Christie to Earl Russell. — (Received September 22 J 
 
 Rio. de Janeiro, August 23, 1862. 
 
 Mv Lord, 
 
 I received by the French packet, on the 17th instant, your 
 Lordship's two despatches of the 3rd and 23rd July, on the 
 affair of the shipwreck of the " Prince of Wales," when I was 
 pursuing a correspondence on the subject with the Marquis 
 of Abrantes, and I have availed myself- of some of your Lord- 
 ship's remarks in the last note of the correspondence of which 
 I now enclose copies. 
 
 . In my despatch of the 21st July I sent your Lordship a 
 copy of a note in which, in obedience to your Lordship's 
 instructions, I insisted on a thorough inquiry to be held in 
 the presence of a British officer. The Marquis of Abrantes, 
 understanding these words to mean a British naval officer, in 
 his note of the 6th August refuses such an inquiry. It may 
 be inferred that he would also have refused a new inquiry in 
 the presence of a British civilian. 
 
 In his second note, enclosed, that of the 16th instant, the 
 Marquis of Abrantes, in answer to my expressions of regret 
 and surprise that he had given me no additional information 
 as to proceedings at Rio Grande, informs me of the dismissal 
 of the Sub-Delegate of Tahim and the Inspector of the District, 
 
142 
 
 two functionaries of whom Mr. Vereker has always' com- 
 plained, and whose conduct four months ago Senhor Taques 
 declared praiseworthy, aa well as the arrest and prosecution 
 of eleven more individuals on charges of plundering the 
 wreck, and of steps taken to apprehend some accused persons 
 who have fled to Monte Video. 
 
 In replying to this second note of his Excellency, I have 
 freely commented on some of its inconsistencies, and con- 
 trasting these newly announced measures with the former 
 declarations of Senhor Taques, and showing how they condemn 
 past inaction, I have pointed out what more remains to be 
 done. I have reminded his Excellency of the serious impu- 
 tations against the Justice of the Peace, Senhor Soares ; I 
 have pointed out that no reply has been made beyond bare 
 assertions to the allegations of suspicion of murder, the pro- 
 bability of which is heightened by the now admitted culpable 
 neglect of the two chief local functionaries ; and I have 
 shown how the duty of compensation follows from the ad- 
 mission of culpable neglect of officials. 
 
 Eeferring your Lordship to the correspondence itself, I hope 
 that my part of it will obtain your approval. 
 
 After the long delay which has occurred, and with the 
 admission of culpable neglect of officials now made, your 
 Lordship may not think it too soon to consider what amount 
 of indemnity may fairly be claimed from the Brazilian Govern- 
 ment. All that is known as to the plunder, and all the 
 circumstances suggesting suspicions of murder, are set forth 
 in Mr. Vereker's despatches, and the value of the cargo and 
 stores was stated by the owner of the vessel, Mr. Stephens, 
 in his letter to your Lordship of September 20, 1861. I 
 think, with deference to your Lordship, that it would be de- 
 sirable to bring this question as soon as possible to a definite 
 issue. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 49. 
 The Marqwis of Abr antes to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Ministry of foreign Affairs, Bio do Janeiro, 
 August 6, 1862. 
 (Translation.) 
 I have received the note which, under the date. of the 16th 
 
143 
 
 instant, Mr. William Dougal Christie, &c, &c, did me the 
 honour to address to me; relative to the occurrences which 
 arose out of the ship-wreck of the English barque " Prince of 
 Wales." 
 
 The note in question comprises two points, to which I shall 
 duly reply. 
 
 The first relates to the circumstance of the return of Her 
 Britannic Majesty's Consul and Captain Saumarez from 
 Porto Alegre to Rio Grande, where the inquiry which was 
 ordered to be held was to have taken place, and of their 
 having waited from the 8th to the 18th of April, in the latter 
 city, without receiving any communication from the President 
 or Chief of Police on the subject ; the result of which was the 
 departure of Captain Saumarez for Monte Video, with the 
 feeling that he had not been treated by those authorities with 
 due consideration and courtesy. 
 
 The second concerns the order lately received by Mr. 
 Christie from his Government, to declare to that of His 
 Majesty the Emperor that this question, so full of disagreeable 
 incidents, cannot be satisfactorily treated, without the insti- 
 tution of a new and complete inquiry, in the presence of a 
 British naval officer. 
 
 With reference, to the first point, Mr. Christie will permit 
 me to make a brief explanation of facts, as they have occurred, 
 and endeavour to show that the feeling of Captain Saumarez 
 as to the want of consideration and courtesy with which he 
 thought himself treated by the Brazilian authorities is without 
 just cause. 
 
 According to the official communications addressed to the 
 Imperial Government, whose authenticity cannot be doubted, 
 the English gunboat " Sheldrake" arrived at. Porto Alegre on 
 the 6th of April, conveying Her Britannic Majesty's Consifl, 
 and Captain Saumarez, commanding a frigate which remained 
 at anchor outside the Bar at Rio Grande. 
 
 In an interview or conference which they immediately had 
 with the President of the Province, the Consul declared to 
 the President that Captain Saumarez had come to demand 
 fresh inquiries respecting the suspicions of robberies and 
 murders committed on the occasion of the shipwreck of the 
 barque " Prince of Wales," and that he was ready to attend 
 and assist the Government of the country in. this matter. 
 
 To such a proposal or demand the President gave the only 
 possible reply, that is, that he could not recognize in Captain 
 
144 
 
 Saumarez any official character authorising- him to. take part 
 in the proceedings of the provincial authorities. 
 
 The Consul having on the following day renewed the same 
 pretension, the President did not hesitate to tell him further, 
 that hardly had he, the Consul, as natural protector of his 
 countrymen, a right to attend the inquiry which was to be held 
 
 On that day the -Consul rejected the President's proposal, . 
 but on the following he said that he was resolved to take 
 part in the' inquiry, provided Captain Saumarez were. per- 
 mitted to attend " as a private person." 
 
 The President assented to this request, and, in this sense, 
 sent the necessary orders to the Chief of Police of the Province, 
 when the Consul and Captain Saumarez returned to Rio 
 Grande. 
 
 The President assented to this request ; he did not, how- 
 ever, fix the day on which the inquiry was to commence, not 
 only because this depended on the Chief of Police, who 
 certainly was the most proper person for judging of the best, 
 opportunity for executing the orders received from the first 
 authority in the province, but because the verification of facts, 
 such as those in question, which had occurred in solitary and 
 distant parts, is attended by embarrassments and difficulties 
 which cannot be -overcome so quickly as is desired. 
 
 Those embarrassments and difficulties were, I can assure 
 Mr. Christie, increased by the presence of the foreign force in 
 the port, a force which the public voice said had come to 
 support the claims of the British Consul, and which, arousing 
 the susceptibilities of the population, who regarded it as offen- 
 sive to the national independence and dignity, would render 
 unavailing, if not impossible, the efforts of the authorities, 
 because no one would be ready to give such information as 
 hejmight possess, it being more probable that from pique 
 the flight of those compromised would be facilitated. 
 
 All this being considered, and with a view to arrive, with- 
 out alarm or conflicts always to be deplored, at the knowledge 
 of the truth of the alleged acts, and of their authors^ the 
 Chief of Police thought it better to wait for the departure of 
 Her Britannic Majesty's vessels from the port. And in fact, 
 as soon as that departure took place, the Delegate of Police of 
 Eio Grande, in an official letter of the 21st of April, addressed 
 the Consul, inviting him to attend in his company the in- 
 quiry which was to be instituted on the 24th, on the coast of 
 Albardao. 
 
H5 
 
 tfhe departure of Captain ' Saumarez, if he really was de- 
 sirous to be present at the investigations which were to take 
 place, was not a necessary consequence of the withdrawal of 
 Her Britannic Majesty's ships; which again was not at the' 
 request of the Brazilian authorities. 
 
 And as the said Captain accepted the condition of being 
 admitted to attend the proceedings only as a private person, 
 it is clear that the Brazilian authority had only to deal 
 officially with the Consul ; for which purpose alone he had 
 informed the latter that the inquiry would commence on 
 the 2ith. 
 
 Now, if the Consul himself, in an official letter of the 22nd, 
 replied to the Delegate that he could not at that moment 
 accompany him, " but that, in case his presence should be 
 judged essential for the successful result of the inquiries, he 
 was to let him know," it appears also "clear that the absence 
 of Captain Saumarez could cause no surprise to the Brazilian 
 authorities, as the Captain, be it remembered, was only, in 
 conformity with the previous agreement, to be present as a 
 private individual. 
 
 After this explanation, I trust that Mr. Christie will 
 believe that there was not the slightest want of attention or 
 courtesy on the part of the Brazilian authorities towards 
 Captain Saumarez or the Consul, and especially considering 
 the answer" of the latter, to which I have alluded. 
 
 In proceeding to treat of the second point of Mr. Christie's 
 note, — that of a new inquiry, in the presence of an English 
 naval officer, in order to justify the Imperial Govern- 
 ment's refusal of this pretension of that of Her Britannic 
 Majesty it would-be sufficient for me to observe to "Mr. 
 Christie, that to do otherwise would be to acknowledged 
 the impotency or unfitness of the Justices of the country, and 
 the incapacity of the Government itself, amounting, at the 
 Same time, to the sufferance on its part of the most flagrant 
 disrespect of the national sovereignty and dignity. 
 
 The Imperial Gpvernment, as so<m as it was informed of 
 the occurrences arising from the shipwreck of the " Prince of 
 Wales," despatched (as Mr. Christie has been informed by this 
 Ministerial Department) the most positive and peremptory 
 orders to the President of the Province of Sao Pedro do Sul, 
 that, without loss of time, and without shrinking .from the 
 employment of all possible means and resources, he was to 
 proceed to take all necessary measures in order to discover 
 
 L 
 
146 
 
 the truth of the facts complained of, and to cause the punish- 
 ment of the, perpetrators. 
 
 The measures ordered by the' Imperial Government have 
 been taken ; and if, as Mr. Christie has been already informed 
 by this Ministry, from causes peculiar to the locality where, 
 the shipwreck occurred, and from other circumstances which 
 may be said to be inseparable from such events, thos& mea- 
 sured have not produced the desired results, it is not less cer- 
 tain that the presence of a British naval officer could not 
 exercise any beneficial influence. 
 
 The result of the proceedings instituted was the conviction 
 of three criminals of robbery, one of whom is in prison, and 
 the two othete contrived to escape across the neighbouring 
 frontier. 
 
 In a despatch addressed on the 1st instant to the President 
 of the Province, the Imperial Government once more enjoins 
 all possible activity in the trial of the prisoner, for the capture 
 of those who have fled, and in continuing searches and in- 
 quiries for the discovery of other criminals.' 
 
 If the examinations now proceeding shall be insufficient, 
 if afterwards any suspicion still remains, the Imperial Govern- 
 ment assures Mr. Christie that it will not hesitate in ordering 
 a repetition of examinations and inquiries as often as may be 
 necessary, in order that no trace or sign of the crime may re- 
 main without the most complete elucidation and examina- 
 tion. 
 
 The Imperial Government acknowledges the just founda- 
 tion of the anxiety and vigilance of Her Britannic Majesty's 
 Minister concerning this subject ; but Mr. Christie cannotbuj; 
 admit that no one has a greater' interest than the Imperial 
 Government, to whom is confided the honourable task of exe- 
 cuting the laws of the country, and of directing it in the patn 
 of progres's and civilization, in taking cognizance of crimed 
 committed within the territory of the empire, and in the 
 punishment of the guilty. And again, Mr. Christie must 
 admit the Imperial Government would betray their mission, 
 and be wanting in their duty to themselves, if they were to 
 permit the interference of a foreign authority in the adminis- 
 tration of the justice of the country. 
 
 In thus replying to Mr. Christie's note, I avail, &c. 
 
 (Signed) THE MAEQUIS OF ABKANTES. 
 
147 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 49. 
 Mr. Christie to the Marquis of Abranies r 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, August 14, 1862. 
 
 M. le Marquis, 
 
 I have had the honour of receiving your note bf the 6th 
 instant, pn the subject of the shipwreck of the " Prince of 
 Wales," being an answer to mine of the 16th ultimo. 
 
 I will forward a copy of this note to Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment, whom I feel sure it will greatly disappoint, more 
 especially as no mention is made in it pf fresh results, of the 
 inquiry instituted by the Chief of Police in April and May, 
 after the second demand of Her Majesty's, Government con- 
 veyed in my note to Senhor Taques of March 17, and after 
 the visit of Captain Saumarez to Rio Grande do Sul. 
 
 That one person had been imprisoned and criminally pro* 
 ceeded against . for plunder of this wreck, others having 
 escaped jby flight, Her Majesty's Government have already 
 known from the note addressed to me by Senhor Taques, four 
 months ago, on the 19th of April 
 
 After the investigation made by the Chief of Police in 
 April and May, Her Majesty's Consul learnt with satisfaction, 
 on what seemed to be good authority, that evidence, had been 
 obtained against several other individuals who were to be pro* 
 secuted; that the Sub-Delegate of Tahim, D. F. Goncalves, 
 had been dismissed for his culpable negligence in connexion 
 with the shipwreck, and that F. J. da Silveira, the. Inspector 
 of the, district, whose conduct appears to have, been even mo: e 
 culpable than the others, had been also removed and would 
 be prosecuted. The removal of the Sub-Delegate of Tahim 
 was positively mentioned in the newspapers. Tfour Excel? 
 lency's note gives me no information whatever on these 
 matters ; and if the two functionaries referred to, or either of 
 them, have been dismissed, your Excellency does not claim 
 for the, Brazilian Government the credit of this proof of their 
 desire to do what is right on this painful question. , 
 
 I regret that your Excellency sees no discourtesy to Captain 
 Saumarez, in keeping him waiting eight or ten days at Eio 
 Grande, without the slightest information as to the time of an 
 inquiry, which the President of Porto Alegre had promised 
 should be held immediately, at which it had been agreed that 
 he should attend unofficially, to be present at which had been 
 the special object of his coming away from Monte Video and 
 
 i 2 
 
148 
 
 from his ordinary duties near the Admiral, and which it now 
 appears was being designedly postponed by the Chief of 
 Police, without one word said on the matter to Her Majesty's 
 Consul, or to Captain Saumarez, until the departure of the 
 two English men-of-war. One of them, the " Oberon," had 
 brought Captain Saumarez from Monte Video, to outside, the 
 bar of Eio Grande, being a vessel of size suitable to his naval 
 rank. But as the " Oberdn " was of too great draught to cross 
 the bar, the gunboat " Sheldrake " had accompanied her, 'in 
 order to take Captain Saumarez into port, and afterwards to 
 Porto Alegre. Your Excellency must strangely misconceive 
 what is due to an officer of the rank of Captain Saumarez if 
 you think that it could ever have entered his head without 
 suggestion (and you say that no such suggestion was made) 
 to return to Monte Video otherwise than in a man-of-war. 
 The Chief of Police, therefore, "was silently waiting, according 
 to your Excellency's account, to hold an inquiry at which 
 the unofficial presence of Captain Saumarez was expected, 
 for a contingency incompatible with his presence. 
 
 Permit me further to express my regret at learning, on the 
 high authority of your Excellency, that, a Brazilian popula- 
 tion was likely to forget patriotism and humanity, and to 
 obstruct justice, in a question involving many British lives, 
 much British property, and* the honour of their province and 
 country, because of tile presence of a British naval officer in 
 a gunboat, carrying :pne gun, in the port of Bio Grande. 
 
 Your Excellency' mentions that I have already been in- 
 formed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs that certain per- 
 emptory and precise instructions had been sent to' the Pre- 
 sident of the Province, as soon as the Imperial Government 
 were informed of this shipwreck and its lamentable circum- 
 stances. I have to state that in the note of Senhor Taques, 
 Of April 19, the only previous note received by this Legation 
 from your Excellency's office on this subject, it is only said 
 that these instructions were given after the receipt of Mr. 
 BailHe's note of October 27. But the wreck had occurred 
 nearly five months before, in the beginning of June. 
 
 And this leads me to mention that it has been stated by 
 Senhor Taques, in his Eelatorio of t May 13, and in a speech 
 made by him in the Chamber of Deputies on the 7th of July, 
 that such instructions were sent to the President of the Pro- 
 vince' immediately after receipt of the news of the wreck, 
 STo correspondence on this subject having been published 
 
U9 
 
 with the Eelatorio, it would be gratifying to Her Majesty's 
 Government to be assured by your Excellency that Senior 
 Taques did not do himself or the Brazilian Government full 
 justice in his note to me of April 19. 
 
 I will call your Excellency's attention to a further state- 
 ment in the speech of Senhor Taques of July 7: He say? 
 that, not considering the information sent him by the Presi- 
 dent of the Province satisfactory, viz., the information sent 
 after the inquiries made in consequence of the demand of Mr. 
 BaiUie of October 27, he ordered fresh investigations to be 
 made by the Chief of Police in person; that when these 
 orders reached Porto Alegre, the Chief of Police was absent 
 near the frontier, and that, it was necessary to wait for' This 
 return ; and that in the* meantime, a note was received from 
 the British Legationj stating that Her Majesty's Government 
 was not satisfied, and mentioning that a naval officer would 
 be sent to Rio Granda This was my note of March. 17. I 
 think that there must be some confusion in this statement, 
 and that the instructions said by Senhor Taques to have been 
 previously sent, because he was not himself satisfied with the 
 information received from the President of the Province, uru&t 
 be the instructions which were sent after the receipt of my 
 note of March 17. The correspondence which would have 
 cleared up the matter not having been published, I should 
 feel obliged if your Excellency would inform me, for 
 the information of Her Majesty's Government, whether 
 there is any mistake in this part of the speech of Senhor 
 
 It is my intention to forward by the next French steamer 
 to Her Majesty's Government your Excellency's note of the 
 6th instant, and to send with it a full report of all that is 
 known to me in connexion with this lamentable event now 
 almost of old date,, for it occurred fourteen months ago ; and 
 if your Excellency should desire to give any explanations on 
 any of the points I have now mentioned, you will perhaps 
 find it possible to favour me with them before the departure 
 of the French steamer on the 25th. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE 
 
X50 
 Enclosure 3 in No. 49. - 
 
 The Marquis of Abrantes to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Rio de Janeiro, 
 August 16, 1862. 
 
 (Translation.) 
 
 1 hasten to acknowledge the receipt of the note of the 14th 
 instant, sent me by Mr. W. D. Christie, &c, on the subject of 
 the wreck of the English barque " Prince of Wales," on the 
 coast of Albardao in the Province of Kio Grande do Sul 
 
 To meet the urgent wishes of Mr. Christie to be accurately; 
 informed on certain points in connexion with this deplorable 
 event,, in order to be able to forward these explanations to his 
 Government by the steamer of the 25th, I will recapitulate 
 the propositions of Mr. Christie's note, with suitable explana- 
 tions and detailed answers. 
 
 Mr. Christie begins by stating that the contents of my note 
 of the 6th will not satisfy his Government, chiefly as there 
 does, not appear from it to be any new result of the inquest 
 held by the Chief of Police of the province of Sao Pedro in 
 April and May of the present year ; the fact being that the 
 information that three individuals had been criminally pro- 
 ceeded against for theft, of whom one was taken into custody, 
 and the other had escaped, had been before communicated to 
 Her Britannic Majesty's Legation by my note of April 9. 
 
 In pointing out to Mr. Christie that when I wrote my last 
 note to him I could not possibly tell him any more than 
 what was officially known to the Imperial Government tod 
 when I add that the repetition of the information alluded to* 
 of the proceedings against the three aforesaid individuals, 
 arose from the recapitulation of the information contained in 
 the said note, I think I have answered the first proposition. 
 
 Mr. Christie .observes that in my last note he was not 
 informed of the dismissal of the Sub-Delegate D. F. Gongalves, 
 and of the Inspector P. J. d'Oliveira, for culpable neglect- of 
 duty, nor of the proofs collected against various other person^ 
 implicated in the crime of theft, and that the Imperial Govern- 
 ment might have availed themselves of the opportunity to 
 claim from that, of Her Britannic Majesty the credit which 
 would be due to this, proof of their desire to do justice in this 
 deplorable matter. 
 
 On this head I will say frankly to Mr. Christie, that the 
 
m 
 
 Imperial Government, conscious of its own. right, and more 
 zealous in. the fulfilment of its own important obligations and 
 the requirements of justice than in seeking after the good 
 opinion of any (other) Government, although much respect- 
 ing it and r wis.hing. to deserve it, preferred to employ suitable 
 means to arrive at a. knowledge of the whole truth of the facts, 
 reserving to itself the right of communicating at once the final 
 result to Her Majesty's Government. . 
 
 It was for this reason that I omitted to embody in my last 
 note, either the circumstance of the dismissal of the Sub- 
 Delegate and the Inspector, or that of the proofs collected 
 against various individuals implicated in the crime of theft, 
 as I thought that the assurances were sufficient which I gave 
 to Mr. Christie, that the Imperial Government was deeply 
 interested in bringing to light all the truth of the affair, and 
 consequently disposed to try all -possible means in order that 
 #ny suspicion or trace of crime should have full investigation 
 and examination. 
 
 Mr. Christie next observes that he is sorry that I do not 
 think with him that there was discourtesy and want of 
 consideration on the part of the President and Chief of Police 
 of the Province in their treatment of Captain Saumarez, in 
 making him wait eight or ten days in the city of Eio Grande, 
 whereas, according to the promise of the President, the inquest 
 should have commenced immediately ; and' besides that, in 
 the Chief of Police purposely delaying the said inquest, with- 
 out the least warning to the Captain/ until the two English 
 ships of war should be gone ; the commencement of the u> 
 quest, in which the Captain was to assist in an unofficial 
 capacity, thus being made dependent on a contingency incom- 
 patible with his presence. 
 
 ; As to this third paragraph of Mr. Christie's note, I must 
 refer to my last note of the 6th instant, and repeat what 
 I then said, as I think that the considerations now urged by 
 Mr. Christie, beside the deference which they merit, cannot 
 alter the truth of facts which have taken place. 
 ; The day for the commencement of; the inquest was not 
 definitively fixed, not only because no such fixing appears 
 in the official documents now before the Imperial Govern- 
 .ment, in which all the .incidents of the visit of Captain 
 Saumarez to the capital of the province are minutely and 
 faithfully narrated ; but also because this postponement may 
 
152 
 
 have a natural and easy explanation in the serious obstacles 
 against which the Brazilian authorities had to struggle, both 
 on account of the population t>f Albardao being very much 
 scattered, and the state of mistrust and cautiousness which 
 probably prevails amongst the inhabitants of the district, 
 among whom there may be guilty ones, on account of the 
 proceedings which the authorities were going to hold ; above 
 all, if the greatest discretion and reserve had not been prac- 
 tised, as much in overcoming the great distances which had 
 to be traversed, and^the facilities for escape of the criminals 
 by the neighbouring frontier; as by duly considering the 
 excitement produced in the public mind by the presence of 
 the English ships of war, which might have done more than 
 all towards delaying or neutralizing the exertions of the 
 authorities, 
 
 Thus then as to this part of Mr. Christie's note, I must, 
 although very disagreeable to me to be of a different opinion 
 to him, insist on the explanations given in my note of the 
 6th instant, adding that, although not understanding the 
 absolute incompatibility of the presence of Captain Saumarez 
 with the withdrawal of the ships of Her Majesty, I especially 
 consider the attention paid, by causing Captain Saumarez to 
 be present-in a strictly private character at the inquest which 
 was to t^ake place, and I regret this occurrence, seeing what 
 importance Mr. Christie attaches to it. 
 
 I can, however, assure Mr. Christie that the absence of 
 that officer, if not advantageous, at least did not in any way 
 prejudice the court of justice, nor the zeal and care of the 
 authorities. 
 
 The fourth paragraph of Mr. Christie's note is directed to 
 showing the regret that he experienced in learning that a 
 Brazilian population could , so far regret its sentiments of 
 patriotism and humanity, as well as respect for the honour 
 of the province and their country, as to place obstacles in the 
 way of the course of justice in a question involving many 
 lives, and property of British subjects, and this from the 
 presence of an officer of the English navy, and a gunboat 
 of one gun ! 
 
 If I feel regret at having thus involuntarily caused sorrow 
 to Mr. Christie, nevertheless T cannot help expressing to him 
 the surprise that I felt at seeing that he did not understand 
 that the slightest sign from a powerful nation is enough to 
 
15S 
 
 ensure the respect it merits, and to awaken, in certain cases, 
 the just sympathy of other nations. ' ' '" 
 
 I beg leave, on this point, to differ with Mr. Christie, 
 it being my inward conviction that, in most cases, the pa- 
 triotism least prized penetrates the masses of the population 
 with sentiments of justice "and humanity, which, to leave the 
 impress of loyalty and sincerity, must be spontaneous, and 
 exempt from all coercion and violence. ; 
 
 Mr. Christie takes into consideration that I, in my note 
 of the 6th, and my predecessor in his Belatorio and in the 
 Chamber Of Deputies on the 7th of July, said that the 
 Imperial Government would forward peremptory and final 
 instructions to the President of the province of Eio Grande 
 do Sul, on being informed of the lamentable occurrence ; 
 while from the note of the Ministry of April 19, it would be 
 inferred that the instructions to the President were given 
 after the receipt of the note of Her Britannic Majesty's 
 Legation of October 27 of last year, about five months after 
 the wreck. 
 
 Mr. Christie is badly informed in this respect. The Im- 
 perial Government first had information of the wreck from 
 Officials of the President of the Province of Eio Grande on 
 July 3 to 11 ; they immediately, on the 10th of August, 
 despatched to the President the most positive and stringent 
 orders, and the most express directions, that in a case of this 
 grave nature the. authorities should proceed with the greater 
 circumspection, and with all zeal and carefulness. 
 
 On receiving Mr. Baillie's note of the 27th of October, the 
 Imperial Government merely informed the President, repeat- 
 ing the orders and instructions before sent to him. 
 
 Mr. Christie proceeds with reference to what my prede- 
 cessor said in the Chamber of Deputies on July 7, viz., that 
 not considering the proceedings of the President satisfactory^ 
 more especially those relating to the inquest held in conse- 
 quence of the note of the British Legation of the 27th of 
 October, he had sent him instructions to the effect that the 
 Chief of Police should personally conduct new investigations. 
 
 And since this discussion tallied with the time of receipt 
 of a fresh note from the British Legation of March 1 *l last, 
 which set forth that Her Majesty's Government were not 
 satisfied with the proceedings, I ask Mr. Christie whether 
 those orders of my predecessor might not have been in conse- 
 
154 
 
 quence of his note of March 1 7. It appears to me that there 
 is a prevailing idea' in the mind of Mr. Christie, that but for 
 the intervention and persistencj of the British Legation* 
 nothing effectual would.be done. 
 
 Protesting against the inference of injustice on our part* 
 and opposing to it the incontestable proof of facts, I beg leave 
 to give* them in detail. 
 
 The President of Pio Grande do Sul, on December 10 of 
 last year, brought to the notice of the Imperial Government 
 the proceedings of the authorities of the Province with reference 
 to the instructions given to it. 
 
 . These not appearing sufficient, the Imperial Government 
 sent to the President the despatch of December 26th, con? 
 taining instructions for fresh and. energetic investigations, 
 and authorizing him to spare no exertion or expense in order 
 to arrive at the truth, and discover any persons who might 
 be guilty. 
 
 Thus Mr. Christie's note had no effect on the mind of the 
 Imperial Government with- reference to the duty of obeying 
 the call of justice or the promptings of humanity. 
 
 And the Imperial Government merely transmitted a copy 
 of this note to the President of Eio Grande, renewing the 
 prders and instructions contained in the despatch of Decem- 
 ber 24, and I must acquaint Mr. Christie of the feet that 
 these orders and iustrudMons were subsequently repeated 
 with stress, in my despatches to the President of Kio Grande 
 of April 22 and 30, May 11, June 14, and July 1 last. 
 
 I think I have given as lucid an answer as possible to each 
 of the propositions of Mr. Christie's note, thus having enabled 
 him to furnish his Government with the explanations he 
 wishes. I will not, however, conclude without informing 
 Mr. Christie that, on the day on which I received his note to 
 which this is an answer, I also received a despatch from the 
 President of Eio Grande of the 31st of last month, from 
 which it appears that the investigations and inquests to. be 
 held by the authorities have been concluded, resulting in the 
 conviction of eleven persons for robbery, who were imme- 
 diately committed to prison ; and that, the Police Delegate of 
 the district was engaged in tracking?, several of the culprits* 
 who were supposed to have escaped "to the adjoining State, 
 with, a view to the Imperial Government demanding their 
 extradition. 
 
155 
 
 In assuring Mr, Christie, that the Iniperial Government, as 
 yell , in the wish to fulfil its duties as for its own credit 
 and that of the country at large, will keep in sight this grave 
 affair, and will not shrink from their duty of doing justice 
 and serving the cause of humanity, I avail, &c. 
 
 (Signed) THE MARQUIS OF ABRANTES. 
 
 Enclosure 4 in No. 40, 
 
 Mr. Christie to the Marquis of Abrantes. 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, August 22, 1862. 
 
 M. le Marquis, 
 
 Ib.ave received your Excellency's note of 16th instant on 
 the affair of the wreck of the " Prince of Wales," which is so 
 far satisfactory that it informs me of the removal of the Sub- 
 Delegate Delfim "Francisco Gon calves and the Inspector 
 Faustino Jose d'Oliveira for culpable neglect of duty ; of the 
 imprisonment of eleven more individuals who are to be tried 
 for the plunder of the wreck; and of the prosecution of 
 inquiry about others who have fled into Montevidean territory 
 with a view to demand their extradition. 
 
 Your Excellency says that you could not have given me 
 any of the additional information in your note of the 6th, 
 as. at that time you were not officially cognizant of any part 
 of it ; and though it might cause me some surprise to learn 
 that what was published in the Rio newspapers, and known 
 to me from oUr Cqnsul' in' the' first days of June, should not 
 have been officially known to your Excellency two months 
 later, I could have no difficulty in admitting that you could 
 not tell me officially what officially you did not know. But 
 a little further on in your note your Excellency mentions a 
 different reason for not having given me on the 6th any 
 additional information, and that is* that being more anxidtts 
 to do. your duty in this matter than to let Her Majesty's 
 Government know that you were doing it, you were keeping 
 back your additional information till you could furnish me 
 later with a complete and final statement. Thefe is. an 
 obvicnis discrepancy^' between your Excellency's two' "state- 
 ments, and Her Majesty's Government, on- receipt of your 
 
156 
 
 last note, will be at a loss to know whether additional inform 
 mation was not before given me because you could not give 
 it, oi- because you did hot care to be in a hurry to do so. - 
 
 I have no desire to prolong a discussion on the minor 
 point of want of courtesy to Captain Saumarez, and will quit 
 that subject with the remark that if the Chief of Police 
 was waiting, without saying a word to Captain Saumarez 
 or the Consul, to hold an inquiry at which Captain Saumarez 
 was to be present, for the departure of the two vessels which 
 had brought him to Eio Grande, and" were remaining there 
 only to carry him back, this conduct shows such a want 
 of perception and ignorance of propriety that the Chief of 
 Police may certainly be acquitted of uncivil intentions. 
 
 To your Excellency's observations on menaces and patriot- 
 ism I will very briefly reply that it passes my understanding 
 to comprehend how any menace could be seen in the presence 
 of the two small vessels which had brought Captain Saumarez 
 to Eio Grande, and how any patriotism worthy of the name 
 could be diverted by that circumstance to the shelter of crim- 
 inals charged with foul deeds, whose impunity would be the 
 shame of Brazil. 
 
 I had hoped that your Excellency would have treated this 
 idea of menace with the same scorn with which the worthy 
 late Minister of Justice repudiated it in the Chamber of 
 Deputies. "What!" exclaimed M. Sayao Lobato, "could a 
 single gunboat frighten and alarm the spirited Province of 
 Eio Grande do Sul ! " 
 
 "On one and the same day (the 17th March) I wrote to the 
 English Admiral at Monte Video, requesting him to send a 
 naval officer to cooperate with the Consul at Eio Grande, and 
 to your predecessor Senhor Taques, informing him of the 
 request which I had addressed to the Admiral, and offering 
 the cooperation of a naval officer with the Brazilian author- 
 ities if the latter chose to accept it. Is it not strange that 
 the President of the Province had not received direct from 
 Eio one word of information from Senhor Taques as to the 
 probable visit of an English naval officer, while Captain 
 Saumarez had had time to reach Porto Alegre, having been 
 sent by the Admiral from Monte Video after receipt of my 
 lejtter.-of March 17th? 
 
 It must be for Senhor Taques tq. r explain why he did' not 
 fasten to give notice and instructions to the President! that 
 he might have taken measures to prepare the sensitiWmindl 
 
157 
 
 of his Province, and guard , against unfortunate consequence* 
 of an extraordinary susceptibility by timely explanations. 
 
 I am happy to know that Senhor Taques sent full and 
 peremptory instructions to the President of the Province on the 
 10th August, of which those sent after the receipt of Mr. 
 Baillie's note of 27th October were merely a repetition ; hut 
 I am not convinced that the instructions which Senhor Taques 
 is reported to have spoken of as sent before the receipt of my 
 note of 17th March were not those which he sent after re- 
 ceiving that note. » 
 
 Your Excellency says that my prevailing idea seems to be 
 that nothing. would have been done in this matter but for the 
 pressure of the British Legation You will be good enough 
 to remember that besides the action ^of the British Legation, 
 Her Majesty's zealous Consul at Eio Grande has from first to 
 last been constantly urging the local authorities. At the 
 end of fourteen months your Excellency announces to. me 
 the dismissal of two local functionaries for culpable neglect 
 of duty, and the prosecution of eleven newly suspected 
 individuals ; and steps taken to recover some of the culprits 
 who had fled to Monte Video. Why were not these measures 
 sooner taken?' Pour months ago, when Senhor Taques last 
 wrote to 'me, only one person had been arrested, and no 
 evidence had been found against him ; and Senhor Taques 
 .declared that there was nothing to show that the two func- 
 tionaries who have been dismissed were blameable. Is 
 it strange that I should have the opinion that but for the 
 laudable and persevering efforts of the Consul and the 
 demands of this Legation made, by order of Her Majesty's 
 Government, nothing would have been done ? 
 
 Four months ago Senhor Taques wrote to me that the local 
 functionaries had all done their duty, and confidently called 
 on me to own that they had done everything in their power. 
 In his " Eelatorio " of the 13th May, Senhor Taques published 
 a glowing eulogium on the President of the Province, who he 
 says has acted in this matter with the greatest zeal,, judg- 
 ment, and propriety. What is the worth of these statements 
 after the announcement tardily anade to me in your Excel- 
 lency's last note ? 
 
 There is; a third local functionary, the Justice of the Peace, 
 Bento Venancio Soares, whose conduct exposed him to grave 
 suspicions of connivance. It is true that Senhor Taques said 
 to me in his note of the 19th April that he could not see 
 
158 
 
 any fault in Senhor Scares'; but after what he said of the 
 other gentleman now dismissed, his testimony to character 
 cannot be thought of much value. The Imperial Govern- 
 ment are bound to show that Senhor Soares is innocent, or 
 disgrace him. 
 
 The painful circumstances attendant' on this, wreck hare 
 not only shown that the cargo was heartlessly plundererd, 
 but have suggested grave suspicions of foul deeds on persons 
 shipwrecked. Senhor Taques stated in his note of the 19th 
 April that there was nothing to justify . a suspicion of 
 assassination. He had made a similar statement in the 
 '.' Eelatorio." Not one ,particle of proof or argument accom- 
 panying these statements, you will excuse me for- not 
 assigning to them more value than belongs to other state- 
 ments of Senhor Taques, which subsequent events have 
 proved valueless. Your Excellency,' lately mentioned to me 
 that as regards the suspicions of assassination the Brazilian 
 Government had a clear conscience. It is: my duty to state 
 to your Excellency that mere assertion is no answer to the. 
 presumptions of murder which have been brought to the 
 notice of the Imperial Government. • 
 
 i You have now dismissed two local functionaries for culpable 
 neglect of duty. While , they were culpably dilatory and 
 absent, murders might have been committed by that unre- 
 strained savage population of plunderers. 
 
 Senhor Taques stated in his note of the 19th April, in 
 answer to a suggestion of Her Majesty's Government for 
 compensation, that while the authorities did their duty the 
 Brazilian Government could not be made responsible for 
 acts of the population. The admission now made of culpable 
 neglect of the two chief, local functionaries renders it im- 
 possible for the Imperial Government to persist in refusing 
 to entertain the idea of compensation. 
 
 On the day on which I received your Excellency's note of 
 the 16th, the French steamer brought me fresh despatches 
 and instructions from. Earl EusselL , . ••. * 
 
 I have been instructed to say that Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment have received with great regret the unsatisfactory 
 reports of the progress of this grave question which were in 
 their hands on the 23rd July, and that they will continue to 
 hold the Brazilian Government responsible for ascertaining 
 all the facts of the ca3e, and for the full and impartial 
 execution of justice. Not knowing that two, local function- 
 
159 
 
 aries - have been declared "guilty of culpable neglect, but 
 having before them only the praises given by Senhor Taques 
 to all the officials concerned, Her Majesty's Government 
 instruct me to say that it is in any case clear that a crime 
 has been committed which reflects little credit on Brazilian 
 civilisation, and that they hope that "the Brazilian Govern- 
 ment will wish to do all in their power for redeeming the 
 honour of Brazil by compensation to the sufferers. 
 
 I need not after this say how deep an interest is felt by 
 Her Majesty's Government in this question. The trials of 
 those imprisoned on suspicion wilh I hope, be vigorously pro- 
 secuted. The efforts begun for apprehending the fugitives. in 
 Monte "Video will, I hope, be continued. Her Majesty's 
 Government look to that of Brazil for satisfactory answers as 
 to the conduct of the Justice of the Peace, Soares, and the 
 suspicions Of murder. Your Excellency must admit that the 
 earlier failures of justice during twelve months need explanat 
 tion, and I trust that your Excellency, notwithstanding your 
 comparative indifference to the knowledge and appreciation 
 by another Government of your good deeds, will feel it right 
 henceforth to give me early information of every important 
 incident in the development of this question, about which, as 
 it concerns the fate of British citizens, to say nothing of 
 British property, Her Majesty's Government, as in duty bound, 
 are deeply interested. 
 
 I avail, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D: CHEISTIE 
 
 No. 50. 
 ]jir. Christie to Earl Russell. — (B,eceive<% September 22.) ., 
 
 Bio de Janeiro, August 23, 1862. 
 
 My Loed, 
 With reference to your Lordship's despatch of March 14, 
 instructing me to apply, if I should think it right, to the 
 Brazilian Government for the payment of certain expenses 
 which have been paid by Mr. Consul Vereker, amounting to 
 £82 Is. Id, for holding inquests on' the bodies found after 
 the wreck "of the " Prince of Wales/' and fof their interment, 
 I have the honour to enclose a copy of a note which, after 
 receiving further information on the subject from Mr. Verekeu, 
 
160 
 
 I addressed on the 19th July to the Marquis of Abrantes, and 
 to which I have as yet received no reply. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 50. 
 Mr. Christie to the Marquis of Abrantes. 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, July 19, 1862. 
 
 M. le Marquis, 
 Her Majesty's Consul at Eio Grande do Sul has made 
 known to Her Majesty's Government that he has been 
 required to disburse 314 milreis for the expenses of burial of 
 persons wrecked in the " Prince of "Wales," and of the inquest 
 held upon them, the local authorities having refused to defray 
 these charges. It appears to Her Majesty's Government that 
 these expenses should fall on the Brazilian Government ; 
 Her Majesty's Consul having interfered in consequence of 
 the neglect and misconduct of the local authorities, whose 
 obvious duty it was to hold an inquest and give decent 
 burial to the wrecked. I enclose an account in detail of 
 the expenditure which has been imposed on Her Majesty's 
 Consul. 
 
 I avail, &c. 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE. 
 
 No. 51. 
 
 The Secretary to the Admiralty to Mr. Layard. — {Received 
 
 October 6.) 
 
 >■ . Admiralty, October 4, 1862. 
 
 SlE, ' * 
 
 With reference to my letter of the 3rd ultimo, I am com- 
 manded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to 
 transmit herewith, for the information of Earl Russell, a copy 
 of a further letter, dated the 8th September, from Rear- 
 Admiral Warren, with its enclosures in original, respecting 
 the collision between certain -officers of the "Forte" and a 
 
161 
 
 party of Brazilian poliae in the neighbourhood of Rio de 
 Janeiro. 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) W. G. ROMAINE 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 51. 
 Rear-Admiral Warren to the Secretary to the Admiralty. 
 " Forte," Rio de Janeiro, September 8, 1862. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 With reference to my letter of the 6th ultimo, enclosing, 
 for their Lordship's information, the correspondence relative 
 to the collision which took place on the 17th June between 
 three officers of the " Forte" and a police detachment 
 stationed on the Tijuca Hill, I have now the honour to for- 
 ward the depositions made by the police to the Brazilian 
 authorities, and the reply of the officers thereto ; as also the 
 answer of Mr. Christie, Her Majesty's Minister, to my letter 
 of the 4th instant, inquiring how the business now stands, 
 after his having submitted the officers' rejoinder to the Minis- 
 ter for Foreign Affairs. 
 
 2. Mr. Christie is of opinion with myself that the violence 
 used by the police is most inexcusable, as is also the assump- 
 tion of the Chief of Police that the officers were intoxicated, 
 and acting upon such assumption, when it appears that the 
 accusation of their being in liquor was an after-thought and 
 not mentioned in the charges at first made. 
 
 3 Her Majesty's Minister and myself are further of opinion 
 that the dismissal of the officer in command of the detachment, 
 the disrating of the non-commissioned officer who played so 
 conspicuous a part in the uncalled-for violence of tne^ police, 
 and the retractation of the Chief of Police of his assumption of 
 the intoxication of these officers, is the very least amends the 
 Brazilian Government ought to offer for the outrage. 
 
 I ll3iV6 tv-f* 
 
 (Signed) RICHD.' L. WARREN. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 51. 
 Depositions of the Brazilian Police. 
 [See Enclosure T in No. 48.] 
 
 M 
 
162 
 
 Enclosure 3 in N©. 51. 
 
 Messrs. Clemenger, Pringle, and Hornby to Rear-Admiral 
 Warren. — {August 16, 1862.) 
 
 [See Enclosure 2 in No. 48.] 
 
 Enclosure 4 in No. 51. 
 Mr. Christie to Rear-Admiral Warren. 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, September 5th, 1882. 
 
 Sib, 
 In reply" to your letter of yesterday I beg to inform you 
 that I have not yet received any answer to the note which 
 you have seen, and which I addressed on the 19th ult. to the 
 Marquis of Abrantes, after conferring with you on the whole 
 question of the ill-treatment of the three officers of Her 
 Majesty's ship '* Forte." 
 
 I forwarded a copy of this note to Earl Eussell by the last 
 French steamer. 
 
 I have, &c., 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE 
 
 No. 52. 
 
 Earl Russell to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, October 8, 1862. 
 SlE, 
 
 Her Majesty's Government have had under their considera- 
 tion your despatch of the 23rd of August and its enclosures, 
 reporting the recent steps taken by the Brazilian Government 
 in the matter of the wreck of the British ship " Prince of 
 Wales." 
 
 This wreck, which is supposed to have occurred on the. 6th 
 or 7th of June of last year, was first heard of by Her 
 Majesty's Consul at Bio Grande do Sul on the 13th of that 
 month through Senhor Bento Venancio Soares, a magistrate 
 of the district of Albardao, who had stated in conversation 
 that some bodies had. been washed on shore near his house, 
 but professed to have no knowledge of a wreck. 
 
 Subsequent inquiries, however, .induced Her Majesty's 
 
163 
 
 Consul to suspect that a British ship had been wrecked, and 
 he. consequently left on the following day for the coast of 
 Albardao with the Municipal Judge and a small Customs 
 guard, and arrived at the house of Senhor Bento Soares, 
 where they were received with most evident reluctance by 
 bis daughter, her father having left before their arrivaL 
 
 Early the following morning, the party visited the scene of 
 the Wreck and found the shore strewn with its relics and 
 with parts of the cargo, such as . casks, barrels, seamen's 
 trunks, &c, some of which had evidently been dashed to 
 pieces on the beach, but others of which had as evidently 
 been very recently broken open and plundered of their 
 contents. The linings of some of the trunks were quite dry, 
 as if they had been safely -brought on shore in boats. 
 
 Ten bodies were stated to have been discovered, some of 
 them a long way from the beach, but no money or watches 
 were forthcoming. Property from the wreck, uninjured by 
 water, was found in the house of Senhor Bento Soares. 
 
 No inquest having been held on the bodies by the Sub- 
 Delegate of the district, Mr. Vereker proposed to view them ; 
 but this was strongly objected to in a most suspicious manner 
 by the Inspector of the District, who was met with on the 
 shore accompanied by an armed force. 
 
 Mr. Vereker then returned to Bio Grande and applied for 
 assistance to convey the ten bodies thither for inquest and 
 burial. The assistance was given (though Mr. Vereker had 
 to defray all expenses), but only four of the ten bodies arrived 
 at Rio Grande. 
 
 Inquests were subsequently held on the bodies at Bio 
 Grande and on those at Albardao, at the latter place by Sub^ . 
 Delegate Goricalves, now disgraced, assisted by the brother- 
 inJaw of Senhor Soares, Senhor Pereira de Sousa, who is said 
 to have headed a party of plunderers of the wreck. One 
 body only was disinterred, the others were found unburied, 
 and in an advanced state of decomposition. The verdict on 
 all was, in effect, " Found drowned," though there were most 
 suspicious circumstances attending the discovery of some of 
 them, stripped of their clothes, and far beyond the reach of 
 the tide at high water. 
 
 After repeated and earnest applications from Mr. Vereker 
 for a searching inquiry, he at length heard, on the. 18th of 
 September, that one man had been convicted of being in 
 possession of property stolen from the wreck. The President 
 
 M 2 
 
16* 
 
 of the Province' stated at the same time that the chief culprits 
 had fled, and he pleaded the great difficulty of inducing the 
 inhabitants to give any evidence at all in the case. Later 
 on, in December, the same reasons were pleaded for the 
 unsuccessful .result of a further inquiry, and although it has 
 been admitted from the first that- the wreck was plundered, 
 it was not until August of this year, fourteen months after the 
 wreck occurred, that the Brazilian Government stated that 
 upon further inquiry two of their officials, whose conduct 
 they had previously praised, had been dismissed, and' that 
 eleven persons were being prosecuted for plundering the 
 wreck For the credit of the Brazilian Government and 
 nation, Senhor Bento Soares should also be put on his trial, 
 and, if found guilty, should be most severely punished. 
 
 The Brazilian Government are good enough to add, that 
 they have quite satisfied themselves that none of the crew 
 of the vessel were murdered. Her Majesty's Government 
 are by no means satisfied of this ; but it is a question which 
 could only have been set at rest by an immediate inquest on 
 all the bodies of the crew, and by a prompt and searching 
 investigation on the spot, and it is to be feared -that the 
 mystery attending the fate of these unfortunate men cannot 
 now be cleared up. 
 
 But the time is come • when Her Majesty's Government 
 must ask compensation for the plundering of the wreck 
 and of the bodies, and they must look for this compensation 
 to the Brazilian Government, as being responsible for the 
 losses occasioned by the culpable proceedings of their 
 authorities, .whose guilt they have at length discovered and 
 admitted. 
 
 I have therefore to instruct you to demand from the 
 Brazilian Government compensation for the losses that have 
 been occasioned to the owner of the " Prince of Wales " by 
 the wholesale plunder of the wreck and crew. Mr. Stephens 
 claims for cargo and stores, 5,6001. ; for freight, 1,025?, 19s. ; 
 in all, 6,525?. 19s. But this claim is not at present sustained 
 by any sufficient evidence ; and it would be incumbent on 
 Mr. Stephens. to produce a properly certified estimate of the 
 value of the cargo and stores ; and if any demand is to be 
 made for personal property belonging to any passenger on 
 board, proper evidence on this point must be adduced. 
 
 But on the Brazilian Government admitting the principle, 
 Her Majesty's Government are prepared to accept a fair 
 
165 
 
 arbitration on the question as to the actual amount of 
 compensation to be made, and they will leave the same 
 arbiter or arbiters to determine the amount of the com- 
 pensation to be made to relatives of the people on board 
 whose bodies were stripped and plundered. 
 
 At the same time Her Majesty's Government, having 
 regard to the extraordinary delay, and procrastination of 
 the Brazilian authorities in the investigation of this grave 
 matter, must insist that any such arbitration shall be set 
 on foot without loss of time, and shall be conducted with 
 
 all possible speed to an issue. 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) BXJSSELL. 
 
 No. 53. 
 Earl Russell to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, October 8, 18(52. 
 
 Sib, 
 
 Her Majesty's Government have read 'with great regret 
 your despatches of the 7th and 23rd of August, reporting 
 the serious outrage committed on the 17th of June by a 
 Brazilian police-guard on three officers of Her Majesty's ship 
 "Forte." 
 
 t Her Majesty's Government have carefully considered the 
 depositions and . evidence taken in this case, and they can 
 come to no other conclusion but that the version given by 
 the three officers is true, and that the defence set up by the 
 Brazilians is unworthy of credit. 
 
 The officers state that, having obtained leave to go out on 
 a pleasure excursion, they dined temperately at an hotel on 
 the Tijuca Hill, and were hurrying back to catch the omnibus 
 for Rio when they passed the sentry of the guard-house at 
 Tijuca ; that Mr, Clemenger, the chaplain, who was in 
 advance with Mr. Hornby, was approached by the sentry ; 
 and that he had scarcely time to ask, in Spanish, what the 
 sentry wanted before he was struck by the butt of »the 
 sentry's musket and stabbed at with his bayonet ; that the 
 sentry at the same time called out the guard, who rushed 
 
166 
 
 upon the three offiers, and after much violence drove them 
 into the guard-house, Lieutenant Pringle alone having made 
 any resistance whatever to the brutal violence that was used 
 against them ; that on being lodged in the guard-house pri- 
 son they asked to see the officer of the guard, who, after the 
 lapse of ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, made his appear- 
 ance for the first time ; that they immediately gave on paper 
 their full names and rank, first direct to the officer, and 
 secondly through an interpreter, and wrote to their Captain 
 and to the British Consul to inform them of their position, 
 but these letters, it appears, were withheld, and not forwarded 
 to their destination. 
 
 That two of the party were confined for the night 
 in a room called the "refectory" and the third in 
 the prison, and that, on the following morning they 
 Were ignominiously marched on foot guarded by . an 
 escort (though they offered to pay for a conveyance) to the 
 city police court at Eio, where they again wrote out their 
 names and rank. • 
 
 That they were then put into a filthy prison among crimi- 
 nals of the lowest class, the prison official admitting that he 
 was aware that they were British officers ; and that .after the 
 lapse of two hours, and at the intercession of the British 
 Consul, with whom they had managed to communicate, they 
 were removed into a less dirty prison, and subsequently to 
 the police barracks, where at last they were civilly treated. 
 
 •That at half-past eleven on the following morning they 
 were released by a written order of the Ch'e? c f the Police, .no 
 reasons being given for their imprisonment or for their 
 liberation. Such is, shortly, the story of these officers taken 
 from their depositions ; and as they have never varied, in 
 their statements, which are probable and consistent, and as 
 they have expressed a strong desire to be confronted with the 
 adverse witnesses, Her Majesty's Government are impressed 
 with the conviction, confirmed by the character of the parties 
 as officers and gentlemen, that their story is strictly true. 
 
 On the other hand, the version of the affair given by the 
 Brazilian police is supported by evidence in which no confi- 
 dence can be placed. They state that the officers were drunk, 
 and that they annoyed the passers-by on the road between 
 the hotel and the guard-house, but it is remarkable that no 
 passer-by has been produced to give evidence on this point, 
 
167 
 
 and that in the original charge, preferred against them by the 
 officer of the police-guard, of which a copy was given 
 them, no mention was made of their being drunk, and no 
 witnesses have been produced who had been annoyed by 
 them on the road. 
 
 You justly animadvert in your despatch on the evidence 
 of the officer and soldiers of the guard, who have deposed as 
 to the" circumstances of the commencement of the affray 
 between the British officers and the sentry, when by their 
 own admission they were not present at the time, and it is to 
 be observed that the Brazilian officer more particularly has 
 deposed to all the circumstances of the struggle with the 
 guard, while it is positively affirmed that he did- not appear 
 until ten minutes after the prisoners were lodged in the 
 guard-house prison. 
 
 It is impossible to believe on other points evidence of a 
 witness whose statement is so palpably untrue on this point, 
 and Her Majesty's Government cannot doubt that the officer 
 of the Brazilian guard was perfectly aware of the nationality 
 and rank of his prisoners. 
 
 Her Majesty's Government cannot submit to leave such an 
 outrage unatoned for, and you will therefore embody the fore- 
 going remarks in a note to the Brazilian Government, warning 
 them at the same time of the serious light in which Her 
 Majesty's Government have viewed the case ; and you will 
 demand — 
 
 1. That the Ensign of the guard shall be dismissed from 
 the service. 
 
 2. That the sentry who commenced the attack shall be ade- 
 quately punished. 
 
 3. That an apology be made by the Brazilian Government 
 for this outrage on British naval officers ; and 
 
 4. That the Chief of the Police and the official at the Eio 
 police-station shall receive a public censure. 
 
 • I shall acquaint you, by another opportunity, with the 
 measures which Her Majesty's Government propose to take in 
 the event of the Brazilian Government refusing to comply 
 with these demands. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) RUSSELL 
 
168 
 
 No. 54. 
 
 Earl Russell to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, October 8, 1862. 
 
 Sib, 
 I enclose, for your information and guidance/ a copy of the 
 letter that nas been addressed to the Admiralty,* respecting 
 my despatches to you of this day's date on the cases of the 
 " Forte " and " Prince of Wales." 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) EUSSELL. 
 
 No. 55. 
 Mr. Hammond to the Secretary of the Admiralty. 
 
 Foreign Office, October 8, 1862. 
 SlE, 
 ■I am directed by Earl Eussell to transmit to you copies of 
 instructions which will be sent out to Her Majesty's Minister 
 at Eio de Janeiro by the mail of the 9th instant,-f- specifying 
 the redress which Her. Majesty's Government require from 
 the Brazilian Government for the acts of their authorities. in 
 the cases of the " Forte " and the " Prince of Wales." 
 
 I am to request that you will lay these instructions before 
 the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and move their 
 Lordships, to communicate them to the' Admiral on the 
 Station, and at the same time to direct him to place himself 
 in communication, with Mr. Christie, and to make such an 
 arrangement with his ships as shall admit of his proceeding, 
 if necessary, to reprisals, with regard to which instructions 
 will be sent by the next mail. . 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) E. HAMMOND. 
 
 No. 56. 
 
 Mr. Stephens to Earl Russell. — {Received October 21.) 
 
 15, Dixon Street, Glasgow, October 20, 1862. 
 My LOED, 
 I have. waited very patiently, expecting every post would 
 
 *No 55. fNos. 53 and 54. 
 
169 
 
 bring me some compensation for the plunder of the stores, 
 &c, and murder of the crew of the " Prince of Wales " ship 
 by the Brazilians, and to which I again reluctantly am 
 obliged to call your Lordship's attention. It is quite evident 
 coercive measures will require to be taken to -obtain redress, 
 and which should have been done at once whe,n the outrage 
 was committed, and which I am strongly of opinion would 
 have been the course adopted by any other nation. 
 
 I amj &c. 
 (Signed) E. P. STEPHENS. 
 
 No. 57 
 Mr. Christie to Earl Russell, — {Received October 25.) 
 
 Bio de Janeiro, September 15, 1862. 
 
 My Lord, 
 With reference to my despatch of August 23, I enclose a 
 translation of a note which I have received from the Marquis 
 ef Abrantes, acknowledging that Mr. Consul Vereker ought 
 not to have been required to pay the expenses which fell upon 
 him for burials and inquest' in connexion with the wreck of 
 the " Prince of Wales ;" and stating that suitable instructions 
 have been sent to the President oTthe Province of Eio Grande" 
 do Sul, who, I presume, therefore, is instructed to repay 314 
 milreis (322. Is. Id.) to the Consulate. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) W. D. CHEISTIE 
 
 Enclosure in No. 57. 
 The Marquis of Abrantes to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eio de Janeiro, 
 September 12, 1862. 
 (Translation.) 
 
 I acknowledge the receipt of a note from Mr. Christie, 
 Envoy Extraordinary. &c, of Her Britannic Majesty, of the 
 date of July 19, relative to the requisition which was made to 
 Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Eio Grande, for the pay- 
 ment of the expenses of interment of the persons who 
 
170 
 
 perished in the shipwreck of the English barque " Prince of 
 "Wales," and of the inquest held on them. r 
 
 In answer, I have the honour to inform Mr. Christie that 
 the Imperial Government has just sent a despatch to the 
 President of the Province of San Pedro de Eio Grande do 
 Sul, telling him that the request he made to the aforesaid 
 Consul, respecting the above-mentioned expenses, was im- 
 proper ; and, in consequence, I have issued suitable orders 
 in this sense. 
 
 I avail, &c, 
 (Signed) MAEQUIS OP ABEANTES. 
 
 No. 58. 
 Mr, Christie to Earl Russell. — (Received October 25.} 
 
 Eio de Janeiro, September 24, 1862. 
 
 My Lokd, 
 
 "With reference to my despatch of "August 23, enclosing 
 copies of correspondence with the Marquis of Abrantes,. about 
 the wreck of the " Prince of Wales," I have now the honour 
 to enclose a translation of a further note from his Excellency, 
 and also a copy of my reply. 
 
 •The principal points in the enclosed note of the Marquis 
 of Abrantes are as follows: — 
 
 1. Whereas I had understood from his preceding note that 
 eleven more individuals had been imprisoned on the charge 
 of robbery, and that efforts were being made to discover 
 others, who had fled to Monte Video, it appears that the 
 number eleven is the total of those accused of plunder ; and 
 that of these eleven, only one (a man before taken) is in 
 prison; warrants only being out against the others, who have 
 not yet been found. The passage which I had misunderstood 
 in his Excellency's note of the 16th of August is as follows, 
 and is in a note answering a request of mine for informa- 
 tion as to the results of the second investigation : — " I will 
 not conclude without informing Mr. Christie, that on the same 
 day on which I received his note I received also a despatch 
 from the President of Eio Grande, dated the 31st of July, 
 from which it appears that the- examination and inquiries 
 to which the proper authorities proceeded have been finished, . 
 the result being that eleven individuals are accused of the 
 crime of -robbery, and that the competent order of imprison- 
 
171 
 
 ment has issued against them ; and that the Delegate of 
 Police was endeavouring to find traces of some criminals 
 who were supposed to have taken refuge in the neighbour- 
 ing State, in order that the Imperial Government might de- 
 mand their extradition." 
 
 2. The Marquis of Abrantes, who in his preceding note 
 of the 16th of August, had spoken of the dismissals of the 
 Sub-Delegate (Gon$alves) and the Inspector (Faustino), "who 
 proceeded in the discharge of their duties with culpable 
 negligence," now says that he never spoke of culpable neg- 
 ligence, and that these two functionaries have not been 
 dismissed on account of culpable neglect of duty, but one 
 of them on account of a delay of about two days in trans- 
 mitting information about the wreck, which* he considers 
 a trivial fault, and the other on account of charges, the 
 nature of which is not explained, and which he considers 
 unfounded (" improcedentes"), but which impaired his use- 
 fulness. 
 
 3. The conduct of the Justice of the. Peace, Soares, is de- 
 fended without the slightest attempt to disprove the imputa- 
 tions made against him. " The fact," says his f Excellency, 
 " of not being convinced of the connivance which Mr. Vereker 
 attributes to him should necessarily exempt the Justice from 
 all and every censure." 
 
 4. Credit is again claimed, in high language, for the sponta- 
 neousness and promptitude of the proceedings of the Brazilian 
 Government, and great stress is laid on the difficulties arising 
 out of the distance, isolation, savage character, and other cir- 
 cumstances of Albardao, which his Excellency considers as 
 ample justification for the small results in fourteen months, 
 
 5. On the question of assassination, the Marquis of 
 Abrantes condescends at last to an attempt, feeble enough to 
 justify the statement of Senhor Taques, that the suspicions 
 of murder are unfounded, and his own that the conscience of 
 the Brazilian Government is clear on this subject. His Ex- 
 cellency says : — " All persons residing not only in Albardao, 
 but also in the vicinity of the place of the wreck, have been 
 heard, and others also who were present on the occasion. The 
 Inspector of Customs and the Adjutant of the Chief Guard 
 have also been heard ; and all, without any discrepancy, 
 denied the existence of assassinations." His Excellency sends 
 some extracts from the reports made by the President of the 
 Province and the Chief of Police, " which, together with the 
 
172 
 
 denials of all the parties examined, conclusively prove that no 
 murder was committed." I enclose a translation of. these 
 extracts, •which seem to me anything but conclusive, and in 
 which I. have been surprised to see a statement that the 
 public voice has never mentioned assassination. 
 
 6. The idea of compensation is repudiated, and his Excellency 
 declines to accept your Lordship's observation that a crime 
 has been committed which reflects little 'credit on Brazilian 
 civilization, and that it is to be hoped that the Brazilian 
 Government will offer compensation to the sufferers. 
 
 In my enclosed reply, after noticing his Excellency's cor- 
 rections of my preceding note, I have again pointed out some 
 of his mistakes and inconsistencies, and replied to some of his 
 statements, i have presented to him the particular grounds 
 on which the Justice of the Peace, Soares, is suspected of 
 connivance, and suggested that there is enough to justify 
 some punishment in his case, when one functionary has been 
 dismissed, without culpable negligence, for a trivial harmless 
 fault, and another merely on account of unjust charges which 
 have impaired his usefulness; and finally, while refusing my 
 assent to the statement that the public voice has never 
 charged murder, and refusing implicit belief to the assertions 
 of the residents, and, of the two. authorities named, who 
 were not present at the time of the wreck, I have stated 
 that I should leave it to Her Majesty's Government to judge 
 whether it is proved that there were no murders, or whether 
 the conscience of the Brazilian Government has not been too 
 easily tranquillized 
 
 X referred these extracts to Admiral Warren, and solicited 
 his opinion on the question of the suspicions of murder, in a 
 letter of which I enclose a copy ; and I also enclose a copy of 
 Admiral Warren's reply, to which I beg to call, your Lord- 
 ship's particular attention. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D. CHKISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure 1 in !N"o. 58. 
 The Marqms of A-lrdfytes to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, Eio de Janeiro, September 6, 1862. 
 
 (Translation) 
 
 I have received the note which Mr. Christie " addressed to 
 me on the 22nd ultimo. 
 
173 
 
 Still taking for subject the wreck of the "Prince of Wales," 
 and referring to iny note of the 16th, in which, on behalf of 
 the Imperial Government, I furnished Her Britannic Majesty's 
 Legation most frankly with all possible details and explana- 
 tions of the circumstances attending this deplorable affair, 
 Mr. Christie, in his note which I have before me, puts forth 
 a new series of considerations, by which I observe with regret 
 that he is not satisfied, and that he continues to appreciate 
 in a manner little flattering and perhaps less just, not only 
 the conduct in this affair of the Brazilian authorities of the 
 Province of San Pedro Bio Grande do Sul, but also that of 
 the Government of His Imperial Majesty. 
 
 Being .convinced of the sincerity of Mr. Christie's objec- 
 tions, and recognizing the duty laid on me of "employing all 
 possible means to dispel these objections from his mind, I will 
 not desist from this task as long as the slightest hope of 
 realizing it remains. 
 
 Thus as a proof of the high consideration which the words 
 of Her Britannic Majesty's Bepresentative always deserve 
 from the Imperial Government, I proceed to answer the note 
 which I have before me, considering one by one. the proposi- 
 tions contained in it. 
 
 Mr. Christie begins by saying that he was happy to learn 
 from my note of the 16th ultimo that the Sub-Delegate and 
 the Inspector of the District of Albardao had been dismissed 
 for culpable" neglect of their duties ; that eleven more indi- 
 viduals had been taken, against whom proceedings were going 
 on ; and that steps were being taken to discover traces of 
 others, who, it was presumed had fled across the neighbour- 
 ing frontier, with a view to demanding their extradition. 
 
 I beg leave to correct this first paragraph of Mr. Christie's 
 note. 
 
 In mentioning the dismissal of the two functionaries I did 
 not speak in my note of the 16th of culpable negligence, and 
 could not speak so, as I will show further on ; neither did I 
 say that eleven more persons had been taken. What I had 
 the honour to state was, that the examinations and inquiries 
 were finished, resulting in eleven persons being charged with 
 the crime of robbery, against whom warrants of imprisonment 
 had been issued, and that attempts were being made to obtain 
 traces of some who, it was supposed, had taken refuge in the 
 Oriental State, in order to require their extradition. 
 
 What results,, therefore, from the information contained in 
 
174 
 
 this part of my note is, that the examinations and efforts of 
 the authorities were concluded, and that the total number 
 of the accused of crime was eleven, of whom some had 
 escaped abroad. Mr. Christie, therefore, misunderstood my 
 meaning when he inferred from my words that eleven more 
 persons were apprehended, and that steps were being taken 
 with regard to others who had fled to a neighbouring State. 
 
 Mr. Christie' wonders that ' on the 6th ultimo the Govern- 
 ment had not yet received official information already pub- 
 lished by the journals, and communicated by Her Britannic 
 Majesty's Consul to his Minister two months before ; but 
 admitting the possibility of the fact, and at the same time 
 finding another explanation of it in the declaration which I 
 made that the*Imperial Government, more anxious to exercise 
 justice than to tell the British Government that it was doing 
 so, was waiting for the sum total of all the details, in order to 
 inform that Government of the final result of the inquiries. 
 Mr. Christie finds a discrepancy in these two propositions, 
 which authorises a doubt whether the information was not 
 given because it was not known, or because it was not wished 
 to give it. . 
 
 I regret to have to contest the reasonableness of this doubt 
 which has taken possession of Mr. 'Christie's mind, and which 
 arose from a confusion of facts. 
 
 My note of the 16th, to which Mr. Christie alludes, only 
 treats of those accused of crime, and in fact, it was only by 
 the communication of the President of the Province of Bio 
 Grande dated 81st July, and received the 34th of August, 
 that the Imperial Government was informed that the number 
 of the accused had risen from three to eleverl. Both in that 
 note and in my preceding one of the 6th of the same month, 
 I by preference occupied myself with the accused persons, 
 that being without doubt the principal question.- The first 
 duty of the Govern or- General and local authorities was to 
 find the criminals ; a very difficult task, from especial reasons 
 already explained to Mr. Christie on different occasions. 
 • If the dismissal of the two functionaries and other steps 
 taken by the Government were not the object of my note of 
 the 6th, it is because the steps taken by the authorities were 
 in progress ; and the result was not yet known, and con- 
 venience did not recommend the communication to Her 
 Britannic Majesty's Legation of measures, so to speak, inter- 
 locutory, which had to be completed by others in order to 
 
175 
 
 attain the desired end, the discovery of the truth of the 
 alleged acts and of the authors. 
 
 This circumstance could certainly not influence- the 
 mind of Mr. Christie as to doubting that the Imperial 
 Government had acted with zeal and activity in' this impor- 
 tant question, actuated, as already said, more by a desire to 
 fulfil the duty of hastening to the call of justice and human- 
 ity than by a wish or hope to gain the good opinion of. any 
 Government, however great the respect it may feel for it. 
 
 Mr. Christie goes on to state, that not desiring to prolong 
 the discussion relative to Captain Saumarez, he will* end it 
 with the simple observation that if the Chief of Police of the 
 Province waited, without saying a word either to the Captain 
 or the Consul, to begin the inquiry at which th8 Captain was 
 to assist, for the departure of the two ships, one of which had 
 taken him to Rio Grande, and which was staying there solely 
 to take him back to the River Plate, such a proceeding shows 
 so complete a want of judgment and such an ignorance of 
 what is fitting that that Brazilian functionary may be acquitted 
 of the fault of incivility. 
 
 This opinion of Mr. Christie is not, however, in my opinion, 
 just. 
 
 The Chief of Police, as* was his duty, took care above all 
 things to choose the most fitting moment to begin the impor- 
 tant inquiry which he had to hold 
 
 He judged rightly that the presence of two of Her Majesty's 
 ships would be a powerful obstacle to the discharge of his 
 commission ; he, consequently, deferred the beginning of the 
 inquiry in order not to prejudice the interests of justice,, to 
 which it was his primary duty to attend, and he neither could 
 nor should sacrifice them to any other considerations. 
 
 The Chief of Police did not know, nor had he to inquire, 
 if the English ships were remaining in the harbour only to 
 take Captain Saumarez back to the River Plate, and he was 
 also ignorant of the absolute impossibility of that Captain's 
 return to his port in any other way. 
 
 It is regrettable that Captain Saumarez could not wait for 
 the opening of the inquiry, but certainly there is nothing to 
 cause surprise in the conduct of the Brazilian authorities in 
 not having hurried it against the conveniences of justice, and 
 only attending to that circumstance, since it is known that 
 permission was given with difficuljy to Captain Saumarez to 
 assist at the inquiry as a simple private person. 
 
176 
 
 If Captain Saumarez could not reconcile his duties as an 
 officer in the British navy with the position of a private 
 person, which he spontaneously accepted, in order to attend 
 the inquiry which was to' be held, — if the two positions were 
 incompatible, the responsibility certainly does not fall on the 
 Brazilian authorities, on whom no blame can rest for . not 
 having paid attention to Captain Saumarez's official character, 
 for,, as must be repeated, that character ceased to exist for the 
 especial case in question 
 
 Mr. Christie, in spite of what I . said in my note of the 
 16th, cannot understand that a threat could be seen in the 
 presence of the two small vessels which took Captain Sau- 
 marez, or that legitimate' patriotism could be thereby diverted 
 to the shelter of criminals whose impunity 'would be the 
 shame of Brazil. 
 
 Mr. Christie hoped, on the contrary, that I should treat the 
 idea of menace as M. Sayao Lobato treated it in the Chamber 
 of Deputies, i.e., not admitting as possible that a single gun- 
 boat could frighten and alarm the spirited Province of Kio 
 Grande. 
 
 ,. Mr. Christie adds,, still referring to this point, that on the 
 17th of March last he wrote at the same time to the Admiral 
 at Monte Video, requesting him to send an officer of the 
 English squadron to Eio Grande, and to . my predecessor 
 Senhor Taques, offering the cooperation of that officer with 
 the Brazilian authorities if; they wished to accept it. 
 . And asking if it is not siyrange that the President of the 
 Province was not informed of the probable visit of the 
 English officer, Mr. Christie says that Senhor Taques ought 
 to explain why he did not hasten to warn the President of the 
 said occurrence in order that the latter might in time prepare 
 the sensitive minds of the Eio Grandenses, thus avoiding ,the 
 consequences of an exaggerated susceptibility. 
 
 It is extremely disagreeable to me to differ fr6m the 
 opinions of Mr. Christie, for whom I have great respect and 
 esteem, but I confess to him that I must continue to insist 
 that the smallest indication is sufficient to represent all the 
 prestige and all the greatness of a nation, above all in cir- 
 cumstances such as those, in which the two English ships of 
 war appeared at Bio Grande. 
 
 Certainly the population of Eio Grande, as Senhor Sayao 
 Lobato said in the Chamber of Deputies, would not allow 
 itself to be intimidated by the material force of one or more 
 
177 
 
 gun-boats, nor do I remember having written such a propo-< 
 sition in the correspondence I have exchanged with Mr. 
 Christie. "What I said was, the population was indignant, 
 the national pride was aroused because those .vessels carried 
 the flag of a powerful nation, and brought an officer, to 
 whom was attributed the pretension of interfering in the acts 
 of justice of the country. And in fact, what was the object 
 of the presence of the vessels and the officer? Assuredly 
 the small number of persons who composed the crews could 
 not give appreciable, help to the Justice of the province, who 
 was again not in need of it. It is, then, natural that the 
 population should imagine that the object of the appearance 
 of the vessels was to show forth the prestige and influence 
 of the country they represented. 
 
 It would be difficult, if not impossible, to get a different 
 view taken by the popular masses, and supposing even that 
 the Imperial Government only wished to see in the offer 
 mentioned a sincere desire on the part of Her Britannic 
 Majesty's Government to cooperate with it in discovering 
 the truth, it is certain that the acceptance of such an offer 
 in the public opinion, and even in that of foreigners, would 
 imply at least a confession of impotence or weakness. 
 
 Does Mr. Christie consider as exaggerated jealousy the re- 
 pugnance which is inspired, in a people by the intervention 
 of a foreign Government in acts which are of the exclusive 
 ■competency of the national sovereignty? 
 
 Without doubt it is unreasonable to pretend that an offence 
 to patriotism ought to render a people inhuman and unjust, 
 though it has happened even amongst the most civilized 
 nations. But it cannot be contested that among all nations 
 any one act, however just, performed under foreign pressure, 
 has always been considered by the common people as a 
 proof of weakness and cowardice. 
 
 In fact Mr. Christie, on the same day on which he offered 
 to. the Brazilian Government the cooperation of an officer- of 
 the English squadron* requested the English Admiral at Monte 
 Video to send such an officer, which was done before' the 
 Imperial Government had answered Mr. Christie's offer. 
 In the meantime Mr. Christie- expresses surprise that Captain 
 Saumarez had time to reach Porto Alegre without my predeces- 
 sor having informed thePresident of the Province of the visit 
 
 Would not surprise, perhaps, be more justifiable on my 
 side, observing that Mr. Christie, at the same time that he 
 
 N 
 
178 
 
 sa-w fit to consult the Imperial Government, sent orders for 
 the immediate arrival of the officer 1 
 
 Would it not be natural in such a case to ask why Mr. 
 Christie consulted it, while without an answer he proceeded 
 definitively as if an answer was not important. 
 
 And if by chance, as the Government had the right to 
 expect, Mr. Christie. had waited for the answer from my pre- 
 decessor, -would not all these inconveniences have been avoided 
 which have resulted from Mr. Christie's resolution, since 
 my predecessor formally and expressly declined the offer in 
 question 1 
 
 Continuing his observations, Mr. Christie expresses his 
 satisfaction^ at learning that Senhor Taques had' sent on the 
 10th of August instructions to the President of Bio Grande 
 do Sul, of which those sent after Mr: Baillie's note "were a 
 mere repetition, but at the same time he declares that he is 
 not convinced that the instructions which my predecessor 
 states were sent before the- receipt of the note of the British 
 Legation of the 17th March were not sent after that note. 
 
 I ought not to be astonished that Mr. Christie is governed 
 by the idea that nothing would have been done without the 
 pressure of the British ' Legation, and the laudable zeal and 
 activity of the English Consul; because, . says Mr. Christie, 
 it is- only after fourteen months that the dismissal of two 
 functionaries, the imprisonment of eleven more criminals, and 
 the steps taken to capture others, -have been communicated 
 to him. 
 
 Observing that four months ago Senhor Taques stated that 
 only one person had been taken, that the local authorities 
 had done their dutyi and observing, moreover, that in the 
 Eeport presented to the Legislative .Chamber, my predecessor 
 highly praised the President for his proceedings, Mr. Christie 
 asks what such eulogies can be worth after the tardy commu- 
 nications of my note of the 16th ultimo. 
 
 In order to give a suitable answer to these considerations, 
 it is necessary to divide them into two classes which compre- 
 hend them ; one of which refers to the Imperial Government, 
 the other to the authorities subordinate to that Government. 
 
 Mr. Christie cannot but recognize that the Government of 
 an independent country owes to itself the exercise, of "justice 
 on its own soil. It is an always admitted principle as a base 
 of all disoussion, especially among nations which respect one 
 another. 
 
179 
 
 In the meantime, Mr. Christie not only appears to deny 
 such a principle, but, what is more;, addressing himself to the 
 Imperial Government itself he says, with notable frankness, 
 that, "if anything has been done in this question, it is owing 
 to the instances of the Legation and even of the English 
 Consul r 
 
 Leaving what there is of bitter and unjust in this propo- 
 sition, let us examine what are the reasons on which Mr. 
 Christie bases his opinion. Already in his note of the 14th 
 ultimo, Mr. Christie insinuated that all the steps taken by 
 the Imperial Government in this business had resulted from 
 the instances of the British Legation. 
 
 "Without doubt, it would sumce'to reply that the Imperial 
 Government, knowing itself and its high duties, has pro- 
 ceeded as it is " accustomed to proceed in similar emergencies ; 
 that is, with all zeaL care, and solicitude to discover the truth 
 and to do justice, there being no right to demand from it 
 what is impossible. 
 
 Notwithstanding, out of deference to. Her Britannic 
 Majesty's Government, I enumerated in my note of the 16th 
 ultimo all the despatches sent by this Department to the 
 President of the Province, from the 10th of August, 1861, to. 
 the 1st of July last • thus rendering clear and incontestable 
 that the action of the Government had been as zealous and 
 active as it was spontaneous, and independent of any urging 
 from Her Britannic Majesty's Legation. 
 
 There was reason to hope that so complete and so positive 
 a declaration would have convinced Mr. Christie that his 
 supposition was ungrounded. It cannot but cause surprise, 
 however, that since this Mr. Christie even more openly 
 persists in declaring that he continues to think that the 
 Government would have done nothing without the pressure 
 of the Legation and of Mr. Vereker ! 
 
 As I cannot doubt the sincerity of Mr. Christie's objec- 
 tions, I will prosecute my endeavours to remove them, repeat- 
 ing that by my note of the 16th ultimo documents were 
 cited which prove completely the unreasonableness of his 
 assertion, arid adding that the only notes from the British 
 Legationffetae^ved at this office are those of the 26th" of 
 Octobes/1861, and the 17th of March, 1862, which were at 
 fittin^fiSfte communicated to the President of the Province ; 
 but that,besides these communications, the Imperial Govern- 
 ment sent to that President the despatches of the 1 0th of 
 
 N 2 
 
180 
 
 August, the 26th of December, the 22nd and 30th of April, 
 the 11th of May, the 14th of June, and the 1st of last July, 
 all freely and spontaneously, without any solicitation or 
 demand on the part of the British Legation. 
 
 In one point only has Mr. Christie the goodness -to yield to 
 evidence, recognising that with the despatch of the 10th of 
 August the Imperial Government had taken the initiative in 
 this business, before receiving Mr: Barllie's note ; but, on 
 the other hand, he states equally that he is not convinced 
 that the instructions which" my predecessor Senhor Taquess 
 states to have been .sent before the note of the British 
 Legation of the 17th- of March, were other than those 
 given after receipt of that note ; and Mr. Christie expresses, 
 himself thus at the same time as he receives communica=- 
 tion of the contents of the < important despatch of tie 26th 
 of December, already mentioned, in the note from this Depart- 
 ment of the 19th of April. 
 
 Such incredulity on Mr. Christie's part leaves no hope- of 
 convincing him by giving him a copy of the said despatch 
 of the 26th December, seeing, that its authenticity might also 
 be denied. Thus far as to- Mr- Christie'^ considerations about 
 the Imperial Government. As to what refers to the pro- 
 ceedings of the local authorities, I will begin by telling Mr. 
 Christie, before everything, that in my note of the 16th there 
 is no expression from which blame of their proceedings can 
 be inferred • and the truth is, that the. President had in this 
 question behaved with all possible zeal, activity, and justice. 
 Nov do the repeated despatches addressed to him by the 
 Imperial Government prove this functionary guilty of neglect 
 in the discharge of his duties, as Mr. Christie appears to 
 argue. 
 
 In the midst of the great difficulties with which he had 
 to struggle, he used always on his side all possible endeavours, 
 never failing to inform the Government in time of the results 
 obtained; which did not prevent the Government, as it 
 received this information, from earnestly recommending-him 
 to prosecute the inquiries diligently, so «s to arrive as quickly 
 as possible at a knowledge of the truth, authorising the 
 President to use all resources, including pecuniary. It would 
 also be unjust to deny that the Chief of Police, in the dis- 
 charge of 'his obligations, showed zeal, care, and activity, by 
 no means common ; the Municipal Judge and .the Justice of 
 the Peace also behaved properly. 
 
181 
 
 The only fact on the part of the provincial authorities 
 which can deserve censure is the delay in the Inspector of 
 the District of Albardao, in reporting the shipwreck to the 
 Sub-Delegate ; a delay which still did not exceed two days, 
 since the accident happened on the 9th, and the communi- 
 cation was made on the 11th of June, 1861. 
 
 In the meanwhile, notwithstanding the alightness of the 
 offence, which it must be admitted had no influence on the 
 results, the Inspector and Sub-Delegate were dismissed; 
 nafc as guilty, but the first for having made the above-men- 
 tioned omission, and the latter for having, in consequence of 
 accusations brought against him, lost the' prestige which 
 ought to belong to the authorities. 
 
 Such dismissals caused, as is said, by faults of Slight im- 
 portance, prove the zeal with which both the General 
 Government, the President, and the Chief of Police have 
 proceeded in the difficult and grave affair in question. . 
 
 In answer to Mr. Christie's last observation on this topic, — 
 that in which he asks me why inquiries were not instituted 
 sooner, — I am obliged to repeat what I have' already often 
 said, namely, that Albardao is a desert inhospitable coast, 
 from which culprits can very easily 'escape to -the 'neigh- 
 bouring territory. 
 
 Shall I need to prove to Mr. Christie, clear-sighted and 
 enlightened as he is, the difficulties which of. necessity 
 opposed themselves to the prompt carrying out of an inquiry 
 in such a place as that, and in such circumstances ? 
 
 A calm and impartial appreciation of the difficulties could 
 not fail to produce the conviction that fourteen months was 
 not too long a time to arriye at the result which has been 
 attained. 
 
 Whatever may be thought, it is positive and incontroverti- 
 ble that neither the- Imperial Government nor the local 
 authorities spared either trouble or sacrifices to fulfil their 
 duty ; all whieh appears from the documents of the proceed- 
 ings. 
 
 -. Mr. Christie says that grave suspicions of connivance have 
 fallen on the » Justice of the" Peace, Bento Venancio Soares. 
 Senhor Taques, in his note of the 19th of April, says such 
 suspicions ' are unfounded ; but as he said the same with 
 regard to the two functionaries who have been dismissed, the 
 assertion has not much value : and Mr. Christie concludes 
 
182 
 
 that the Imperial Government are hound, either to prove. fee , 
 innocenee of Senhor Soares, or to dismiss him. 
 
 Mr. Christie will allow me to contest hi& right to dis- 
 credit with such great facility the assertions of Senhor Taquea, 
 without exhibiting the reasons from which he derives this 
 right. , - / t 
 
 From what I have explained above, it is seen that jail that 
 Senhor Taques stated with respect to the subaltern authorities 
 is the^pure truth. If Mr. Christie's memory had helped him, 
 he would doubtless remember what 'Senhor Taques said ahgj$ 
 the subaltern, authorities in his note of the 1.9th April,.; 
 that is, in the meanwhile, if culpable neglect on. the part of 
 these functionaries is recognized, the ,-Preside.nt of the Pro? 
 vince will take; the necessary steps that such a proceeding 
 may riot remain, without due 'censure. >« '«., 
 
 In these words Senhor Taques told Mr. Christie that, up to 
 the momenVof his writing, he had no reason to believe that 
 there was .culpable nfeigligenef . on the part of the subaltern- 
 authorities ; but that.\^,j^^be/'iis§pqJ6S which were, to be 
 held, such negligence was. ¥ pr,ave4 the parties would certainly 
 not remain unpunished. . 
 
 Instructions being sent in this sense to the President- of 
 the Province of Rio Grande, he, in the fulfilment of them, 
 ascertained that the Inspector had -been negligent, delaying 
 one or two days "the communication of the event to, the com- 
 petent authoritfean&that the Sub-Delegate, from accusations 
 (unfounded) had lost the prestige necessax^to the fulfilment 
 of his duties. Consequently both were dismissed, not for 
 culpable neglect; which would have had to he punished by 
 legal means, but the first for simple. negligence of the short 
 delay in announcing the event, 'from which neglect no pre- 
 judice or harm arose to the action q£ justice, and the, second, 
 for not possessing moral strength enough for his charge. 
 
 Thus, there was no culpable neglect ; and as to the Justice 
 of the Peace, the fact of his not having been convicted of the 
 connivance attributed to him by Mr. Verekqr, ought neces- 
 sarily to. exempt, him from all and every, censure. Prom 
 whence it may be inferred, also, "that there, ia no reason, in 
 the only argument which Mr. Christie has brought forward 
 to prove that the said Justice of the Peace should he dis- 
 missed, or that the .Government should prove, his innocenee. 
 It is not only a question of robbeay, says Mr. Christie/; there 
 
183 
 
 are grave suspicions of murder. In his noteof the 19th of 
 April, and the Eelatorio of this year, Senhor Taques said 
 nothing justified these suspicions,; but as his -Excellency 
 asserted other things now admitted to be inexact, -what he 
 says on this subject merits . little credence ; and alluding to 
 the declaration which I made, that, as to the suspicions of 
 murder, the Imperial "Government had a quiet conscience, 
 Mr. Christie says that mere assertions are riot proofs, and 
 asks whether, two functionaries having been dismissed for 
 culpable negligence, that negligence would not give oppor- 
 tunity for the assassination of some of the unfortunate shipr 
 wrecked persons. 
 
 I think that what I have said in answer to the preceding 
 observation's of Mr. Christie is more than enough to prove 
 the groundlessness of his reasoning as to the little faith to be 
 placed in* Senhor Taques's assertions,. 
 
 The new argument produced by Mr. Christie, that mere 
 assertions are not proofs, .certainly tells "more, in favour of 
 the Imperial Government than of Mr. Christie, since the 
 accuser always has to furnish proof of the crime of the 
 accused, and not the latter to prove his innocence, especially 
 when nobody knows on what the accusation is founded. 
 The two functionaries, I repeat, were not dismissed for cul- 
 pable neglect ; and to pretend that assassinations were com- 
 mitted in the short interval between the wreck and the 
 announcement of it to the Sub-Delegate, cannot go beyond 
 a vague conjecture, which affords no point of departure far 
 discovering the truth. 
 
 Mr. Christie's arguments being, thus answered, let us 
 inquire how the Brazilian authorities proceeded with regard 
 to the presumed murders. 
 
 Such a suspicion had its birth in Mr. Vereker's mind, 
 who conceived it, as he declared, in consequence of public 
 rumours. ' "' 
 
 In various communications, among others in that of June 
 the 20th, he gave the reasons on which he based his idea that 
 some of the wreeked persons had been murdered. This, 
 however, did not prevent him, on the 22nd of April, from 
 writing the following words to the Provincial Chief of 
 Police : — " Let me* observe that it is fthjust to attribute to 
 me especially the suspicion that some persons belonging to 
 the barque were murdered, as not only I never expressed 
 such an opinion in my despatches," but I believe that such 
 
184 
 
 suspicions were entertained by persona who had knowledge 
 of the circumstances." 
 
 The authorities did not on this account cease from re- 
 peated inquiries. Not only all persons dwelling at Albardao 
 were heard,- hut also persons living near the. scene of the 
 wreck, and, again, others who appeared there on the occasion. 
 
 The Inspector of the Custom-house and the adjutant of 
 the chief-officer were also examined, and they all without 
 discrepancy denied the existence of murder. 
 
 In order not to render too tedious to Mr. Christie this note, 
 already too long, I abstain from transcribing here passages 
 from' several despatches from the President £>f the Province 
 and the Chief of Police relative to this part of the question. 
 But calling Mr ? Christie's attention to the enclosed copies, I 
 will venture to ask if it was possible to do more with a 
 view of satisfying. vague, suspicions, and if I have not abun- 
 dant reason to declare that the Government has a quiet con- 
 science in this respect. 
 
 Mr. Christie observes that the British Government claimed 
 an indemnity, and that Senhor Taques replied that, the- autho- 
 rities having done their duty, the Government could not be 
 responsible for the acts ot the people. In the meantime, two 
 functionaries having been dismissed for culpable negligence> 
 it appears to Mr. Christie impossible for the Imperial 
 Government to refuse the claimed indemnity. 
 
 There does not exist the connexion which Mr. Christie has 
 discovered between the first and second parts of the above- 
 mentioned statements of Senhor Taques. Mr. Christie, on 
 reflection, will see doubtless that they form two distinct 
 propositions expressing different ideas. ' 
 
 Senhor Taques states, first, that a Government is not re- 
 sponsible for acts committed without its cooperation or sug- 
 gestion by its subjects against foreigners ; secondly, that the 
 duties of a Government do not go beyond-the employment of 
 the means in its power for learning the- truth and for punish- 
 ing the guilty. 
 
 Now, Mr. Christie not being able to suppose that there 
 was any cooperation or suggestion on -the part of the Govern- 
 ment to cause what has happened at Albardao, or to deny - 
 that the Government employed all possible means to discover 
 and punish the persons who committed those acts, it is plain 
 that the above-mentioned allegations of Senhor Taques do« 
 not establish the responsibility Mr. ' Christie, wishes to attri- 
 
185 
 
 but* to the Imperial Government. The two functionaries 
 were not dismissed, as alleged by Mr. Christie, for culpable 
 negligence. The dismissal of the first arose frqm a slight 
 fault, as has already been said, /which has had no influence 
 in the question ; that of the second was counselled by. the 
 convenience of not retaining the functionary who had lost 
 influence. 
 
 It is, then, incontestable that from the dismissal "of very 
 subordinate functionaries, caused as, I have explained, Mr. 
 Christie eannot justly conclude that the Imperial Government 
 is responsible or obliged to give any indemnity which the 
 British Legation may please to claim ; the more so when it 
 can be asserted, as I assert, that all the superior authorities 
 of the province have, fulfilled, and are fulfilling satisfactorily, 
 their duties in this distressing question. 
 
 Mr. Christie, further declares that the British Government, 
 little satisfied with the information hitherto obtained, con- 
 tinues to hold the Imperial Government responsible for, the 
 complete clearing up of the "facts and execution of justice. 
 
 Being ignorant of the dismissal, of the two functioM^ies, 
 and only knowing the praise awarded them by Senhor Taques, 
 the British Government instructed Mr. Christie to declare. to 
 the Imperial Government that the crime committed does little 
 credit to Brazilian civilization, and that it hoped that the 
 Government would do all in its power to save the honour of 
 Brazil, awarding an indemnity to the sufferers. 
 
 Mr. Christie, without partiality,, cannot but recognise that 
 the Imperial Government has taken every possible step and 
 measure to clear up the facts minutely, and continues to 
 prosecute the criminals, so that they may be punished as 
 they deserve. 
 
 The Imperial Government claims to. have done as much as 
 is incumbent on any government, which respects sentiments 
 of justice and humanity ; it cannot, therefore, accept Earl 
 Eussell's observations,. 
 
 Mr. Christie says, in conclusion, that the British Govern- 
 ment takes the greatest interest in this question. He hopes 
 that, the trial of the prisoners will be followed up, as well 
 as that steps will be taken for the capture of the fugitives. 
 He- hopes that a satisfactory answer will be given respecting 
 the Justice of the Peace and the suspicions of assassination, 
 and he also hopes for an explanation of, the delay of twelve 
 months in the action of .justice. 
 
186 
 
 And Mr. Christie trusts that, notwithstanding- my com- 
 parative indifference as to the knowledge and appreciation by 
 the British Government of the acts of the Government of the 
 Emperor, I shall judge it proper to give early information on 
 all important incidents in the development of the question. 
 
 I shall answer this last topic of- Mr. Christie's note by as- 
 suring him that the trial will continue, as also the steps for 
 the capture of the fugitives. 
 
 As to the delay in the action of justice, the suspicion of 
 assassination, and the conduct of the Justice of the Peace, 
 nothing remains for me to add to what T have already said, 
 not being able even to fix with certainty a period at which 
 it will be possible to attain the discovery of the residences, 
 and. the Gapture of the fugitives. * 
 
 'Finally, I assure Mr. Christie that the Imperial Government 
 will have much pleasure in communicating to him all that 
 takes place of importance, giving him any information which 
 he wants and which the Government possesses, in order that 
 not the slightest doubt ; may remain either as to the prudence, 
 acti^y, and zeal of the Imperial Government in so grave an 
 affair, or as to the employment of all possible means for 
 arriving at the truth. 
 
 I avail, &c. 
 (Signed) . MAEQUIS OF ABKANTES. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 58. 
 Mr. Christie to the Marquis of Abr antes. 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, September 18, 1862. 
 
 M. le Marquis, 
 
 I have had the honour of receiving your Excellency's 
 reply," ■ dated the 6th instant, to my note of the 22nd 
 ultimo, on the subject- of the wreck of the "Prince of 
 Wales." 
 
 I regret to learn that I had mistakenly attributed greater 
 results to the second investigation, instituted after the receipt 
 of my note to Senhor Taques of March 17, than' have really 
 ensued ; and I now understand that instead of eleven more 
 individuals having been imprisoned on Suspicion of plunder, 
 and some others beyond the number eleven being sought for 
 in Monte Videan territory, as I had erroneously inferred from 
 
187 
 
 your, Excellency's last mote, the eleven spoken of include the 
 one previously imprisoned, two previously aeeused, who had 
 escaped into Monte Videan territory, and- all others who are 
 being there sought for, and that the fact is that only eleven 
 in all now stand accused of plundering, of whom only one, 
 the man at first taken, is in prison. * 
 
 The latter inquiry has, however, led to accusations against 
 eight more individuals.- The satisfaction with which Her 
 Majesty's Government -Would hear of any new proceedings or 
 discoveries would always be mingled with regret that more 
 effectual measures were not earlier, or indeed immediately 
 taken, and, the smaller the new results the greater will be that 
 regret. *.-,?■ . lT 
 
 I cannot adopt your Excellency's opinion that the distance 
 and. isolation of Albardao, its " desert and inhospitable coast," 
 and the facility of escape from thence to the Monte Videan 
 territory, furnish much good excuse for the Brazilian autho- 
 rities, still less that they justify a delay of fourteen months ; 
 for Albardao can be reached in eighteen hours from Eio 
 •Grande do Sul, the greater the facility for escape the -more 
 necessary is prompt action to prevent it, and your Excellency 
 expresses your satisfaction at the sufficiency of the adminis- 
 tration' of the police of the Province, and even shows resent- 
 ment at the offer, made in good faith,' of the cooperation of a 
 British naval officer in the inquiries which, notwithstanding 
 the good organization of the. police of the Province, you repre- 
 sent as attended with overpowering difficulties. 
 
 In your note of the 16th ultimo* your Excellency, referring 
 to my inquiry about the reported dismissal of two function- 
 aries, and not quoting my words, speaks of "the dismissal of 
 the Sub-Delegate D, F. Goncalves and the Inspector P. J. 
 d'Ohveira, who proceeded in the ^discharge of $heir duties- 
 with culpable negligence." There is not one word in the'rest 
 of the. note denying that culpable negligence was the cause of 
 their dismissal. I cqnsider myself amply justified, in having 
 understood that your Excellency admitted that these two 
 persons had.been dismissed for culpable neglect of duty ; and 
 I cannot acknowledge the correctness of your present state- 
 ment, that you did not speak in that note of culpable 
 negligence. 
 
 Her Majesty's Government, however, will now learn, not I 
 think without regret, that your Excellency asserts that -these 
 two functionaries have not been dismissed for culpable neglect 
 
188 
 
 of duty, but that -one of them has been dismissed for a delay 
 in giving information about the wreck, which is regarded as 
 a trivial fault, and the other in consequence of some charges 
 made against him, the nature of which you .do not explain, 
 which may or may not be connected with the wreck, which 
 you say are without foundation, but which are thought to have 
 affected. his usefulness and influence in what you represent as 
 a very subordinate post. 
 
 With every desire to be convinced by your Excellency, I 
 am sorry that your explanations have not reconciled the dis- 
 crepancy between two statements in your note of the 16th of 
 August, in answer to my expression of regret that you had 
 not given me on an earlier occasion some additional informa- 
 tion ; one of these. statements being* "It was not possible for 
 me to. tell you more than was officially known to the Imperial 
 Government," and the other; " I will tell Mr. Christie frankly, 
 that the Imperial Government knowing itself, and more eager 
 to fulfil its important obligations and attend to the claims of 
 justice than to obtain the good opinion of any Government, 
 however much it may respect or desire , to merit it, has pre- 
 ferred to devote itself to the employment of the proper means 
 for arriving at the whole truth of the case, waiting to an- 
 nounce at one and the same time to Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment the final' result, of what had been done. This is why I 
 did not include in my last note either the circumstance of the 
 dismissal of the Sub-Delegate and Inspector, or the proofs 
 collected against various individuals implicated in the crime 
 of plunder." 
 
 I am also sorry to say of your Excellency's further expla- 
 nations about the conduct of the Chief of Police towards 
 Captain Saumarez, that they do- not in the least alter my 
 opinion. Though Captain Saumaretfwas to attend^ the pro- 
 mised inquiry unofficially, he did not cease to be a Captain of 
 Her Majesty's Navy, and Flag-Capfcain of the Admiral com- 
 manding on this station. The Chief, of Police knew that he 
 was waiting to attend the inquiry, and if he wished to post- 
 pone it till the man-of-war which brought Captain Saumarez 
 went away, common sense might have suggested to him, as 
 common courtesy required him, to say so to Captain* Sau- 
 marez. This officer might then, perhaps, have sent the vessels 
 away, ordering them to return for him later. 
 
 Your Excellency finds fault with me for having^ written to 
 the English Admiral to request him to send a naval officer 
 
189 
 
 and a man-of-war to Rid Grande do Sul on the same day on 
 ■which I wrote to Senhor Taques to consult him on the sub^ 
 ject, and you think it extraordinary that I did not wait' 
 for the reply of Senhor Taques. Your Excellency has 
 here made a mistake. I did not consult Senhor Taques. 
 I informed him that I wrote to the Admiral to request 
 him to send a naval .officer to aid . and advise our Con- 
 sul, and I offered his assistance to the Brazilian Government 
 if they chose to accept it. I could not think it necessary to 
 consult Senhor Taques about the sending of a British naval 
 officer to Bio Grande to communicate with our Consul, or 
 about the visit -Of a British man-of-war to a Brazilian port. 
 
 Her Majesty's Government are yet far from being convinced 
 of the spontaneousness and promptitude which Senhor Taques 
 and your Excellency agree- to claim for the proceedings of 
 the Imperial Government in this, distressing 'question. I am 
 aware that your Excellency, in your. note of the 16th ultimo, 
 stated the purport of a despatch of Senhor Taques to the 
 President of the Province, of the 26th of December, and 
 enumerated the -dates of several communications from the 
 Government at Bio to the Presiderit of Bio Grande. These 
 dates are again enumerated in your Excellency's last note, 
 with the declaration that all the despatches so dated were 
 sent " quite freely and spontaneously, without any solicitation 
 or demand from the British Legation." "Will your Excellency 
 permit me to remind you. that besides Mr. Vereker's perse- 
 vering efforts and the notes of this, Legation, strong instances 
 have been verbally made to your Excellency and your pre- 
 decessor, and the. late ^Minister of Justice? All ihe corre- 
 spondence, of the Bio Government and the local authorities, 
 if -not before made known in extenso to Her Majesty's 
 Government, will, I presume, according to custom, be' pub- 
 lished in a future Relatorio. Should it appear, from a perusal 
 of the whole correspondence and a general review of all the 
 proceedings, that any injustice has been done to the Imperial 
 Government; your Excellency may feel assured that it will be 
 eagerly acknowledged. 
 
 I was quite aware that Senhor Taques had used, in his note 
 of the 19th of April, the words which you quote, and which 
 are to the effect that if any culpable negligence were dis- 
 covered in the conduct of the Sub-Delegate of Tahim and the 
 Inspector of .the District, the President of the Province would 
 not fail to give suitable censure. But Senhor TaqueS, in the 
 
190 
 
 same note, made the following statements, which you do not 
 cite : — 
 
 " From the information which the Undersigned has alluded 
 to, it does not result that .the Inspector of the district-^-who 
 it may be observed in passing is not an authority; but a mere 
 agent of authority — who lived at a distance of 6ix leagues 
 from the spot, or the Sub-Delegate of Tahim, who lived at 
 the same or even greater distance, 'was blameable for what 
 happened." " The Undersigned- does not understand why 
 the Consul blames -the Justice of the Peace of the district for 
 not having immediately given knowledge of the fact to the 
 superior authorities. The proper functionary for this purpose 
 was the Sub-Delegate, and he did his duty." 
 
 "The local authorities did their duty as far as was per- 
 mitted by the distances and difficulties which prevented their 
 proceeding more quickly. The Undersigned will observe to 
 Mr. Christie that there can be no doubt that the authorities 
 took on the occasion all possible measures, though they may 
 have arrived later than was ,to be wished." 
 
 These are the statements on which I founded my assertion, 
 that Senhor Taques had, four months ago, not only seen no 
 blame in any one, but had praised all the authorities. I 
 admit, however, that the contrast between the two late 
 dismissals and the statements of Senhor Taques, is much 
 diminished by your Excellency's explanation, that the two 
 functionaries in question have been dismissed without having 
 been guilty, of culpable negligence. 
 
 "With regard to the Justice of the Peace, your Excellency 
 follows the example of Senhor Taques, -makes no attempt to 
 explain the suspicious circumstances in his case, confines 
 yourself to mere strong assertion, and says that " the mere' 
 fact of not being convinced of the connivance attributed by 
 Mr. Vereker, should necessarily exempt the Justice of the 
 Peace from .all and any suspicion." It becomes necessary for 
 me to state to you fully the reasons why strong suspicion has 
 fallen on Senhor Soares. The wreck probably 'took place on 
 the - 8th or 9th of June, your Excellenoy-Sayia -ihe'> 9th. * It is 
 certain that on the 9th the fact of the wreck w«8 known where 
 Senhor Soares lives. A boy belonging to'*- fee hous%* of 
 Senhor Soares saw the shore strewed early on the'" morning 
 of the 9th, and immediately reported it. News of thie? wreck 
 was received' by the Delegate of Police at Bio GrantiVon 
 the 14th ; and there had been, according to your Excel- 
 
191 
 
 lency's admission, an unnecessary, though not culpable, delay 
 of two days in the transmission of this intelligence. Senhor 
 Soares had arrived at Rio Grande on the 12th, mentioned 
 casually that he had heard a rumour that some bodies had 
 been washed ashore, near his house, on being questioned 
 denied all knowledge of a wreck, and immediately left Rio 
 Grande for Pelotas, where he stayed some days out of the 
 way. Mr. Yereker, when he arrived at. the spot on the 1 6th, 
 found in the house of Senhor Soares two new English Bibles 
 in perfect, condition, which had been taken out of cases 
 washed on shore. Mr. Vereker also saw in his house two 
 cases belonging to the " Prince of Wales," empty, but dry, 
 and in perfect order, which were identified by the marks as 
 cases which had contained fine manufactured goods, none of 
 which have been produced Senhor Soares is the leading 
 man of that locality ; most of the surrounding population are 
 his relatives, compadres, or dependents, and goods were found 
 in the houses of a number of his retainers. The ex-Inspector 
 of the district, Faustino, is his* son-in-law ; his; wife, the 
 daughter of- Soares, was in her father's house when Mr. 
 Vereker visited the spot. Mr. Vereker has thus described 
 his reception at his house : — " We were unwillingly received, 
 though we offered to pay for everything. The daughter of 
 Senhor Soares, Faustino's wife, was the only person to .act ; 
 she was excessively fearful and suspicious, and above all, 
 hearing that I was the English Consul, she seemed incom- 
 moded. That night we remained without refreshment, being 
 " mest grudgingly admitted to shelter.'and not -receiving food" 
 either for. ourselves or horses, a few biscuits, which ^l had 
 happily carried in my saddle-bag, being the principal suppqrt 
 of the party." 
 
 Your Excellency and your predecessor have made much of 
 the difficulties in the way of collecting evidence and appre- 
 hending criminals in that locality ; and Mr. Consul Vereker 
 has stated his conviction, that unless Senhor Soares, who is 
 powerful in the district, were first disgraced, there was little 
 qhance of obtaining information. 
 
 These are among the grounds on which Senhor Soares is 
 suspected of connivance at the crimes, of Albardao. Your 
 Excellency will, I think, admit that . something more than 
 "bare denial may fairly be expected from the Imperial Govern- 
 ment When the Sub-Delegate and Inspector nave been dis- 
 missed, one for a trivial harmless fault, and the other on 
 
192 
 
 account of unjust accusations, which hare impaired his use- 
 fulness, I cannot understand how this Justice of the Peace 
 should escape punishment. 
 
 On the subject of the suspected assassinations, your Excel- 
 ceucy has now, for the first time, furnished me with some 
 reasonings and statements in support of your strongly ex- 
 pressed contrary conviction. Your note will be communi- 
 cated by the first opportunity to Her Majesty's Government, 
 who will judge whether, under all the circumstances of this 
 case, it can be considered proved that no murder was com- 
 mitted, or whether the conscience of the. Imperial Govern- 
 ment has not been too easily tranquillized I am bound to 
 say that, with the information which I have obtained from 
 Her Majesty's Consul, Captain Saumarez, and others, I can- 
 not admit the correctness of the statement that the public 
 voice has never charged murder, and you will excuse me if I 
 do not attach the same importance as yourself to the asser- 
 tions in this matter of the inhabitants of Albardao and the 
 neighbourhood, who are interested, witnesses, or of the In- 
 spector o£*Oustoms and adjutant of the guard, who can know 
 no more than Mr. Verekeror any one one else who was not 
 on the shore when the wreck took place. 
 
 I avail, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D. CHEISTIE.' 
 
 Enclosure 3 in No. 58. 
 
 Extracts from the Reports of the President and Chief of Police 
 ' of the Province of San Pedro, Rio Grande do Sul. 
 
 Report of the President of April 10. — " All the bodies did 
 not disappear. Four of them were transported to Eio Grande, 
 and being there examined by Dr. Jose" de Pontes Iranca, he 
 declared that the cause of death was asphyxia, from drown- 
 ing. It appears an extraordinary thing to the Consul that 
 the bodies of the. other shipwrecked people were not found ; 
 but it is very possible that the place of their graves- had been 
 lost. Everybody knows that the whole coast from. Torres to 
 Castillas (in the Oriental State) is composed of loose sand, 
 which the wind blows about every day, raising in one hour 
 very high sand-heaps, which the next are moved to another 
 spot." 
 
193 
 
 Chief of Police, April 13. — "The Consul's, supposition that 
 some of the shipwrecked people were the victims of assassina- 
 tion is unfounded, as the inquest held on the bodies shows 
 nothing to corroborate such a suspicion. On the contrary, it 
 is recognized that the shipwrecked people died from asphyxia 
 from "drowning. The public voice has neither at the time of 
 the shipwreck nor now made mention of such a crime. There 
 is not one positive fact." 
 
 The Presidents despatch of May 14.— "With reference to 
 the arguments which the Consul brings forward relative to the 
 fragments of the vessel, cargo, and boats, and the places 
 where the bodies were found, — arguments totally refuted by 
 the captain of frigate Jose" Pereira Pinto, ex-administrator of 
 the bar pilotage of the province, in his document of the '9th 
 May. It was enough for the Consul to reflect on the force of 
 the currents and winds in winter, and also the 'difference of 
 weight between a human body and a case of merchandize or 
 a ship's timber, to understand that it was impossible that 
 they should all come to shore at exactly the same spot. It 
 remains to be observed that the ship went to pieces, that the 
 boat had the same fate, and that, the shipwreck having taken 
 place at about a league from the shore, 'it was very difficult 
 for the crew to survive the tempest." * 
 
 July 21. Charges brought against those accused by the Dele-, 
 gate ofTermo. — " From the inquiries made, it is proved that ten 
 bodies came on shore already eaten by animals, and in a 
 complete state of decomposition,, there not being the slightest 
 suspicion of there being any other cause of their death." 
 
 Enclosure 4 in No. 58. 
 Mr. Christie to Rear-Admiral Warren. 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, September 13, 1862. 
 SlE, 
 I. enclose you a translation of some extracts from reports 
 made to the Brazilian Government from Bio Grande do Sul,* 
 which -have been communicated to me to show that the 
 suspicions of murder of some of the crew of the " Prince of 
 Wales" are without foundation. You are already, I believe, 
 
 •Enclosure 3 in No. 58. 
 
194 
 
 in possession of all the information famished by Mr. Consul 
 Vereker in support of those suspicions. 
 
 There are some points in this question which give special 
 value to the opinion of a naval officer, and I should feel 
 much obliged to you if you would communicate to me your 
 opinion on the question of murder on the evidence now 
 before usj for my guidance and for the information of Earl 
 Bussell. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 
 (Signed) W. D. CHEISTIE 
 
 Enclosure 5 in No. 58. 
 
 Bear-Admiral Warren to Mr. Christie. 
 
 "Forte," Eio de Janeiro, September 23, 1862. 
 
 Sib, 
 
 I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 
 of "the 13th instant, enclosing a translation of some extracts 
 from reports made to the Brazilian Government from Eio 
 Grande do Sul, communicated to you, to show the suspicions 
 entertained of the mufder of some of the crew of the " Prince 
 of Wales" are without foundation, and requesting my opinion 
 on the question of murder on the evidence now before us. 
 
 After a careful perusal of Mr. Vereker's report to the 
 Secretary of the Board of Trade, dated 25th June, 1861, and 
 also of his letter to the Delegate of Police at Rio Grande do 
 Sul, dated 20th June, 1861, I was fully of opinion that Mr. 
 Vereker was justified in his suspicions that the crew of the 
 " Prince of Wales" had been unfairly dealt with, nor do the 
 extracts you now forward to me from the reports of the 
 President and Chief of the Police of the province of St. 
 Pedro Eio Grande do Sul lead me in any way to alter that 
 opinion. 
 
 Heavy gales from east-south-east had visited the coast of 
 Albardao on the 7th of June, 1861 ; on the 9th it is known in 
 the neighbourhood that a wreck had taken place ; and on the 
 1 6th Mr. Vereker arrives at the scene of the disaster, where 
 he finds the ship's long-boat and gig on the beach with the 
 oars in them, and close to them boxes such as merchant 
 seamen keep their clothes -in, broken open and empty, and 
 although several were papered inside, there- is no appearanee 
 
195 
 
 of their having been wet inside. The hull of the vessel he 
 also sees half a league off apparentlyat anchor. 
 
 The question here arises how the boats could have got 
 there without people in them ? It is not possible that had 
 the boats been upset, and washed on shore over the rocks on 
 to the beach, they could have been in the condition described 
 by Mr. Vereker, viz., " with the prow of the long-boat 
 damaged, as if by striking on the sand, and the gig per- 
 fectly sound, and the oars in the boats ;" nor is it likely that 
 both would have come to the same spot. The inference, 
 therefore, is that some of. the crew got on shore in these 
 boats, and it does not appear to me at all improbable that 
 they were afterwards made use of to plunder the wreck, as 
 Mr. Vereker states that on the 16th "the " Prince of Wales" 
 appeared as if at anchor, and that a large portion of the cases 
 and crates on the beach, which were broken- open and plun- 
 dered of their contents, did not seem even wet. 
 
 The ship at that time had evidently not broken up, so it is 
 not likely that so much of the cargo could have been washed 
 out of her, and reached the shore in the condition the empty 
 cages,. (See., were in, when seen by Mr. Vereker. 
 
 "When we also consider the unwillingness shown by the 
 Inspector of the district to point out the spot where the bodies 
 were buried, and which never were pointed out, the Muni- 
 cipal Judge being unable to compel the Inspector to point 
 thein out from, his haying an armed force with him, which, 
 by Mr. Vereker's report, the Judge was evidently in fear of ; 
 I hold, therefore, that we are perfectly justified in coming to 
 the conclusion that it was not without reason the bodies were 
 kept back. 
 
 Mr. Vereker also found in the house of Senhor* Bento 
 Venancio.Soares, Justice of the Peace of the district, a beau- 
 tiful edition of the Bible, with a smaller one, ( confessed to 
 have been taken out of the trunks, and showing no stains or 
 signs of having been even damp. 
 
 From Mr. Vereker's statement of what he saw, I am of 
 opinion that the crew and passengers, or several of them, did 
 get on shore, and that the ship was plundered. 
 
 Where the jolly boat was found, about a league from the 
 other boats, Mr, .Vereker is informed several bodies were 
 found near her, which I consider a proof that they landed in 
 her ; otherwise, it is not likely that a boat and four or five 
 bodies would have drifted exactly to the same spot. 
 
 o 2 
 
196 
 
 Report of the President of April. — " All the bodies did not 
 disappear ;. four of them* were transported to Rio Grande, and 
 being there examined by Dr. Jos6 de Pontes Franca, he 
 declared that the cause of death was asphyxia from drowning. 
 It appears an extraordinary thing to the Consul that the bodies 
 of the other shipwrecked people' were not found ; but it is 
 very possible* that' the place of their graves had been lost; 
 Everybody kows that the Whole coast, from Torres to Castillas 
 (in the Oriental State), is composed of loose sand, which the 
 wind blows about every day, raising in one hour very high 
 Sandheaps, which in the next are removed to another spot." 
 
 That Mr. 'Vereker considers it extraordinary that the bodies 
 of the other shipwrecked people were not found, he is quite 
 justified in doing. "When we bear in mind that only seven 
 days had elapsed from the time of the wreck, even admitting 
 that the winds and waves had drifted the sand over the graves, 
 they could not have obliterated from the memory of ihose 
 who buried them the place of their interment ; it is also to 
 be remarked that nothing whatever has been produced that 
 was found on the bodies, and it is most improbable they would 
 have left the ship without some of their valuables about their 
 persons. 
 
 Mr. Vereker further states that three bodies out of the four 
 sent up for the inquest had not been buried, which does not 
 agree with the statement that the bodies were buried in the 
 sand, nor is it to be credited that the trouble would have been 
 taken to convey four dead bodies a very considerable distance 
 from the beach and then left exposed. 
 
 Report of Chief of Police of April 13. — "The Consul's 
 supposition that some of the shipwrecked people were the 
 victims of assassination is unfounded, as the inquest held on 
 the bodies shows nothing to corroborate such- a suspicion ; on 
 the contrary, it is recognized that the shipwrecked people died 
 from asphyxia from drowning. The public voice has neither 
 at the time of the shipwreck nor now made mention of such 
 a' crime. There is not one positive fact." 
 
 Nothing in this report in any way shows that the Consul's 
 suppositions of some of the shipwrecked people having been 
 assassinated is unfounded. 
 
 The Consul is informed that ten bodies have been found ; 
 he demands them all, four are sent up. 
 
 He has demanded to be shown where the others have been 
 buried, which is refused ; he has,- therefore, a- perfect right, to 
 
197 
 
 suppose they have been kept back for a purpose. Had it 
 been otherwise, we should then conclude that the authorities 
 would, have been as desirous of producing them as they have 
 shown themselves to be determined to keep them .back. Mr. 
 Vereker before putting his name to the inquest, noted thereon 
 his disagreement with the finding. 
 
 With respect to the assertion that " no mention has been 
 made by the public voice, either at the time or now, of such 
 a crime," I was informed by Captain Saumarez, of the 
 " Forte," on his return from Rio Grande, that the affair was 
 discussed in the newspapers, whilst he was there in the early 
 part of May 1862, and that one of them attacked the other 
 for stating that some of the crew were strangled. The im- 
 pression was that the poor fellows were not all drowned, and 
 on the 14th May, 1862, carts arrived at Rio Grande, with 
 things that had been plundered- from the " Prince of Wales," 
 and the authorities took no notice, and some of the soldiers 
 who accompanied the Consul to the scene of the wreck, it was 
 also stated to him, were it not from fear, could give evidence 
 on the question very confirmatory of our suspicions. 
 
 The Presidents despatch of May 14.^" With reference to 
 the arguments which the Consul brings forward relative to 
 the fragments of the vessel, cargo* and boats, and to the 
 places, where the bodies were found, — arguments totally re- 
 futed by the Captain of the frigate, ' Jose" Pereira Pinto,' ex- 
 administrator of the bar pilotage of the^ Province, in Ins 
 declaration of the 9th of May, it was enough fox the Consul 
 to reflect on the force of the currents and the winds in winter, 
 and also the difference of weight between a human body and 
 a case of merchandise, or a ship's timber, to understand. that 
 it was impossible, that they should all come to shore at, exactly 
 the same spot. It remains to be observed, that the ship went 
 to pieces, that the boat had the same fate, and that the ship? 
 wreck having taken place about a league from the shore, it 
 was very difficult for the crew to survive the tempest." 
 
 We are here told, that the Consul's arguments, are totally 
 refuted| by the Captain of the frigate, Jose\ Pereira Pinto.; 
 but I do not see that such assertion is proved, as when Mr. 
 Vereker visited the . scene of the disaster, he distinctly 
 states that the vessel appeared as if at anchor, about half, a 
 league off, and the boats on the sand but little "injured, with 
 their oars in them : and the place where it is stated the 
 
198 
 
 bodies were buried, is not shown to him ; on the contrary is 
 withheld. 
 
 On the 16th of June, not more than eight or nine days 
 after the disaster, the ship had not gone to pieces ; the boat's 
 had not also shared the same. fate, as stated in Oaptain Jose - 
 Pereira Pinto's report, but were in a sound state on the beach, 
 with their oars in them ; and as Mr. Vereker could get no in- 
 formation as* to where the bodies were stated to have been 
 found, except that they came on shore two or . three leagues 
 to the northward, and the place of their interment, stated to 
 have been in the sand, is refused to be shown him, he could 
 have arrived at no conclusion as to the drifts. The attempted 
 refutation is, therefore* no refutation whatever. It supposes 
 an entirely different state of the wreck, Sue, to that so clearly 
 stated by Mr. Vereker existed. 
 
 July 21. Charges brought against, those accused of -plunder 
 Tpy the Delegate of Termo. — "From, the inquiries made ? it is 
 proved that the bodies came on shore, already eaten by 
 animals, and in a complete state of decomposition, there not 
 being the slightest suspicion of there being any other cause 
 of their death." 
 
 It is. here stated, that from inquiries made, it is proved that 
 the bodies came on shore, already eaten by animals, and in a 
 complete state of decomposition. If so,- how could the medical 
 man have satisfied himself that the four sent up, died by 
 drowning;; and if all ten came on shore in the same state, 
 why could not the whole number have been forwarded for the 
 inquest instead of four only, bearing in mind that the demand 
 for an inquest was made only seven days after the disaster ? 
 
 It is also worthy of remark that when Mr. Vereker was at 
 the place of the wreck, the captain was spoken of ; if the 
 bodies were washed ashore in the state described, " eaten by 
 animals,' and in. a state of decomposition," how could, the 
 captain's body be known from the others? And nothing 
 whatever is produced in the shape of clothes, papers, or any- 
 thing which, under such circumstances, the captain of a ship 
 would attempt to save. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 
 (Signed) EICHAED L. WAEEEN. 
 
199 
 
 No. 59. 
 Mr. Hammond to Mr. Stephens. * 
 
 Foreign Office, October 29, 1862. 
 SlK, 
 I am directed by Earl Eussell to acknowledge the. receipt 
 of your letter of the 20th instant, and I am to inform' you in 
 reply that Her Majesty's Minister in Brazil has been again 
 instructed to press the Brazilian Government for compensa- 
 tion in the case of the " Prince of Wales." 
 
 • . I am, &c. 
 (Signed) E. HAMMOND. 
 
 No. 60. 
 
 Mr. Hammond to the Secretary of the Admiralty.- 
 
 Foreign Office, November i, 1862. 
 SlB, 
 
 With reference to my letter of the 8th ultimo, I am 
 directed hj Earl Eussell to transmit to you, for the informa- 
 tion of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, copies of 
 further instructions which his Lordship will despatch' to 
 Her Majesty's Minister at Eio by the mail "of the. 8th 
 instant,* .respecting the steps to be taken should the 
 Brazilian Government refuse to concede the demands made 
 by Her Majesty's Government in the eases of the " Forte " 
 and '? Prince of. Wales." 
 
 The Lords of the Admiralty will perceive from these papers 
 that Her Majesty's Government will be prepared to consider 
 any proposal made by Brazil for an arbitration in these cases, 
 and they will also learn the steps which Her' Majesty's Govern- 
 ment would propose should betaken if it becomes necessary 
 to have recourse to acts of reprisal. 
 
 Lord Eussell would suggest that copies of the instruc- 
 tions should be communicated to Admiral Warren by the 
 mail of the 8th November, for, his information and guidance. 
 
 I am, &c,. 
 (Signed) E. HAMMOND. 
 
 ♦Not. 61 and 62. 
 
200 
 
 No. 61/ 
 Earl Russell to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, November 4, 1862. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 In case the Brazilian Government refuse to comply with 
 the demands of. Her Majesty's Government, in either of the 
 cases of the ',' Forte" and " Prince of Wales," and if it should 
 be evident that further negotiation is useless, it has been de- 
 termined to enforce these demands by reprisal against Brazil. 
 
 In this event you will consult with Admiral Warren as to 
 the best means of carrying out the objects that Her Majesty's 
 Government have in view. 
 
 Her Majesty's Government are very reluctant to proceed 
 
 to extreme measures against Brazil, except as a last resource, 
 
 and any proposal on her part for arbitration on the questions 
 
 . at "issue may be referred for the consideration of Her Majesty's 
 
 Government. 
 
 I am, &c., 
 (Signed) RUSSELL 
 
 No. 62. 
 Earl Russell to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, November 8, 1862. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 In my despatch of the 4th instant I have informed you 
 that if the Brazilian Government' refuse the demands of Her 
 Majesty's Government in thecase of the " Forte" and "Prince 
 of Wales," those demands will be enforced by reprisals, in 
 case no proposal is made by Brazil for arbitration. 
 
 These reprisals might be in the shape of the seizure of 
 some ship, or of some portion of the* public property belong- 
 ing" to Brazil, to be held as a security until the Brazilian 
 Government did justice in the respective cases, and then 
 restored to them uninjured. But as such a course might 
 lead to collision between the two Governments, it may be 
 preferable that the property seized should be private property. 
 On this point, you will, however, consult with Admiral 
 Warren, to whose discretion Her Majesty's Government will 
 leave it to decide as to the steps to be taken, should it unfor- 
 tunately be necessary to have recourse to reprisals. 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) RUSSELL 
 
201 • 
 
 No. 63. 
 Earl Russell to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, November 8, 1862. 
 
 Sir, • . _ . 
 
 I referred to Her Majesty's Advocate-General your 
 despatches of the 12th and 24th of September last, in -which 
 you report your further proceedings in the case of the " Prince 
 of Wales," and I have now to state to you that Her Majesty's 
 Government consider that the propositions which the Brazilian 
 Government appears to allege ,by way of excuse, namely, that 
 it is not to be considered responsible for probable murder and 
 for certain robbery committed by its subject upon helpless 
 foreigners, because the coast, the scene of the outrage, . is 
 deserted and inhospitable, or because after long delays it has- 
 failed in discovering the culprits, are propositions wholly 
 inadmissible by the Government whose subjects have been 
 injured 
 
 It is clear that both the wreck and the unfortunate crew 
 have been plundered, and the presumptive evidence is strong 
 that the persons whose missing bodies are said to have been 
 buried, but whose graves nobody can show, were murdered. 
 It is, moreover, impossible that the Justice of the Peace on 
 the spot, Soares, should not have been cognizant of what 
 took place; indeed, the .presumption from the evidence is 
 strong that he participated in the robbery. 
 
 A great parade is made of the sufficiency of the Brazilian 
 Government to discharge its own functions of causing justice 
 to be administered, and of its. legitimate jealousy of the inter- 
 ference of the British naval officers ; but the result is that 
 the murderers and robbers are undetected^ and the supine, 
 if not guilty, Justice of the Peace .remains unpunished. 
 
 Under these circumstances, Her Majesty's Government 
 adhere to their opinion that they are entitled, to demand a 
 moderate indemnity in this case; and they do not see any 
 necessity for modifying the instructions which you have 
 already received with .regard to it. 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) RUSSELL. 
 
202 
 
 No. 64 
 Mr. Christie to Earl Russell. — (Received December 3.) 
 
 Bio de Janeiro, November 6, 1862. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 I have now toe honour to enclose a translation of a further 
 note which I have received from the Marquis of Ahrantes, 
 being a rejoinder to mine of the 18th of September^ of which 
 I forwarded a copy in my despatch of September 24th. 
 
 I have thought it well now to terminate this correspond- 
 ence, and I enclose a copy of my short note to his Excellency, 
 in which I say that I abstain from replying, to him, and that 
 I forward his note to your Lordship. - 
 
 This note of the Marquis is very easily answered in every 
 point, and your Lordship may be glad to have my comments 
 on its various points. 
 
 1- The Marquis persists- that he never spoke in his note of 
 August 16th> of the dismissal of the two officials for culpable 
 negligence, and says that, though he did not cite my exact 
 words, he simply repeated my observation. In the note of 
 the 16th August are these words: "Mr. Christie observes 
 that in my last-cited note he was not informed of the dis- 
 missal of the Sub-Delegate and of the Inspector, who pro- 
 ceeded in the discharge of their duties with culpable negli- 
 gence;" Further on, the Marquis returns to the subject, and 
 says, " This is why. I did not include in my last note either 
 the. circumstance of the dismissals of the Sub-Delegate and 
 Inspector or," &c. There is not one word said in the note 
 as to their not having been dismissed for culpable neglect of 
 duty. Must, not, every one consider this a complete admis- 
 sion that, they were dismissed for that reason 1 And if they 
 were not dismissed for that reason, what merit was there, as 
 towards us in the dismissals, and how could the dismissals 
 be free from injustice ? I feel no doubt that the casuistry, to 
 which the Marquis has resorted for explaining away culpable 
 neglect of duty has been in order to escape from the liability 
 for compensation which ensued from. admitting it. 
 
 2. After acknowledging that I had misunderstood a state- 
 ment of the Marquistas; to, the number of persons accused or 
 imprisoned, which turned out to be less than I had supposed, 
 I made what I believe your Lordship will think a legitimate 
 observation. It was this : " The satisfaction with which Ser 
 Majesty's Government would hear of any new proceedings or 
 
203 
 
 discoveries would always, be mingled with regret that more 
 effectual measures were not. earlier, or indeed immediately, 
 taken ; and the smaller the new results, the greater will be 
 that regret." This remark is distorted by the Marquis, who 
 twits me with sorrow at finding less guilt than. I had ex- 
 pected, and says that the Brazilian Government rejoice instead 
 of grieving, and would rejoice more if the number of guilty 
 were still less. My sorrow, of course,- was not because there 
 was less guilt, but because, where guilt and crime exist, and 
 are admitted even by the Brazilian Government, less had 
 been discovered and punished. 
 
 3, The Marquis of Abrantes pretends to explain the con- 
 tradiction which I had pointed out between two reasons he 
 had given for not supplying me with earlier information on 
 two subjects-, by representing that the two reasons did not 
 refer to both subjects, but one to one" of them, and the other 
 to the other. Such blind temerity of assertion is wonderful. 
 It is only necessary to refer' to the note of the 16th of August 
 to see that both subjects are distinctly referred to in giving 
 both the reasons. The Marquis wonders what can be my 
 reason in insisting on this contradiction, which, if it existed, 
 he thinks unimportant. It is surely important to show the 
 little care and consideration with which a Brazilian Secretary 
 of State excuses himself in a question of gravity: 
 
 4. In answer to my distinction that I had not consulted 
 Senhor Taques about the visit, of a man-of-war, with Captain 
 Saumarez, to Bio Grande, but informed him of it, offering the 
 Captain's services, if the Brazilian Government chose to 
 accept them, the Marquis maintains that this offer of services 
 was a consultation, and that the man-of-war and Captain 
 Saumarez ought not to have proceeded till I had- received an 
 answer from Senhor Taques. The fact, however, is that I 
 told Senhor Taques that I wrote to the Admiral to send a 
 ship and an officer, and it was therefore clear that I had no 
 intention of waiting for an answer. What Senhor Taques 
 should have done, was to send instructions to the President 
 of the Province, how to reply to the offer of assistance from 
 the naval officer who was coming ; and instructions from Eip 
 might have reached the President of Bio Grande some time 
 before the arrival of Captain Saumarez, who went from 
 Monte Video after the receipt by the Admiral there of my 
 despatch to him dated the same day as my note informing 
 Senhor Taques. The neglect of not sending proper instruc- 
 
201 
 
 tions to the President of the Province, it is how intended to . 
 cover with sophistry. 
 
 5. As regards the Justice of the Peace, Bento Soares, the 
 Marquis now says that the denialof his guilt, and refusal to 
 punish him, are founded on " the result of a process regularly 
 instituted, during which all possible information was col- 
 lected ; and that the mere assertion of Mr. Vereker cannot 
 prevail against such acts of the competent authority who 
 proceeded in conformity with the law." This process must 
 oe the first inquiry held by the Delegate of Police, the imper- 
 fections and Unsatisfactory character of which have been 
 acknowledged in word and act by the Imperial Government. 
 I extract from Mr. Vereker's despatch to this Legation of 
 October 14, '1861, a short account of this inquiry': "An 
 Indian, named Mariano, has been arrested as implicated in 
 the robberies ; he is stated to be* an employe* of Senhor Bento 
 Soares ; he has been a long time in jail, but it is said that no 
 evidence can be obtained against him, the residents on the 
 coast even disobeying the judicial orders to appear as wit- 
 nesses. Two others, both in the employ of Soares, are stated 
 to have fled to the Republic of the Uruguay. Senhor Soares 
 himself has been examined, but it is stated that nothing was 
 elicited. I had requested to be present at the examination 
 of this person, as well' as that of the Indian Mariano, but was 
 . not given the opportunity of being present." Thus Mr. 
 Vereker, whose assertions will not now be listened to, was 
 not examined or allowed to be present. The inquiry was a 
 preliminary one, with a view to the indictment of those 
 against whom sufficient primd facie evidence might be found. 
 The result was the accusation of three individuals. After a 
 later inquiry, eight more have been accused. We do not know 
 what evidence was brought forward against Soares ; Mr. 
 Vereker's certainly was not obtained. But apart from legal 
 trial, Soares is a Justice of the Peace, amenable to the Govern- 
 ment for his general conduct and reputation ; and would any 
 right-thinking and well-administered Government abstain 
 from taking notice of such imputations against a magistrate 
 as have "been made and well supported by Mr. Vereker, and 
 from disgracing him if they were not satisfactorily answered? 
 Your Lordship may think we are in a position fairly, to 
 suggest to the Brazilian Government that, while the can- 
 vassing of a Judge in a suit pending before him against an 
 Englishman by a high official in the Ministry of Justice is 
 
205 
 
 passed over without notice, . Her Majesty's Government 
 cannot be expected to assign great value to any legal pror 
 ceedings in Brazil. 
 
 6. Your Lordship will judge from the report made by 
 Admiral Warren on the suspicions of murder, how far the 
 Marquis is justified in saying that it has been " demonstrated 
 that the suspicion of the murder of some of. the crew was 
 totally unfounded," 
 
 7. Your Lordship will*understand the allusion made to Mr. 
 Vereker's fallibility on questions of assassination. It is,. of 
 course, known to the Brazilian Government, as it is .known 
 to your Lordship, that Mr. Yereker, when he lately came to 
 Rid from Bio Grande on his way home, was in a state of 
 nervous excitement, with a delusion about attempts to 
 assassinate him ; but it might be suggested to the Brazilian. 
 Government that Mr. Yereker's illness may have been caused 
 by the troubles, labours, and anxieties which the " Prince of 
 Wales" question had brought upon him, by virulent abuse of 
 the Brazilian press, and by obstructions and ill-will of the 
 Brazilian authorities. 
 
 8. The note ends with an indignant protest against a sup- 
 posed demand of mine for copies in extenso of all the cor- 
 respondence of the Imperial Government with the local 
 authorities in this question. The Marquis of Abrantes had 
 sent me a series of dates of despatches to the President of the 
 Province, asserting that all those despatches had been sent 
 spontaneously. Neither I nor any one else could form any 
 judgment from the dates. I remarked that Her Majesty s 
 Government were not satisfied that the Brazilian authorities 
 had acted so promptly and spontaneously in this question as 
 was asserted ; but that, if all the correspondence in estfenso 
 were not previously communicated to Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment, I supposed that it would all be published according to. 
 custom in a future annual Beport ; and that if, after perusal 
 of all the correspondence, and on a review of all the proceedr 
 ings, Her Majesty's Government came to think they had been 
 in any way unjust, injustice would be eagerly acknowledged. 
 I think this remark does not threaten Brazilian independence, 
 and need not rouse Brazilian indignation. If the correspond- 
 ence is published in a future annual Beport, it is to be hoped 
 that th6 whole will appear, or that there will , be a fair publi- 
 cation. 
 
 I. have thus commented on all the important topics of this 
 
206 
 
 note, and it will be for your Lordship to judge whether it is 
 desirable to make any reply to the Brazilian Government. 
 
 I leave it to your Lordship to appreciate the tone of the 
 Marquiate note, which seems to me not very becoming. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D. CHEISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 64. 
 Marquis of Abrantes to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, Eio de Janeiro, October 20, 1882. 
 (Translation.) 
 
 With reference to the shipwreck of the barque " Prince of 
 Wales," Mr. William Dougal Christie, &c, addressed to me 
 the note dated the 18th ultimo, of which I acknowledge 
 receipt, and the contents of which may be summed up in the 
 refusal to accept the principal ; explanations, elucidations, and 
 information which as regards the occurrences proceeding from 
 the said deplorable event, I have in the frankest manner, on 
 the part of the Imperial Government, furnished to Her 
 Britannic Majesty's Legation; and in supporting and insisting 
 on. the opinions. and arguments previously produced by Mr. 
 Christie in his correspondence on this subject. 
 
 The consciousness that the Imperial Government had 
 loyally and anxiously fulfilled its duty, not less than the 
 desire to satisfy the claims of Her Britannic Majesty's Lega- 
 tion in favour of the rights and just interests of its country- 
 men, led me, not only to' use the greatest frankness and 
 minuteness in the explaining to Mr. Christie the proceedings 
 of the said Government, and of the subaltern authorities of the 
 province of St. Pedro do Sul, relative to the deplorable event 
 in question, but also to take pains to remove from Mr. 
 Christie's mind, in elucidating and explaining them, the 
 apprehensions and the doubts which on this subject he has 
 been putting forth in the divers notes which he has done me 
 the honour to address to me. 
 
 Unhappily, however, I observe that from my efforts the 
 hoped for result has not ensued ; for, notwithstanding all the 
 explanations, elucidations, and information so frankly and 
 loyally furnished, Mr. Christie is not yet satisfied, and, so to 
 say, persists in his original opinion. 
 
 Under such circumstances, seeing that the discussion would 
 
207 
 
 become interminable, and that no advantage would ensue 
 from its continuance, in the brief reply which I am going to 
 present to Mr. Christie's note, I will restrict myself to cor- 
 recting the inaccuracy of some of his propositions : protesting, 
 at the same time, against a new principle or doctrine which 
 Mr. Christie appears to be desirous of establishing, and to 
 which the Imperial Government cannot eertainly assent.- 
 
 The first inaccuracy which Mr. Christie will allow me to 
 correct is that in which he says- that in my note of the 16th 
 of last August, in answering his query respecting the dis- 
 missal of two officials, without citing his own words, I spoke 
 of the dismissal of the two officials referred to, who, in the 
 discharge of their duties, proceeded with culpable negligence. 
 
 The unprejudiced reading of the'part of my note to- which 
 Mr. Christie alludes is sufficient to demonstrate that I alleged 
 nothing on my part to that effect, having confined myself to 
 repeat, though not ipsis verbis, what Mr. Christie had said 
 
 Consequently, the inference which Mr. Christie chose to 
 draw from that pretended allegation of mine, that is, that I 
 myself recognized the culpable neglect of those officials, is 
 not exact. 
 
 In my said note of the 16th of August I announced to 
 Mr. Christie that the inquiries, had been concluded, the result 
 being that eleven individuals were accused of the crime of 
 robbery.' 
 
 Mr. Christie understood from these words that, besides 
 those eleven individuals, there were also the three of whom I 
 spoke in my preceding notes, and others who were supposed 
 to have taken refuge in the neighbouring State. • 
 
 In order to remove the error under which Mr. Christie 
 laboured, I stated to him, in my note of the; 6th ultimo, that 
 eleven was the number of the individuals accused as criminals, 
 and that nothing else could be deduced from my note of the 
 16th of August. 
 
 Mr. Christie now admits his. error, but thinks it convenient 
 and fitting to add that it is to be regretted that the satisfa'c- 
 tion which he felt at the accounts ti new discoveries should 
 be mingled with sorrow that the result fell so short of his ex- 
 pectations. 
 
 In this respect I have only to observe that 'I am by' no 
 means responsible for the regret experienced by Mr. Christie, 
 who otherwise has exclusively to attribute it to himself for 
 not having properly understood the words of .my note of the 
 
208 
 
 1 6th of August, which have in no way been since modified or 
 altered. 
 
 And if Mr. Christie had the frankness to confess the sorrow 
 which was caused him by the knowledge that there were not 
 more than eleven accused of crime, the Imperial Government, 
 on this point, is of a contrary opinion in wishing that that 
 number was still less, or rather that, in so lamentable a case, 
 there was not a single guilty persoD. 
 
 Mr. Christie again compares two passages in my. note of 
 the 16th of August, in-order to detect me in contradiction in 
 the explanation of the causes why certain information had 
 not been earlier furnished to the British Legation ; observing, 
 on one side, that I did not give the information referred to 
 because I did not possess it, and on the other because I did 
 not wish to do so. 
 
 I am, therefore, in order to correct this inaccuracy, com- 
 pelled to repeat that the two passages to which Mr. Christie 
 alludes have reference to entirely different subjects. 
 
 In the first case, the information relative to those who are 
 accused of robbery only reached the Imperial- Government 
 on the 14th of August ; and in the second, I replied to Mr. 
 Christie that the. said Government was more desirous to 
 answer the calls of justice than to acquire the good opinion 
 . of the British Government, although it greatly appreciater 1 
 the same. 
 
 I, however, added that the Imperial Government would not 
 hesitate in furnishing, at a suitable time, every information 
 on the subject, or even when called on for it by Her Britannic 
 Majesty's Legation, if the Imperial Government should be in 
 .possession of the necessary data for that purpose. 
 
 It is not, therefore, possible for me to discover the object 
 or end of this persistence on Mr. Christie's part, unless by 
 attributing it to a desire to detect me in a contradiction which 
 really does not exist, and which has no importance whatever. 
 Mr. Christie says I was mistaken in supposing or declaring 
 that he had consulted Councillor Taques whether the Im- 
 perial Government would admit the visit of an officer of the 
 English navy ; and, as explaining his .meaning, he now asserts 
 $iat he only informed Senhor Taques of the fact, because he 
 did not think it necessary to consult the Imperial Govern- 
 ment respecting the visit of an officer or a ship of the English 
 navy to any port of the empire. 
 
 Mr. Christie thus places the question upon an entirely new 
 
209 
 
 footing. The Imperial Government never had the pretension 
 of being consulted, nor did it ever think that it should be, 
 about the entrance of an English officer or. ship into a port of 
 the empire. 
 
 The question was as to the object of the presence of 
 Captain Saumarez and of. the vessels which accompanied 
 him. Now the object of official attendance at the inquiry, 
 to which the authority of the country had to proceed, was 
 undisguisedly .revealed by jQaptain Saumarez himself, and by 
 Consul Vereker, in their interview's with the president of the 
 Province on the 6th and 7th of last April ; and not even did 
 Mr. Christie deny it but confirmed it, for in his npte of the 
 16th of July, referring to Captain Saumarez and the refusal 
 on the part of the Imperial Government to admit his official 
 intervention, he declared very expressly and positively that 
 the question could not be resolved in a satisfactory manner, 
 without a complete inquiry made in the presence of a British 
 officer. 
 
 Therefore, such being Mr. Christie's indention, it is clear 
 that he ought to. have consulted. the Imperial Government, as 
 he really did consult it, according to the evidence of his own 
 words, "I offered the assistance of the naval officer to the 
 Brazilian Government, if they chose to accept it." 
 
 It therefore appears clear that Mr. Christie ought to have 
 awaited the answer . of the Imperial Government before 
 deciding upon the coming of the officer for the purpose 
 pointed out. ' *' 
 
 If Captain Saumarez or , any other English officer had 
 presented "himself without exhibiting pretensions of the 
 nature in question, and which he doubtless derived from 
 instructions received, no refusal would certainly have been 
 made by the local authorities, nor would the Imperial 
 Government have had any observation to offer. . 
 
 If, however, such instructions existed, and Captain Sau- 
 marez was not received, the reason was because Mr. Christie 
 had not waited for the reply of the Imperial Government 
 
 , Mr. Christie, further states, that his Government is far from, 
 being convinced that the Imperial Government has acted 
 spontaneously and promptly in this deplorabje affair, an.d 
 continues to maintain that the Imperial Government would 
 have done nothing without the notes of the British Legation, 
 the intervention of Mr. Vereker, and finally without the con- 
 ferences between Mr. Christie and the Brazilian Minister for 
 Foreign Affairs. p 
 
210 
 
 If, happily, Mr. Christie has not denied that the despatch 
 of the 26th of December 1861, to which this Ministry has 
 twice called his attention, preceded the note of the British. 
 Legation of the 17th of March last, it is nevertheless certain 
 that, in generalising the question, he continues to maintain 
 his favourite proposition, that only to himself and Mr. Vereker 
 the glory -appertains of all that the Imperial Government has 
 done. 
 
 Eecalling the facts, it is to be observed that Mr. Christie 
 commenced by insinuating, in his note of the 14th of August, 
 that the impulse given to the Imperial Government was due 
 to the demands of the British Legation. 
 
 By my note of the 16th I proved the contrary, to which 
 Mr. Christie subsequently replied in his note of the 22nd, 
 presenting Mr. Vereker as the auxiliary mover. 
 
 Having also proved by my note of the 6th ultimo the 
 ^oundlessneW of this allegation, Mr. Christie now has re- 
 course to his conferences with the Minister for Foreign 
 Affairs. 
 
 Thus, as it appears, it is pretended" that the source must 
 necessarily be English from which the measures taken in this 
 distressing subject emanated, Mr. Christie not choosing to 
 recognize any initiative of the Imperial Government. 
 
 But, it being certain that the facts already repeatedly ex- 
 plained protest against such a conclusion, nothing more 
 remains for me to say on this point. 
 
 Though Mr. Christie, in order to justify the distrust occa- 
 sioned by the assertions of CouncillCr Taques, (admits that 
 that gentleman had in fact declared that the Imperial Govern- 
 ment, if culpable negligence in the proceedings of the Sub- 
 Delegate or Inspector were to come to its knowledge, would 
 duly punish them, he nevertheless quotes that Councillor's 
 words in which he says that the authorities had fulfilled their 
 duty. 
 
 Mr. Christie, doubtless unintentionally, has inverted the 
 assertions of Councillor Taques, the result of which "is, that 
 the first prevails over the second, or rather that the latter is 
 entirely, neutralized. 
 
 In placing, however, those allegations in the order. in which 
 they were presented, what is seen is, that Councillor "Taques 
 said, in the first place, that what was known was, that up to 
 the moment in which he was writing to Mr. Christte (the 
 19th of April), the authorities had proceeded as they ought 
 to have done, and he subsequently made the proper reserve 
 
211 
 
 for the event of its being ascertained by further inquiries 
 that the said authorities had been remiss in the performance 
 of their duties. 
 
 Consequently there is no plausible motive in this proceed- 
 ing for authorizing the apprehensions of which Mr. Christie's 
 mind is possessed 
 
 Mr. Christie persists in the suspicion of the culpability of 
 the Justice of the Peace, Bento Soares, based on the assertions 
 of Mr. Vereker, which he has the goodness to refer to, and 
 wonders that the said Justice has remained unpunished, 
 whilst the Sub-Delegate and the Inspector were dismissed, 
 the former for a trifling fault, which was of no consequence, 
 and the latter for the simple convenience of preserving to the 
 authority the necessary prestige, expecting from the Imperial 
 Government under such circumstances something more than 
 a simple denial. 
 
 To all that I have said on this subject in my previous notes 
 I will only add, that the denial of the Government is founded 
 on the results of a process regularly instituted, during which 
 all possible information was collected; and that the mere 
 assertion of Mr. Vereker cannot prevail against such acts of 
 the competent authority, who proceeded therein in conformity 
 with the law. r 
 
 By the documents which accompanied my note of the 6th 
 ultimo, it was demonstrated that the suspicion of the murder 
 of some of the shipwrecked crew was totally unfounded 
 
 Mr. Christie's reply to the same is, that the assertions. of 
 the inhabitants of Albardao and of the neighbouring places, 
 as well as those of the Inspector of the Custom-house and of 
 the Chief Guard's assistant, are not worthy of credit. 
 
 If that is the cases whom shall we seek in order to satisfy 
 Mr. Christie, who does not- confide in the testimony of the 
 inhabitants of the place and of its neighbourhood, and further 
 refuses that of the proper authorities 1 
 
 Therefore, what can be the object, what the utility of fresh 
 inquiries, upon which Mr. Christie so much insists ? "Who 
 is to be employed in such inquiries, whose depositions aTe to 
 be taken which may not be suspected by Mr. Christie ? 
 
 From Mr ; Christie's words the inference is, that Mr. 
 VerekerV information alone deserves to be credited, whilst 
 that gentleman's infallibility respecting" the discovery of 
 crimes such as those in question, may without injustice, 
 as Mr. Christie. knows, be contested. 
 
 p 2 
 
2J2 
 
 The principal propositions in Mr. Christie's note being 
 thus corrected, I will conclude with the protest .to which I 
 alluded at the commencement. ;,, 
 
 . . Mr. Christie says that if the knowledge in ewtewo,. of the 
 despatches of the Imperial Government should not be im- 
 parted to . him, these despatches will be published in. the 
 next Eeport of this Ministry to the Legislative body; and 
 that if it should result from their perusal that the British 
 Government has been unjust towards that of Brazil, Mr. 
 Christie will be eager to acknowledge it. 
 
 If from the act of deference and courtesy on the part of 
 the Imperial Government towards that of Her Britannic 
 Majesty, in furnishing to its Bepresentative at- this Court' 
 a summary of the orders issued to the subaltern authori- 
 ties of the Administration, in regard to the occurrences 
 arising- from the shipwreck of the barque " Prince of 
 Wales," Mr. Christie pretends to -derive the right of exact- 
 ing that those orders be integrally brought to his knowledge, 
 I must declare to Mr. Christie that the Imperial Government 
 does not acknowledge such a right, and solemnly protests 
 against it. 
 
 " The Imperial Government will in due time account for its 
 proceedings, not to Her Britannic Majesty's Government, nor 
 to Mr. Christie, but to the country, represented by the 
 General Legislative Assembly, the only supreme arbiter of 
 its acts. 
 
 However valuable and worthy of respect may be the 
 opinion of Her Britannic Majesty's Government, or of any 
 other Government, it certainly cannot be expected or pre- 
 tended that it can condemn or absolve acts done within the 
 limits of its own jurisdiction by an independent Government 
 such as. Brazil prides itself on being. 
 
 I renew, &c. 
 (Signed) MAEQUIS OF ABEANTES, 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 64. 
 Mr. Christie to the Marquis of Abrantes. 
 
 Petropolis, October 22, 1862, 
 
 M. LE Maeqtjis, 
 I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 20th 
 instant, on the affair of the British barque " Prince of Wales." 
 
213 
 
 Agreeing with your Excellency that it is not desirable to 
 prolong this correspondence, I abstain from replying. Your 
 note will be forwarded to Her Majesty's Government, who 
 are already in possession of all the preceding correspondence. 
 
 I avail, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D. 'CHRISTIE. 
 
 No. 65. 
 Mr. Christie to Earl Russell.^ — (Received Be'cekaber 3.) 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, November 6, 1862. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 I have received your Lordship's despatches of October 8, 
 instructing me as to demands to be made on the Brazilian 
 Government in the questions of the vessel " Prince of Wales," 
 and the assault on- the officers of the "Forte." 
 
 After much reflection I have thought it right to defer 
 addressing a note to the Brazilian Government on the "Prince 
 of Wales" question, until I know your Lordship's opinion on 
 the further correspondence which I sent to you in my despatch 
 of September 24, or at any rate until I have received; the 
 further instructions, which are promised by the next mail, 
 as to the conduct which I am' to pursue in the event of 
 a refusal to comply with the demands of Her Majesty's 
 Government. 
 
 Your Lordship's demand on the Brazilian Government for 
 compensation for. the plunder of the " Prince of Wales " is 
 based on " the culpable proceedings of their authorities, whose 
 guilt they have at length discovered and admitted." - Your 
 Lordship will since have learnt that the Brazilian Govern- 
 ment deny that the dismissed officials have been guilty of 
 culpable neglect. I have my own opinion about this denial; 
 but in a matter of such importance I think it right to be-on 
 the safe side, and to wait until I know what view is taken of 
 it by the Government. 
 
 It occurs to me as possible that Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment may regard the latter note of the Marquis of Abrantes 
 as aggravating the wrong of the Brazilian Government. 
 
 It also forcibly occurs to me that, your Lordship may wish 
 to take a stronger tone, or perhaps even higher ground, on 
 the question of the probabilities of murder of the crew, after 
 
214 
 
 you have read the cogent letter of Admiral- Warren, which 
 I also forwarded in my despatch, of September 24. . Your 
 Lordship may know that at an early stage of this question 
 I had some misgivings as to the charge of murder ; but the 
 Eeport of Admiral Warren, which your Lordship will by this 
 time have read, seemed to me to be as near an approach as 
 possible to positive demonstration of murder, on a comparison 
 of circumstantial evidence, after the culpable neglect of the 
 Brazilian authorities to hold an inquest immediately has 
 brought us to the necessity of making the best of other 
 means of inquiry. 
 
 Having determined, for these reasons, to postpone -addressing 
 the Brazilian Government on the " Prince of Wales" question, 
 I have thought it better to postpone also sending in the note 
 which your Lordship has ordered in the question of the 
 " Forte," as until I have received the further promised in- 
 structions for the case of refusal, I cannot judge how the two 
 questions may be mixed up in your instructions for action. 
 
 I have consulted with Admiral Warren, and learnt that 
 postponement is in no way- inconvenient to him with 
 reference to his ships. 
 
 Under these circumstances I hope your Lordship will 
 approve of my delay, which I think cannot -in any respeet 
 be injurious. 
 
 1 have received no communication whatever from the 
 Marquis of Abrantes about the " Forte" case, and I expect 
 none. Your Lordship will judge from the tone of his note 
 on the " Prince of Wales" question transmitted in my pre- 
 ceding despatch, what chance there is of reparation in this 
 matter unless from fear of force. . 
 
 It is likely that I may receive by the steamer which leaves 
 England at this time instructions from your Lordship with 
 reference to my despatch ' of September 24, which may 
 relieve me from all doubt ; but should that not be so, I shall 
 not hesitate to wait another month, till I receive an answer 
 to this despatch. 
 
 I take the precaution of asking Her Majesty's Minister at 
 Lisbon to telegraph to your Lordship to inform you that a 
 despatch is on its way, which you may wish to answer by 
 return steamer. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D. CHEISTIE 
 
215 
 
 No. 66. 
 
 The Secretary to the Admiralty to Mr. Hammond. — (Received 
 December 4.) 
 
 Admiralty, December 3, 1862. 
 
 Sib, .. 
 
 With reference to your letters of the 8th October and. 4th 
 November, respecting the steps to be taken, should the 
 Brazilian Government refuseto concede the demands made by 
 Her Majesty's Government in the cases of the recent outrage 
 on the officers- of Her Majesty's ship " Forte," and the 
 plunder in June 1861 of the wreck of the British ship 
 " Prince of Wales," I am commanded by my Lords Commis- 
 sioners of the Admiralty to send you herewith, for the 
 information of Earl Russell, an extract from a letter of Bear- 
 Admiral Warren, dated the 7th instant, reporting that he has 
 made arrangements for having a squadron in the neighbour- 
 hood of Bio de Janeiro by the first week of the present month 
 in readiness to proceed to reprisals, if necessary, to obtain 
 satisfaction from the Brazilian Government. 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) C. PAGET. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 66. 
 Rear-Admiral Warren to the Secretary to the Admiralty. 
 "Madagascar," Bio de Janeiro, November 7, 1862. 
 
 (Extract.) 
 
 Having, in compliance with their Lordships' letter of the 
 8th ultimo, placed myself in communication with Mr. Christie, 
 Her Majesty's Minister, and ascertained his views on the 
 subject of the instructions from Her Majesty's Government to 
 proceed to reprisals, if necessary, to obtain satisfaction in the 
 case of the outrage committed on the officers of the " Forte," 
 and with regard to the plunder of the wreck o£ the British 
 ship " Prince of Wales," I have accordingly made arrange- 
 ments to have all the squadron in the neighbourhood of Rio 
 by the first week in December, except two gun-boats, which 
 I shall leave in the River Plate. 
 
' 216 
 
 No. 67. 
 
 Mr. Stephens to Earl Russell.^-(Recewed- December 10.) 
 
 15, Dixon Street, Glasgow, December 8, 1862. 
 M.Y LOUD, 
 
 I fully expected, ere this, that some definite arrangement 
 ■would have been made for the settling of the claims made, by 
 me on behalf of the wives and families of the murdered crew 
 of the late barque " Prince of Wales," and also for the stores 
 and cargo of that ship, plundered by the Brazilian authorities 
 and subjects. I have again to call. your Lordship's, attention 
 to this matter, as we are beset by the relatives of the deceased, 
 who are very boisterous for compensation, and we consider 
 very justly so, as you are aware that compensation has been 
 made to foreigners by our Government even in cases of 
 plunder by the inhabitants. We delayed writing, expecting 
 the last mail would have brought some settlement of this 
 matter. 
 
 I X13iVG &C 
 
 (Signed) K. P. STEPHENS. 
 
 No. 68. 
 Mr. Christie to Earl Russell. — (Received January % 186S.) ' 
 
 Eio de Janeiro, December 8, 1862. 
 (Extract.) 
 
 On receipt of your Lordship's despatch of the 8th Novem- 
 ber, which is a reply to mine 'of, the 24th September on the 
 question of the. " Prince" of Wales," I have immediately pro- 
 ceeded to act ori your Lordship's previous instructions as to 
 the demands to be made for the plunder of the wreck of the 
 " Prince of Wales," and for the outrage on the officers of the 
 " Forte." Copies of the two notes which I have addressed to 
 the Marquis of Abrantes making these demandsj and in which 
 I have closely followed your Lordship's language and. reason- 
 ing, will be forwarded by the next opportunity. I thought 
 it well to write at the same time a third note, of which I 
 enclose a copy, asking the Marquis to endeavour to givcme 
 answers by the 20th of this month, which leaves him a. whole 
 fortnight, and assuring him of the deep regret which will be 
 
217 
 
 felt by Her Majesty's Government if the answer in either 
 case precludes all hope of amicably obtaining satisfaction. 
 
 By -these last wotcIs-I have thought I should forward your 
 Lordship's wishes by suggesting that, even if the demands 
 are not acceded to, an opening might be left for negotiation; 
 and I have been anxious to suggest a time within which 
 answers should be given, on account of the great dilatoriness 
 "of the Brazilian Government, and because it is not desirable to 
 keep Her Majesty's vessels long in the harbour of Bio in the 
 present season. 
 
 I have already had some conversation , with Admiral 
 Warren on the best course to be pursued, should it be neces- 
 sary to proceed to reprisals. Your Lordship may feel assured 
 that full deference will be paid to your suggestion that private 
 rather than public property should be seized. I observe your 
 Lordship's desire to avoid proceeding to" reprisals, if it is 
 possible. Your Lordship may depend on my doing all that is 
 in my power, consistently with what I believe to be due to our 
 dignity and general interests, to avoid a recourse to the 
 violent measures which your instructions authorize ; but 
 your Lordship will not have failed to perceive from my late 
 despatches, including several which will have reached you 
 since the last instructions before me were penned, that the 
 general proceedings of the Brazilian Government are most 
 unsatisfactory, and show a great indisppsition to do justice, 
 and I anticipate much benefit for British interests in Brazil 
 from the .lesson which may now be. administered, and may 
 teach them that Her Majesty's Government, though patient 
 and forbearing, will not in the end allow themselves to be 
 trifled with. . - ■ •' *• .. 
 
 Enclosure in No. 68. 
 
 Mr. Christie to the Marqwis oj ' Abr antes. 
 
 Petropolis, December 5, 1862. 
 
 M. LB Makqtjts, 
 
 The subjects of two other notes which I address today to 
 your Excellency have been so long under the consideration 
 of the Imperial Government that it cannot be thought unrea- 
 sonable; if I ask you to endeavour to furnish me with answers 
 by the 20th of this month. , 
 
 I need not say what pleasure it will give me to be enabled 
 
218 
 
 to inform Her Majesty's Government, by the next French 
 steamer, that their wishes are complied with. 
 
 I would also assure your Excellency that it will cause the 
 deepest regret to Her Majesty's Government if the answer to 
 either note should preclude all hope of amicably obtaining 
 satisfaction. 
 
 I avail, &c, 
 
 (Signed) W. D. CHEISTIE. 
 
 No. 69. 
 
 Earl Russell to Mr. Christie, 
 
 Foreign Office, January 5, 1863. 
 . .. $ 1R > 
 I approve the steps taken by you, as reported in your 
 despatch 'of .the 8th ultimo, to. give effect to the instructions 
 which you have received regarding the cases of the " Porte" 
 and " Prince of Wales." 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 (Signed)' KUSSELL 
 
 No. 70. 
 Mr. Christie to Earl Russell. — (Received Janary 21, 1863.^ 
 
 Bio de Janeiro, December 15, 1862. 
 
 My Lord, , 
 
 With reference to my despatch of the 8th instant, I have 
 the honour to enclose copies of two notes which I addressed 
 to the Marquis of AbranteS on the 5th, in obedience to your 
 Lordship's instructions on the subjects of the ill-treatment 
 of the officers of her Majesty's ship " Forte," and of the 
 plunder of the wreck of the " Prince of Wales." 
 
 Your Lordship will see that in the note on the latter sub- 
 ject, which is mainly founded on your Lordship's despatch 
 of the 8th of October, I have incorporated some of the 
 observations made in your Lordship's later despatch of the 
 8th of November. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) W. D. CHEISTIE. 
 
219 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 70. 
 Mr. Christie to the Margwis of Abrantes. 
 
 PetropoliB, December 5, 1862. 
 
 M. le Mabquis, 
 
 Her Majesty's Government have instructed me to address 
 your Excellency on the subjeot of the serious outrage com- 
 mitted on the ]7th of June by a Brazilian police-guard on 
 the officers of Her Majesty's "Forte," and the subsequent 
 imprisonment of these officers attended -with many circum- 
 stances of indignity ; and I am much concerned to find 
 myself, on the receipt of the instructions which it is now my 
 duty to execute, without any answer from your Excellency to 
 the note which I addressed to you on the 19th of August. 
 
 Her Majesty's Government have carefully considered the 
 depositions and evidence taken in the case, and they can 
 come to no other conclusion but that the version given by 
 the three officers is true, and that the defence set up is un- 
 worthy of credit. 
 
 The officers' statement is as follows : — . 
 
 Having obtained leave to go out on a pleasure excursion, 
 they, dined moderately at an hotel on the Tijuca hill, and 
 were hurrying back to catch the omnibus for . Eio when they 
 passed the sentry of the guard-house at -Tijuca. Mr. ' Cle- 
 menger, the chaplain, who was in advance with Mr. Hornby, 
 was approached by the sentry, and he had scarcely time to 
 ask in Spanish, what the sentry wanted, before he was struck 
 by the butt of the sentry's musket, and stabbed at with his 
 bayonet. The sentry at the same time called out the guard, 
 who rushed upon the three officers and after mueh violence 
 drove them into the guard-house ; Lieutenant Pringle alone 
 having made any resistance to the brutal violence that was 
 used against them. On being lodged in the guard-house 
 prison they asked to see the officer of the guard, who, 'after 
 the lapse of ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, made his 
 appearance for the first time. They immediately gave on 
 paper their full names and rank, first direct to the officer, and 
 secondly through an interpreter, and wrote to their Captain 
 and to the British Consul to inform them of their position. But 
 these letters, it appears, were withheld, and were not forwarded 
 to their destination. Two of the party were confined for the 
 night in a room called the " refectory," and the third in the 
 
220 
 
 prison, and on the following morning they were ignoininiously 
 marched on foot guarded by an escort, though they offered to 
 pay for a conveyance, to the City Police Court at Rio, where 
 they again wrote but their names and rank. They were then 
 put into a filthy prison among criminals of the lowest class, 
 the prison official admitting that he was aware that they 
 were British officers ; and after the lapse of two hours, and 
 at the intercession of the British Consul, with* whom they 
 had managed to communicate, they were removed into a less 
 dirty prison, and subsequently to the police barracks, where 
 at last they were civilly treated. At half-past 11 on the fol- 
 lowing morning they were released by a written order of the 
 Chief of Police, no reasons being given for their imprisonment 
 or for their liberation. 
 
 Such- is shortly the story of these officers taken from their 
 depositions, and as they have never varied in their statements, 
 which are probable and consistent, and as they have expressed 
 a strong desire to be confronted with the adverse witnesses, 
 Her Majesty's Government are impressed with the conviction 
 that their story is strictly true, as Was indeed- to be expected 
 from their characters as officers and gentlemen. 
 
 On the other hand, the version of the affair, given by the 
 Brazilian police, is supported by evidence in which no confi- 
 dence can be placed. 
 
 They state that the officers were drunk, and that they 
 annoyed the passers-by on the road between the hotel and 
 the guard-house ; but it is remarkable that no passer-by has 
 been produced to give- evidence on this point, and that in the 
 original charge" preferred against them by the officer of the 
 police-guard, of which a copy was given them, no mention 
 was made of their being drunk, and no witnesses have been 
 produced who had been annoyed by them on the road. The 
 officer and soldiers of the guard have deposed as to the cir- 
 cumstances of the commencement of the affray between the 
 British officers and the sentry; whe,n by their own admission 
 they were not present at the time ; and it is to be observed 
 that the Brazilian officer, more particularly, has deposed to 
 air the circumstances of the struggle with the guard, while it 
 is positively affirmed that he did not appear until ten minutes 
 after the prisoners" were lodged in the guard-house prison. 
 
 It is impossible to believe on- other points evidence of a 
 witness whose statement is so palpably untrue on this point, 
 
221 
 
 and Her Majesty's Gov^ernm^ut cannot doubt that the Qffieer 
 of the Brazilian guard was perfectly aware of the nationality 
 and rank of his prisoners. 
 
 Her Majesty's Government regard this matter in a serious 
 light, and cannot submit to leave such an outrage unatoned 
 for, I am accordingly instructed to demand from the Imperial 
 Government : — 
 
 1. That the Ensign of the guard shall be dismissed from 
 the service ; 
 
 2. That the sentry who commenced the attack shall be 
 adequately punished ; 
 
 3. That an apology be. made by the Brazilian Government 
 for this outrage oh British naval officers ; and 
 
 4. That the Chief of Police, and the official who received 
 the officers at the Bio police-station, be publicly censured. 
 
 I avail, &c. 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE. 
 
 -Enclosure 2 in No. 70. 
 Mr. Christie to the Marquis of Abr antes. , 
 
 Petropolis, December 5,-1862. 
 
 M. le Marquis, 
 
 Her Majesty's Government have instructed me to address 
 to your Excellency the following communication on the sub- 
 ject of the sad events which followed the; wreck of the English 
 barque " Prince of Wales." 
 
 This wreck, which probably occurred on the 7th or 8th of 
 June of last year, was first heard of by Her Majesty's Consul 
 at Eio Grande do Sul on the 13th of that month, through 
 Senhor Bento Venancio Soares, a Magistrate of Albardao, 
 who had stated in conversation that some bodies had been 
 washed ashore near his house, but professed to have no know- 
 ledge of a wreck. .•■..> 
 
 Subsequent inquiries, however, induced Her Majesty's 
 Consul to suspect that a British ship had been wrecked, aud 
 he consequently left on the following day for the coast of 
 Albardao, with the Municipal Judge, and a small Customs 
 guard, and arrived at the house of , Senhor Bento. Soares, 
 where they were received with evident reluctance by his 
 daughter, her father being absent. 
 
 Eariy the following morning the party visited the scene of 
 
222 
 
 the wreck, and found the shore strewn with its relies, and 
 with parts of the cargo,, such as casks, barrels, seamen's 
 trunks," &c, some of which had evidently been dashed to 
 pieces on the beach, but others of. which had as evidently 
 been very recently broken open, and plundered of their con- 
 tents. The linings of some of the trunks were quite dry, as 
 if they had been safely brought on shore in boats. Ten bodies 
 were stated to have been discovered, some of them a long 
 way from the beach, but no .money or watches were forth- 
 coming, Property from the wreck, uninjured by water, was 
 found in the house of Senhor Bento Soares. 
 
 No inquest having been held on the bodies by the Sub- 
 Delegate of the District, Mr. Vereker proposed to view them ; 
 hut this was strongly objected to in a most suspicious manner 
 by the Inspector of the District, who was met with on the 
 shore accompanied by an armed force. 
 
 Mr. Vereker then returned to Eio Grande, and applied for 
 assistance to convey the ten bodies thither for inquest and 
 burial. The assistance was given, though at the time Mr. 
 Vereker had to defray all expenses ; but only four of the 
 bodies arrived at Eio Grande. 
 
 Inquests were subsequently held on the bodies at Eio 
 Grande, and on those at Albardao, at the latter place by Sub- 
 Delegate Goncalves, now dismissed, assisted by the brother- 
 in-law Of Senhor Soares, Senhor Pereira de Sousa, who is said 
 to have headed a party of plunderers of the wreck. One 
 body only was disinterred ; the others were found unburied, 
 and in an advanced state of decomposition. The verdict on 
 all was in effect, " found drowned," though there were most 
 suspicious circumstances attending the discovery of some of 
 them, stripped of their clothes, and far beyond the reaeh of 
 the tide at high water. 
 
 After repeated and earnest applicationsfrom Mr. Vereker 
 for a searching inquiry, he at length heard, on the 18th of 
 September, that one man had been convicted of being in 
 possession of property stolen from the wreck. The President 
 of the Province stated at the same time that the chief culprits 
 had fled, and he pleaded the great difficulty of inducing the 
 inhabitants to give any evidence at all in the case. Later in 
 December, the same reasons were pleaded for the unsuccessful 
 result of a further inquiry, and although it has been admitted 
 from the first that the wreck was plundered, it was not until 
 August of this year, fourteen months after the wreck occurred, 
 
223 
 
 that your Excellency, stated that two of the officials, -whose 
 conduct had been previously praised, had been -dismissed, and 
 that eleven persons were accused of plundering the wreck. 
 But Senhor Bento Soares is declared to be free from all accu- 
 sation, and has not been put on trial. It seems to Her 
 Majesty's Government impossible that Soares should not have 
 been cognizant of what took place ; indeed, the presumption 
 from the evidence, is strong that he participated in the 
 robbery. 
 
 Your Excellency has been good enough to say that the 
 Imperial Government have quite satisfied themselves that 
 none of the crew of the vessel were murdered Her Majesty's 
 Government are by no means satisfied of this. The pre- 
 sumptive evidence is strong that the persons whose missing 
 bodies are said to have been buried, but whose graves nobody 
 can show, were murdered. But this question of murder is 
 one which could only have been entirely set at rest by an 
 immediate inquest on all the bodies of the crew, and by a 
 prompt and searching investigation. 
 
 Her Majesty's Government regard the excuses made by 
 your Excellency in order to evaae responsibility, — that the 
 coast, where these outrages have been committed by Brazilian 
 subjects on helpless foreigners, is desert and inhospitable, 
 and that after long delays the Imperial Government has 
 failed in discovering the culprits, as totally inadmissible by 
 the Government whose subjects have been injured. 
 
 The time is come when Her -Majesty's Government must 
 ask compensation for the plundering of the wreck and of the 
 bodies ; and they must look for this compensation to the 
 Imperial Government as being responsible for the losses 
 occasioned by the culpable proceedings of their authorities. 
 
 I am, therefore, instructed to demand from the Imperial 
 Government compensation for the losses that have been 
 occasioned to the owner of the " Prince of Wales," by the 
 wholesale plunder of the wreck, and also for the robberies of 
 property of the crew. 
 
 The owner claims : — 
 
 £ s. A 
 For cargo and stores - - 5,500 
 For freight - 1,025 19 
 
 6,525.19 
 Her Majesty's Government do not commit themselves to 
 
224 
 
 the amount thus claimed ; and it will be incumbent on the 
 owner to produce a properly certified estimate of the value, of 
 the cargo and stores^ But when the Imperial , Government 
 shall have admitted the principle, Her Majesty's Government 
 are prepared to accept a fair arbitration on the question as to 
 the actual amount, of compensation to be made, and they will 
 also leave to the arbiter or arbiters to determine the amount 
 of the compensation to be made toihe relatives of the people 
 on board, whose bodies were stripped and plundered. 
 
 In conclusion, I am instructed to state that- Her Majesty's 
 Government, haying regard to the extraordinary delay and 
 procrastination of the Brazilian authorities in this grave 
 matter, must insist that any such arbitration shall be set on 
 foot without loss of time, and shall be conducted with all 
 possible speed to an issue. 
 
 I avail, &c. 
 (Signed) W. D. CHEISTIE. 
 
 No. 71. 
 Mr. Christie to Earl Russell. — (Received January 21, 1863.) 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, December 24, 1862. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 I am unable, as I had hoped/to report by this opportunity 
 definitively on the questions of the " Prince of Wales" and 
 the officers of the " Forte." . 
 
 Having asked the Marquis of Abrantes to endeavour to 
 answer me by the 20th,' I arrived in Bio on the morning of 
 that day, and not finding answers waiting for me, I sent Mr. 
 Brodie to the Secretary of the Marquis, to ask when I might 
 expect answers. Mr. Brodie was informed by the Secretary 
 that the answer in the case of the "Forte" was not quite 
 ready, a report which was expected from the Ministry of 
 Justice not having reached the Marquis ; and that, further, 
 there was to be a meeting of the Cabinet that evening (Satur- 
 day the 20th), when the answers would be finally settled, 
 and that I might count on receiving them on the morning of 
 Monday the 22nd. The. Secretary entered into some further 
 explanations about the notes, from which it was to be inferred" 
 that the two questions were to be discussed, and that in 
 neither case would all the satisfaction which had been 
 demanded be given. 
 
225 
 
 On Monday morning, the 22nd, I reeeived the note of 
 which I enclose a translation, which is dated the 18th, and 
 which simply informed me that the Government of the 
 Emperor had determined to charge their Minister in London 
 to confer with the British Cabinet on the two questions. 
 
 If any reliance is to be placed on what was told to Mr. 
 Brodie by the Secretary of the Marquis, on the 20th, it is to 
 be inferred that the Cabinet changed their plan of proceeding 
 that evening. Bjit how can the date of the 18th, given to the 
 note which had been sent me, be pleasantly accounted for ? 
 
 The enclosed note mentions no additional information to 
 be presented to Her Majesty's Government, and gives no 
 reason for referring the question to London. I have regarded 
 the note as a mere trick to gain time, and stave off a difficulty, 
 and I determined at once not to admit this answer. 
 
 I therefore sought the Marquis of Abrantes, and took Mr. 
 Brodie with me. I stated to the Marquis that I had come to 
 make an important communication, and, as conversations 
 were sometimes misunderstood and unremembered, I thought 
 he might agree with me in wishing that each should be 
 attended by a witness. He therefore called in his < Private 
 Secretary, and the following conversation took place, in the 
 presence of Mr. Brodie. and that gentleman. 
 
 I told the Marquis that I had received his reply with great 
 • regret. I pointed out to him that there was no mention of 
 - any additional information to be presented to Her Majesty's 
 Government, on either question. He said that there was 
 something new to be presented on the " Prince of Wales,," 
 question, and that the Government intended to make, a new 
 explanation of the facts. I replied that a new explanation 
 did not necessarily imply new matter, and that they might 
 communicate to me their new information, and let me judge 
 whether it would justify me in departing from my instruc- 
 tions. I asked him what he meant by the verbal explana- 
 tions which he and the Minister ol Justice had given me, and 
 to which he said that I had paid no attention, adding that-I 
 was not: 'aware of any verbal explanations at .all. He said 
 that he referred to my conversation with him and Senhor 
 Sinimbu, when I saw one and the other, in order to press an 
 inquiry by the police, and he enumerated the occasions. I 
 told him that all these occasions were before the facts had been 
 elicited, and become subjects of discussion ; I repeated that 
 
226 
 
 neither he nor Senhor Sinimbu had given me a single verbal 
 explanation since the communication of the report of the 
 Chief of Police, and of the depositions ; and I reminded him 
 that, when I called on him by appointment to discuss the 
 question, after examining all the documents, he declared 
 himself unprepared to discuss it, and did not propose another 
 conference. All this the Marquis was obliged to admit; and 
 your Lordship will see that the reference in the note to verbal 
 explanations is a disingenuous artifice. I- further informed 
 the Marquis that I could not admit that the depositions had 
 been communicated to me privately (particularmente), as 
 ' he said in his note ; that I had a right to them, and con- 
 sidered that they had been communicated to me officially, as 
 they ought to have been. I also objected to his stating tbat 
 I had given him a " peremptory" term for answering ; I had 
 suggested that he should endeavour to give me answers by 
 the 20th, and in fact, his note dated the 18th was not sent to 
 me till the 22nd. 
 
 Having thus criticised the note, I told the Marquis that 
 my .instructions were, if satisfaction was not given in these 
 two cases, to address myself to the English Admiral. I said 
 I regarded his note as quite unsatisfactory. I begged him to 
 believe that I now came on my own responsibility to tell 
 him of the consequences of a persistence in refusal of satis- 
 faction, and hoped that he and his colleagues would take the 
 communication in the same spirit in which I made it. My 
 desire was not to menace them (I had purposely abstained 
 from coming near him until I got his answer), but impress 
 them with the gravity of the occasion, which they probably 
 had not figured to themselves, and to do what I could to 
 prevent disagreeable events and preserve friendly relations 
 between the two Governments. I mentioned that the Admiral, 
 who was waiting here with his squadron beyond the usual 
 period, was beginning to be uneasy about the heat and the 
 health of the crews, and I gave this as a reason for my not 
 being able to give them any long time for further delibera- 
 tion. Having asked the Marquis whether he could let me 
 have ah answer by the next evening (23rd) as to whether 
 the Brazilian Government would continue to treat with me 
 as to the satisfaction . demanded, and finding that he was 
 disposed to make difficulties about the shortness of time, I 
 told him that I would wait till after the departure of the 
 
227 
 
 French steamer, and give him till the morning of Saturday, 
 the 27th, hoping that the Brazilian Government would regard 
 this as an additional proof of moderation and deference. The 
 Marquis promised me an answer by noon of the 27th. I 
 took occasion, then to point out to him strongly that the 
 Brazilian Government were greatly mistaken if they sup- 
 posed that, in referring the matter to London, they would be 
 appealing from me to Her Majesty's Government. The 
 appeal would be to Her Majesty's Government from them- 
 selves. Her Majesty's Government had before them all the 
 information communicated to me,- had judged the question 
 for themselves, and framed the demands. 
 
 In leaving the Marquis, I expressed my hope that the step 
 which I had taken would lead to a more agreeable settlement 
 of these questions than I thought likely when I first read his 
 note, and he replied, in taking my hand, that he did not 
 doubt it (" je ne m'en doute pas"). 
 
 I saw him again the next morning, when I added that I 
 hoped he and his colleagues woujd make the best use of the 
 interval for deliberating on the demands made by Her 
 Majesty's Government, and that, having already assigned 
 Saturday for an answer as to whether they would continue 
 to treat with me, I should be unable to wait longer than the 
 •evening of the following Monday, the 29th, for satisfaction 
 on the two questions, and if by that time, unfortunately, I 
 should not have satisfactory answers on the main questions, 
 I should be obliged, in accordance with my instructions, to 
 address myself to the Admiral. The Marquis replied that on 
 the evening of Saturday the whole question, would be dis- 
 cussed by the Cabinet, and that he intended to ask me to 
 have- a conference with him on the Sunday. . I hope, there- 
 fore, P am right in concluding that the intention of referring 
 the questions to London was immediately abandoned. 
 
 I took oare not to give the Marquis any idea of the nature 
 of the measures which the Admiral would take if he were 
 obliged to act. 
 
 I have, &c., 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE* 
 
 * The note of the MaTquis of Abrantes, enclosed in this despatch, i% 
 .resumed in his note of December 29, Enclosure 1 in Np. 72, p. 239. 
 
 Q 2 
 
"228 
 
 No. 72. 
 
 Mr. Christie to Earl Russell.— ( Received February 4. J 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, January 8, 1863. 
 •(Extract.) 
 
 • I reported to your Lordship in rhy despatch of December 
 24 that I had given the Brazilian Government till the 29th 
 of last month to come to a satisfactory arrangement on the 
 •questions of the " Prince of Wales " and the officers of the 
 " Forte," before calling on Admiral Warren to act. On the 
 29th I received a reply which, in my judgment, rendered it 
 incumbent on me to call on Admiral Warren to make re- 
 prisals according to his instructions. Eeprisals have been 
 made. His mode of ■ proceeding, deliberately- adopted in 
 concert with me for reasons which I will explain latex, has 
 caused a virtual blockade of the port of Eio for Brazilian 
 vessels going out, from the 31st ultimo to the 6th of this 
 month. From the morning of the 31st, the Brazilian Govern- 
 ment have known that I was ready to entertain for the con- 
 sideration of Her. Majesty's Government a proposal for refer- 
 ring both questions to arbitration, and ready, in fact, to agree 
 to such terms for cessation of the reprisals and release of the 
 prizes as they at last enabled me to agree to on the night of 
 the 5th. There has been no collision with the navy or forts 
 of Brazil. The reprisals were made without employing force. 
 There has been no disturbance of the public peace, though on 
 the 5th there was imminent danger of riots on the following 
 -day, the 6th, which was a holiday ; and it is fortunate that 
 the Brazilian Government came to terms on the 5th The 
 Brazilian Government have agreed to pay whatever sum Her 
 Majesty's Government may demand as just compensation in 
 the case of the " Prince of Wales," preferring this to a pro- 
 posal of arbitration, which I recommended to them ; and in 
 the case of the officers of the " Forte," they make a proposal- 
 ■ of arbitration which Her Majesty's Government- are free to 
 accept or decline. 
 
 I will now relate in detail the course of my proceedings. 
 
 I called on the Marquis of Abrantes, by previous arrange- 
 ment, on the morning of the 27th, and had a conference 
 of several hours.. He had caused to be prepared two long 
 memoranda, which were read by his Secretary ; and we 
 discussed them as he read. These memoranda", as your Lord- 
 ship will see, contain little that is new, and nothing new of 
 
229 
 
 importance; and have for their end to justify entirely the 
 proceedings of the Brazilian Government and authorities in 
 the-,' t»Wo questions. The Marquis conceded nothing f and 
 made no proposal. I took the memoranda away with me, 
 and promised to tell the Marquis in the evening, when it was 
 "agreed that he should call on me, whether I could withdraw 
 any part of the demands. When he came to me in the 
 evening, I told him that I could see nothing in the memo- 
 randa to justify me in making any material change in the 
 demands ; but that I was ready to take on myself to accept, 
 instead of a public censure on the Chief of Police, an expla- 
 nation which could not hurt his feelings. 
 
 I have been satisfied that the remark of the Chief of Police, 
 whom I know, imputing intoxication to the officers, was not 
 intended offensively ; and that all that he meant was that he 
 concluded from the 'nature of the charge, that the officers 
 had acted foolishly, as young officers may sometimes do, 
 under the influence of wine ; and I hope your Lordship will 
 approve of the modification of the demand as regards the 
 Chief of Police, for I am convinced that it is just. 
 
 Again, the Marquis of Abrantes made no admission, or 
 concession, or proposal ; and this led me to think that the 
 Brazilian Government intended to' accord our demands. 
 * The next morning, the Private Secretary of the Marquis 
 of Abrantes came to me at an early hour before I was out of 
 bed, and waited to see me. He came, he told me, from the 
 Marquis, to ascertain whether he had correctly understood 
 what I had said the evening before about the Chief of Police, 
 and about making no further modification of the demands. 
 I repeated what I had said to the Marquis. " 
 
 The next evening (the 29th), I received the reply of the 
 Brazilian Government, which ended as follows : — 
 
 " In the name, then, of the Government of His Majesty 
 the Emperor, as regards the claim relative to the wreck- of 
 the "Prince of Wales," as soon as Mr. Christie, disregarding 
 and despising all the considerations and proofs alleged by 
 the Imperial Government to justify their conduct, and that 
 of the Brazilian authorities, demands a pecuniary indemnity 
 for the losses and injuries of that shipwreekj I have to state 
 to him — 
 
 " 1st. That the Government of His Majesty the Emperor 
 cannot and should not accede to the principle of responsi? 
 
230 
 
 bility which is applied, and against which it protests aloud 
 and positively ) 
 
 "2nd. That it refuses peremptorily to consent to take 
 part in the proposed adjustment of losses suffered by the 
 owners of the wrecked vessel, and the indemnification de- 
 manded for the supposed assassinations ; 
 
 " 3rd. Finally, that,' if it should be obliged to yield to 
 force in this pecuniary question, it will pay, protesting, how- 
 ever, against the violence which is done, the sum which 
 Mr. Christie or the Government of Her Britannic Majesty 
 may wish. 
 
 " And as regards the question relative to the officers of the 
 frigate ' Forte,' I have to declare to Mr. Christie that the Im- 
 perial Government, conscious that the police authorities, as 
 has been proved, did not fail in the attentions due to the 
 British navy in their proceedings towards three individuals 
 dressed in plain clothes, who refused to give their names and 
 ranks, it equally cannot and should not satisfy the demands 
 of the ultimatum ; and however much it may deplore the 
 calamities which may result from this determination, it 
 judges hetter and more honourable to endure them than to 
 sacrifice the honour and dignity of the nation." 
 
 After some deliberation I felt that I had no alternative 
 but to call on the Admiral to proceed to execute his instruc- 
 tions as to reprisals. 
 
 • The mode of making reprisals had been the subject of much 
 consultation between myself and Admiral Warren, principally 
 with a view of doing everything possible to avoid a collision 
 between the two governments. With this view Admiral 
 Warren had resolved to take no ships, public or private, in 
 the port of Eio, where he might have been fired upon in 
 the first moment of anger by the Brazilian men-of-war, or 
 from the forts, but to send out two steamers to intercept 
 Brazilian vessels out of sight of land. As, if it had been 
 known beforehand what these steamers went out for, they 
 might have received some obstruction from the forts in going 
 out, it was judged best to send them out the evening before 
 my announcement of reprisals was made to the Brazilian 
 Government. The " Stromboli " went out in the evening of 
 the 80th, the " Curlew " followed her at daylight next morn- 
 ing, and by 9 o'clock that morning my note announcing the 
 Admiral's intentions was in the hands of "the Marquis of 
 
231 
 
 Abrantes. The Admiral remained in harbour with his flag- 
 ship the " Forte," and kept with him the " Satellite," and the 
 "Dotterel," a despatch boat. 
 
 The news of the intended reprisals, as may be supposed, 
 caused immediately great excitement in Rio, and especially 
 in the mercantile community. I proceeded at an early hour 
 to the British Consulate, and remained there all day, to be 
 in readiness to receive British merchants and others, and 
 give every information in my power. I am glad to be able 
 to say that the British community, though taken quite by 
 surprise, and, besides sharing in the general uneasiness, 
 having special cause of alarm for, themselves, have generally 
 shown a most praiseworthy spirit, and abstained from every 
 word or deed which might in any way thwart my proceedings 
 under your Lordship's instructions. The Brazilians naturally 
 made efforts to induce British merchants to remonstrate 
 against measures from which they might probably for a time 
 suffer. Some few who at first thought of taking some such 
 step quickly yielded to good advice. 
 
 Senhor Sinimbu, the Minister of Commerce, proceeded in 
 the course of the day to the Exchange, and there addressed 
 a crowded and excited audience of merchants. He told the 
 Brazilians that, before and above all, the Government would 
 guard the honour of the nation. He said that the Govern- 
 ment would take on itself the indemnification of all losses 
 which "the Brazilian commerce" might suffer from the 
 threatened reprisals. Addressing the English, he begged them 
 to believe that they were regarded as friends, pursuing a 
 ealling beneficial to Brazil, and that the Government would 
 see to their safety. He then proceeded to say that the 
 Government had received what he chose to call my ulti- 
 matum only that morning, and that it had been known the 
 day before in the commercial community. This certainly 
 was most untrue, and I have given him the opportunity, which 
 he has not used, of mentioning any one who knew it. In the 
 enclosures your Lordship will see a note which I addressed to 
 the Marquis of Abrantes, denying Senhor Sinimbu's. statement. 
 It was of the utmost importance to keep the plan of reprisals 
 a secret, and no one knew of -them till that day, except 
 myself and Mr. Brodie, Admiral Warren and his Secretary, 
 and the two Commanders who had gone out with their orders. 
 
 At an early hour in the forenoon of that day, December 
 31st, a suggestion was made to the Marquis of Abrantes 
 
282 
 
 and to the Marquis of Olinda, the President of the Council, 
 by the Baron de Maud, one of .the greatest capitalists and 
 most spirited and patriotic citizens of Brazil, who is at the 
 same time largely connected with British commerce and 
 a friend to Great Britain, to propose to me to refer the ques- 
 tions in. dispute to arbitration. , I had every reason to believe 
 that this suggestion was well received, and that the result of 
 a Cabinet Council to be held that evening presided over by 
 His Majesty the Emperor would be a note to me making such 
 a proposal, and at the same time offering to pay at once under 
 protest whatever sum might be demanded in the case of the 
 " Prince of Wales." At 11 o'clock that night I received a 
 note quite different from what I had been led to' expect, and 
 from what I have good reason to know was proposed by the 
 Marquis of Abrantes, a note informing me that the. 'Govern- 
 ment of the Emperor would appeal to the British Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 In my reply to this note, date.d the 1st January, I expressed 
 my grief at this resolution, as it would necessarily prevent a 
 release of the prizes till I could receive instructions from 
 your Lordship, and declared my readiness to entertain for the 
 consideration of Her Majesty's Government any reasonable 
 proposal, such as one of arbitration. 
 
 This note succeeded in recalling for the second time the 
 Brazilian Government from their resolution of appealing direct 
 to Her Majesty's Government. 
 
 In the meantime the newspapers had been generally busy 
 in trying to fix the odium of our proceedings on me personally, 
 and in representing that Her Majesty's Government would 
 disavow them ; and the official journal had also held this 
 language. There was a general excitement against me. I 
 was threatened with assassination. The Brazilian Govern- 
 ment, without any application direct or indirect from me, 
 and without any communication with me, had placed a strong 
 guard near my residence to protect me. I wrote a note on 
 the morning of the 3rd to the Marquis of Abrantes protesting 
 against the language of the official journal, to which I received 
 no answer till yesterday the 7th. Under these circumstances 
 I thought it right to decline to go to the house of the Marquis 
 of Abrantes for a propbseQ conference, and to ask him either 
 to come or to send his Secretary to me ; and I did not hesi- 
 tate to let him, and others know, that as long as the official 
 'Tnewspaper was permitted without" reproof or contradiction to 
 
233 
 
 fix these proceedings personally on me, I would not, unless 
 absolutely compelled by a refusal of the Marquis to come 
 himself or send his Secretary to me, expose myself to insult 
 or injury by going out to the house of a Minister who, under 
 the circumstances, would be in a great measure responsible 
 for any such disagreeable incident.. 
 
 The Marquis, pleading illness and fatigue, sent his Secre- 
 tary to me on the evening of the 3rd, and after a long con- 
 ference I drew up the enclosed memorandum as a basis of 
 arrangement : — 
 
 1. The Brazilian Government had declared their readiness 
 to pay immediately under protest whatever sum I or Her 
 Majesty's -Government might demand in the affair of the 
 " Prince of "Wales." I voluntarily proposed that they should 
 oblige themselves to pay whatever Her Majesty's Goverment 
 might demand. I was not able myself to fix the sum,' and 
 could only have named a sum large enough to cover all con- 
 tingencies, which would have been invidious; and I wished to 
 show perfect confidence in the honour of the Brazilian Govern- 
 ment on this point. I also urged their proposing to refer this 
 question; as well as that of the officers of the " Forte," to 
 arbitration ; and their refusal of arbitration naturally deprives 
 their protest of force, and precludes any reproach against Her 
 Majesty's Government for fixing, as they are asked to do, the 
 amount of compensation. 
 
 2. The question of the officers of T;he "Forte " to be referred 
 to arbitration ; and I advised the Brazilian Government to 
 enable me confidentially to inform your Lordship of some 
 arbiters who would satisfy them, that Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment might at* once have some choice, and also with a view to 
 the possibility of refusal of any one proposed arbiter. 
 
 3. I asked for an explicit-declaration as to the readiness of 
 the Brazilian Government to indemnify any subjects of third 
 Governments who, as owners of cargo, might suffer from our 
 seizures of Brazilian vessels. . The Brazilian Minister of Com- 
 merce had declared in his speech at the Exchange, as reported 
 in the official journal, that the Government Would take on 
 themselves" to indemnify all losses sustained by the Brazilian 
 commerce, and, as this phrase certainly did not include 
 English merchants, it would probably not be understood as 
 
 • including more than Brazilians. 
 
 4. 1 insisted on a. publication, without delay, of all the 
 correspondence on both questions prior to the 5th December, 
 
234 
 
 the Brazilian Government having already,, since the reprisals 
 began, published the correspondence from that day. Without 
 the anterior correspondence, in which the two Brazilian 
 memoranda are answered by anticipation, it is impossible for 
 any one to understand fully or judge fairly the questions. 
 
 5. I undertook on such conditions to stop reprisals and re- 
 store prizes. 
 
 The Brazilian Cabinet determined to call together the 
 Council of State to consider these terms of arrangement. The 
 Council of State deliberated two days, the 4th and the 5th, 
 His Majesty the Emperor presiding on the second day. 
 
 Meanwhile, in the afternoon of the 4th, Her Majesty's ship 
 " Stromboli " re-entered the harbour, to report to the Admiral 
 the prizes which had been taken, and which had been left in 
 charge of the " Curlew." I much lamented that the slowness 
 of the Brazilian Government had prevented an arrangement 
 before the arrival of the news of the captures. The details 
 of the captures appeared next morning in the papers, and, 
 as was to be expected, caused great excitement. The 
 excitement in Rio that day was such. as has never been seen 
 since the execution of the provisions of the " Aberdeen Act " 
 in Brazilian, ports, when Sir James Hudson was Minister. 
 There was serious fear of riots in the centre of the city, and 
 the British Consulate was surrounded for some time by a 
 menacing mob. 
 
 Senhor Sinimbu, the Minister of Commerce, appeared en 
 the scene and did much to calm and restrain the populace, 
 excited by demagogues. His Majesty the Emperor traversed, 
 the city, and addressed crowds in different parts. The speeches 
 of His Majesty and of Senhor Sinimbu were principally 
 directed to assuring the populace that the honour of Brazil 
 was safe. This was the tone best suited to please and quiet 
 the Brazilian mind. It was generally reported and believed 
 that the Council of State, which concluded its deliberations 
 that forenoon, had resolved to reject all terms of arrangement, 
 and that I was to receive my passports. 
 
 The Council of State, however, had decided quite the other 
 way ; and at 3 o'clock that afternoon the Secretary of the 
 Marquis of Abrantes came to me with a draft of a note to be 
 addressed to me. This proposed note began with offering me 
 a personal satisfaction by declaring that the Imperial Govern- 
 ment, in proposing to appeal from me to the British Cabinet, 
 had not intended to impugn my justice or honour, ^and pro- 
 
235 
 
 ceeded in very satisfactory terms to do what had been pro- 
 posed in the memorandum drawn up in my conference with 
 the Secretary on the 3rd, viz., pay under protest what might 
 be demanded in the case of the " Prince of Wales," and pro- 
 pose to Her Majesty's Government to refer the question of the 
 officers of the " Forte " to arbitration. I made some sugges- 
 tions on points of language and form, and the Secretary 
 carried away with him the draft, telling me that it would be 
 submitted by the Marquis to his colleagues, but that no 
 essential change would be made in it, and that I might ex- 
 pect to receive the note at 10 o'clock that evening. At the 
 appointed time I received a note which, though it-may be 
 said that nothing essential in the terms of arrangement was 
 changed, was entirely different in form and tone from the 
 draft which I had seen, and contained many changes of ex- 
 pression and additions which required careful consideration. 
 After reading the note, I told M Calogeras, the Private Secret 
 tary, that this note would be accepted by me as it #pod if 
 necessary, and that I should not let the proposed afrange- 
 ment go off, but that without some changes it would be im- 
 possible for me to abstain from a controversial reply. J am 
 happy to say that all the changes which I suggested were 
 ultimately made, but this involved a delay till the next day. 
 
 I will call your Lordship's attention to two passages which 
 remain in the note of the 5th, which were inserted after I 
 had seen the draft of the Marquis of Abrantes. The first is 
 the condition attached to the arbitration in the " Forte " 
 question. The words accurately translated are : — " It being 
 understood that the said arbiter will have to decide, not with 
 regard to the duly of the Imperial Government to cause the 
 laws of its country to be executed, but only whether in the 
 way those laws were applied in the case of the officers- of the 
 ' Forte ' there was any offence offered to the British navy." I 
 have taken special pains to ascertain the meaning of this 
 condition ; and it is nothing more than a formal reservation 
 of the right of the Imperial Government to execute inde- 
 pendently the laws of BraziL The other passage inserted was 
 the concluding paragraph, in which it is stated that, if this 
 proposal of arbitration is rejected by Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment, the Government of Brazil returns to its formerly an- 
 nounced resolution of submitting to all calamities rather than 
 yield 
 
 The passage of the draft acquitting me of injustice was 
 
236 
 
 omitted in the note as ultimately settled ; but a statement of 
 the same sort has been since made, in a note dated the 6th, 
 which your Lordship will see in the enclosed correspondence. 
 
 At last, then, after many delays and difficulties, at mid-day 
 on the 6th the arrangement was finally made, and the two notes 
 dated the 5th were exchanged. I was at the same time pro- 
 mised that I should receive a separate note, declaring the in- 
 tention of the Imperial Government to indemnify owners of 
 cargoes of third nations. I cannot say that this promise has 
 been promptly or ingenuously fulfilled ; but the quick release 
 of the prizes renders this point of little importance. 
 
 The Brazilian Government had already published the cor- 
 respondence up -to the note of the Marquis of Abrantes of the 
 2nd, agreeing to treat, and it was promised me that the 
 remainder of the correspondence, including the two notes of 
 the 5th, should be published next morning, and the arrange- 
 ment which had been made thus be explained and made 
 known to the public. 
 
 The news having been circulated on the 6th that an 
 arrangement had been come to which would stop reprisals 
 and cause immediate a release of the prizes, allayed excitement, 
 and prevented any disturbances such as had been expected 
 that day, a general'holiday. 
 
 The stoppage of the reprisals was necessarily a great relief 
 to trade, for no Brazilian vessel had been able to leave the 
 port while the reprisals were proceeding. 
 
 In the course of the afternoon the Admiral despatched Her 
 Majesty's ship "Stromboli," with orders to release the prizes, 
 and then proceed at full speed to Pernambuco, in order to be 
 there if possible on the first arrival of the news of recent 
 events, which might cause excitement and render British 
 residents uneasy ; and with the same view he dispatched at 
 the same time Her Majesty's ship "Satellite" to Bahia, and 
 Her Majesty's gun-boat "Dotterel," to Eio Grande do Sul. • 
 
 On the morning of the 7th the correspondence was not pub-' 
 lished, as had been promised. Instead of the promised pufc 
 lication there appeared in the official journal and another 
 newspaper a false explanation, bearing an official appearance, 
 of the non-publication ; it being stated that the publication 
 was delayed until the condition of the actual release of the 
 prizes was fulfilled. This had not been a condition for 
 publication ; it was a condition precedent for - sending orders 
 to London to pay the money in the case of the " Prince of 
 
237 
 
 Wales," and for taking any necessary steps with a view fp 
 the proposed arbitration. In other, journals articles appeared 
 distorting and misrepresenting the arrangement made,- and 
 describing it as a great triumph of the Brazilian Government, 
 and a great humiliation of the English Legation. These 
 articles showed a knowledge of the terms of the arrangement 
 and of incidents of the negotiation which could only have 
 been derived from some member of the Brazilian Government. 
 
 I deeply regret to have to state to your Lordship the cause 
 and the effect of this unworthy and mischievous proceeding. 
 
 The Secretary of the Marquis of Abrantes, whom indeed 
 I had sent to, came to me at an easly hour, to express the 
 astonishment and indignation of the Marquis at the non- 
 publication, and at the explanation given in the official 
 journal, to assure me that he had given orders for the publi- 
 cation, and that it had been stopped without his knowledge, 
 and to promise that the publication should be made without 
 fail the next day, and the statement of the official journal con- 
 tradicted I have learnt, beyond a doubt, that the publication 
 was stopped by Senhor Sinimbu, the Minister of Public 
 Works, who held a conference that evening with the editors 
 of the newspapers, and gave them the cue for the vexy objec- 
 tionable articles which appeared the next morning. The 
 object of course was to anticipate the publication of the 
 correspondence by misstatements intended to create the 
 impression that the Brazilian Government had gained ar 
 victory, and thus to prevent public clamour against the 
 Ministry. It has filled me with astonishment to learn that 
 Senhor Sinimbu should have so acted Two of the editors 
 with whom he conferred, and the misdirected praises of whose 
 journals he obtained, are two demagogues, and have been 
 most vehement opponents of the Government, Senhor Ottoni 
 and Senhor Saldanha Marinho, and the object was to gain 
 their support on this national question. 1 am quite satisfied 
 that the Marquis of Abrantes was an entire stranger to 
 this improper 'proceeding, and that his indignation was not 
 feigned 
 
 It is rumoured that Senhor Sinimbu has been severely 
 called to account by his . colleagues, and that he may be 
 obliged to retire. from the Government.' It is, indeed, diffi- 
 cult to understand how a member of the Cabinet, who has 
 thus cpaflucted himself, can be permitted or wish to remain. 
 
 The effect of Senhor Sinimbu's proceeding was a revival in 
 
238 
 
 the course of the day (the 7th) of the excitement, specially 
 directed against the English. In the course of the afternoon, 
 Mr. Hollocombe, the Acting Consul, came to me attended by 
 two English gentlemen, to represent to me the renewal of 
 fears of disturbances in the city. Similar intelligence had 
 already reached me through others. The Brazilians were 
 going about noisily representing the English as humbled," and 
 taunting and insulting them. 1 took the Consul with ine 
 immediately to the house of the Marquis of Abrantes. I 
 told his Excellency that there was again excitement and 
 alarm in the city, and that the English Consul was there to 
 tell him the state of things, and the fears of the English 
 merchants. I told him that this had come from the articles 
 in that morning's papers, and that I knew, and that he knew, 
 what had been Senhor Sinimbu's proceedings. I added that 
 I declared to him officially that for any injuries that might 
 now arise to English persons and property, I should consider 
 Senhor Sinimbu, the Minister of Commerce, -responsible, and 
 thatas he had given the tone to that morning's articles repre- 
 senting England as humbled, it would be in his power to 
 influence these same journals to discontinue that strain. Tha 
 Marquis of Abrantes made no reply to these remarks beyond 
 assuring me that he would take immediate steps for the 
 maintenance of public tranquillity and order. Such steps, I 
 know, were immediately taken. 
 
 This morning, a part of the correspondence has been pub- 
 lished, including the two notes of the 5th ; and although I 
 have had still to complain that some of the notes have not 
 appeared, enough has been published to make known the 
 truth. The city has today been perfectly tranquil; 
 
 I have received in the course of today a note, 6f which a 
 translation is enclosed, informing me that the Government of 
 the Emperor propose His Majesty the King of Belgium as 
 arbitrator. I understand that all the documents belonging 
 to the question are to be forwarded by this steamer to the 
 Brazilian Minister at Brussels. The Imperial Government 
 seem to take for granted that His Majesty will agree to act as 
 arbiter, and have not followed my advice to submit several 
 names to Her Majesty's Government. 
 
 I will not conclude this report without saying that I have 
 had most effective assistance from Admiral Warren in these 
 proceedings. I trust that our conduct will obtain tlje 
 approval of Her Majesty's Government. 
 
239 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 72. 
 The Marquis of Abrantes to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Ministry of Foreign AffaiTS, Rio de Janeiro, 
 December 29, 1862. 
 
 (Translation.) ' 
 
 I have before me the three notes which, under the date of 
 the 5th instant, Mr. Willliaui Dougal Christie, &e., addressed 
 to me. 
 
 In two of these notes Mr. Christie, persisting in the claims 
 which he had brought forward on account of the wreck of the 
 barque " Prince of Wales," and of the disagreeable occurrence 
 which took place at Tijuca between police authorities and 
 some officers of the " Forte" frigate, called in the name of the 
 Government of Her Britannic Majesty upon that of His 
 Majesty the . Emperor for a pecuniary indemnity for the 
 losses and damages arising from that shipwreck, and satis- 
 faction for the disrespectful manner in which the said officers 
 were treated. 
 
 In the third note, Mr. Christie confined himself to the 
 fixing of a peremptory term, within which the Imperial 
 Government was to answer the demands contained in the 
 other two. 
 
 The Imperial Government having duly taken into con- 
 sideration Mr. Christie's three notes, and appreciating the 
 terms in which they are expressed, on the one hand- concluded 
 that, after the discussion which has taken place between this 
 Ministry and Her Britannic Majesty's Legation respecting 
 the claim for the shipwreck of the barque " Prince of Wales," 
 further efforts to convince Mr. Christie of the justice with 
 which the said Government contested that claim, or to arrive 
 in this capital at a satisfactory result, so desirable for the 
 maintenance of the good relations existing between the two 
 countries, and for the dignity of the respective Governments, 
 would be useless ; and it had observed, on the other hand, 
 that Mr. Christie solely on the basis of the answer which,, 
 in his note of the 19th of August last, he presented against 
 the report made by the police of the city, which was privately 
 confided to him frankly, and disregarding the verbal expla- 
 nations given to him not only by myself, but principally by 
 the Minister of Justice, considered the question as concluded, 
 
240 
 
 and communicated the resolution taken by his Government 
 iu this respect. ' 
 
 Under such circumstances it appeared to the Government 
 of His Majesty the Emperor, that the only alternative which 
 remained for its adoption, in consonance with the sentiments 
 of, moderation and benevolence which it entertains towards 
 the Government of Her Britannic Majesty, and the confidence 
 with which it is inspired in the principles of justice and recti- 
 tude of that Government, was that of instructing the Brazilian 
 Minister in London to come to an express understanding with 
 the British Cabinet on the subject of the two claims to which 
 I have referred. 
 
 The Imperial Government having taken that resolution, 
 1 hastened to communicate the same to Mr. Christie in the 
 note which I had the honour to address to him under the 
 date of the 1 8th instant. . * 
 
 Mr. Christie did not think it convenient to reply in 
 writing to this note of mine. On the 22nd, at about half- 
 past three o'clock in the afternoon, he had the goodness to 
 call at the house in which I reside, in order to confer ver- 
 bally with me. 
 
 After exchanging some words about the claims in question, 
 Mr. Christie informed me that he had just received from his 
 Government the most peremptory instructions respecting 
 these claims. 
 
 That not only they imposed on him the duty of making 
 the' demands contained in his three notes of the 5th instant, 
 but also of giving the necessary instructions to the Admiral 
 commanding in chief the English squadron in this port, if 
 the said demands were not promptly complied with. 
 
 That what he said did not signify a menace, but the com- 
 munication of instructions received. 
 
 That his Government having ordered him to carry imme- 
 diately into execution the demands contained in his three 
 notes of the 5th instant, or to have recourse to the Admiral, 
 no more time was left for instructing the Brazilian Minister 
 in London to treat of the subjects in question ; the only means 
 for examining the prosecution of the said demands being that 
 of resuming the respective discussions with Mr. Christie himself. 
 
 Mr* Christie will doubtless remember that I asked him 
 to address to me a note in the sense of the verbal communi- 
 cation which he had just made to me ; he will likewise remem- 
 ber his ^aaswering me that he did not consider convenient the 
 
241 
 
 discussion of the said communication in a note, for which 
 reason he resolved to make it verbally ; and then insisted on 
 a day and hour being fixed for an answer. 
 
 On the morning of the 23rd Mr. Christie again called upon 
 me, for the purpose of telling me that he was going that day 
 to 'Petropolis, whence he would return on Saturday the 27th, 
 to receive my answer. 
 
 I told him that I would be ready to give him one, and that 
 I hoped to offer him on that occasion a verbal conference 
 and fresh explanations and elucidations, which might per- 
 haps induce him to reconsider the questions. 
 
 To this Mr. Christie agreed, observing to me, however, 
 at once, -that he would receive my definitive answer on 
 Monday, the 29th, because, in conformity with his instruc- 
 tions, he was not permitted to wait any longer. 
 
 In fact, the conference agreed to took place on Saturday, 
 the 27th. 
 
 According to promise, I tendered to Mr. Christie fresh 
 explanations and more developed elucidations about both 
 the pending questions, and presented him with a memoran- 
 dum relative to each of these questions, accompanied by 
 documents in confirmation of the allegations and arguments 
 with which Mr. Christie's propositions were contested, as 
 regards both claims. 
 
 Unhappily, this effort was unfruitful, and Mr. Christie 
 finally declared that he persisted in his demands, as primi- 
 tively made. 
 
 It therefore becomes my duty to give Mr. Christie this 
 day the answer of the Imperial Government relative to the 
 claims in question. 
 
 "With a view, however, to exhaust all conciliatory means, 
 and to render evident not only the purity of the intentions 
 of the Imperial Government, but also the perfect conscious- 
 ness, which it has of the rectitude and regularity of its pro- 
 ceedings, I will make one more appeal to the circumspection 
 and discernment of Mr. Christie in sending him copies of the 
 memoranda which I produced to him. in the conference of 
 Saturday, and to. which I now again pressingly claim his 
 matured attention. 
 
 In those papers facts are explained in the clearest manner, 
 and each of the observations which they suggested to Mr. 
 Christie is appreciated, which is as much as to say that the 
 Imperial Government has frankly and loyally employed all 
 
242 
 
 possibly. efforts towards showing the causelessness of these 
 claims, and consequently the necessary propriety, for the 
 existing good understanding -between the two countries, and 
 the most important relations which bind Great Britain to 
 Brazil, that the demands of Mr. Christie in his notes be re- 
 considered. 
 
 And the Imperial Government makes this last appeal not 
 only in the interest, which it considers most important,, of 
 avoiding the incalculable evils which perchance might result 
 from a disturbance of the friendly relations existing between 
 the' two countries, but also from the conviction that the 
 claims in question, even admitting to a certain degree the 
 apprehensions and appreciations relative thereto, which have 
 been manifested by the Legation of Her Britannic Majesty, 
 do not call for the solution insisted upon by Mr. Christie. 
 
 As Mr. Christie perfectly knows, such measures are only 
 taken in extreme cases, when no honorable means remain for 
 the attainment of a pacific solution. 
 
 That hypothesis certainly does not exist in regard to either 
 of the pending questions ; it is difficult, if not impossible, to 
 demonstrate that the Imperial Government throughout the 
 whole of its proceedings has, in any way, showed repugnance 
 or opposition to the amicable conclusion of both claims. 
 
 If from special circumstances which it would be useless to 
 enumerate, and which are inseparable from a new country, 
 which occupies, a vast extent of territory, a great part of 
 which has still to be populated, in which communications ' 
 are difficult, and consequently the action of the Government 
 is tardy, some delay at times occur in the solution of claims 
 and questions, which arise, and the examination of them does 
 not always, produce so complete and satisfactory a result as 
 were to be wished, that certainly ought not to create ill will, 
 and still less a disrespect or offence, particularly when no 
 interest, nor basis exists to justify or authorise such a suppo- 
 sition. 
 
 If this be the case, it is not less true that a nation, 
 although comparatively weak in relation to the other, cannot 
 be indifferent to acts which lead . to the humiliation of its 
 sovereignty and of its dignity, and which do not meet with 
 any explanation or countenance in reason and in universal 
 justice. 
 
 In order to guard against such a position, to prevent the 
 immense evils which must necessarily be. expected from it, 
 
243 
 
 and finally in order to refuse on. its part all responsibility, the 
 Government of His Majesty the Emperor addresses these con- 
 siderations to Mr. Christie. 
 
 In the meanwhile, if, contrary to what the Imperial Govern- 
 ment has a right to expect from so powerful and enlightened 
 a nation as the British; Mr. Christie should persist in his 
 demands, if in spite of all that is brought forward and all the 
 irrefragable proofs which haye been tendered, he should think 
 that he ought to carry into effect the announced ultimatum of 
 his Government, in having recourse for that purpose to The 
 Admiral commanding Her Britannic Majesty's naval forces 
 assembled in this port, itwill or^y remain, in such a con- 
 juncture, to the Government of His Majesty the Emperor, 
 saying above all the national dignity, to protest mo§t 
 solemnly against the unusual principles which it is pretended 
 to establish, and being intimately convinced of the perfeo* 
 justice of its cause, but which it cannot make valid, to sub- 
 mit to the conditions which, may be imposed upon it by main 
 force, and to appeal to the enlightened and impartial judg- 
 ment of the civilised nations. 
 
 In the name, therefore, of the Government of His Majesty 
 the Emperor, as regards the claim concerning the shipwreck 
 of the barque "Prince of Wales," if Mr. Christie, disal- 
 lowing and disregarding all the considerations and proofs 
 alleged on the part of the Imperial Government in justifica- 
 tion of its proceedings, and those of the subaltern authorities, 
 insists upon a pecuniary indemnification for the losses and 
 damages of that shipwreck, I have the honour to declare to 
 him : — 
 
 "1." That the Government of His* Majesty the Emperor 
 neither can nor ought to accede to the principle of responsi- 
 bility attributed to it, and against which it loudly and cate- 
 gorically protests. 
 
 2. That it peremptorily refuses to consent or intervene in 
 the proposed liquidation of the losses suffered by the owners 
 of the shipwrecked barque, and in the indemnification de- 
 manded for the supposed assassinations. 
 
 3. Finally that, if obliged to yield to force in this pecuniary 
 question, it will pay, tinder protest also against the violence 
 that may be offered to it, any sum that Mr. Christie or the 
 Government of Her Britannic Majesty may choose to demand. 
 
 As to the question concerning the officers of the " forte" 
 frigate, I have to declare to Mr. Christie that the Imperial 
 
 K 2 
 
244 
 
 Government, being convinced that the authorities of police, 
 as has been shown, were not wanting in the regard due to the 
 British navy in their proceedings towards three individuals 
 dressed in plain clothes, who refused to give their names and 
 calling, equally cannot, and should not satisfy the demands of 
 the ultimatum ; and however much it deplores the evils 
 which may result from this determination, it considers that it 
 is more honourable to suffer .them than to sacrifice the 
 national decorum and dignity. 
 
 ''" I renew, &c, 
 
 (Signed) THE MAEQUIS OP ABEANTES. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 72. 
 Memorandum on the Question of the "Prince of Wales." 
 
 (Translation.) 
 
 The shipwreck of this vessel took place on the coast of 
 Albardao, which comprises more than forty leagues, fre- 
 quented by ill-disposed men, for the greatest part wanderers, 
 and intimately connected with the natives of the Oriental 
 State who inhabit the neighbourhood of the Chuy as far as 
 Castillos, and are known by the name of " Montoneros." 
 These men commonly flock to the shores of the sea whenever 
 r they ■nourish hopes of plunder, and thus is explained the 
 general cognizance of the fact, without the possibility of 
 coming to the knowledge of who are its authors. (Report of 
 the 10th May, 1862, of the Chief of Police to the President 
 of the. province of Eio Grande do Sul.) 
 
 (This simple description of. the place is sufficient to show 
 the great difficulties attending the discovery of the depre- 
 dators of goods saved. 
 
 * Nobody can be accused without proofs, or at least indi- 
 cations. 
 
 But the few inhabitants strewed over this vast desert, in 
 order not to be discovered and punished, always convey into 
 the interior everything which they can pilfer ; this is what, 
 with reason, the President of the Province supposed. (Official 
 Eeport of the 3rd of July, 1861.) 
 
 The Delegate of Police of Eio Grande declares ihat, having 
 sent three times to command the attendance of divers persons 
 of Albardao in neighbouring places at Eio Grande, all of 
 
245 
 
 them deny themselves, do not appear to the Officer of Justice, 
 feign illness ; some who may have a knowledge of something 
 have gone away to the Oriental State, others, who are con- 
 scious of their criminality have definitively fled to that State. 
 (The Delegates Official Eeport to the President of the 18th of 
 September, 1861.) 
 
 It became necessary to order the appearance, under sub- 
 poena, of those persons who were supposed to be informed of 
 the facts. (Order of the Chief of Police to the Delegate, 
 annexed to the despatch ot the President of the 10th of 
 December, 1861.) It was necessary to order the examina- 
 tion of witnesses at a distance of fifty leagues in the district 
 of Victoria. ' (The President's despatch of the 30th of May, 
 1862.) 
 
 Being informed of these and other difficulties of the same 
 nature, which are gathered from the voluminous documents 
 of this process, the Imperial Government instructed the 
 President to employ all possible means and assiduity ; autho- 
 rized extraordinary expenses ; counselled that if the action 
 of the officers of justice should not be sufficient, endeavours 
 should be made for arriving at the knowledge of facts, through 
 confidential information. (Despatch of the 26th December, 
 1861.) These orders were many times repeated. 
 
 -Evidently, however great might have been the efforts of 
 the Imperial Government and of the local authorities, it was 
 an affair of time and perseverance. 
 
 The Inspector of the quarter, when he learnt. on the 10th 
 of June, 1861, of the shipwreck, as will further on be shown, 
 went on the 11th, with five' National Guards, to do police 
 duty on the beach. 
 
 An inevitable delay was occasioned on account of the 
 distances. 
 
 On the 14th the Municipal Judge, accompanied by .the 
 English Consul, the assistant of the Chief Guard of the 
 Custom-house, two guards and four soldiers, searched the 
 houses of- the nearest neighbours of the place, and discovered 
 nothing. (The President's despatch of the 3rd of July, 1861.) 
 
 The Consul himself acknowledged the zeal of the Magis- 
 trate in his proceedings, . (Official letter of the 20th of June, 
 1861.) 
 
 Besides this first inquiry others were instituted by the 
 Sub-Delegate of Tahim twice ; another time by the Muni- 
 
246 
 
 cipal Judge; and, finally, by the Chief of Police, (His 
 report of the 10th of May, 1862.) 
 
 A process had been instituted relative to the: plundering, of 
 the goods' saved, but from the difficulties pointed out, and 
 others which may be easily comprehended, the process could 
 not be prosecuted with the desirable speed. (Letter of the 
 Delegate to the President of the 18th September, 1861.) 
 
 It became necessary to institute a new process for the 
 crime of robbery, in consequence of the Municipal Judge 
 having ranked Jhe crime committed as a robbery from which 
 there is no appeal ex officio, and, even if there, were, no- 
 appeal could, be had from the qualification of the crime.. 
 (The President's .letter to the Delegate of Police of the 14-th 
 of April, and of the President to the Government of the 14th 
 of May, 1862, No. 6.) 
 
 The President finally made a communication that a fresh 
 process had been instituted against eleven individuals, and 
 that endeavours were being made ; to send descriptions of 
 tho'se supposed to have taken refuge in the Oriental State. 
 At- the commencement there were only three, but by means 
 of the continued efforts of the authority eight more had been 
 discovered. . (Despatch of the 31st of July, 1862.) 
 
 Since then inquiries have been continued, and the result 
 of the documents is that neither the Imperial Government 
 nor the local authorities have neglected to promote, by all 
 kinds of means, the most complete solution of this painful and 
 difficult question. 
 
 Such are, briefly, the motives of the delay of which the 
 British Minister coinplained. 
 
 From the tenour of the despatches and reports on this 
 Subject, not the least doubt remains that not only the Im- 
 perial Government, but also the local authorities; have acted 
 most, zealously, and that they cannot either he responsible 
 for the delay or for the want of a better result, because such 
 difficulties were, and still are, in the nature of things. 
 
 By order of the Imperial, Government the* local authorities 
 employed force, money, persuasive, and . confidential means, 
 and that which is of more value in the case in question, they 
 had the necessary prudence and perseverance iii order to, as 
 it were, glean the truth where, when, and how it might 
 present itself. 
 
 By the demand of the intervention of an officer of the 
 
247 
 
 British navy the success of the inquiries would have been 
 rather -obstructed than, facilitated, from the obvious reason 
 that dependent as they were for obtaining a knowledge of 
 facts from confidential information and on the good-will of 
 those who might guide the authority in his inquiries, all of 
 them would have kept silence, without committing themselves 
 in the presence of an officer of English ships. (Despatch of 
 the President of the 10th of April, 1862, and the papers 
 annexed thereto.) 
 
 The Inspector of the quarter and the Sub-Delegate of 
 Tahim were dismissed. To the former the Chief of Police 
 attributed the delay. of the communication of the fa'ct from 
 the day of the shipwreck (7th to 8th of June) until the 11th 
 (letter of the 10th of May, 1862) ; but, as we shall further on~ 
 see, he was only informed of it on the 10th, and therefore, if 
 he was dismissed, it was for having thought that" he might set 
 free one of the indicated persons, who afterwards escaped to 
 the Oriental State. The said Delegate was dismissed in con- 
 sequence of some censures addressed to him on the occasion 
 of his being interrogated ; censures which do not prove his 
 guilt or remissness, but which might blemish the prestige 
 which an authority ought to enjoy. (Report of the Chief of 
 Police of the 10th of May, 1862, and its annexes.) 
 
 These dismissals prove the delicacy of the conduct of the 
 Imperial Government in this question, but by no means can 
 they be considered as proofs of the culpability of the local 
 authorities as facilitating crime or interrupting the actiou of 
 justic& The release of the runaway will only retard the 
 execution of the sentence which will condemn him, because 
 his extradition is about to be demanded from the neighbour- 
 ing State. 
 
 Consul Vereker alleged suspicions of robbery by the Judge 
 of the Peace of Albardao, Bento Venancio Soares ; he said 
 that on the occasion of the inquiry he saw in that person's; 
 house, on the 14th of June, 1861, two Bibles and two empty 
 cases belonging to the shipwrecked (Mr. Christie's note of 
 the 18th of September, 1862.) Neither the Consul nor the 
 Municipal Judge made any mention of the circumstances 
 alluded to in their official reports of the quoted inquiry. 
 (Official Letters of the 20th and 23rd June, J 861.) And 
 divers inquiries having been set on foot for the discovery of 
 the depredators, without any result of proof against Soares,. 
 upon what groands could the authority jaut him on his trial I 
 
248 
 
 It is true that a certain carpenter, Joaquim, was indicated, 
 who resided . in the. house of the said Soares, and he was 
 absent. (Interrogatory by the Sub-Delegate of Tahim, an- 
 nexed to the President's, despatch of the 14th of May, 1862.) 
 Perhaps in this manner the existence of some of the articles 
 saved in the house of Soares may be explained. 
 
 As to Soares not having communicated the shipwreck, and 
 having only mentioned it on the 12th in the city of Eio 
 Grande, and the appearance of some corpses in the vicinity 
 of his house (letter of the Consul of the 20th of June, ] 861), 
 even supposing that the said Soares had knowledge of this 
 and other facts connected with the shipwreck previously • to 
 that day, it was not his duty to communicate the same, 
 because the cognizance of this affair was the • competency of 
 the Inspector of the quarter and of the respective Sub* 
 Delegate. 
 
 It therefore appears that no responsibility whatever is 
 attached to the Imperial Government, either for its own acts 
 or those of the local authorities, from the period in which 
 they were informed of the shipwreck. , 
 
 Can the same Government, peradventure, be made re- 
 sponsible for what has happened before it received information 
 of the occurrence ; and can the perpetration of the crime be 
 attributed to the negligence of the Government, or the care- 
 lessness or connivance of the authorities ? 
 
 Assuredly it cannot be pretended that such crimes can be 
 prohibited on the immense and desert shores of Brazil, when 
 even now-a-days they are committed in the most civilized 
 countries of Europe ; with this difference, that in these the 
 territory is much less extensive and the population much 
 more dense, so that it is much easier to prevent crime and to 
 discover the footsteps of the criminals. 
 
 Mr. Vereker says (his despatch of the 20th of JuDe, 1861), 
 that the shipwreck is supposed to have taken place on the 
 7th or 8th of June ; that on the 9th the news was spread 
 over the district ; that only on the 12th the Judge of the 
 Peace mentioned in Eio Grande that corpses had been found 
 on the sea beach ; and that only on the 14th official informa- 
 tion reached Eio Grande from the Sub-Delegate of Tahim, 
 who resides at a distance from that city. 
 
 Hence, the-British Consul observes that the Judge of the 
 Peace ought to have communicated the fact on the 9th ; that 
 the Inspector of the quarter, who declared that he went on 
 
249 
 
 the 11th to thejdace of the shipwreck, ought to have im- 
 mediately made an official report to the Sub-Delegate of 
 Tahim ; that the latter, finally, ought to have directly ordered 
 an inquest on the bodies, and have gone to the spot, in order 
 to protect the property. 
 
 In the first place, it is to be kept in mind that, the Judge of 
 the Peace not being a competent authority, it was not his 
 business to make this communication. 
 
 As to the Inspector and Sub-Delegate, it appears 1 that from 
 the distances in which they were from the place of the ship- 
 wreck, as well as from the city of Rio Grande, they could not 
 sooner make this communication. * 
 
 In fact, the Inspector resides above six leagues from the 
 place of the disaster, and the Sub-Delegate as far off, or 
 further. These authorities only became aware of the ship- 
 wreck after they had been informed of it by the inhabitants 
 of the spot. It was only on the 11th that the Inspector, from 
 information received on the eve, went to the beach, and on 
 that day sent word to the Sub-Delegate, who communicated 
 this occurrence to the Delegate of Rio Grande. (Report of 
 the Delegate of the 18th September, 1861.) The Chief of 
 Police says, that the Sub-Delegate being sick he sent for the 
 Inspector, who reported to him the shipwreck ; and that the 
 Inspector remained keeping guard over the goods saved, 
 according to the order he received from the Sub-Delegate. 
 (Official lettter of the 10th of May, 1862.) 
 
 Thus, therefore, from the 7th or the 8th, on which it is sup- 
 posed, as Mr./Vereker says, that the shipwreck took place until 
 the 10th, on which day the police authority for the .first time 
 was informed of it, two or three days elapsed during which the 
 depredators had plenty of time for the perpetration of the crime. 
 
 If the news spread over the district on the 9th, it is not to 
 be wondered at that the Inspector, who resides at a distance 
 of six leagues, should only have arrived on the following day. 
 
 And, as the Inspector only received information on the 
 10th, it is evident that he is not responsible for the delay of 
 proper measures previously to that day. 
 
 At what hour was the Inspector informed of the shipwreck 
 on the 10th ? That is not stated, but as he had to travel six 
 leagued over a sandy ground, it is conceivable that he went 
 on the 11th to the place of that occurrence. 
 
 He immediately sent to inform the Sub-Delegate of it— a 
 still further journey of eight leagues. 
 
250 
 
 The Sub-Delegate being sick, sent for him — eight leagues 
 more. 
 
 The Inspector arrives at the house of the Sub-Delegate — 
 eight leagues more. 
 
 And, finally, the Sub-Delegate reports officially to the 
 Delegate at Rio Grande — sixteen leagues more. 
 
 In the whole, 46 leagues and 3,000 fathoms, or 6,840 metres 
 each to be traversed in three days (the 11th, 12th; and 13th), 
 over the worst ground, without counting the duration of the 
 interviews, the adoption of measures, &c. ; about 80 French 
 leagues. 
 
 It appears that it cannot be said that any delay occurred, " 
 even although it should be pretended that by travelling all 
 day and night, and by killing the animals, one day might per- 
 haps have been gained. 
 
 The property did~not remain abandoned from the time 
 when the competent authority took cognizance of the fact, 
 because the beach was guarded by the police from the 11th to 
 the 14th, on which day the Commission of Inquiry arrived ; 
 and it still continued to be watched by order of the Municipal 
 Judge, the Inspector being always accompanied by five 
 National Guards. (Eeport of the Municipal Judge of the 
 18th of September 1861.) (The Interrogatory of Faustino 
 Jose Silveira, annexed to the Eeport of the Chief of Police of 
 the 10th of May, 1862.) 
 
 All censure, therefore, of the Inspector and of the Sub- 
 Delegate, in relation to the delay of the communication and 
 the abandonment of the property, thus vanishes.. It is not to 
 be inferred simply from the, fact of the Inspector's being a 
 relative of Benta Venancio Soares, that he connived at the 
 crime, although Soares might have been a party to it ; which^ 
 however, has not been proved. 
 
 In regard to the suspicions of murders, I have to state asi 
 follows : — 
 
 The delay which took place in the communicating the ship- 
 wreck, the aspect of the- beach, the distances in which some 
 of the bodies were found, — all this caused the Consul to 
 suspect that part of the crew had been murdered. (Despatch 
 of the 20th of June, 1861.) 
 
 Mr. Yereker having demanded the conveyance to Eio 
 Grande of the corpses which had been disinterred, the Chief 
 of Police immediately sent proper orders to the' Delegate for 
 the necessary proceedings, for the discovery whether any. 
 
251 
 
 mujdefs had .been effected, and who were the authors of 
 them ; and, at the same time, the Delegate wrote officially in 
 the same sense to the Sub-Delegate of Tahim. (Despatch of 
 the 27th of June, 1861, of the Chief of Police to the Pre- 
 sident.) 
 
 One body having been found interred, and three unburiedi 
 they were immediately sent to the city of Eio Grande, and- 
 an inquest was held on them. The doctor, Jose' de Pontes 
 Franca, declared that the said dead bodies showed no signs 
 of any external wounds, nor indication of violence ; and that 
 death had been caused by asphyxia from submersion. (Keport 
 of the Chief of Police of the 1st of July, 1861.) 
 
 The President reiterated his orders that fresh researches 
 were to. be made ; but these produced no result. (Despatch 
 of the 11th of July, 1861.) 
 
 The President still ordered the Municipal Judge to verify 
 the censured facts. This Judge, who, at the same time as 
 the Consul, had the opportunity of observing the appearance 
 of the sea-shore, the distances in which the bodies were lying 
 and other circumstances of the subject, stated that the Consul 
 had only been led by inferences founded on the bad charac- 
 ter of the inhabitants of the place, and not by any positive 
 fact, and his persuasion that Mr. Vereker was. unjust in his 
 supposition. (Despatch of the Chief of Police of the 10th of 
 May, 1862.) 
 
 Finally, a fresh inquiry was instituted by the Delegate, Dr, 
 Camarim, and, like the preceding, it produced no greater 
 elucidations. (Despatch of the Chief of Police of the 10th 
 of May, 1862.) 
 
 The Consul having been invited to attend this last inquiry, 
 he answered the Delegate that on that occasion he could not 
 accompany him on the coast of Albardao, and if his presence 
 were necessary he requested him to let him know ; and 
 added, " that it was not just to attribute to him principally the 
 suspicion of murders ; that not only he had never expressed 
 suph an opinion, but those suspicions were entertained by 
 those persons who were acquainted with all the circum- 
 stances." (Despatch of the 22nd of April, 1862.) 
 
 The Chief of Police interrogated all the. persons residing 
 at Albardao, as well as the inhabitants o.f the neighbourhood 
 of the place of the disaster, and others who flocked thither on 
 that occasion, besides the Inspector of the Customs and the 
 Chief Guard's assistant. Every one of them denied the 
 
252 
 
 homicides. (Report of the Chief of Police of the 10th of 
 Mary, 1862.) 
 
 It therefore appearing : — 
 
 That no one except the Consul had thought of murders, 
 and that Mr. Vereker himself repudiates the paternity . of 
 that idea; 
 
 That, of the four bodies found at Albardao and examined 
 at Bio Grande, not one of them presented any external 
 injury or indication of violence, and that with respect to 
 them the cause of death had been asphyxia from subme? 
 sion ; 
 
 That the argument deduced from the distances at -which 
 some bodies had been found,, had been completely refuted by 
 the captain of a frigate, Jos6 Pereira Pinto, who, after ana- 
 lysing the circumstances, declared that it was sufficient to 
 reflect upon the force of the current and of the wind, upon 
 the difference of weight between that, of a human body, of a 
 case of merchandize, or of a log of timber, to comprehend 
 that it was impossible that all could have come to the same 
 place. (Information, annexed to the President's despatch of 
 the, 14th of May, 1862) ; 
 
 That, notwithstanding the five inquiries successively con- 
 ducted by divers public functionaries, it has not been 
 possible to meet with the burial-places of any of the ship- 
 wrecked persons, which is naturally explained by the peculiar 
 circumstances of the formation of the soil and of its frequent 
 mutability ; it being known that from the Torres to Castillos 
 in'the Oriental State the coast is composed of loose sand, 
 which the winds daily displace, and which, in the course of 
 an hour, raise very high ridges, and in the next remove them 
 to other places. (Despatch of the President of the 10th of 
 April, 1862.) 
 
 For these reasons, the Imperial Government concludes 
 that the suspicion of some of the shipwrecked having been 
 murdered is unfounded. 
 
 The British Minister, in his note of the 25th of October, 
 1861, says : — 
 
 " When the Municipal Judge, the Consul, and others of 
 their attendants arrived, they found the Inspector with a 
 force superior to .their own ; and, therefore, the Municipal 
 Judge did not care to assent to the request of the Consul that 
 the place might be shown them where the bodies of the ship-" 
 wrecked were buried." 
 
263 
 
 This fact is not deduced either from the report of the 
 Municipal Judge, in which he gave an account of the inquiry, 
 nor from that of Mr. Vereker himself, presented on the same 
 occasion. (Despatches of the 23rd of June, and 20th of the 
 same month in 1861.) Whilst, from the tenor of Mr. 
 Vereker's despatch, it appears evident that there was no 
 reason why he should have omitted mention of the fact 
 indicated, and in that same despatch. 
 
 It besides appears that the Inspector's disposable force 
 for police duty on the beach was not superior to the number 
 of persons and the force which accompanied the Municipal 
 Judge. His party consisted in the Consul, the Chief Guard's 
 assistant, two Guards, and four soldiers — eight persons. The 
 Inspector had only live National Guards under his command. 
 (Deposition of" Faustino Jose" Silveira, annexed to the Pre- 
 sident's despatch of the 14th of May, 1862.) 
 
 However great may be the confidence reposed by Mr. 
 Christie in his Consul, it would appear that the allegations 
 and opinions, more or less well-founded, of only one person, 
 cannot counterbalance the complete absence of proofs, or the 
 acts of all the authorities, and the affirmations of a great 
 number of witnesses who have deposed in this question. 
 
 It is not unusual that generic suspicions of prepossession 
 should arise from the instinct of self-preservation, and even 
 from the most noble sentiment of compassion excited by the 
 misfortunes of others, without, however, the existence of any 
 positive fact which may justify such suspicions. And even 
 not long since, Mr. Vereker exemplified this truth in thinking 
 that his life was in imminent danger ; a fact which it was 
 afterwards ascertained had not the least foundation. (Notes 
 of Mr. Christie of the 14th and 21st of August, 1862.) 
 
 In Mr. Christie's last note of the 5th instant, Mr. Christie 
 demands, in the name of his Government, a compensation 
 for the plunder of the goods saved, and of the bodies. 
 
 It appears that the Imperial Government, neither from its 
 own acts, nor from the proceedings of the local authorities, 
 ought to be answerable for the disasters occasioned by the 
 shipwreck of the barque "Prince of Wales," and therefore 
 the demand of the Government of Her Britannic Majesty 
 cannot be maintained. But were it even maintainable, it 
 appears that it could not be easily settled. 
 
 In the first place, for which bodies does his Excellency 
 demand compensation t 
 
254 
 
 It cannot certainly be for the four which were taken to the 
 city of Eio Grande, and respecting which it was proved that 
 the' cause of their deaths had -been asphyxia from sub- 
 mersion. Nor can it be for the. six who. were lost on the 
 sand hills of Albardao, because it is not known to what souls 
 they belonged, nor are there any means of distinguishing 
 them from those who were swallowed by the waves. 
 
 As to the robbery of the goods saved, if the demand of 
 the British Government were justifiable, it would appear that 
 the Imperial Government could only be responsible for 
 specified quantity and value of the plundered articles. But 
 it does not appear how many, and what .they were. The sea 
 assuredly kept its share of them. 
 
 Mr. Christie claims payment for the whole of the cargo, 
 and even rar the freight of the vessel. 
 
 In this manner the effects of the shipwreck remain entirely 
 neutralized. 
 
 If this principle be admitted, people will be found to 
 assume the responsibility, not only for the crimes of depre- 
 dators, but also for the imbecility of captains, and even for 
 the fury of the winds and waves. The Imperial- Government 
 will apply a remedy to all these disasters ; and the Insurance 
 Companies will not have a better auxiliary than the coast of 
 Albardao, or than any other desert coast of the empire. 
 
 December 27, 1862. 
 
 Enclosure 3 in No. 72. 
 
 Memorandum on the Question relative to the Officers of the 
 " Forte" Frigate. 
 
 (Translation.) 
 
 ' Her Britannic Majesty's Legation having complained of 
 the proceedings attributed to the Commandant and soldiers 
 of the detachment at Tijuca towards some officers of the 
 English frigate '" Forte," the Imperial Government sought for 
 information about the facts of the case, "through the means of 
 the competent authorities, in order to be enabled to form a 
 sure .judgment respecting the claim, and to resolve according 
 to what might be just, because nobody should be condemned 
 without proofs, and these cannot be substituted by the simple 
 allegations of complainants. 
 
255 
 
 The act took place in a . lonesome situation : it became 
 therefore necessary' to put questions to the Commandant and 
 soldiers of this detachment, who in the, exercise of their 
 duties committed that act ; premising that the information 
 given by those agents of the public force was confirmed by 
 two persons completely foreign to the question, to wit, Messrs. 
 Bennett and Miiller. 
 
 Mr. Christie wished to have copies of these inquiries, which 
 were frankly confided to him in the originals. His Excellency 
 soon afterwards transmitted to the Government the contra- 
 diction of those inquiries by the Chaplain Clemenger, Lieu- 
 tenantjPringle, and Midshipman Hornby. 
 
 Certainly Mr. Christie cannot but acknowledge that, how- 
 ever honourable the characters of those persons may be, their 
 allegations are not sufficient for the formation of proofs in a 
 court of justice, although there might be no other proofs to 
 the contrary, because they are produced by the complainants 
 themselves. 
 
 It would be contrary to all principles, and extremely 
 dangerous, to condemn the accused from mere allegations of 
 the accuser. 
 
 If Her Britannic Majesty's Legation places its faith on 
 what the officers of her navy said, there is no reason what^- 
 ever why the Imperial Government should refuse faith to its 
 agents. 
 
 There is, however, the circumstance of the depositions of 
 the Brazilian agents being corroborated by two completely 
 disinterested witnesses, which upon unprejudiced minds must 
 shed some light over this difficult question, and lead the im- 
 partial magistrate to believe it more probable that the truth 
 is on the side which presents declarations of persons abso- 
 lutely foreign to the fact inquired into. ' , 
 
 Mr. Christie complains that no answer has yet been given 
 to his note of the 19th of August. What could the Imperial 
 Government in truth do ? There were no more witnesses to 
 be questioned, all .possible proofs, had been collected, and 
 against those what fresh matter was presented was the con- 
 testations of the complainants. 
 
 The English officers expressed a desire to be confronted 
 with the German, Miiller, whose deposition they rejected. 
 But the Chief of Police reports that, after the 2nd of July, 
 those officers did not appear again at the Department under 
 
256 
 
 his eharge, even voluntarily leaving. off attendance at the 
 interrogatories of Messrs. Bennett and Miiller. 
 
 That, however, would not prevent the adoption of that 
 measure again, if, therefrom some more elucidation of the 
 questidn could be obtained. 
 
 Having made these preliminary observations upon the 
 generality of the process, it is proper to. reply to the divers 
 topics of Mr. Christie's note of the 19th of August last. 
 
 He observes that of the four witnesses who cir6umstantially 
 relate the commencement of the question, only one of them 
 spoke from his own knowledge," because the others could only 
 repeat what they heard from him, whose testimony they 
 faithfully reproduced. 
 
 It is, however, proper for Mr. Christie to consider that, 
 besides the Commandant of the detachment, four soldiers 
 were interrogated. It is true that the beginning of the con- 
 flict was with the sentinel but it is also true that he imme- 
 diately called out the guard, and that, the other soldiers who 
 were in the guard-house having directly come out,, all of them, 
 the Commandant and the soldiers, were present at the 
 struggle which followed. 
 
 •All the depositions are concordant that the sentry was at 
 his post ; that the complaining officers were the aggressors ; 
 that even before reaching the detachment . they had been 
 troublesome to a patrol which they met on the road, and that 
 in front of the quarters of the detachment they had stopped 
 a passer-by, who was going up the hill on horseback. 
 
 The evident result of these declarations is, that the soldiers 
 and their respective Commandant were present at the con- 
 flict, and that their depositions refer to facts of which they 
 were eye-witnesses. 
 
 They are simple facts, and it is no wonder that there 
 should be unanimity in the statements of them made by the 
 witnesses in their generality, although showing different ver- 
 sions respecting secondary circumstances, as is always the case 
 on similar ' occasions, as, . for example, about the precise 
 moment of the conflict, the noise made by the officers in the 
 guard-house, and other facts of minor importance. 
 
 Mr. Christie further says, " The English officers declared 
 that the Commandant only appeared ten minutes after their 
 imprisonment, and that consequently his deposition is not 
 worthy of being credited ; because having declared that 
 
257 
 
 which he had not previously seen, it is to he supposed that 
 he had declared what he had not afterwards seen ; that he 
 was absent when the disturbance began ; and it is presumable 
 that he himself would not confess a breach of his duty." 
 
 Not only the delarations of the Commandant, but also those 
 of the soldiers of the detachment, which are all unanimous 
 in stating that, upon the calling of the sentry to arms, the 
 Commandant came out and pacified the officers until they 
 were locked up, are contradicted by the English "officers. 
 
 Let Mr. Christie take note that there was no reason why 
 the Commandant, if he had been absent, should not have 
 said so ; because he might have absented himself at ten 
 minutes' distance from the guard-house upon any other ser- 
 vice, without any blarne being imputed to him on this account 
 as a dereliction of his duties. 
 
 Mr. Christie regrets that the Chief of Police, in his Eeport 
 to the Minister of Justice, under the date of the 5th of July, 
 should have explained, by the imputation of inebriety, the 
 release of the English officers, and this without any inquiry 
 or justification ; and he adds, that that imputation is not 
 mentioned in the Eeport of the Commandant of the detach- 
 ment at Tijuca, to the Sub-Delegate of Engenho Velho, the 
 only one that the Chief of Police possessed on that occasion. 
 
 This magistrate declared that he had ordered the release of 
 the officers, finding that there was no matter for a process, 
 because the acts of the said officers were merely the result of 
 the state in which they then were. 
 
 Let Mr. Christie allow me to observe to him that the Chief 
 of Police, although he had not yet commenced a formal 
 inquiry, was already aware that when the conflict took place 
 the officers had just had a pleasure .party, after which there, 
 is almost always a display of excitement and hilarity, which 
 even happens to the most serious persons, principally to 
 youths, without producing any injury to their character ; and 
 therefore it was to this animation that the Chief of Police 
 attributed the proceedings of the officers, being without any 
 reason to suppose that, under other circumstances, they would 
 choose to despise the public force, and much less seriously to 
 attack it. 
 
 He therefore thought that there was no matter for the insti- 
 tution of a process, and ordered the release of the officers ; 
 the inquiry which subsequently took place was more for the 
 purpose of verifying the proceedings of the agents of the 
 
258 
 
 public force, than for the purpose of establishing the cul- 
 pability of the said officers. 
 
 Certainly the circumstances of the officers appertaining to 
 Her Britannic .Majesty's navy, and the intervention of their 
 superiors and of the respective Consul had to be taken into 
 consideration by the said Chief of Police, and if he did not 
 sooner order the release of the officers, that is, when solicited 
 by Captain Saumarez, it was because he had not yet received 
 the official Report of the Sub-Delegate, whereby he might 
 learn the reason of the imprisonment, and that the officers 
 were placed at his disposal. 
 
 In his Repert of the 5th of July, the Chief of Police did 
 nothing more than reproduce the allegations contained in 
 the inquiry. 
 
 The officers deny that they were tipsy, and complain of the 
 imputation. But what did Robert Bennett and Rodolph 
 Mtiller say in their declarations on this point ? 
 
 It is comprehensible that in that state the said officers 
 should have proceeded in the manner stated by the witnesses ; 
 but it is -not explained* nor is it conceivable, that the sentinel, 
 without provocation, should have left his post, which is off 
 the road, to attack three individuals who were quietly passing 
 by on that road. 
 
 The Tijuca Road is one of the most frequented in the 
 suburbs. The detachment has long existed there, and no 
 representation has been "made against acts of violence or 
 exorbitance on the part of the soldiers of which it is com- 
 posed ; which leads to the conclusion that it would not be 
 with the English officers, without provocation, that the first 
 fact should take place. 
 
 It is conceivable that the sentry having, been provoked, 
 and a struggle having followed between the English officers 
 and the soldiers of the detachment, it became necessary to 
 make use of some vigour in order to force the said officers 
 into the prison. But that, after being confined, they were 
 treated with urbanity, -they themselves acknowledge. 
 
 It was certainly from a desire to know the names and 
 qualities of these,persons that the Commandant of the detach- 
 ment sent for an interpreter. How is it, therefore, admissible 
 that, the officers having given their names and qualities in 
 writing, the Commandant should throw it on the floor after 
 
 reading it ? . 
 
 The English officers say that an Austrian served as an 
 
259 
 
 interpreter, and fully explained to the Commandant their 
 quality and profession, and that they replied to all his ques- 
 tions. 
 
 But not only the Commandant and the soldiers deny that 
 such a declaration had been made, but, on the contrary, state 
 that one of the officers having written their names, another 
 of them seized the paper, tore it, and threw it on the ground ; 
 also, the very Austrian, to whom the officers refer, the inter- 
 preter Muller, declared that, on his explaining to the officers 
 the reason why they were imprisoned, and asking them for 
 their names and positions, they sharpSf answered him, with- 
 out ever declaring one thing or another. 
 
 It is in" some degree to be comprehended that the officers, 
 cowed on finding themselves prisoners, did not choose to 
 reveal their rank and profession, and that they should have 
 satisfied themselves for the time with the threat, which they 
 themselves declare to having addressed to the Commandant of 
 the detachment, that they would soon call him to an account 
 for his proceeding. 
 
 On the following day, the officers being sent to the city, 
 the Commandant in his report, which accompanied them, did 
 not mention their names, not having any reason for so doing, 
 but there would have been convenience in declaring them, if 
 by chance he had known them. 
 
 It was only after they were at the police office that the 
 British Vice-Consul declared them to be officers of the British 
 navy, when they were immediately transferred from the civil 
 prison to that of the police corps, where they made but a 
 short stay, and were released as soon as the Sub-Delegate 
 placed them at the disposal of the Chief of Police, stating to 
 him the cause of their imprisonment. 
 
 Mr. Christie makes the observation that the officers deny 
 their having sticks with them, saying that Mr. Clemenger 
 alone had an umbrella in his hand ; while in the official 
 despatch addressed to Mr. Christie himself on the 24th of 
 June last, Admiral Warren says that the soldiers took from 
 the officers their umbrellas and sticks. 
 
 In their refutation of the Commandant's deposition, the 
 officers said that not one of them carried a metal flask slung 
 with a leather strap over the shoulder, but that Mr. Clemenger 
 had one. It is exactly what the Commandant said, with the 
 addition that the flask contained the remains of liquor, whilst 
 the officers said that it was empty. 
 
 s 2 
 
260 
 
 The officers further say that they did not dispute with the 
 Brazilian soldiers, because they do not speak Portuguese. Mr. 
 Christie will, however,' grant tha't it is' hot on this account 
 that the officers would fail to deride them ; as well as that, 
 notwithstanding their ignorance of the language of the 
 country, they themselves declare having given the Com- 
 mandant to understand that " they would ere long call him to 
 account for his behaviour. 
 
 The officers deny everything besides that the witnesses said 
 against them. But Mr. Christie will have the goodness to 
 consider that the denials of interested parties cannot be ad- 
 mitted as proofs in a Court of Justice, or neutralize the 
 depositions of witnesses who are impartial" besides that the 
 allegations of the officers do not appear to be very probable. 
 
 The complaint would be held reasonable if, from the dress, 
 or any other declaration, it were known the said officers 
 belonged ; to the British navy ; but, quite on the contrary, it 
 appears that they were dressed in plain clothes, and that "they 
 made no declaration. It finally appears that as soon as their 
 quality was known they were immediately released, there 
 being otherwise no matter for addressing a communication to 
 Her Britannic Majesty's Legation on this subject. 
 
 The Imperial Government, from the foregoing explanation, 
 does not doubt that Mr. Christie, impartially appreciating this 
 frank and loyal statement, will deem it convenient to recon- 
 sider the subject of the present claim. 
 
 December 27, 1862, 
 
 Enclosurg 4 in No. 72. 
 Mr. Christie to the Marquis of Abr antes. 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, December 30, 1862. 
 M. LE MARQTTIS, 
 
 I have read with much pain your Excellency's note of 
 yesterday, for I see by it that all the efforts which I have 
 made to prevent the necessity of acting on my ulterior in- 
 structions have been in vain, and that it is idle to try further 
 persuasion. 
 
 It is now necessary for me to reply to your note of -yester- 
 day, and also to the previous note dated the 18th, to which 
 your Excellency observes that I have yet made no written 
 
261 
 
 reply, and I think it desirable briefly to recount what 'has 
 passed between us since the 20th, in order to complete and to 
 correct your Excellence's narrative. 
 
 In one of my notes of the 5th instant, I had not, as your 
 Excellency is pleased to say, fixed a peremptory term, but I 
 had requested you to endeavour to furnish me with replies to 
 the demands of Her Majesty's Government in the two Kpies- 
 tibns of the " Prince of Wales " and the " Forte " by the 20th 
 of this month. Not having heard from your Excellency in 
 the interval • that there would be any difficulty in complying 
 with this request, I arrived in Eio from Petropolis, where as 
 you know, my health obliges me to reside, on the morning of 
 the 20th, in order to receive the expected replies, and be at 
 hand to confer with your Excellency if it should be neces- 
 sary. Finding no reply waiting for me, I sent Mr. Brodie to 
 your Excellency's private Secretary to ascertain when I might 
 expect to receive your replies ; and Mr. Brodie was informed 
 that on one of the two questions the reply was not .yet ready, 
 as your Excellency was waiting for a document from the 
 Ministry of Justice, but that I might count on receiving the 
 answers on Monday the 22nd. On that day I received your 
 Excellency's short note proposing to refer both questions to 
 London, discussing neither question, making no reference to 
 any document from the Ministry of Justice, and, though the 
 answers had not been ready on the 20th, bearing date the 
 18th 
 
 A few hours after the reoeipt of this note I visited your 
 Excellency. I told you that my instructions did not permit 
 me to accept your reply. I pointed out to you that there was 
 no allegation of new matter to be laid before Her Majesty's 
 Government, and that, if any new matter existed, it- should, 
 be submitted to me, who am charged by Her Majesty's 
 Government with instructions to negotiate these questions 
 here. Referring to your statement that I had paid no atten- 
 tion to the verbal explanations given me on the subject of 
 the ill-treatment of the officers of the " Forte," by your Ex-, 
 cellency, and more particularly by the Minister of Justice, I 
 asked you what these had been and denied all knowledge of 
 them, and your Excellency confessed that none had been given 
 to me after the examinations made by the Chief of Police. 
 You said you had referred to my interviews with yourself and 
 the Minister of Justice before the investigation was held, 
 when my only object was to urge a full inquiry, and we were 
 
262 
 
 none of us in a condition to discuss the question, and you 
 could not have given me explanations if you had wished it. I 
 reminded your Excellency that, after I had received the depo- 
 sitions,! called on you by appointment for , the purpose of 
 discussing the question, and that you immediately declared 
 yourself altogether unprepared and unable to discuss it, and 
 did mot suggest any oilier day for a conference. It was after 
 this fruitless interview that I addressed to your Excellency 
 my,, note of the 19th of August, to which you never deigned 
 to reply, not even to that part of it in which I informed yon 
 of the desire of the three officers to be confronted with the 
 witness Muller. I also called your attention to your state- 
 ment that the depositions had been confided to me privately 
 (particularmente), insisted that I had asked for them and 
 received them as of right, and reminded you that Senhor 
 Sinimbu had at last sent them to me in original, because, 
 when I pressed him for them after an unexpected and un- 
 reasonable delay, he had found that no steps had been taken 
 to make copies for me as had been promised. I represented 
 to your Excellency, without discussing the propriety of the 
 proceeding, that you were mistaken if you supposed you 
 ■ would be appealing from me to Her Majesty's Government, 
 that the appeal would be to Her Majesty's Government from 
 itself ; for that every note and document on both questions 
 had been sent to Lord Russell, Her Majesty's Government 
 had judged the questions, framed the demands, and given me 
 full instructions. In fine I informed your Excellency that I 
 was instructed, if satisfaction was not given, to address myself 
 to the Admiral, and I begged you to receive this communi- 
 cation in the spirit in which I made it, by no means intending 
 to menace, having no instruction to give you this information 
 beforehand, but hoping, by so doing on my own responsibility, 
 to aid in averting disagreeable events. I gave you this infor- 
 mation confidentially for confidential communication to your 
 colleagues, and I resisted your Excellency's requests that I 
 should inform you in writing ; and I did so partly because it 
 was not within my instructions to warn you, and partly from 
 a consideration, which I hope even yet may be appreciated, 
 for the Imperial Government, because I thought a note such 
 as you requested might bear the appearance of menace. Your 
 Excellency did not press for the note, and I then asked you if 
 it would be possible -to inform me on the evening of the next 
 day (the 23rd) whether the Imperial Government would or 
 
263 
 
 would not recall their resolution to refer [these questions to 
 London. On your Excellency's expressing a desire for further 
 time I at once proposed to wait till Saturday the 27th, and on 
 the following morning, the 23rd, I again visited your Ex- 
 cellency and requested you to prepare to answer me on the 
 fundamental question of satisfaction by the evening of the 
 29th Your Excellency has omitted to mention the chief 
 reason which I gave you for my anxiety to avoid unnecessary 
 delay. I stated that sickness was beginning to show itself 
 extensively <among the crews of the British vessels which 
 were waiting in the harbour ; and I have yet to learn that 
 this reason ought not to have weighed with me, and might 
 not, under the circumstances, be mentioned to your Excel- 
 lency to urge as speedy a solution as would permit time 
 enough for due deliberation. Your Excellency assented to the 
 times which I proposed, and expressed no desire for a longer 
 period for deliberation. • 
 
 On the morning of the 27th I again, according to agree- 
 ment, visited your Excellency, and we held a conference of 
 some hours. You caused to be read to me, in your presence, 
 the two memoranda of which you enclose copies in your 
 yesterday's note, and I freely discussed them. I suggested 
 some corrections of errors of fact in the memorandum of the 
 " Prince of Wales" question, which I am glad to see have 
 been made in the copy now sent to me. On leaving your 
 Excellency I requested permission, which you granted me, to 
 take away with me the memoranda, that I might read them 
 once more with attention ; and when your Excellency called 
 on me the same evening, I returned the memoranda to you, 
 saying that I had read them and reflected on them, and that 
 I saw nothing in them which could materially modify the 
 opinions of Her Majesty's Government 'on the course of 
 action prescribed to me. 
 
 You sent your private Secretary to me very early the next, 
 morning, and, in reply to your Excellency's message by him, 
 I could only repeat what I had said to you on the previous 
 evening. 
 
 These two new memoranda do not furnish a single new 
 fact or argument of any importance. They entirely exculpate 
 the Brazilian authorities. They do not admit the slightest 
 particle of reason in the opinions and demands of Her Majesty's 
 Government. They do not propose any sort or degree of 
 satisfaction other or less than Her Majesty's Government 
 
264 
 
 have demanded. They are, in fact, entire refusals of redress. 
 I cannot see in these memoranda, any more than in your 
 Excellency's previous notes, the slightest proof of that desire 
 which you say that the Imperial Government has shown 
 throughout to , settle amicably both these questions. Your. 
 Excellency is kind enough to admit, in your yesterday's note, 
 that there is some foundation for some part of the opinion of 
 Her Majesty's Legation, notwithstanding their general incor- 
 rectness, but you have not condescended to state which are 
 the points on which we have managed to escape error. 
 
 Our discussion of one of these memoranda, that on the 
 "Prince of "Wales" question, elicited a new fact of some im- 
 portance ; and that new fact is seriously prejudicial to the 
 case of the Brazilian Government. Your Excellency had 
 laboured hard in one of your notes to convince me that the 
 Inspector of the District, Faustino, had not been dismissed 
 for culpable neglect of duty, but simply and solely for a 
 short and unimportant delay in communicating the intelli- 
 gence of the wreck. It appears from the report of the Chief 
 of Police of Eio Grande of March 10, 1862, that the chief 
 cause of Faustino' s dismissal was his release of a prisoner 
 who had been apprehended with property in his hands stolen 
 from the wreck. Not only was he chiefly dismissed for this 
 cause, but the Juiz do Direito was also called upon to prose- 
 cute Faustino for this culpable act. Your Excellency even 
 still suppresses this fact in the memorandum which you have 
 sent me, though in other respects it has been corrected ; and 
 I am the more surprised at this, as we discussed the point at 
 some length, and- clearly established the fact of Faustino's 
 dismissal on account of this highly culpable proceeding. 
 
 The civilized nations to which the Imperial Government 
 now proposes to appeal, will judge how far such an act tends 
 to justify the general charges of misconduct made by Her 
 Majesty's Consul against Faustino, and • his father-in-law 
 Soares, the Justice of the Peace, and adopted by Her 
 Majesty's Government ; and the same nations may perhaps 
 see in your Excellency's persevering suppression of this fact, 
 and no less persevering denial of Faustino's culpability, as 
 also in the assertion in your note of the 18th, of verbal ex- 
 planations given to me in the question of the " Forte," which 
 never were given, signs of a mode of treatment of these 
 questions, either inconsistent with perfect frankness, oT un* 
 worthy of their very serious character. . , 
 
265 
 
 Your Excellency, in your yesterday's note, has- strangely 
 made a serious mistake in stating the demand of Her Majesty's 
 Government, in the case of the "Prince of Wales." You 
 speak of the indemnity demanded for the supposed assassi- 
 nations. There is no such demand. Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment are, indeed, of opinion, that there is the strongest 
 presumptive proof of murder of the crew ; but they have 
 strictly confined their demand of indemnity to the property 
 plundered. Strange as it is that such a mistake should be 
 made by your Excellency in a matter of such importance, it 
 is the more strange as I pointed out a similar mistake in the 
 memorandum which you showed me, on the 27th, and the 
 mistake has been corrected in the copy enclosed in your 
 note. 
 
 As to the memorandum on the question of the " Forte," 
 I must protest against your statement that Mr. Bennet, the 
 .respectable proprietor of the Tijuca Hotel, is a witness 
 adverse to the officers. "What did Mr. Bennet state ? That 
 he had heard the three officers' voices, as they passed his resi- 
 dence, just after leaving the hotel, that they seemed to be in 
 good spirits, and that when the news of their imprisonment 
 came to him, he inquired at the hotel what they had drunk 
 at dinner, and ascertained that they had had two bottles of 
 Bordeaux, and half a decanter of Cognac among them ; that 
 is, that three men, who had been on foot from a very early 
 hour in the day, "had drunk two bottles of light Trench wine 
 among them at dinner, and taken each a glass of Cognac with 
 their coffee. Is this any evidence against the officers ? " Mr. 
 Bennet is made to add, and he added it, of course, in answer to 
 a foolish question, that he knew nothing of what they might 
 have drunk between his hotel and the Tijuca guard-house. 
 How could he know what they drank elsewhere ? Does this 
 necessary ignorance of Mr. Bennet's prove that they drank 
 anywhere else ? 
 
 Of the witness Muller, who remains, according to your 
 Excellency's view, the only disinterested witness, and who. is 
 doubtless adverse to the officers," it is enough to repeat that 
 the officers asked to be confronted with him, and that during 
 four months your Excellency has never vouchsafed them the 
 opportunity, or condescended to reply to the note of Her 
 Majesty's Minister. 
 
 Your Excellency says, of the officers of the " Forte," that 
 the Imperial Government is convinced 'that the police 
 
266 
 
 authorities were not wanting in proper respect to the British 
 navy; in their proceedings towards three individuals dressed 
 in plain cloth'es, whb refused to declare their names and rank. 
 This language involves a charge of deliberate and persevering 
 falsehood against the three officers, one of whom is the chap- 
 lain of- the frigate; and I feel sure that I anticipate the 
 judgment of Her Majesty's Government, when I say that 
 such language seriously aggravates the responsibility of the 
 Imperial Government for the outrage and indignities of which 
 the three officers were victims, and the affront offered through 
 them to Her Majesty's navy. 
 
 Her Majesty's Government will not shrink from the appeal 
 which you announced to the civilised world. 
 
 Your Excellency- returns, in your yesterday's note, to a 
 defence of the appeal which you had proposed to make from 
 me to Her Majesty's Government. Let me repeat to you that 
 that would have been really an appeal from Her Majesty's- 
 Government to itself. Does your Excellency suppose that I 
 could have taken on myself to frame my notes' of the 5th, 
 and the demands with which they concluded ? Let me further 
 say, that such an appeal from a Minister to his Government 
 is contrary to all custom and precedent, and would, I feel 
 sure, have been summarily rejected by the British Cabinet. 
 I might have fairly resented, if I had chosen,- the insinuation 
 of injustice which your Excellency has thought fit to launch 
 against me ; but I was unwilling to introduce a personal 
 element into these discussions, and you know that in our 
 conferences I have made no allusion to this unworthy in- 
 sinuation. It so happens, that in another note from your 
 Excellency, dated only three days later, the 21st, you address 
 yourself with confidence, on an important subject, to my 
 enlightened mind for an accurate and benevolent opinion. I 
 confess that the insinuation of injustice in your note of the 
 ] 8th deprives this compliment of value for me. On the other 
 hand, it is serviceable as neutralizing your previous censure. 
 I set one against the other, and, under such circumstances, 
 may say, without disrespect to your Excellency, that I am 
 indifferent both to the praise and to the censure. 
 
 A recent diplomatic publication furnishes a precedent of 
 such an appeal as your Excellency proposed to make from me 
 to my Government. The Mexican Minister in Paris made an 
 attempt in September, 1861, to appeal to M. Thouvenel from 
 the French Minister in Mexico. M. Thouvenel quickly in- 
 
267 
 
 terrupted by saying, " We will not receive your explanations ; 
 we have entirely approved the conduct of M. de Saligny, 
 and, in accord with England, we have given orders that a 
 squadron composed of ships of the two nations shall require 
 a proper satisfaction: from the Government of Mexico, and 
 your Government will learn from our Minister and our 
 Admiral what are the demands of France." (Papers relating 
 to Mexico communicated to the United States' Congress, May 
 1862*) It is a satisfaction to me to think that by firmly 
 refusing to admit your proposed appeal 1 may have saved 
 your Minister in London from a similar disappointment. 
 
 Her Majesty's Government, though they earnestly hoped 
 that their demands would have been acceded to, felt it right 
 to provide for the possibility of refusal; and Admiral Warren, 
 the Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty's naval squadron 
 on this station, will immediately proceed, under instructions 
 with which he is furnished, to take steps for making reprisals 
 on Brazilian property. 
 
 The property which may be seized will be held as a security 
 until Her Majesty's Government obtain the satisfaction which 
 the Government of the Emperor have totally and peremptorily 
 refused, unless they shall be compelled by superior force. 
 
 I need not tell your Excellency that reprisals are a well 
 understood- and acknowledged mode among nations of obtain- 
 ing justice otherwise denied, and that they do not constitute 
 an act of war. 
 
 The measures which will be taken by Admiral Warren are 
 within the bounds of a state of (peace. It rests with the 
 Government of the Emperor to remain within these bounds 
 or to transgress them. • In the earnest hope that peace may 
 not be broken, and with an ardent desire for a return of those 
 cordial relations which Great Britain has always sought to 
 cultivate with Brazil, but which cannot exist if Brazil pef- 
 severingly refuses reparation for wrongs done to British 
 subjects, I beseech your- Excellency and your colleagues to 
 remember that a grave responsibility will lie on you if violent- 
 resistance to reprisals, or measures of retaliation, or injuries 
 to British persons or property on shore, shall lead to further 
 and deplorable complications. 
 
 Admiral Warren will use every possible endeavour to 
 execute his instructions so as to avoid a hostile conflict. 
 
 I avail, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE. 
 
268 
 
 Enclosure 5 in No. 72. 
 
 Circular addressed by Mr. Christie to Her Majesty's Consuls in 
 
 Brazil. 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, December 80, 1862. 
 SlE, 
 
 Demands which. I have made by order of Her Majesty's 
 Government to the Government of Brazil for compensation 
 for the plunder of the wreck of the English barque " Prince of - 
 Wales," in the Province of Eio Grande do Sul, in June 1861, 
 and for satisfaction for the ill-treatment of three officers of Her 
 Majesty's ship " Porte " in June last, by the police-guard of 
 Tijuca and the police authorities at Eio, having been totally 
 and peremptorily refused, unless under compulsion of superior 
 force, Admiral Warren will immediately proceed, according to 
 instructions of Her Majesty's Government, to make reprisals 
 on Brazilian property. 
 
 The property which may be seized will be held as a secu- 
 rity until Her Majesty's Government obtain satisfaction. 
 
 Eeprisals are a well-understood and acknowledged mode of 
 proceeding among nations for obtaining justice which has 
 been denied, and they do not constitute an act of war. 
 
 I have not failed to state "this to the Imperial Government, 
 and I have urged them to remember that theirs will be the 
 responsibility— and a grave one — if violent resistance or 
 retaliatory attack or injury to British persons or property. in 
 Brazil shall lead to further and deplorable complications. 
 
 Admiral Warren will use every endeavour to proceed in 
 the manner most likely to avoid a hostile conflict. 
 
 I address this despatch to you that you may be able to ex- 
 plain to British subjects and others the nature of the mea- 
 sures which Admiral Warren is about to take. 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D. GHEISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure 6 in No. 72. 
 Mr. Christie to Rear-Admiral Warren. 
 
 Bio de Janeiro, December 30th, 1862. 
 
 (Extract.) ' , 
 
 The Brazilian Government have totally and peremptorily 
 refused, unless they shall be compelled by superior force, to 
 
269 
 
 grant the demands which I have made, by order of Her 
 Majesty's Government, for compensation for the plunder of 
 the wreck of the "Prince of Wales," and for satisfaction for 
 the indignities to which three officers of your flag ship were 
 lately subjected by the police of Tijuca and of Eio ; and it is 
 now my duty to call on joxx to execute, according to your dis- 
 cretion,, the instructions of Her Majesty's Government as to 
 measures of reprisals. 
 
 Enclosure 7 in No. 72. 
 Rear-Admiral Warren to Mr, Christie. 
 
 "Forte" Kio de Janeiro, December 30, 1862. 
 
 Sib, 
 
 I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 
 of this day's date, acquainting me that the Brazilian Govern- 
 ment have totally and peremptorily refused, unless they shall 
 be compelled by superior force, to grant the demands which 
 you have made by order of Her Majesty's Government for 
 compensation for the plunder -of the wreck of the " Prince of 
 Wales," and for satisfaction for the indignities to which three 
 officers of tha " Forte " were subjected by the police of Ti- 
 juca aud- Bio, and calling on me to execute the instructions 
 of Her Majesty's Government as to measures of reprisal. 
 
 In pursuance of your request to act on the instructions of 
 Her Majesty as to measures of reprisal, I have to acquaint 
 you that Her Majesty's steam-sloops " Stromboli " and 
 " Curlew " will proceed to sea this day, and seize on such 
 Brazilian ships as may be considered necessary as an equiva- 
 lent for the demands of Her Majesty's. Government, taking 
 them to Palmas Bay, having done which the " Stromboli " 
 will return to Bio to report their proceedings. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 • (Signed) . EICHAED L. WAEEEK 
 
 Enclosure 8 in No. 72. 
 
 The Marquis of Ah -antes to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rio de Janeiro, 
 December 31, 1862. 
 
 (Translation.) 
 I received to day at about 10 o'clock in the morning, the 
 
270 
 
 note under yesterday's- date, which Mr. William Dougal 
 Christie, &c, was pleased to address to me in reply to that 
 which I addressed to him tmder the date of the 29th, in 
 which I communicated to him the answer peremptorily de- 
 manded from the Imperial Government, about the claims con- 
 cerning the shipwreck of the barque " Prince of "Wales," and 
 the occurrence at Tijuca with some officers of the "Forte" 
 frigate. 
 
 Mr. Christie's fresh note, from the terms in which it is 
 couched, far from affording an opportunity, which would 
 otherwise be so desirable, for a friendly and pacific decision 
 of these questions, still further aggravates the difficult and 
 painful position in which the relations of the Imperial 
 Government with the Legation of Her Britannic Majesty are 
 placed. 
 
 Therefore, still once more, knowing the inutility of employ- 
 ing further efforts to bring Mr. Christie to the conviction of 
 the injustice and groundlessness, not only of his persistence 
 in the prosecution of these claims, but also principally of the 
 manner in which he proposes to terminate them, and with a 
 view to avoid; an unprofitable and inconvenient discussion, I . 
 shall be very brief in the answer which I have to give him. 
 
 I have above all to correct some of the propositions con- 
 tained in Mr. Christie's note, which it is impossible to pass 
 unnoticed. 
 
 The first is in reference to the alteration which Mr. 
 Christie supposes to have been made in the memorandum 
 relative to the barque " Prince of Wales." 
 
 I assure Mr. Christie that no alteration or modification 
 was made in that memorandum, a textual copy having been 
 sent to him of that one which Mr. Christie heard the read- 
 ing of, and which is still in my cabinet. 
 
 In the memorandum about the officers of the " Forte," it 
 is, that according to agreement with Mr. Christie a small 
 alteration was made in that part in which it was said that 
 the said officers had declared that they had no sticks, whereas 
 the Admiral, in his official letter of the 24th of June 
 addressed to Mr. Christie, said that the soldiers took from 
 the officers their umbrellas and sticks. 
 
 On Mr. Christie's observing that the officers had not 
 denied their having sticks with them, the word " had " was 
 substituted in the memorandum by " used." 
 
 The second correction .regards the denial by Mr. Christie 
 
271 
 
 of his having demanded an indemnification for the supposed 
 murders. 
 
 In his note of the 5th instant Mr. Christie demanded an 
 indemnification for the "bodies stripped and plundered." 
 . In associating .this idea with the -preceding claim for the 
 Assassination of individuals belonging to the crew of the 
 " Prince of Wales," I understood that the demanded indem- 
 nification referred to those murders. 
 
 Mr. Christie, however, now better explaining his meaning, 
 declares that what he demands is not an indemnification for 
 the relations of the deceased, but for the property of which he 
 supposes them to have been despoiled. 
 
 The explanation does not, nevertheless, remove the objeo 
 tions contained in the memorandum, because it is not yet 
 known to what bodies Mr. Christie refers. Granting that it 
 is to the four which were taken to Eio Grande from Albardao, 
 it would still remain to be known of what property they had 
 been despoiled ; an observation equally applicable to the 
 others. 
 
 Mr. Christie says that the Imperial Government has made 
 no proposal to him, and that by both the memoranda all 
 the demands of the Legation are repelled. 
 
 I correct this proposition by observing that Mr. Christie 
 has neither given time nor an opportunity for the Imperial 
 Government to make any proposal. 
 
 When Mr. Christie's notes of the 5th instant were received, 
 in one of which he fixed the term until the 20th for the 
 receipt of replies to them, the Imperial Government upon 
 mature reflection saw that it could not come to an under- 
 standing with Mr. Christie on the subjects in question, and 
 that the most appropriate and convenient course-to be adopted 
 in the interest of, the good relations between the two 
 countries was that of appealing direct to the Government of 
 Her Britannic Majesty. 
 
 This was what I communicated to Mr. Christie in my note 
 of the] 8th. 
 
 It is thereby seen that until then the Imperial Government 
 reserved itself to treat of the subjects in question with the 
 Government of Her Britannic Majesty, and consequently that 
 there was no proposal to be addressed to Mr. Christie. 
 
 On the. 22nd Mr. Christie came to tell me that the projected 
 appeal could not take place, and next declared that if his 
 
272 
 
 demands were not complied with he was instructed -to have 
 recourse to the Admiral. 
 
 It was, therefore, on Mr. Christie's part that the impossi- 
 bility arose of any amicable proposal being made, because he 
 accompanied by a positive ultimatum the persistence in his 
 demands. 
 
 Mr. Christie observes that I had agreed that no verbal 
 communications had been made to him in relation to the 
 officers of the " Forte " frigate. 
 
 It becomes also necessary to correct this proposition, in 
 asserting that I reminded Mr. Christie, not only that the 
 records of the inquiries had been delivered to him, but that I, 
 and particularly -the Minister of Justice, had spoken to him 
 on" this subject. 
 
 Mr. Christie makes the remark that the witness Bennet 
 said nothing aggravating the conduct of the officers. 
 
 Mr. Christie cannot but recognize'his mistake by verifying 
 that from Bennet's deposition it appears that he noticed on 
 their leaving the hotel of which he is the proprietor that they 
 were singing on the road, and that on learning of their impri- 
 sonment he spontaneously thought that they were tipsy ; the 
 result of which is, as has already 'been said, that this deposi- 
 tion corroborates that, of Muller, who also asserts that the 
 officers were tipsy. 
 
 With reference to the. shipwreck of the "Prince of Wales," 
 Mr. Christie says that the proof of the culpability of the pro- 
 ceedings of the Inspector, of the Quarter, Paustino Jose da 
 Silveira, is, in his having been dismissed for having set free 
 one of the accused; and that the-Chief of Police himself, in 
 his official report of the 10th of May, 1862, declared that the 
 said Inspector was to suffer a prosecution on the score of his 
 responsibility. 
 
 Mr. Christie must, however/ remember that he, in the con- 
 ference of the 27th instant, confessed that the said act of the 
 Inspector in no way contributed to the perpetration of the 
 crime. 
 
 The Inspector justified himself in the inquiry which was 
 held, alleging that he could not but keep watch on the beach, 
 that there was no prison in which the accused could be con- 
 fined, and that he thought that he might send him inland, 
 with the prohibition not to return to the place. 
 
 Tf for this error the Inspector is responsible to the Govern- 
 
273 
 
 meht of the country, it certainly does not follow that any 
 detriment to the question should be the result of it. 
 
 It is true that, in my preceding notes to Mr. Christie, I 
 said that the Inspector had been dismissed on account of his 
 delaying to communicate the shipwreck ; hut in the memo- 
 randum, and with the documents. presented at the conference, 
 it was explained that this censure had been taken from the 
 official reports of the Chief of Police of the 10th of May last, 
 and that from subsequent and more minute examination it 
 was found that that censure was premature, the only fact to 
 be attributed to the Inspector being that of having driven 
 from the beach one of the suspected, whom he otherwise had 
 not the means of detaining in prison. 
 
 Having made these essential corrections, and, in contempla- 
 tion of diplomatic conveniences which I am bound to respect, 
 omitting remarks on some propositions and phrases in Mr. 
 Christie's note, I have to tell, him that the Imperial Govern- 
 ment has taken due cognizance of the contents of that note ; 
 and that it loudly and categorically protests against such 
 violence and so indescribable an abuse of force ; and that it 
 still appeals to the Government of Her Britannic Majesty, 
 notwithstanding Mx, Christie's opinion that that appeal is 
 useless. 
 
 I renew, &c. 
 . (Signed) THE MABQUIS OF-ABKANTES. 
 
 Enclosure 9 in No. 72. 
 Mr. Christie to the Marquis o/Abrantes. 
 
 Eio de Janeiro. December 81, 1862. 
 
 M. le Marquis. 
 
 Information has been brought me of a speech made today 
 at the Exchange to a large assemblage of merchants by the 
 Minister of Public Works, Commerce, and Agriculture, and I 
 am informed that he stated that my ultimatum addressed to 
 your Excellency was only received by you this morning, and 
 that it was known yesterday in the commercial community: 
 
 I have taken pains to assjire myself -of the correctness of 
 this information, and hav.e; every reason to believe it to be 
 correct. w; . 
 
 Senhor Smimbii and Improbably differ as to the meaning' 
 of the word " ultimatum." I understand my notes of the 5th 
 
274 
 
 to have contained my ultimatum, 01 rather that of Her Ma- 
 jesty's Government.. On the 22nd your Excellency was 
 informed by me that I had instructions in the event of refusal 
 of satisfaction to address myself to the Admiral. On the 
 29th I received your Excellency's final refusal of all satisfac- 
 tion except under force, and my last note, of yesterday's, date, 
 which was delivered at your house at 9 o'clock this morning, 
 was simply a reply to. yours of the 29th, and an announce- 
 ment of the precise nature of the measures which the Admiral 
 would take in consequence of your refusal. 
 
 This last note, which Senhor Sininibii, I should say unad- 
 visedly, calls an "ultimatum," was certainly not known 
 yesterday in the commercial community, nor is any part of 
 it , known at this moment to any one but myself and my 
 Secretary. It was not finished till 10 o'clock last night ; my 
 Secretary then copied it. On the honour of an English 
 Minister and an English gentleman I say to your Excellency 
 that no one out of the English Legation did know or could 
 have known yesterday or today any part of the note ; and I 
 feel sure that Senhor Sinimbu will regret having made, on 
 erroneous information, in a moment of great excitement and 
 to an excited assemblage, a statement so calculated to injure 
 me in public opinion. 
 
 I learn that Senhor Sinimbu stated that it was the intention 
 of the Government to publish tomorrow the whole of the cor- 
 respondence, and I hope I shall not in vain appeal to your 
 justice in asking you to include this letter in the publication. 
 
 I avail, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure 10 in No* 72. 
 The Marquis of Abrantes to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, Rio de Janeiro, January l x 1863. 
 (Translation.) 
 
 I acknowledge receipt of the note which under yesterday s 
 date Mr. Christie, &c, addressed to me, with the object of 
 explaining the meaning of phrases which he is sure were used 
 on the Commercial Exchange by the Minister of Agriculture, 
 Commerce, and Public "Works, in reference to the ultimatum 
 addressed to the Imperial Government in the note dated the 
 §0th, and received on the morning of the 31st of last months 
 
275 
 
 Mr. Christie has been informed that the Minister of Com- 
 merce, in the short speech which he made on the Exchange, 
 considered as ultimatum Mr. Christie's note of the 80th, 
 while the ultimatum, as Mr. Christie declares, was in his three 
 notes of the 5th. 
 
 - Pointing out to Mr.^ Christie that, as regards what . the 
 Minister of Commerce said on the Exchange, the Imperial 
 Government. knows only what is published in today's " Diario 
 Official," I have further to inform him that, in conformity with 
 his wishes,, his note shall appear in the " Diario " together 
 with this my reply. 
 
 I avail, &c, 
 (Signed) MARQUIS- OF ABRANTES. 
 
 Enclosure 11 in No. 72. 
 Mr. Christie to Acting Consul Hollocombe. 
 
 Bio de Janeiro, January 1, 1863. 
 
 Sir, 
 I have to instruct you to cause it to be made generally 
 known that if any vessel seized by Admiral Warren's orders 
 shall contain. property belonging to parties who are not Bra- 
 zilians, the Admiral will, on the nationality of the owners 
 being proved to his satisfaction, give every facility in his 
 power for the delivery of the property to the owners without 
 any delay which can be avoided. 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D. CHEISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure 12 in No. 72. 
 Mr. Christie to the Marquis of Abrantes. 
 
 Eio de Janeiro, January 1, 1863. 
 M. LE MAKQUIS, 
 
 I received about IT o'clock last night your Excellency's 
 note of yesterday. 
 
 I find that your Excellency is right in saying that the 
 mistake in the memorandum on the "Prince of Wales" 
 question, as to the demand of indemnity for the probable 
 assassinations, was nt>t corrected in the copy sent to me. 
 
 But your Excellency is wrong in saying that no correction 
 
 T 2 
 
276 
 
 whatever has been made in that copy. The date of the note 
 of the 25th October, in which there was a mistake, has been 
 corrected at my suggestion. This, and the correction made 
 at my suggestion in the memorandum on the affair of the 
 " Forte," which your Excellency mentions, and even still 
 more your own statement, made when you visited me in the 
 afternoon of the 27th, that I had most clearly explained the 
 mistake about the demand as to - assassinations, led me too ■ 
 hastily to conclude that this mistake also had been corrected, 
 as it should have been, in the memorandum. 
 
 This is only one of the errors imputed to me by your 
 Excellency to which I can plead guilty. 
 
 Your Excellency persists in 'a misstatement of importance 
 when you say, " Mr. Christie, in his note of the 5th, required 
 an indemnity for the* bodies stripped and plundered." Mr. 
 Christie does nothing of the sort in that note. I say in that 
 note, that " Her Majesty's Government ask for compensation 
 for the plundering of the wreck and of the bodies." I again 
 say in that note that I am instructed to demand compensa- 
 tion " for the wholesale, plunder of the wreck, and also for 
 the robberies of the property of the crew." Lastly, I speak 
 of "the compensation to be made to the relations of the 
 people on board whose bodies were stripped and plundered;" 
 and I have given no subsequent explanation clearer, as • you 
 say, than my. original words. 
 
 - 1 adhere to my statement that no verbal explanations were 
 given to me either by you or Senhor . Sinimbu after the in- 
 vestigation made by the Chief of Police, and that this was 
 confessed by your Excellency. . In the previous _ interviews, 
 when my only object was to obtain an investigation, and the 
 facts were nqj known, material explanations could not have 
 been given me ; I remember none at all. Your Excellency 
 says that the verbal explanations which you have accused 
 me of not attending to were all given in the preliminary 
 interviews ; and you will probably think it right and neces- 
 sary, in appealing to the British Cabinet, to state — which you 
 have not yet done — what are these important explanations 
 which I have disregarded. 
 
 I beg to deny altogether the responsibility which you 
 throw on me for there- not having been time or possibility 
 for the Imperial Government to make me some proposal 
 which I might have discussed between- the 5th and 29th of 
 Peeember. 
 
I wish here to place on record that, when your Excellency 
 visited me on the evening of the 27th, I voluntarily declared 
 my readiness to accept, in the question of the " Forte," an 
 explanation as to the conduct of the Chief of Police which 
 could not hUrt his feelings. I said that, having the advan- 
 tage of knowing that gentleman, having listened to your 
 Excellency's explanations, and having well considered the 
 matter, I -should willingly take on myself the responsibility 
 of accepting an explanation, that, though it was to" be re- 
 gretted that without any information he had used words 
 imputing inebriety to the three officers, he had done so by 
 inadvertence and without offensive intention. The Imperial 
 Government not having permitted a settlement of this ques- 
 tion, I am anxious at once to give to this testimony, what- 
 ever it may be worth, in favour of a public functionary whom 
 I respect. 
 
 That Mr. Bennet, at whose hotel the three officers had 
 dined, should, on hearing of their imprisonment an hour 
 after, have inquired what they had drunk at dinner, does 
 not prove, as your Excellency says, that he spontaneously 
 judged that they were intoxicated, but only that he wished 
 to ascertain whether there could have been that cause for an 
 imprisonment, which he, like every other just man, would le 
 unwilling to believe was an outrage without cause. 
 
 Tour Excellency does not seem to be able to see the fores 
 of the culpable act, of Faustino which you had kept from 
 view. Certainly the release of the prisoner could not have 
 been the cause of the crime for which he had been appre- 
 hended. I should hardly have thought it necessary for your 
 Excellency to propound this truism. Cannot your Excellency 
 see that such an act gives good grounds for belief that the 
 same official, whose conduct besides was generally suspicious', 
 would have overlooked and failed to prevent other crimes ? 
 
 I have thus gone through all the points of your Excellency's 
 note of yesterday, with the exception of the one in the last 
 paragraph, in which I am informed that the Government of - 
 the Emperor will appeal to Her Majesty's Government. 
 
 I lament this resolution, because a perseverance in it will 
 render impossible a release of the property taken in reprisal, 
 until I can receive instructions from Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment. Your note of yesterday fails even to carry out the 
 declaration of your note of the 29th, that, in the question of 
 the " Prince of Wales," the Imperial Government would, 
 
278 
 
 on the display of force, pay such sum as I or Her Majesty's 
 Government might demand. The moment I might have 
 heard, or may yet hear, that the Imperial Government, con- 
 sistently with the previous statement, would pay what I 
 think a reasonable sum in the matter of the "Prince of 
 Wales," I have been and still am ready to request the 
 Admiral to send immediate orders to desist from further 
 seizures. I will also declare to your Excellency my readiness 
 to entertain, for the consideration of Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment, any reasonable proposal, such as was never made to 
 me during the four-and-twenty days which preceded- the 
 beginning of reprisals, as, for instance, a reference of all the 
 questions in dispute to an impartial arbitration. The endea- 
 vours of the Government of the Emperor to distinguish 
 between me and Her Majesty s Government, which have given 
 an illusion and example to your press, do not influence me 
 to withhold these offers of conciliation, made in the interest 
 of the commerce and friendship of the two nations, any more 
 than I shall be deterred, if these efforts fail, from continuing 
 to do my duty firmly under my instructions. Por there is 
 one point, M. le Marquis, in which, at this unhappy moment, 
 among all our differences, I agree with your Excellency s 
 statements, and that is, a belief in: the justice and rectitude 
 of my own Government. 
 
 I avail, &e. 
 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE 
 
 Enclosure 13 in No. 72. 
 
 The Marqms of Abrantes to Mr. Christie. 
 
 jfmistry of Foreign AffaiTS, Rio de Janeiro, 
 January 2, 1863. 
 
 (Translation.) , 
 
 I received yesterday, at about 3 o'clock m the afternoon, 
 the note which, under the same date, was addressed to me by 
 Mr. Christie, &c. 
 
 In that note Mr. Christie begins' by contesting some obser- 
 vations which I took the liberty to make on certain express 
 sions in that which he addressed me on the 30th of the.last 
 month, and closes by manifesting the disposition in which he 
 is of terminating, by pacific means, the questions now being 
 
279 
 
 discussed in the interest of commerce and of the friendship 
 which exists between the two nations. 
 
 Before replying to the second and more essential' part of 
 the note before me, Mr. Christie will allow me to make a few 
 brief observations on the objections which he has been 
 pleased to take against the reflections contained in my note 
 of the 31st of last month. 
 
 The memorandum on the question of the " Prince of 
 Wales " did not undergo any correction at all, and was trans- 
 mitted to Mr. Christie in a textual copy of the one which 
 was read at the conference of the 27th. 
 
 Mr. Christie will doubtless acknowledge that, the having 
 added to the date of the note of the 25th of October the 
 year 1861, cannot be considered as a correction, because as 
 that note of the British Legation was the only one of that 
 date, the want of the indication of the year could not give 
 rise to the least ambiguity. As, therefore, I said in my note 
 of the 31st of December, one only word was amended or sub- 
 stituted in the memorandum relative to the officers of the 
 " Forte." 
 
 And- thus, as Mr. Christie had the goodness to acknowledge 
 that there had been a mistake on his part, in asserting that in 
 the memorandum about the " Prince of Wales " a modification 
 had been made in that part relative to the claim on the sub- 
 ject of the murders, he will admit that no correction whatever 
 was made in that same memorandum, the simple addition of 
 the year 1861 not being possibly considered as such. 
 
 In making these observations, I merely do so in order to 
 correct facts, although they be unimportant. As to the com- 
 pensation demanded by Mr. Christie for the relations of the 
 crew, it is not difficult for me to understand, from the expla- 
 nations subsequently given to me by him, that the compen- 
 sation was demanded for the pretended plunder of tlieir 
 bodies. 
 
 But Mr. Christie cannot but admit that, notwithstanding 
 this modification, the essential observation still exists which is 
 read in the respective memorandum, and that is the difficulty, 
 if not the impossibility, of determining which are the bodies 
 and what are the effects of which they were despoiled. 
 
 Mr. Christie persists in his allegation that he received no 
 verbal explanation either from M. Sinimhu or from me, about 
 the officers of the " Forte " frigate This being his conviction) I 
 
280 
 
 must believe that I was not well understood when I declared 
 to Mr. Christie that I, as well as the Minister of Justice, had 
 spoken to him on this question, not only before, but after the 
 inquiry conducted by the Police Department : it would be 
 difficult for me to refer to the words uttered by me on those 
 occasions ; but they must certainly have been those which 
 would be suggested by the state of things showing, on the 
 one side, a desire to do everything that might be possible to 
 satisfy Mr. Christie, and on the other the impossibility of dis- 
 regarding the depositions of witnesses, only for the purpose 
 of putting faith in the allegations of the interested parties. 
 
 Mr. Christie likewise insists upon the unimportance of the " 
 deposition of the witness Bennet. Certainly this deposition 
 of itself alone would not be sufficient to constitute a formal 
 proof; but, connected with the deposition of the German, 
 Miiller, who asseverated that the three officers were tipsy, 
 Bennet's deposition comes to corroborate- that assertion. 
 
 Bespecting the Inspector, Faustino, I must observe to Mr. 
 Christie, that from the fault committed by him, in not im- 
 prisoning one of the indicated persons, wherein he emdear- 
 voured to justify himself by the declaration that he had not 
 the means of confining him, it cannot.be inferred that he had 
 been negligent or connived at the perpetration of the crime, 
 it having, been besides judged that the censures of that 
 functionary for other causes, such as for not having given 
 timely information of the shipwreck; and for having opposed 
 the disinterment of the bodies, were unfounded. 
 
 If it be unjust to draw such an inference, if from thence it 
 cannot be concluded, d priori, that Faustino had allowed the 
 perpetration of the crime, or had concurred towards, its com- 
 mission, of what other crime could it be supposed that Faus- 
 tino had been guilty in having committed that rault? ; 
 
 Besides the danger and inadmissibility of the principle of 
 the conclusion from one proved fault to another, completely 
 destitute of proof, it must be added that, in relation to Faus- 
 tino, that which was proved was an error committed in the 
 exercise of his attributions, and for which he was accountable 
 to the Government ; while the crime attributed tahim by the 
 British Legation is of a very different na'ture, being that of 
 negligence or connivance at the perpetration of the crime. 
 
 It is conceivable that an ill-disposed individual may in- 
 spire suspicion*, and even so there will not be sufficient to 
 
281 
 
 accuse, and still less to condemn him. But a public function* 
 ary may commit errors in his official capacity and not on that 
 account be considered a malefactor. 
 
 Mr. Christie declines all responsibility for not having 
 allowed either time or opportunity to the Imperial Govern- 
 ment for making some proposal, and declares that he was 
 ready to receive and discuss any proposal in the interval be- 
 tween the 5th and 29th of December. 
 
 Mr. Christie will be so good as to remember that the 
 . Imperial Government, not considering his notes of the 5th 
 of December as an ultimatum, thought that it might appeal 
 directly to the Government of Her Britannic Majesty, and 
 stated the same to Mr. Christie in the note of the 18th of 
 that month. The Imperial Government could not, therefore, 
 make any proposal to . Mr. Christie in that interval. Being, 
 however, informed by Mr. Christie, on the 22nd, that he did 
 not admit of any appeal to the British Cabinet, and that if 
 the demands made in his notes of the 5th should not be 
 promptly attended to, he had received instructions to address 
 himself to the Admiral, the Imperial Government found 
 itself from that day (the 22nd) placed in a situation of sub- 
 mission or resistance, and not of proposing modifications of 
 the ultimatum ; and that the notes of the 5th of. December, 
 as meant by the British Minister, contained an ultimatum, 
 which he himself subsequently declared in his note of the 
 31st of December. 
 
 Under such circumstances, the Imperial Government could 
 not nourish the slightest hopes that any I proposal would be 
 listened to, unless it were the pure and simple acceptance of 
 the demands made by Mr. Christie. 
 
 It is true that Mr> Christie consented to listen to elucida- 
 tions which I furnished him at the conference of the 27th ; 
 but only on the part of the, British Minister could any pro- 
 posal be made of a modification of his demands, and so he 
 declared when he took away the memoranda, in order to 
 reconsider their contents. 
 
 On the afternoon of that day Mr. Christie told me that he 
 would consent to diminish the censure upon the Chief of 
 Police, upon this magistrate's explaining that he had no 
 intention to offend the three officers. 
 
 On the following day (28th) I sent my Secretary to inquire 
 of Mr. Christie whether that was the only modification which 
 
282 
 
 he then proposed to make, or whether he felt disposed to 
 "make others. Mr. Christie answered that it was the only 
 one which he could agree to, and that the other "demands of 
 the notes of the 5th of December were still persisted in. 
 
 The proposed modification was not sufficient to neutralize 
 or weaken the gravity of the other demands of the ultimatum ; 
 and as the Imperial Government could not accept it, a reply 
 was addressed to Mr. Christie in the terms of the note of 
 the 29th. 
 
 From this short and faithful narrative of what passed f 
 between Mr. Christie and myself since the receipt of his 
 notes of the 5th, it is clearly seen that the Imperial Govern- 
 ment has neither had time nor opportunity for making any 
 proposal to Mr. Christie. 
 
 As to what appertains to the second, essential part of the 
 note which is before me, the Imperial Government, animated 
 by the same desire which is manifested by Her Britannic 
 Majesty's Legation, to put an end to the questions now pend- 
 ing in such a manner as maybe consistent with the great 
 interests of good understanding and the very important 
 relations between the two countries, I have received instruc- 
 tions from His Majesty the Emperor to declare to Mr. Chris- 
 tie, that as the Council of State must be consulted on the 
 proposed means for the fittest solution of these questions, it 
 becomes an urgent necessity that. Mr. Christie should await 
 the definitive reply, which will be given to him as soon as 
 possible, to that part of his note to which I have alluded. 
 
 And in order to bring this subject better to the knowledge 
 of the Council of State, to which the consideration of it is to 
 be submitted, I request Mr. Christie to have the goodness to 
 tell me explicitly whether the impartial arbitration to which 
 he has proposed a reference is to decide both of the ques- 
 tions ; that is, the one relative to the shipwreck of the 
 barque " Prince of Wales," and that which relates to the 
 officers of the "Forte" frigate, or if the arbiter is to con- 
 fine himself to the latter of these questions, the fonner 
 remaining solved in the terms of my note of the 29th of last 
 December. 
 
 I avail, &c. 
 
 (Signed) THE MAEQUIS OF ABKANTES. 
 
283 
 
 Enclosure 14 in No. 72. 
 Mr. Christie to the Marquis of Abrantes. 
 
 Bio de Janeiro, Jauuary 2, 1863. 
 
 M. LE Mabquis, 
 
 I do not think it necessary to continue a discussion on the 
 various minor points on which you' have rejoined to me at 
 such length in your note of today, and am content to leave it 
 to the public to judge between us on those points without 
 further observations from me. 
 
 I am glad to learn that the Government of the Emperor 
 have judged worthy of consideration the suggestion which 
 I have made for facilitating a settlement of the questions 
 which have led to reprisals on the part of Her Majesty's 
 Government, and in answer to your question whether the 
 suggested impartial arbitration should include both the 
 questions of the "Prince of "Wales", and the "Forte," or 
 be applied only to the latter, I have only to say that in 
 my yesterday's note I declared my readiness to entertain for 
 the consideration of Her Majesty's Government a proposal to 
 refer all the questions in dispute to an impartial arbitration. . 
 
 I shall be ready to give my best consideration, with a view 
 to referring it to Her Majesty's Government, to any reason- 
 able proposal which the Imperial Government may make to 
 me ; but until such proposal is before me I cannot explain 
 myself, or indeed form a resolution, on my conditions of 
 acceptance. 
 
 I would venture strongly to point out to .your Excellency 
 the desirability of your submitting .to me in a verbal confer- 
 ence any proposal which you may be authorized to make, and 
 I should hope that we might be able to concur in some 
 written memorandum of agreement to be submitted by you. 
 afterwards to.your colleagues. . 
 
 I avail, &c. 
 (Signed) W. It CHRISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure 15 in No. 72. 
 Mr. Christie to the Marquis of Abr antes. 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, January 3, 1863. 
 M. LE MABQtTIS, 
 I replied last night to your note of yesterday within an 
 
284 
 
 hour after receiving it, wishing to do everything in my power 
 to prevent delay in the negotiation which you have shown 
 your willingness to enter info. 
 
 I have nothing to change in what I have said as regards 
 this negotiation. But further consideration has brought me 
 to the opinion that it is important for Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment, and due to myself, that I should notice one of your 
 preliminary observations. 
 
 . Your Excellency says, in answer to my statement that no 
 verbal explanations were given to me after the investigation 
 of the Chief of Police, and that you had confessed this, 
 that I must have misunderstood you, for you told me that 
 explanations were given both after and before the inquiry. 
 My recollection is very precise, and my conviction very strong, 
 as to what I have stated ; but it becomes unnecessary to 
 prolong a discussion as to the variance in our recollections, 
 as your Excellency confesses that you cannot remember your 
 words, but that your explanations would naturally have been 
 such as the state of things would have suggested That is, 
 your Excellency now describes these explanations not from 
 memory but from conjecture ; and it cannot, therefore, be 
 disrespectful or inconsistent with diplomatic proprieties if I 
 say that explanations which you have yourself forgotten 
 Could not have merited much attention from me, and cannot 
 justify you in having made them a reason, and the single 
 reason, for referring to the British Cabinet the question of the 
 - officers of the " Forte" 
 
 I avail, &c, 
 (Signed) ' "W.' D. CHEISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure 1(5 in No. 72. 
 Mr. Christie to the Marquis of Abrantes. 
 
 Eio do Janeiro, January 3, 1863. 
 
 M, le Marquis, 
 I am obliged to call your Excellency's attention to remarks 
 in the "Diario Official" of the 1st instant and of today, 
 making a distinction, with reference to the present unhappy 
 state of affairs, between Her Majesty's Legation and Her 
 Majesty's Government, expressing a conviction that my pro- 
 ceedings will not be sanctioned by Her Majesty's Govern- 
 
285 
 
 nient, and charging me with seizing on . a pretext for 
 disturbing the friendly relations between Great Britain and 
 Brazil. I must hold the Government of the Emperor 
 responsible for these and any future similar remarks in their 
 official journal It ought not to be necessary to remind you 
 that I am the. Minister of Her Britannic Majesty accredited 
 to your august Sovereign in a Boyal letter desiring that 
 faith shall be given to all I say as from Her Majesty's 
 Government, and I have said to you many times, in words and 
 in writing, that I am acting under instructions from my 
 Government. 
 
 I avail, &c, 
 
 (Signed) W. D. CHEISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure 17 in No. 72. 
 The Marquis of Abr antes to Mr. CJiristie. 
 
 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rio de Janeiro, 
 January 3, 1863. 
 
 (Translation.) 
 
 Mr. -Christie, &c, in his note of yesterday received by me 
 at 11 o'clock at night, declares that he does not consider it 
 necessary to continue the discussion of various points which 
 he terms as of little importance. 
 
 He further declares that he has seen with satisfaction that 
 the Imperial Government considers his suggestion for facili- 
 tating the settlement of the questions which led to reprisals 
 on the part of the Government of Her Britannic Majesty, 
 and that he is ready to take into full consideration, and to 
 bring to the knowledge of his Government, any reasonable 
 proposal of that of His Majesty the Emperor, and expresses 
 a desire to confer with me for that purpose. 
 
 Fully agreeing with Mr. Christie on the inutility of per- 
 severing in the discussion of the points referred to in his note, 
 I will ask his permission to observe that I am not responsible 
 for that discussion. . 
 
 In regard to the conference wished for by Mr. Christie, I 
 hasten to inform him that it may take place this day, at half- 
 past 5 o'clock in the afternoon,' at the house of my residence ; 
 and I also hope that Mr. Christie will on that occasion furnish 
 
286 
 
 me with the explanation which I asked him for in my note of 
 yesterday, and which I require to place before the Council of 
 btate at tomorrow's conference. 
 
 I reiterate, Sac. 
 (Signed) • MARQUIS OF ABRANTES. 
 
 Enclosure 18 in Wo. 72. 
 Mr. Christie to the Marqms of Abr antes. ■ 
 
 -, __ Kio de Janeiro, January 3. 1863. 
 
 M. le Marquis, 3 ' 
 
 I regret to be unable to attend your Excellency, as you 
 propose, at your house for the conference, but I shall be in 
 the Strangers' Hotel the whole of the day ; and if indispo- 
 sition or any other cause prevents your Excellency from 
 coming to me, I shall be very happy to confer with your 
 Private Secretary, M. Calogeras, who, I know, has your entire 
 confidence. 
 
 I avail, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure 19 in No. 72. 
 
 Memorandum, of Basis of Arrangement. 
 
 The Brazilian Government will oblige itself to pay in the 
 "Prince of Wales" affair the sum ■ which Her Majesty's 
 Government may demand, protesting against its responsibility, 
 Mr. Christie having urged the Brazilian Government to 
 include the questions connected with the " Prince of "Wales" 
 affair in its proposal of an impartial arbitration. 
 
 Mr. Christie will immediately request the Admiral to give 
 Orders for the stoppage of seizures. 
 
 The Brazilian Government will propose to refer the ques- 
 tion of the officers of the "Forte" to an impartial arbitration, 
 which Her Majesty's Government will be free to accept or 
 decline. 
 
 ' The Brazilian Government will inform Mr. Christie in a 
 separate document for the confidential information of Her 
 Majesty's Government of the arbiters or modes of arbiter 
 
287 
 
 tion which it will accept, in the hope that Her Majesty's 
 Government may feel itself able to accept one of those pro- 
 posed, and so a settlement be expedited. 
 
 Mr. Christie wishes to understand distinctly whether the 
 Brazilian Government make themselves responsible for all 
 prejudices and losses which may be caused to subjects of 
 third Governments who may be owners of cargoes seized in 
 Brazilian vessels. 
 
 All the anterior correspondence in both questions to be 
 published immediately by the Brazilian Government. • 
 
 The vessels seized to be released. 
 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE. 
 
 January 3, 1863. 
 
 Enclosure 20 in No. 72. 
 
 Rear-Admiral Warren to Mr, Christie. 
 -* 
 
 " Forte," January 4, 186?. 
 SlE, 
 I have the honour to inform you that Her Majesty's steam- 
 sloop "Stromboli," rejoined my .flag at 4 p.m. this day. 
 Commander Henry reports having detained the Brazilian 
 vessels named in the enclosed list, and has left them in 
 charge of Commander Forbes of the " Curlew," in Palmas 
 Bay. 
 
 Eleven of the passengers on board these detained vessels, 
 who wished to proceed to Kio, were brought up in the 
 " Stromboli," and have been landed accordingly at this place/ 
 In the execution of this service I am happy to inform you 
 that no resort to force was necessary ; the usual signal to 
 heave to, by firing a blank gun, being made in the case of 
 three of the vessels, and the other two were stopped by 
 merely hailing them. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) EICHAED L. WAKKEN. 
 
 Enclosure 21 in No. 72. 
 
 list of vessels detained by Her Majesty's ships " Strom- 
 boli " and " Curlew." 
 
288 
 
 
 
 *! 
 
 *»*' 
 
 
 
 
 Name of Vessels. 
 
 Master. 
 
 Where from. 
 
 Bound. 
 
 How 
 rigged. 
 
 a ° a 
 
 ft 
 
 IP 
 
 s 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 * 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 rt ca 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 £ 
 
 
 Trinta e vino de 
 
 Outubro 
 Chaves' I. . . . 
 
 Joaquirado Santos 
 
 Rio de Janeiro 
 
 Baradi S. Josd 
 
 Hiate . 
 
 700 
 
 1 
 
 Rarriao Quinteros 
 
 Benevente . 
 
 Rio de Janeiro 
 
 Pataclio 
 
 2,400 
 
 4 
 
 
 Jose 1 Francisco di 
 Paula Bizuidon 
 
 Victoria .. . 
 
 Ditto .... 
 
 Sumaca 
 
 890 
 
 
 Senhora de 
 
 Henrique Fran- 
 
 
 Parate .... 
 
 Ditto . 
 
 450 
 
 
 Carmo " 
 
 cisco Pe<lrozo 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Parahyba . . . 
 
 Jose Gonsalves de 
 Frietas ' 
 
 Ubatuba . . . 
 
 Rio de Janeiro 
 
 Steamer 
 
 8,000 
 
 4 
 
 Enclosure 22 in No. 72. 
 
 The Marquis of Ahrcmtes to Mr. §hristie. 
 
 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rio de Janeiro, 
 January 5, 1863.. 
 
 (Translation,) 
 
 • In compliance with the promise made to Mr. Christie, &c, 
 &c, in my note of the 2nd instant, I come to give him the 
 due reply to the second essential part of his note of the pre- 
 ceding day. 
 
 After the receipt of my said note, Mr. Christie addressed 
 tome another, dated the 2nd, in -which it pleased him to 
 signify to me that it would be convenient that we should 
 have a conference. 
 
 To that note I replied on the 3rd, hastening to acquaint 
 him that the proposed conference might take place on the 
 same day, at "half-past 5 in the afternoon, at the house of my 
 residence. 
 
 Mr. Christie, being unwell, could not come to my house, as 
 he .sent me word by his Secretary, through whom I also in- 
 formed Mr. Christie that an identical reason prevented me 
 from calling upon him at the hotel which he inhabits. 
 
 Mr. Christie having declared in hislttote of the 3rd, that, 
 if our meeting were not possible, he was disposed to confer 
 with, my Secretary, I granted the necessary authorization for 
 that purpose. 
 
289 
 
 Fully informed of every thing that passed in that and sub- 
 sequent conferences, and the Council of State having been 
 consulted, I now transmit to Mr. Christie the promised reply 
 of the Imperial Government. 
 
 Wishing to avoid that an intention should be attributed to 
 it of opposing any pacific and honourable means of solving 
 the pending questions ; wishing to contribute, without ' a 
 diminution of the national decorum and dignity, to the 
 prompt removal of the difficult situation in which the rela- 
 tions of the Government of His Majesty the Emperor and 
 the Legation of Her Britannic Majesty are at present, to the 
 Serious injury of the great interests by which the two 
 countries are bound ; and lastly in testimony of the. entire 
 confidence which it feels in the justice of its cause, the 
 Imperial Government, ratifying the -declaration made in 
 my note of the 29th of peeember last, as to the question of 
 the barque '' Prince of Wales," will be ready to transmit 
 proper instructions to the Brazilian Minister in London, to 
 deliver, under protest, and in the terms of the said note, what- 
 ever sum the Government of Her Britannic Majesty may 
 demand. 
 
 And with respect to the question of the officers of the 
 " Forte" frigate, in accepting the suggestions made by Mr* 
 Christie, in his note of the 1st instant, about an arbitration, . 
 the Imperial Government will take care to inform Mr. 
 Christie of the choice of an arbitrator to decide this question; 
 it being understood that the arbiter will have to take cogni- 
 zance, not of the duty of the Imperial Government to cause 
 the laws of the country to be executed; but- only of whether, 
 in the mode of the application of those laws to the officers of 
 the " Forte," any offence has been given to the British Navy. 
 
 These declarations will only have, effect when reprisals 
 shall have ceased and the prizes has been released.' 
 
 I have finally to inform Mr. Christie, that if, contrary to 
 what is to 'be expected, the Government of Her Britannic 
 Majesty should refuse to acquiesce in this agreement, the 
 Imperial Government will maintain its primitive position, 
 which is that of not sacrificing the national decorum and 
 dignity, however much it may deplore the evils which may 
 result from that resolution. 
 
 I renew, &c. 
 
 (Signed)' MAEQUIS OF ABBANTES. 
 
290 
 
 Enclosure 23 in No. 72. 
 Mr. Christie to the Marauds of Abr antes. 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, January 6, 1863. 
 M. LE MAKQUfS, 
 
 I have received your Excellency's note op .to-day ; and 
 learning from your Excellency that the Imperial Government 
 are ready to give orders to their Minister in London to pay 
 under protest whatever sum Her Majesty's Government may 
 demand as compensation in the affair of the " Prince of 
 Wales,", and also to .accept my suggestion of proposing for 
 the consideration of Her, Majesty's Government an arbitra- 
 tion in the question of the jofficers of the "Forte," I. will 
 immediately request Admiral Warren to desist from reprisals, 
 and to give immediate orders for the restitution of the prizes 
 Which have been made. 
 
 Your Excellency may feel assured that reprisals cease from 
 this moment, and that Admiral Warren will send orders 
 without delay for the release of the prizes. 
 
 The Imperial Government, for reasons doubtless satisfac- 
 tory to. themselves, have thought it better to pay under pro- 
 test what, may be demanded in the case of the " Prince of 
 Wales," than to adopt my suggestion of proposing to refer 
 that question also to arbitration. In the conferences which 
 I have had with your Secretary, as representing your Excel- 
 lency, I strongly urged the advantage to the Imperial Govern- 
 ment of reserving "that, chance of a decision more or less in 
 their favour. The force of a protest against responsibility 
 cannot, I think, but be weakened by a refusal to submit the 
 point to arbitration ; but at any rate Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment cannot be open to any imputation of indelicacy in 
 taking on themselves to fix, as they are requested to do, the 
 amount of compensation.' 
 
 Her Majesty's Government are free to accept or decline the 
 proposal of arbitration in the question of the " Forte." 
 
 I think it right to place on record, that your Secretary, 
 .representing your Excellency, has also promised me that all 
 the anterior correspondence on both questions between Her 
 Majesty's Legation and the Government of the Emperor shall 
 be published without delay. 
 
 I avail, &c, 
 
 W. D. CHRISTIE. 
 
291 
 
 Enclosure 24 in No. 72. 
 
 Mr. Christie to Rem-- Admiral Warren. 
 
 Kio de Janeiro, January 6, 1863. 
 SlE, 
 
 I have the honour to inform you that the Brazilian Govern- 
 ment have declared their readiness — 
 
 1st. To pay under protest to the Government of Her 
 Majesty any sum which the latter may demand as just com- 
 pensation for the plunder of the wreck of the "Prince of 
 Wales;" preferring this mode of settlement to proposing, as 
 I had suggested to them, to refer the whole of that question 
 to arbitration ; 
 
 2nd. To propose, in the case of the officers of the "Porte," 
 to refer the question to an arbitration ; and it will be for Her 
 Majesty's Government to determine whether they shall ac- 
 cept or decline this proposal. 
 
 Under these circumstances, I feel myself justified/ in re- 
 questing you to give immediate orders to desist from further 
 seizures and to release the prizes already made. 
 
 I cannot conclude this communication without recording my 
 sense of the cordial cooperation and valuable advice which I 
 have received from you throughout these proceedings. m 
 
 I am, &c. "" 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure 25 in No. 72. 
 
 Rear-Admiral Warren to Mr. Christie. 
 
 " Forte," Bio de Janeiro, January 6, 1863. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter 
 of today's date, acquainting me with the steps the Brazilian 
 Government have declared their readiness to take, with a view 
 to the final settlement of the claim's of Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment in the case of the wreck of the " Prince of Wales," and 
 the outrage on the " Porte's " officers. . . 
 
 And with reference to your request for the stoppage of 
 further seizures of Brazilian ships, and for the release of the 
 
 V 2 
 
292 
 
 prizes already made-,- 1 'hare to inform you that I hare directed 
 Commander Henry to proceed forthwith to Palmas Bay, to. 
 release the ships detained there in charge of the " Curlew," 
 after which he proceeds with all speed to Pernambuco, for the 
 protection of British interests, the " Satellite " leaving in the 
 course of a. few hours for Bahia, and the "Dotterel" for Bio 
 Grande do Sul, with a similar object. 
 
 I- hare to thank you for your concluding paragraph, and 
 am gratified to find that you consider I hare been of service 
 in assisting you to bring this unpleasant business to a point 
 which will, I trust, lead to a final adjustment. 
 
 I hare, &c, 
 (Signed) EICHAED L. WAEBEK 
 
 Enclosure 26 in No. 72. 
 
 Circular addressed by Mr. Christie to Her Majesty's Consul 
 in Brazil. 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, January 6, X863. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 With reference to my circular despatch of December 30, 1 
 hare the pleasure of informing yott that 1 hare made an 
 arrangement with the Brazilian Gorernment which -has led 
 me to request Admiral Warren to desist from further reprisals, 
 and restore the prizes which hare been made ; so that Brazi- 
 lion ressels are again entirely free from molestation by Her 
 Majesty's ships of war. 
 
 The Brazilian Gorernment hare agreed to pay, under pro- 
 test, a sum which Her Majesty's Gorernment may demand 
 of the wreck of the " Prince of 'Wales ;" preferring this mode 
 of settlement to proposing, as I had suggested to them, to 
 refer the whole of that question to arbitration.. ' 
 
 They propose, in the case of the officers of the " Forte," to 
 refer the question to arbitration ; and it will be for Her 
 Majesty's Gorernment to determine whether they shall accept 
 or decline this proposal. 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D. CHEISTIE. 
 
293 
 
 Enclosure 27 in No. 72. 
 The Marqwis of Air antes to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, Bio de Janeiro, January 6, 1863. 
 
 (Translation). 
 
 With reference to the verbal explanations which I said had 
 been given by me, and chiefly by the Minister of Justice, to 
 Mr. W. D. Christie, &c, in the question of the officers of the 
 " Forte," Mr. Christie, in his note of the 8rd ■ instant, makes 
 some observations in support of what he had before said on 
 the subject. 
 
 . As there does riot appear to me to be any utility in con- 
 tinuing the discussion on this subject, I confine myself, in 
 answer to Mr. Christie, to acknowledging his note and declar- 
 ing that I am fully informed of its contents. 
 
 I avail, &c, 
 (Signed) MAEQUIS OF ABRANTES. 
 
 . . Enclosure 28 in No. 72. 
 
 The Marqwis of Abrarites to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, Rio de Janeiro, January 6, 1863. 
 
 (Translation.) 
 
 I acknowledge receipt of the note which Mr. W. D. 
 Christie, &c, has sent me, dated the 3rd, and in which, refer- 
 ring to some expressions in the "Diario Official" of the 1st 
 and 3rd, he corrects' the statements and protests against 
 them. 
 
 In reply I beg to say to Mr. Christie that, in exceptional- 
 circumstances, it is not always possible to avoid some expres- 
 sion or other not quite suitable or correct, especially in 
 writings, such as those in question, hastily prepared; but 
 that I can assure Mr. Christie that the Imperial "Government 
 would never approve the intentional, employment in 'the 
 ".Diario Official" of. language offensive to Mr. Christie. 
 
 And this appears to me a proper opportunity for removing 
 also from, the, mind of Mr. Christie the -disagreeable impres- 
 sion produced on it by the Imperial Government having re- 
 solved to appeal from the judgment of the ^Representative of 
 .Her Britannic Majesty to that of his Government. 
 
 Assuredly it cannot with reason be inferred from this fact 
 
294 
 
 that the Imperial Government pretended to doubt whether 
 Mr. Christie had instructions from his Government 
 
 What is naturally to be inferred is that, the Imperial 
 Government considering that Mr. Christie viewed unjustly^ 
 though sincerely, the questions in discussion, and hoping that 
 his Governments would view them in a different manner, re- 
 solved to resort to this measure, without, however, supposing 
 that in it could be seen a censure on the character of Mr. 
 Christie. 
 
 I avail, &c. 
 (Signed) MAEQUIS OF ABRANTES. 
 
 Enclosure 29 in No. 72. 
 
 Mr Christie to Acting-Consul Hollocombe. 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, January 7, 1863. 
 SlE, 
 
 When the arrangement which I reported to you yesterday 
 was concluded,! was assured that the correspondence would 
 be published this morning in the official journal and in the 
 other newspapers. This publication has not been made, and 
 a false explanation of the delay has appeared in the " Diario 
 Official." 
 
 The' Marquis of Abrantes has hastened to assure me through 
 Jpis Secretary that he was as much astonished as myself at 
 seeing that the correspondence was not published, that he 
 had given orders for tb.6 publication, and that the publication 
 will' be made tomorrow with a contradiction of the statement 
 which appears to-day in the "Diario Official." 
 
 Some journals have turned the delay of tpublication to 
 account by articles containing information which could only 
 have been supplied by a member of the Government, and full 
 of distortions and misstatements. 
 
 It is naturally' to be supposed that no person of less position 
 than a member of the Cabinet could have ventured to suspend 
 the order of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and th&t the 
 same Minister who has acted thus has inspired the journals 
 to which I refer. I can quite understand that the person 
 who has acted thus would see advantage in a day's delay in 
 order to anticipate by misstatements the impression which 
 the correspondence may produce. 
 
295, 
 
 I wish you to make the despatch immediately known as 
 widely as possible. 
 
 Tomorrow's publication will show that I have made no 
 unworthy concession, and that I have agreed on the 5th of 
 January to terms such as it is known to many that I have 
 been ready to accept since the 31st of December. If the 
 arrangement which, has at last been made, and which restores 
 the commerce of this port to freedom, satisfies the true honour 
 and dignity of Brazil, this can only be an additional source of 
 satisfaction to me, for it is not less my desire than my duty 
 to endeavour to combine respect for the true dignity of 
 Brazil with the vindication of British rights and British 
 honour. 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D. CHKISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure 30 in No. 72. 
 The Margms of Abrantei to Mr, Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, Eio de Janeiro, January 7, 1863. 
 (Translation) 
 
 In conformity with the arrangement made by the notes 
 exchanged , dated the 5th, between this Department and the 
 Brjtish Legation, I fulfil the duty of informing Mr. W. D, 
 Christie, &c, ihat by the packet which leaves, to-morrow for 
 Southampton the necessary orders * are sent to the. Imperial 
 Legation in. London to deliver, under protest in the terms of 
 the 29th of last month, the sum which Her Britannic Mar 
 jesty's Government may demand as compensation for the 
 wreck of the " Prince of Wales." ... 
 
 And I further inform Mr. Christie that the arbiter chosen 
 by His Majesty the Emperor to judge the question of the 
 officers . of .the frigate "Forte" in the terms of the same note 
 is his .Majesty the King of Belgium, in whose wisdom and 
 justice he has the fullest confidence. 
 
 I avail, &c. . 
 (Signed)' MARQUIS OF ABKANTES. 
 
206 
 
 Enclosure 31 in No. 72. 
 Mr. Christie to the Matqwis of Ahranks. 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, Jauary 8, 1863. 
 M. LE Mabquis, 
 ' Your Excellency hastened yesterday morning to assure me 
 through your Secretary that you felt indignant at all,, our 
 correspondence not having been published yesterday as had 
 been promised to me ; .that you had given the order for its 
 publication, and that it had been stopped without your 
 knowledge ; that you felt your honour compromised ; and 
 that the whole correspondence should without fail appea'r 
 this morning. 
 
 The whole correspondence has not yet appeared, and faith 
 has not even yet been kept with me. 
 
 Three notes of mine of January 3rd, and two of your 
 Excellency's of January 6th, have not been published. 
 
 I wish to know from your Excellency, before I conclude 
 my report to Her Majesty's Government, whether or. not all. 
 these omitted notes will be published to-morrow. 
 
 I find it necessary to remind your Excellency that you have 
 not yet sent me the promised note as to the readiness of the 
 Imperial Government to indemnify subjects of third Govern- 
 ments, owners of cargoes, who may have suffered by the 
 reprisals. That such a note should be written was part of 
 the arrangement made by me with your Secretary, and your 
 honour and that of the Imperial Government require that 
 such a note should be published with the rest of the cor- 
 respondence. , 
 
 Painful circumstances known to your Excellency as well 
 as to myself connected with the non-publication of the. corres- 
 pondence yesterday, which I do not now wish to enter intoj 
 but which it will be my duty to report fully to Her Majesty',s 
 Government, oblige me to say to your Excellency, with 
 reference to statements made in various journals, that I have 
 been assured by your . Secretary, representing you, that the 
 arrangement which I have made with the Imperial Govern- 
 ment excludes all questions of satisfaction for the reprisals or 
 negotiations in England ; and I so report to Her Majesty's 
 Government. 
 
 I avail, &c. 
 (Signed) . W. D. CHRISTIE. 
 
297 
 
 Enclosure 32 in No. 72. 
 
 Mr. Christie to tht Marquis of Abr antes. 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, January 8, 1863. 
 M. LB Marquis, 
 
 Your Excellency assured me yesterday that there should 
 appear this morning, in the "Diario Official," a satisfactory 
 contradiction of its improper statement of yesterday, why the 
 correspondence was not yesterday published, as your Excel- 
 lency had promised. 
 
 I have now read the explanation which has appeared today 
 in the "Diario Official," and regret to say that it ia very un- 
 satisfactory. 
 
 The release of the prizes was in no way a condition for the 
 complete publication of the correspondence which your Ex- 
 cellency -unconditionally promised should be made yesterday ; 
 and I regret to add that even yet the "publication is in- 
 complete. 
 
 The incorrect statement which appeared yesterday in the 
 "Diario Official" was communicated to other journals, and 
 has been published by them with every appearance of official 
 authority. I see no communication by way of contradiction 
 or explanation in these other journals this morning. 
 
 I must request your Excellency to cause this note to be 
 published with "the correspondence which has been today 
 omitted, and which you have already assured me shall appear 
 to morrow. 
 
 I avail, &c. 
 
 (Signed) " W, D. CHEISTIE. 
 
 Enclosure 33 in No. 72. 
 Mr. Christie to Acting Consul Hollocombe. 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, January 8, 1863. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 The Marquis of Abrantes has sent me further assurances 
 that the Government have taken, and will continue to take, 
 every possible measure to prevent disturbances and allay 
 excitement. 
 
 I shall see the Admiral in the course of the day, and I 
 
298 
 
 shall beg him to place himself in .communication with you ; 
 and if there is any further serious sign of persecution of 
 Englishmen; to consider about making some movement of 
 the. "Forte " or the " Leopard," or both, nearer the town, and 
 about placing some marines at the Consulate. 
 
 I have caused this indirectly to be made known last night 
 to the Marquis of Abrantes. 
 
 'You may cautiously make this knqwn to the English com-. 
 munity. . 
 
 I am, &c. 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE 
 
 • Enclosure 34 in No. 72. 
 The Marquis of Abrantes to Mr. Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, Bio de Janeiro, January 8, 1863. 
 (Translation.) 
 
 Mr. W. D. Christie, &c, insisted in the conference on the 
 necessity of explaining if the Imperial Government mUde 
 itself responsible for the losses suffered by foreigners who 
 might have goods on board the Brazilian vessels captured by 
 the English ships of war. 
 
 I have now to declare to Mt Christie that as, on the one 
 hand, the Minister of Commerce, Agriculture, and Public 
 Works, declared on the Exchange that the Imperial Govern- 
 ment regarded as a debt of honour the losses which might be 
 caused to Brazilian commerce ; and as Mr. Christie has, on 
 the other hand, given public notification on the 1st instant, 
 that if any captured vessel contained property belonging to 
 persons who were, not Brazilian subjects, the Admiral, on 
 proof of the nationality of the. owners, would facilitate the 
 delivery of - their property without delay ; it appears that 
 there is no necessity for any explanation from the Imperial 
 Government, seeing that Mr. Christie has acknowledged what 
 he should do as regards neutral property. 
 I renew, &c. 
 (Signed) MARQUIS OF ABRANTES. 
 
299 
 
 Enclosure 35 in No. 72. 
 Mr. Christie to the Marquis of Abr antes. 
 
 Bio de Janeiro; January 8, 1863. 
 M. LE Mahquis, 
 I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's note 
 of today, by which. I clearly see that the Brazilian Govern- 
 ment accepted the responsibility for any loss which may have 
 occurred to neutral owners of cargoes from the reprisals made 
 by order of Her Majesty's Government. 
 
 I avail, &c. 
 (Signed) W. D. CHEISTIE. 
 
 No. 73. 
 Mr. Christie to Earl Russell. — {Received February 4.) 
 
 Bio de Janeiro, January 9, 1863. 
 
 My Lord, 
 Having found it necessary to delay the English packet till 
 this afternoon, I am able to inform your Lordship that today 
 all is quiet: 
 
 Mr. Brodie had occasion to see the Marquis of Abrantes 
 yesterday. The Marquis voluntarily stated to him that he 
 continued to regret the non-publication of the concluding 
 correspondence on the 7th, and that he was convinced I was 
 right in my opinion that, if the arrangement had been made 
 known that day by the means of the promised publication, 
 there would have been no return of symptoms of disturbance. 
 
 I have, &c, 
 (Signed) W. D. CHEISTIE 
 
 No. 74. 
 Mr. Christie to Earl Russell. — (Received February 4.) 
 
 Bio de Janeiro, January 9, 1863. 
 
 My Lohp, 
 By detaining the steamer till this afternoon I am for- 
 tunately enabled to send your Lordship a copy and trans- 
 lation of a despatch from .the Marquis of Abrantes to Senhor 
 
300 
 
 Moreira, which has been published in this morning's paper, 
 together with a copy of a note which I have felt it my duty 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) W. D. CHRISTIE 
 
 to address to him. 
 
 I have, &c 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 74. 
 The Marqms of Abrantes to Senhor Moreira. 
 
 Foreign Office, Rio de Janeiro, January 8, 1863. 
 (Translation.) 
 
 Most Illustrious and Excellent Sib, 
 
 I call your Excellency's best attention to the enclosed 
 numbers of the "Diario Official" of the 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th, 
 and 9th of this month. 
 
 They contain, in the correspondence exchanged between 
 this Ministerial Department and the Legation of Her Britannic 
 Majesty, the' explanation of the conflict in which the Imperial 
 Government has been unhappily engaged with that Legation, 
 in consequence of the ultimatum presented by him on the 
 claims concerning the wreck of the " Prince of Wales " and 
 what occurred at Tijuca with some officers of the frigate 
 " Forte." 
 
 In the correspondence which I refer to, the justice and 
 dignity with which the Imperial Government- resisted the 
 exaggerated pretensions of the British Legation are so com- 
 pletely demonstrated that it would undoubtedly be useless to 
 add here any considerations of that sort. 
 
 If, armed with reason and right, the Government of His 
 Majesty the Emperor has fulfilled a duty in replying to. the 
 threats of the British Legation by a solemn protest against 
 the indescribable injury^ which was threatened, and by the 
 positive declaration that it would in no case consent to sacri- 
 fice the honour and dignity of the nation, it has, nevertheless, 
 not hesitated to accept the pacific and honourable, means 
 which was indicated by the British Legation, of a recourse to 
 an impartial arbitration to judge the question relative to the 
 frigate " Forte." 
 
 It is pleasing to say that in both cases the Imperial Govern- 
 ment has always met with the most unanimous, decided, and 
 energetic support from the whole population^ which by its 
 conduct, alike prudent and energetic in this conjuncture, has 
 
301 
 
 given once more a valuable proof of its patriotism and good 
 sense. . 
 
 As your Excellency will see by the two last notes ex- 
 changed between this Department and the British Legation, 
 the appeal to an arbiter has been definitively arranged as 
 regards the subject of the officers of the "Forte " in the terms 
 of the note of the 5th instant, and there has also been 
 definitively arranged the payment in London, -through your 
 Legation, and Under protest in the, terras of my note of the 
 29th of December, of the sum which the British Government 
 may demand for the wreck of the " Prince of Wales ;" ex- 
 ecution of these resolutions being, however, to be preceded 
 by the cessation of reprisals and the release of the prizes. 
 .Reprisals having .actually ceased, and the prizes having 
 been released, the principal condition of the arrangement 
 is realised ; and therefore your Excellency is authorised to 
 pay, under protest, the sum which may be demanded by the 
 British Government, as indemnity in the case of the " Prince 
 of Wales." 
 
 As to the question in dispute about the frigate " Forte," 
 the arbiter chosen by His Majesty the Emperor is His Ma- 
 jesty the King of the Belgians. 
 
 The prizes having been made and kept in the territorial 
 waters of the Empire, it concerns our dignity to demand from 
 the British Government a proper satisfaction for this viola- 
 tion of our territorial sovereignty, as we haye also the right to 
 demand from the same Government an indemnification for 
 the losses resulting from the captures made by the English 
 vessels of war. 
 
 Finally, the Imperial Government confides in the- patriotism, 
 zeal, and ability of your Excellency, that you will employ all 
 means which the terms" of the arrangement permit, not only 
 to convince the British Government of the unreasonableness 
 and injustice of the ultimatum presented in this capital by 
 their Minister, but also to satisfy them that in accepting the 
 same Minister's suggestion to submit the question of the 
 " Forte " to arbitration, the Imperial Government has given 
 one proof more of its great desire to combine the preservation 
 of the national honour and dignity with the continuance of 
 the existing relations between the two countries, as is de- 
 manded by the most important interests which connect them. 
 I renew, &c. 
 (Signed) MARQUIS OF ABRANTES. * 
 
302 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 74. 
 Mr. Christie to the Marquis o/Abrantes. 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, January 9, 1863. 
 M. LE Makqtjis, 
 
 I have read in this morning's ." Diario Official " and other 
 journals, your despatch to the Brazilian Minister in London, 
 in which you say that the dignity of Brazil, requires you to 
 demand from Her Majesty's Government proper, satisfaction, 
 for the violation of territorial sovereignty by the reprisals 
 which have been made, and that you have also the .right to 
 claim indemnification of all losses caused by the reprisals. 
 
 No such reservation was made in the note which your Ex- 
 cellency addressed to me on the 5th instant, and in conse- 
 qence of which, after several conferences with your Secretary, 
 I agreed to stop reprisals and release prizes. 
 
 Your Excellencyj with the knowledge of your colleagues, 
 sent your Secretary to me to represent you, and the Imperial 
 Government are bound by his proceedings. For myself, I 
 have had great pleasure in treating with M. Galogeras, and I 
 truly congratulate your Excellency and his adopted country 
 on the possession of so able, zealous, and honourable a public 
 servant. 
 
 M. Galogeras has since told me, with reference to observa- 
 tions in some of the journals which, but for an unhappy cir- 
 cumstance known to your Excellency, would be totally 
 unworthy of attention, — that all questions of satisfaction and 
 compensation for the reprisals are precluded by the arrange- 
 ment made with me. 
 
 I wrote .yesterday to your Excellency that all such ques- 
 tions were precluded, and your Excellency has not contra- 
 dicted me before the time for the departure of the packet 
 
 By detaining the steamer I have fortunately been able to 
 forward to Earl Russell a copy of your despatch to Senhor 
 Moreira, and a copy of this note. 
 
 Common justice will suggest, to your Excellency the pro- 
 priety of completing your publication of the correspondence 
 by publishing this note. 
 
 I avail, &c, 
 (Signed) W. T>. CHEISTIE. 
 
303 
 
 No. -75. 
 
 The Secretary to the' Admiralty to Mr Hammond. — (Received' 
 February 5.) 
 
 AdmiriHty, February i, 1863. 
 
 Sib, 
 I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the -Ad- 
 miralty to send you herewith, for the information of Her 
 Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a 
 letter from 4 Bear-Admiral Warren, dated the 8th January, 
 with copies of two of its inclosures, relating to the measures 
 taken for reprisals at Eio de Janeiro, in consequence of the 
 Brazilian Government failing to give the satisfaction required 
 for the outrages committed on certain officers of Her Ma- 
 jesty's ship " Forte," and for the plunder of the wreck of the 
 " Prince of Wales " merchant-vessel ; also reporting that the 
 Brazilian Government had subsequently made propositions 
 likely to lead to the adjustment of the questions. 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) W. G. KOMAINE: 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 75. 
 Rear-Admiral Warren to the Secretary to the Admiralty. 
 "Forte," Eio de Janeiro, January 8, 1863. 
 
 (Extract.) 
 
 I have the honour to acquaint you, for the information of 
 the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that on the 30th 
 of December Her Majesty's Minister acquainted me by letter 
 that he had failed in obtaining from the Brazilian Govern- 
 ment the satisfaction required by Her Majesty's Goverment 
 for the plunder of the "Prince of Wales" wrecked on the 
 coast of Albardao in June, 1861, and also for the insulting 
 treatment of three officers of Her Majesty's ship "Forte," and 
 calling upon me to assist him by carrying out the instructions 
 .received on that head from Earl Eussell in the event of non- 
 compliance, viz., to .make reprisals. a , 
 
 2. I consequently sent out the " Stromboli" on the after- 
 noon of the 30th, and the "Curlew" on the following 
 morning with orders to seize Brazilian ships, a copy of 
 which I enclose ; they detained five vessels, as per accom- 
 panying list, amounting in value to about .£13,000, and sent 
 
304 
 
 them into. Palmas Bay, where they were left under the charge 
 of Commander Forbe,s of the " Curlew." 
 
 3. I considered this the most advisable way of making 
 these reprisals, so as to avoid any collision, which my 
 instructions pointea out Her Majesty's Government were 
 most anxious should be prevented, if possible ; and I am 
 happy to inform their Lordships I have succeeded, notwith- 
 standing the great excitement existing in the town. 
 
 4. On the 5th instant Her Majesty's Minister informed me 
 by letter that the Brazilian Government had •made a proposi- 
 tion, which he could accept as likely to lead to an arrange- 
 ment of the questions, and' which he , accordingly accepted 
 conditionally on the approval of Her Majesty's Government. 
 I consequently despatched a ship at once to release the 
 detained vessels, and fearing disturbances at otheT ports, 
 when intelligence arrived, there of the strong measures we 
 had been compelled to take, I despatched the " Satellite" to 
 Bahia, " Stromboli" to Bernambuco, and " Dotterel" to Rio 
 Grande do Sul. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 75. 
 
 Orders addressed to Commander Henry. 
 
 By Richard Laird Warren, Esquire, Rear-Admiral of the 
 White Squadron of Her Majesty's fleet, and Commander- 
 in-Chief of Her Majesty's ships and vessels employed 
 on the South-East Coast of America Station.' 
 
 Her Majesty's Government having for some time been 
 endeavouring, through the' British Minister at Rio de Janeiro, 
 to obtain from the Brazilian Government reparation for the 
 plunder of the wreck of the " Prince of Wales," of Glasgow, 
 on the coast of Albardao, as also for the outrage committed 
 by the Brazilian police on offioers of Her Majesty's ship 
 " Forte," the negotiations on these questions have at length 
 been brought to a close by a positive refusal of His Imperial 
 Majesty's Gover^aent to grant any redress. ' 
 
 Under these circumstances, Her Majesty's Government 
 have determined to resort to reprisals on Brazilian property. 
 And in pursuance of such decision you are hereby required 
 and directed to proceed to. sea in Her Majesty's steam-ship 
 under your command, and taking the " Curlew " under your 
 
305 
 
 orders you will seize and detain such Brazilian ships as may 
 be considered necessary, and take them to Palmas Bay. 
 
 In the execution of this duty you will take care to ascer- 
 tain that the ships seized are the property of Brazilian 
 subjects, and you are to avoid as much ""as possible using 
 force in carrying out' this object. 
 
 All passengers you may find in such ships are to be 
 treated with every consideration, and are to be allowed 
 to retain every article of personal property, the ships and 
 their freight only being detained, with the masters and such 
 number of the crew as may be necessary to keep them clean 
 and' to look after the cargo. All injiiry or damage to the hull 
 or sails of the ships detained must be most carefully avoided, 
 as in the event of the Brazilian Government granting the 
 demands in question, the ships and property of Brazilian 
 subjects must be returned to them uninjured. 
 
 Given, &c, on board the " Forte," at Rio de Janeiro, 
 30th December, 1862. 
 (Signed) EICHAED L. WAEEEN 
 
 To Commander Henry, 
 
 Her Majesty's- steam-ship " Stromboli." 
 By command of the Commander-in-Chief 
 (Signed) Hugh S. Pullen. 
 
 Enclosure 3 in No. 75. 
 list of Vessels boarded by the boats of Her Majesty's ship 
 " Stromboli," Commander Arthur E. Henry^ between 
 December 31, 1862, at 7.45 p.m., and January 4, 1863. 
 
 Dame of Vessels. 
 
 Masters. 
 
 Detained. 
 
 Fkg. 
 
 Valne 
 of 
 
 When. 
 
 Where. * 
 
 Ships, 
 
 Trinta e una de 
 Outubro 
 
 Senhorade Carmo 
 Paranj^a'. '■'■ 
 
 Joaquim de 
 Santos 
 
 Bamao Quinteros 
 
 Jose F de -Paula 
 
 Bizuidon 
 Henrique" F. Pe- 
 
 drozo 
 Jose GScmsalves de 
 
 Freitas 
 
 Dec. 31, 1862, 
 
 7-45 P.M. 
 January 1, 1863, 
 
 9-IOa.m. 
 January 1, 1863, 
 
 6 45 p.m. 
 January 2, 1363, 
 
 7 P^M. 
 
 January 3, 1863-j. 
 
 A.M. 
 
 N.E.extrem.ofE. 
 
 Maricas Islatd 
 Cape Frio, N.E. 
 
 by E. 
 Cape Frio .... 
 
 Bound Island, N". 
 
 74? E. 
 Ditto 
 
 Braziln. 
 Ditto 
 Ditto 
 Ditto 
 Ditto 
 
 £ 
 700 
 
 2,400 
 890 
 450 
 
 8,000 
 
306 
 
 No. 76. 
 Earl Russell to Mr. -Christie. 
 
 Foreign Office, February 7, 1863. 
 SlK/ •■ « 
 
 our despatches of the 8th to 9th . ultimo have been 
 ived and laid before the Queen,, and I- have to acquaint 
 that Her Majesty's Government approve your proceed- 
 as reported in those despatches. 
 
 [er Majesty's Government accept the terms offered by the " 
 rilian Government in the matter of the wreck of the 
 ince of Wales," as well as the arbitration of the King 
 he Belgians in the case of the officers of the " Forte;" if 
 Majesty will consent to act as arbitrator, 
 he sum to be fixed as indemnity for the "Prince of 
 es " will be based upon the most accurate estimate that 
 Majesty's Government can form. 
 
 !er Majesty's Government are glad to find that, owing to 
 instructions they had given, and the prudence shown by 
 niral Warren in executing them, there has been no colli- 
 with the Brazilian forts or navy. 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) EUSSELL. 
 
 No. 77. 
 Mr. Hammond to the Secretary to the Admiralty. 
 
 . . Foreign Office, February 7, 1863. 
 
 Sir, 
 (ith. reference to your letter of the 4th instant I am 
 cted by Earl Russell to transmit to you, for the informa- 
 
 of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, a copy of 
 despatch that has been addressed by this mail to Her 
 esty's Minister in Brazil,* approving his proceedings in 
 
 matters of the "Prince of Wales" and "Forte," and 
 ing that Her Majesty's Government accept the terms of 
 settlement offered, by the Brazilian Government. . . 
 am, at the same time, to request that you will suggest 
 
 *Nd. 76. 
 
307 
 
 to their Lordships that the manner in which Admiral "Warren 
 carried out his instructions should be approved. 
 
 I have, &c. 
 (Signed) E. HAMMOND. 
 
 No. 78. 
 M. Moreira to Earl Russell. — (Received February 10.) 
 
 Imperial Legation of Brazil, London, February 9, 1863. 
 (Translation.) 
 
 The Undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni- 
 potentiary of His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil, has the 
 honour to inform the Earl Russell, &c, that he has just 
 received from his Government two notes, dated the 5th 
 January last, which passed between the Imperial Govern- 
 ment of Brazil and the British Legation in Rio de Janeiro, 
 which have been, of course, also transmitted by the same 
 Legation to the Right Honourable Earl Russell. 
 
 Those two documents show clearly what violent and de- 
 plorable events have occurred in Rio Janeiro, subsequent to 
 the extraordinary demands • made by the British Legation 
 upon the Imperial Government, of which an account was 
 brought by the last packet from Brazil. 
 
 In the first of these notes addressed to the British Minister 
 by his Excellency the Marquis of Abrantes, Minister and 
 Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, it is stated word for 
 word as follows : — 
 
 " That the Imperial Government, being anxious to avoid 
 the imputation of opposing any peaceful and honourable 
 means of resolving the pending questions ; being anxious to 
 contribute, without a breach of national honour and dignity, 
 to promptly putting an end to the difficult situation in which 
 the relations betweeri|the two Governments are placed, with 
 serious injury to tfS -large interests which bind the -two 
 countries ; and finally, as a proof of the full confidence which 
 it has in.tmejustice of its cause, — will be ready, in ratification 
 of What ri^fcated in the note of the 29th of December last 
 respecting; the question of the ship 'Prince of Wales,' to issue 
 propel orders to. the Minister of Brazil in London, to the 
 effeefc?that he pay there, under protest, in the terms of the 
 " *■•' -■ x 2 
 
308 
 
 said note the sum which, the Government of Her Britannic 
 Majesty shall require. * 
 
 "And. with respect to the' officers of the frigate 'Forte/ 
 accepting the intimation made by Mr. -Christie in his note of 
 the 1st instant, of an arbitration, iifae Imperial Government 
 will take care to inform Mr. Christie of, the selection of an 
 arbitrator who may judge that question ; it being understood 
 that such arbitration shall have to take cognizance, not of the 
 duty of the Imperial,. Government to put the laws of the 
 country into execution, but only whether, in the mode of. 
 •applying these laws to the officers of the ' Forte/ there might 
 have been any offence to the British navy. 
 
 " Those declarations shall not take effect until the reprisal's 
 shall have ceased, and the prizes taken shall be released. 
 
 " Lastly, I must apprise Mr. Christie that if, contrary to what 
 is to be expected, Her Britannic Majesty's Government 
 does not acquiesce in this arrangement, the Imperial Govern- 
 ment wilL maintain its original position, which is, that it 
 will_not surrender the honour and dignity of the nation, 
 however it may deplore the evils that may result from this 
 resolution." 
 
 The British Minister, in reply to this note, said as fol- 
 lows : — 
 
 "Your Excellency may be assured that the reprisals will 
 cease from this moment, and that Admiral Warren will issue 
 orders to release the prizes without delay. 
 
 " The Imperial Government, for reasons which, without 
 doubt, it considers plausible, has preferred to pay, under 
 protest, what may be demanded in the question of the 
 " Prince of-- Wales," to the adoption of the suggestion which 
 I made, to submit this question also to' an arbitration." 
 
 The British Minister; said, however, in the same note, that 
 " Her Britannic Majesty's Government will be at liberty- to 
 accept or to refuse, the proposal of arbitration in the ques- 
 tion of the " Forte." 
 
 Reprisals having in fact ceased, and the prizes being 
 released, and thus the chief condition contained in the note 
 of the Imperial Government having been fulfille&Athe 
 Undersigned has received orders from his Governm^^to 
 address the Eight Honourable Lord Bussell, in order. toiearn 
 from his Excellency if the Government of Her Maj<^S"the 
 Queen 'is disposed, to ratify the arrangement ui|dS ^."the 
 
 .'.iV-'Ja.' '" 
 
309 
 
 terms of the said notes of the 5th January between the 
 Imperial Government and the British Legation, relative 
 to the questions which this arrangement was intended to 
 solve. 
 
 If in the affirmative the Undersigned has received instruc- 
 tions to declare to Her Britannic Majesty's Government that 
 His Majesty the King of Belgium is the arbitrator chosen by 
 His Majesty the Emperor, to decide whether, in the mode of 
 applying the law to the officers of the " Forte," there might 
 have been any offence to the British navy. And the Imperial - 
 Government firmly trusts that Her Majesty's Government 
 will not hesitate to accept the choice of His Majesty the 
 Emperor, as it has fallen upon His Majesty the King of 
 Belgium. 
 
 Finally, as to the question of the ship " Prince of Wales," 
 the Undersigned is authorized, by his Government declining 
 to enter into any liquidation, and under the protests in the 
 terms of the note of the Imperial Government to the British 
 Legation, dated the 29th of December, to deliver to Her 
 Britannic Majesty's Government, in a cheque upon 'the Bank 
 of England, whatever sum the Government of Her Britannic 
 Majesty may demand in this case. '. 
 
 In making this communication to the Eight Honourable 
 Earl Bussell the Undersigned requests his Excellency to be 
 pleased to inform him of the resolution pf Her Britannic 
 Majesty's Government in respect to the arrangement made by 
 the said notes of the 5th January ; as also If it accepts the 
 arbitrator proposed by His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil 
 ' The Undersigned earnestly hopes for the solution which 
 the importance of the affair requires, and takes, &c. 
 
 (Signed) C. MOEEIEA. 
 
 No. 79. 
 Earl Russell to M. Moreira. 
 
 Foreign O/Ece, February 12, 1863. 
 
 The Undersigned, Her Majesty's Principal .Secretary of 
 State for Foreign Affairs, in reply to the note of the Envoy 
 Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of His Majesty 
 
310 
 
 the Emperor of Brazil, has the honour to inform him that 
 Her Majesty's Government accept the arrangement agreed to 
 by an exchange of notes between the Marquis of Abrantes 
 and Mr. Christie ; that Her Majesty's Government will fix, 
 as soon as possible, the amount which they consider a just 
 indemnity in the case of the " Prince ©f Wales ;" that they 
 agree to refer to an arbitrator the question relating to the 
 officers of the "Forte" in the terms proposed by the Brazilian 
 Government, namely, whether, in the mode of applying the 
 laws of Brazil to the officers of the " Forte," there has been 
 j any offence to the British navy. And finally, Her Majesty's 
 ' Government accept the King of the Belgians as arbitrator, if 
 His Majesty will deign to consent to act as such. 
 
 Her Majesty's Government having accepted the terms 
 agreed upon at Eio Janeiro, are unwilling to discuss the 
 terms of the protest of the Brazilian Government. 
 
 The Brazilian Government are persuaded that they have 
 right on their side ; Her Majesty's Government have a similar 
 persuasion in a contrary sense. But Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment wish rather to cultivate good relations for the future 
 than to prolong a controversy as to the past with the Govern- 
 ment of the Emperor of Brazil, which has in so many respects 
 a title to the friendship of the British Government. 
 
 The "Undersigned, &c, 
 
 (Signed) RUSSELL. 
 
 ' No. 80. ] 
 
 Mr. -Christie to Sari Russell. — {Received February 21.) 
 
 Rio de Janeiro, January 23, 1863. 
 (Extract.) 
 
 I have the honour to enclose a minute reply to the memo- 
 randum of the Marquis of Abrantes on the question of the 
 officers of the " Forte." On further consideration I have not 
 thought it necessary to furnish the Brazilian Government 
 with a copy of this reply. 
 
311 
 
 Enclosure in No. 80. 
 
 Rephj to the Brazilian Memorandum on the Question of the 
 Officers of Her Majesty's ship " Forte." ■ 
 
 Brazilian Memorandum. 
 
 1. •" Her Britannic Majesty's 
 Legation having complained of 
 the proceeding attributed to the 
 Commandant and soldiers of the 
 detachment at Tijuca towards 
 some officers of the English 
 frigate 'Forte,' the Imperial 
 Government sought for infor- 
 mation about the facts of the 
 case, through the means of the 
 competent authorities, in order 
 to be enabled to form a sure 
 judgment respecting the* claim, 
 and to resolve according to what 
 might be just, because nobody- 
 should be condemned without 
 proofs, and these cannot be sub- 
 stituted by the simple allega- 
 tions of complainants." 
 
 2. " The event occurred in a 
 retired place : it became there- 
 fore necessary to put questions 
 to the Commandant and soldiers 
 of this detachment, who in the 
 exercise of their duties did the 
 act, premising that the informa- 
 tion given, by those agents of 
 the public force was confirmed 
 by two. persons completely 
 foreign to the question, to wit, 
 Messrs. Bennet and Midler.". 
 
 3 "Mr. Christie wished to 
 ■have copies of these inquiries, 
 which were frankly communi- 
 cated to him in original. His 
 Excellency soon afterwards 
 transmitted to the Government 
 the contradiction of those in- 
 
 Mr. Christie's Reply. 
 
 1. The affray took place on 
 the 17th of June. I demanded 
 an immediate inquiry on the 
 23rd, stating the desire of the 
 Admiral that the three officers 
 should be examined without 
 delay, as he was about to leave 
 for Monte Video; and wished to 
 take the three officers with him. 
 No attention was paid to this y 
 the Admiral was obliged to leave 
 ■the three officers behind for exa- 
 mination ; and after much 
 trouble, reminding, and pressing, 
 I at last succeeded in getting an 
 investigation by the Chief of 
 Police begun on the 2nd of 
 July. 
 
 2. The sentry's post, which is 
 .close to the Tijuca road, is not 
 
 a " retired place." Further on 
 in the memorandum it is cor- 
 rectly stated that "the Tijuca 
 road is one of the most fre- 
 quented in the suburbs." Of 
 course it jvas .necessary to hear 
 .the officer and soldiers, as well 
 as the complainants. There is 
 nothing in Mr. Bennet's evi- 
 dence to confirm the Brazilian 
 statements. 
 
 3". These documents, so 
 " frankly" communicated to me, 
 I bad demanded as of right ; 
 and they were sent to me in 
 original, because, with a not un- 
 usual negligence, nothing had 
 been done by the 2nd of August 
 
S12 
 
 Brazilian Memorandum, 
 
 quiries by Messieurs the Chap- 
 lain Glemenger, Lieut. Eringle, 
 and Midshipman Hornby," 
 
 4. "Certainly Mr. Christie 
 cannot but acknowledge that 
 however honourable the charac- 
 ters of those persons may be, 
 their, allegations are not suffi- 
 cient for the formation of proofs 
 in a court, of justice, although 
 there might be no other proofs 
 to the contrary, because they are 
 produced by the complainants 
 themselves. 
 
 " It would be contrary to all 
 principles, and extremely dan- 
 gerous, to condemn the accused 
 from mere allegations of the 
 accuser. 
 
 " If Her Britannic Majesty's 
 •Legation places its faith «n what 
 the ; officers of her navy said, 
 there is no reason whatever why 
 the ImperiaLGovernment should 
 refuse that of its agents.' ' 
 
 5. " There is, however, the 
 circumstance of the depositions 
 of the Brazilian Agents being 
 corroborated by two completely 
 disinterested witnesses, which 
 upon unprejudiced minds must 
 shed some light over this diffi- 
 cult question, and lead the im- 
 partial magistrate to believe it 
 more probable that the truth is 
 on- the side that presents decla- 
 rations of persons absolutely 
 f jreign to the fact inquired into. " 
 
 6. " Mr. Christie complains 
 that no answer has" yet been 
 given to his note, of the 19th of 
 August. What could the Im- 
 perial Government in truth do 1 
 There were no more witnesses to 
 be questioned, all possible proofs 
 
 Mr: Christie's Reply. 
 
 towards making copies which 
 had been promised me. 
 
 4. But a complaint. of three 
 .officers in Her Majestj's navy 
 is worthy of attention, and even 
 of belief, if. there is no trust- 
 worthy contrary evidence. ' 
 There were no independent wit- 
 nesses of .the fray. The Ger- 
 man Miiller is the only extra- 
 neous . witness of any part of 
 what happened- at the Tijuca 
 guard-house on the first night, 
 and the worth of his evidence 
 can- be estimated. There are 
 the Chaplain, a Lieutenant, and 
 a Midshipman of the British 
 navy on one side, against a Bra- 
 zilian Ensign and four Brazilian 
 soldiers on the other ; and if 
 the former are accusers, the 
 latter are accused. 
 
 5. That is, there is necessary 
 equality between the three ac- 
 cusers and the five accused ; and 
 M. Midler's evidence alone 
 makes it clear that the truth is 
 entirely on the side of the ac- 
 cused ! ■ 
 
 6. Mr. Christie should in any 
 case have been answered ; and 
 if " the Brazilian . Government 
 were convinced that the com- 
 plaint was unfounded, why did 
 they not answer to that effect- $ 
 The natural inference from their 
 
313 
 
 Brazilian Memorandum. 
 
 had been collected, and against 
 these what fresh matter was pre- 
 sented was the contestations of 
 the complainants." 
 
 7. -"The English officers ex- 
 pressed a desire to be confronted 
 with the German, Miiller, whose 
 deposition they rejected. But 
 the Chief of Police reports that, 
 after the 2nd of July, those 
 offieers did not appear again at 
 the Department under his charge, 
 even voluntarily leaving off at- 
 tendance at the interrogatories 
 of Messrs. Eennet and Miiller.; 
 
 "That, however, would not 
 prevent- the availing of that re- 
 course again, if therefrom some 
 more elucidation of the question 
 could be obtained. '' 
 
 ■8. " Having made these pre- 
 liminary observations upon the 
 -generality of the process, it is 
 proper to reply to the divers 
 topics of Mr. Christie's note of 
 the 19th of August last." 
 
 9." " He observes that of the 
 four witnesses who circumstan- 
 tially relate the commencement 
 of the question, only one of 
 them spoke from his own know- 
 ledge, because the others could 
 only repeat what they heard 
 from him, whose testimony they 
 faithfully reproduced 
 
 " It is, however, proper for 
 Mr. Christie to consider that, 
 besides the Commandant of the 
 detachment, four soldiers were 
 interrogated, It is true that the 
 beginning of the conflict was 
 with the sentinel, but it is also 
 true that he immediately called 
 out the guard, and that the 
 .other soldiers who were in the 
 
 Mr. Christie's BAphj. 
 
 not answering was, that they, 
 could not defend the proceeding, 
 and were unwilling to disown it. 
 7. From the 19th of August, 
 when I wrote to the Marquis of 
 Abrantes declaring the desire of 
 the officers to be confronted- 
 with Miiller, no step was taken 
 by the Chief of Police for bring- 
 ing them together. The three- 
 officers who had been examined 
 on the .2nd of July were not 
 asked to appear on tha 4th 
 when Bennet and Miiller were 
 examined, and had no informa- 
 tion of the intention to examine 
 them. 
 
 8. After all, then, it is proper 
 to answer my note of the 19th 
 of August, which a little before 
 there was no use in answering ! 
 
 9. What I said was that, un- 
 til the others came out, being 
 called out by the sentry, there 
 was only, one witness. ' That the 
 officer appeared at that time is 
 a question in dispute. It is 
 said" that all the testimonies 
 agree in saying that the attack 
 began from the British officers ; 
 but the beginning of the fray is 
 the very point for which there 
 is only one Brazilian ocular 
 witness, the sentry on guard. It 
 is also said that all agree in 
 saying that the three officers, 
 before their arrival at the guard- 
 house, had annoyed the patrol, 
 and had stopped a gentleman on 
 horseback. Now, only four out 
 
314 
 
 Brazilifm Memorandum. 
 
 guard-house having directly 
 come out, all of them, the- Com- 
 . mandant and the soldiers, wers 
 present at the struggle which 
 followed. 
 
 " All the depositions are con- 
 cordant that the sentry was at 
 his post j that the complaining 
 .officers were the aggressors ; that 
 .even before reaching the detach- 
 ment they had been troublesome 
 to a patrol which they met on 
 the road, and that iri front of 
 the quarters of the detachment 
 they had stopped a passer-by, 
 who was going up the hill on 
 horseback. 
 
 " The evident result of these 
 declarations is, that the soldiers 
 and their respective Comman- 
 dant were present at the conflict, 
 and that their depositions refer 
 to facts of which they were 
 ocular witnesses. 
 
 "They are simple facts, and 
 it is no wonder that there should 
 be unanimity in the statements 
 of them made "by the witnesses 
 in their generality, although 
 showing different versions re- 
 specting secondary ' circum- 
 stances, as is always the case on 
 similar, occasions, as, for exam- 
 ple, about the precise moment 
 of. the conflict, the noise made 
 by the officers in the guard*. 
 house, and other facts of minor 
 importance." 
 
 10. "Mr. Christie further 
 says, 'The English officers de- 
 clared that the Commandant 
 only appeared ten minutes after 
 their imprisonment, and ihat 
 consequently his deposition is 
 not worthy of being credited ; 
 
 Mr. Christie's Bepty. 
 
 of the five speak of these things \ 
 and of the four one only pro- 
 fesses to speak from personal 
 knowledge of the interference 
 with the patrol, and one only 
 professes to have seen the horse- 
 man stopped. The rest simply 
 repeat what they had heard say. 
 The " evident " conclusion, 
 then, of the memorandum is 
 not correct, that " the deposi- 
 tions of the officer and soldiers 
 refer to facts of which they were 
 ocular witnesses." The general 
 agreement is not in the least to 
 be wondered at, because, where 
 a witness cannot speak of his 
 own knowledge, he repeats what 
 he has heard from others. 
 
 10. It is not very probable that 
 the soldiers Would contradict 
 their offioer on this point. Of 
 course, the officer might be absent 
 for a few minutes, with goo.d rea- 
 son ; but if.it were othenvise,he 
 would pot wish his absence known 
 
315 
 
 Brazilian Memorandum. 
 
 because having declared that 
 ■which he had not previously 
 seen, it is to be supposed that he 
 had declared what he had not 
 afterwards seen ; that he was 
 absent when the disturbance 
 began. It is presumable that 
 he himself would not confess a 
 breach of his duty.' 
 
 " Not only the declarations of 
 the Commandant, but also those 
 of the soldiers of the detach- 
 ment, which are all unanimous 
 in stating that, upon, the calling 
 of the sentry to arms, .the Com- 
 mandant came out and pacified 
 the officers until they were 
 locked up, are contradicted by 
 the English officers. 
 
 " Let Mr. . Christie take note 
 that there was no reason why 
 the Commandant, if he had 
 been absent, should not have 
 said so ; because he might have 
 absented himself at ten. 
 minutes' distance from the 
 guard-house upon any other ser- 
 vice, without any . blame being 
 imputed to him on this account 
 as a dereliction of duty." 
 
 11. " Mr. Christie regrets that 
 the Chief of Police, in his report 
 to the Minister or Justice, under 
 date of the the 5th of July, should 
 have explained, by the imputa- 
 tion of inebrity, the release of 
 the English officers, and this 
 without any inquiry or justifica- 
 tion; and he adds, that that 
 imputation is not mentioned in 
 the Eeport of the Commandant 
 ofthedetachmentatTijuca,to the 
 Sub-Delegate of Engenho Velho, 
 the only one that the Chiaf of 
 Police possessed on that occasion. 
 
 Mr. Christie's Reply. 
 
 11. It is unnecessary to enter 
 into the question of this indis- 
 creet statement of the Chief of 
 Police, as I have admitted to 
 the Marquis of Abrantes, that a 
 serious imputation was not in- 
 tended, and have, in fact, ac- 
 cepted this explanation. 
 
316 
 
 Brazilian Memorandum. 
 
 ■ " This magistrate declared that 
 he. had ordered the release of the 
 officers, finding that there was 
 no matter for a process, because - 
 the acts of the said officers were 
 merely the result of the state in 
 which they then were. 
 
 " Let Mr. Christie allow me 
 to observe Jo him that the Chief 
 of Police, although he had not 
 yet commenced a formal in- 
 quiry, was already aware that 
 when the conflict took place 
 the officers had just had a plea- 
 sure party, after which there is 
 almost always a display of ex- 
 citement and hilarity, which 
 even happens to the most serious 
 persons,' principally to youths, 
 without producing any injury to 
 their character j and therefore it 
 was to this animation that 
 the Chief of Police attributed 
 the proceedings of the officers, 
 being without any reason to sup- 
 pose that, under other circum- 
 stances, they would choose to 
 despise the public force, and 
 much less seriously to attack 
 it. 
 
 "He therefore thought that 
 there was no matter for the insti- 
 tution of a process, and ordered 
 the release of the officers j the 
 inquiry which subsequently took 
 place was more for the purpose 
 of verifying the proceedings of 
 the agents of the public force 
 than for that of establishing the 
 culpability of the said officers." 
 .12. " Certainly the circum- 
 stance of the officers in appertain- 
 ing to Her Britannic Majesty's 
 navy, and the intervention of 
 .their superiors and of the respeo- 
 
 Mr. Christie's Bepli/4 
 
 12. The Sub-Delegate is in 
 fault for not having sent down his 
 report, stating the> charge of the 
 officers, on the morning of the 
 18th. It was not there, when.- 
 
317 
 
 Brazilian Memorandum. 
 tive Consul, had to be taken into 
 consideration by the said Chief 
 of Police ; and if he did not 
 sooner order the release of the 
 officers, that ' is, when solicited 
 % Captain Sanmerez, it was be- 
 cause he had hot yet received 
 the official Eeport of the Sub- 
 Delegate, whereby he might 
 learn the reason of the imprison- 
 ment, and that the officers were 
 placed at his disposal. 
 
 " In his Eeport of the 5th of 
 July, the Chief of Police did 
 nothing more than reproducing 
 the allegations contained in the 
 inquiry." 
 
 13. " The officers deny that 
 they were tipsy, and complain 
 of the imputation. But what 
 did Eobert Bennet and Eodolph 
 Midler say in their declarations 
 on this point 1" 
 
 14. "It is comprehensible 
 that in that, state the said officers 
 should have . proceeded in the 
 manner stated by the wit- 
 nesses ; but it is not explained, 
 nor is it conceivable, that the 
 sentinel, without, provocation, 
 
 . should have left his post, which 
 is off the road, . to attack three 
 individuals who were quietly 
 passing by on that r,oad." 
 
 15. "TheTijuca road is one 
 of the most frequented in the 
 suburbs. The detachment has 
 long existed there, and no re- 
 presentation has been made 
 against acts of violence or ex- 
 
 Mr. Olvristie's Reply. 
 
 Captain Saumarez went to the 
 police office after 5 p.m., and 
 was not received till the next 
 morning, and indeed bears date 
 the 19th. 
 
 13. Mr. Bennet does not say 
 that the officers were uJder the 
 influence of wine. 
 
 14. The attack on the sentry 
 is easily explained. The sentry- 
 box is close to the road,- and at 
 a very little higher level It is 
 off the road, but not retired. 
 The sentry hailed the officers, 
 ■who, being strangers, did not 
 know the expected reply, or per- 
 haps understand the hail On 
 the chaplain's approaching the 
 sentry with the words, "Que 
 quiere ?" Spanish words not 
 understood by the latter, he 
 (the sentry) proceeded at once, 
 with a not unusual promptitude, 
 to blows. 
 
 15. These acts of violence are 
 generally not heard of. 
 
318 
 
 Brazilian Memorandum. 
 
 orbitance on the part of the sol- 
 diers of which it is composed ; 
 which leads to the conclusion 
 that it would not be with the 
 English officers, without provo- 
 cation, that the first fact should 
 take place. 
 
 " It is conceivable that the 
 sentry having been provoked, 
 and a struggle having followed 
 between the English officers 
 and the soldiers of the detach- 
 ment, it became necessary to 
 make use of some vigour in order 
 to force the said officers into the 
 prison. But that, after being 
 confined, they were treated with 
 urbanity, they themselves ac- 
 knowledge. " 
 
 1 6. " It was certainly from 
 a desire to know the names and 
 qualities of these persons that 
 the Commandant of the detach- 
 ment sent for an interpreter. 
 How is it, therefore, admissible 
 that, the officers having given 
 their names and qualities in writ- 
 ing, theCpmmandanthad thrown 
 it on the floor after reading it ? 
 
 " The English officers say that 
 an Austrian served as an inter- 
 preter, and fully explained to the 
 Commandant their quality and- 
 profession, and that they replied 
 to all his questions. 
 
 "But not only the Com- 
 mandant and the soldiers deny 
 that such a declaration had been 
 made, but, on the contrary, state 
 that one of the officers having 
 written their names, another of 
 them seized the paper, -tore it, 
 and threw it on the- ground ; 
 also, the very Austrian to whom 
 the officers refer, the interpreter 
 
 Mr. CItristie's Replf. 
 
 . 16. The English officers oil 
 the one side, and the Brazilian 
 witnesses on the other, are in 
 complete conflict as to the de- 
 claration of names and profes- 
 sions. It is asked in the Mem- 
 , orandum what motive could the 
 Brazilian Ensign have for re- 
 fusing to receive the declaration 
 of the officers, or for denying it.' 
 Let it be asked in reply, what 
 could have induced the officers, 
 unless they were idiots, to with- 
 hold their names and' ranks. 
 Their object was to be released 
 as soon as possible, and, if not 
 released, to be well treated. 
 What more likely to effect their 
 object than to declare their pro- 
 fession 1 Even had they with- 
 held their names and rank in 
 the evening, would they have 
 done so the next morning," when 
 they were to be marched down 
 to Rio on foot as common crim- 
 inals 1 The Brazilian story is 
 
319 
 
 Brazilian Memorandum. 
 
 Muller, declared that, on his 
 explaining to the officers the 
 reason why they were imprisoned, 
 and asked them for their names 
 and positions, they sharply an- 
 swered him, without ever de- 
 claring one thing or another. 
 
 "It is in some degree to be 
 comprehended that the officers, 
 cowed on finding themselves pri- 
 soners, did not choose to reveal 
 their rank and profession, and 
 that they should have satisfied 
 themselves for the time with the 
 threat, which they themselves 
 declare having addressed to the 
 Commandant of the detachment, 
 that they would soon call him 
 to an account for his proceeding. 
 
 " On the following day, the 
 officers being sent to the city, the 
 Commandant in his report which 
 accompanied them, did not men- 
 tion their names, not having any 
 reason for so doing, but rather 
 full convenience in this declara- 
 tion, if by chance he had known 
 them." 
 
 1 7. '' It was only after they 
 were at the police-office that the 
 British Vice-Consul declared 
 them to be officers of the British 
 navy, when they were immedi- 
 ately transferred from the civil 
 prison to that of the police corps 
 (Corpo Policial), where they 
 made but a short stay, and were 
 released as soon as the Sub-Dele- 
 gate placed them at the disposal 
 of the Chief of Police, stating to 
 him the cause of their imprison- 
 
 Mr. Christies Reply.. 
 
 grossly improbable. It is even 
 denied that they made known 
 their names and ranks when 
 they got to the Rio police office, 
 and were thrown into a filthy 
 prison. To believe all this, it 
 must be believed that the three 
 officers are either deliberate liars 
 or idiots. If once we are called 
 upon to conjecture motives, it 
 may be suggested as not impro- 
 bable in Brazil, that the officer 
 and his guard disregarded the 
 English officers' protestations, 
 hoping to get money from them, 
 and Jiave afterwards denied the 
 declarations which they did not 
 choose to attend to. The Bra- 
 zilian Ensign admits in his evi- 
 dence that the officers wrote a 
 letter to the English Consul, 
 which he did not forward They 
 say they wrote to the Consul and 
 to Captain Saumarez. This 
 writing does not show the desire 
 suggested in the memorandum 
 for the officers of concealing the 
 trouble they had got into from 
 their authorities. On the other 
 hand the detention of the letters 
 by the Brazilian Ensign ha& a 
 very suspicious appearance. 
 
 17. It is not true that the 
 officers were transferred to the 
 "Corpo Policial" immediately 
 after the Consul's visit. Mr. Hol- 
 locombe went to the office a little 
 after 11 a.m., and the officers 
 were not removed to the " Corpo 
 Policial" till between 4 and 5 
 in the, afternoon. Nor is it true 
 that they were kept in the 
 "Corpo Policial" only a short 
 time; they remained there the 
 whole night, and were only set 
 
S20 
 
 Brazilian Memorandum. 
 
 18. "Mr. Christie makes the 
 observation that the officers deny 
 their haying sticks with them, 
 saying that Mr. Clemenger alone 
 had an umbrella in his hand; 
 ■whilst in the official despatch 
 addressed to Mr. Christie himself 
 on the 24th of June last, Admiral 
 "Warren says that the soldiers 
 took from the officers their um- 
 brellas and sticks." 
 
 - 19. "In their refutation of the 
 Commandant's disposition, the 
 officers said that not one of them 
 carried a metal flask slung with 
 a leather strap over the shoulder, 
 but that Mr. Clemenger had one, 
 It is exactly, what the Com- 
 mandant 'said, with the addition 
 that the flask contained the re- 
 mains of liquor, whilst the officers 
 -said that it was empty." • 
 
 Mr. Christie's Feplg. 
 the next day. ' It is said later, 
 most incorrectly, that, "as soon 
 as their profession was known,' 
 they were immediately' released." 
 According^ to the memorandum 
 itself, the British Consul de- 
 clared their profession when he 
 went to the police office, which 
 was in the forenoon of the 18th, 
 and the officers were not set at 
 liberty till near noon the day 
 following. 
 
 18. This remark,' which was 
 originally intended, to show a- 
 contradiction between the 
 officer's statements and the Ad- 
 miral's, has, by the. correction 
 of a mistake which I pointed 
 out, become' unmeaning and ob- 
 jectless ; ' and the Marquis of 
 Abrantes would have done well 
 to omit the paragraph. As the 
 passage originally stood, the 
 officers were represented as deny- 
 ing that they had sticks. . I 
 showed the Marquis that they 
 only denied having Used them, 
 and that it was only said of Mr. 
 Clemenger, the Chaplain, that 
 he had no stick, but simply an 
 umbrella; All contradiction, 
 therefore, with the Admiral's 
 statement that the officers' sticks 
 were taken from them is at an, 
 end. 
 
 19. This is an unsuccessful, 
 attempt to show a contradiction. 
 What the officers say is, that 
 none of them carried a flask 
 slung over the shoulder, but that 
 Mr. Clemenger carried one in 
 his pocket. There is no contra- 
 diction in this. 
 
321 
 
 Brazilian Memorandum 
 
 20. " The officers further say 
 that they did not skirmish with 
 the Brazilian soldiers, because 
 they do not speak Portuguese. 
 Mr. Christie will, however, grant 
 that it was not on this account 
 that the officers would cease to 
 deride them ; as well as, that 
 notwithstanding their ignorance 
 of the language of the country, 
 they themselves declare having 
 given the Commandant to under- 
 stand that they would ere long 
 call him to account for his be- 
 haviour." 
 
 81. " The officers deny every- 
 thing besides that the witnesses 
 said against them. But Mr. 
 Christie will have the goodness 
 to consider that the denials of 
 interested parties cannot be ad- 
 mitted as proofs in a Court, of 
 Justice, or neutralize the depo- 
 sitions of witnesses who are im- 
 partial, besides that the alle- 
 gations of the officers do not 
 appear to be very probable." 
 
 22. " The complaint would be 
 held reasonable if, from the dress, 
 or any other declaration, it were 
 known that the said officers be- 
 longed to the British navy; but, 
 quite on the contrary, it appears 
 that they were dressed in plain 
 clothes, and that they made no 
 declaration. It finally appears 
 that as soon as their quality was 
 known they were immediately 
 . released, there being otherwise 
 no matter for addressing a "com- 
 munication- to Her Britannic 
 Majesty's Legation on this sub- 
 ject." 
 
 Mr. Christie's Reply. 
 
 20. It must be admitted that 
 the officers might have attempted 
 to make fun of the Brazilian 
 guard with their small stock of 
 Spanish, by which they tried to 
 convey a threat ; but the threat 
 they probably regarded as more 
 urgent than ridicule ; and jokes, 
 to be effective, must be well ex- 
 pressed. 
 
 21. The accused Brazilians are 
 much more interested in defend- 
 ing themselves than could be the 
 accusers in complaining, and 
 there is only one 'extraneous 
 witness, Miiller. 
 
 22. Persons in plain clothes 
 are not to be assaulted and then 
 arrested without cause ; though 
 in plain clothes, they did not 
 cease to be officers. - It cannot 
 be considered proved that they 
 refused to give their names and 
 profession ; and even admitting 
 'that these were not made known 
 till Mr. Acting Consul Hollo- 
 cpmbe went to the police-office in 
 the forenoon of the 18th (and 
 the Memorandum admits that 
 they were then made known), it 
 is not true that the officers were 
 even then immediately released. 
 
322 
 
 Brazilian Memorandum. Mr. Christie's Reply. 
 
 "•The Imperial Government, They were detained nearly 
 
 from the foregoing explanation, twenty-four hours afterwards, 
 does not doubt that Mr. Christie, (Signed) ' 
 
 impartially appreciating this W. D. CHKISTIE. 
 
 frank and loyal statement, will January 18, 1863. 
 deem it convenient to reconsider 
 the subject of the present claim. 
 
 " December 27, 1862." 
 
 No. 81. 
 
 Earl Russell to M. Moreira. 
 
 Foreign Office, February 2i, 1863. 
 M. LE MlNISTHE, 
 
 With reference to your note of the 9th instant, I have the 
 honour to state to you that, upon considering the amount to 
 be claimed on account of the "Prince of Wales," Her 
 Majesty's Government have decided to refrain from making 
 any claim on account of the vessel, or account of freight. 
 
 The amount of compensation for the plunder of the cargo, 
 the loss of the effects of the crew, and on other accounts, is 
 estimated by Her Majesty's Government at 3.200Z. 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) KUSSELL. 
 
 No. 82. 
 Earl Russell to Lord Howard de Walden. 
 
 Foreign Office, February 27, 1863. 
 
 My Loud, 
 I have to acquaint your Lordship that Her Majesty's 
 Government have with extreme regret lately found it neces- 
 sary to have recourse to measures of reprisal in consequence 
 of the refusal of the Brazilian Government to concede. the 
 satisfaction required by Her Majesty's Government in two 
 
323 
 
 cases where British interests have called for their inter- 
 position. 
 
 The matters to which I allude are, first, the case of the 
 British vessel " Prince of Wales " wrecked on the Brazilian 
 coast, and, secondly, an outrage- committed by Brazilian 
 authorities on some officers of Her Majesty's ship " Forte." 
 
 It is unnecessary for me to enter at length into the details 
 of these cases. Your Lordship will learn how the matter now 
 stands from my correspondence with M. de Moreira, of which 
 copies are herewith enclosed, and from which you will see 
 that, while the Brazilian Government have virtually conceded 
 the demands of Her Majesty's Government, so far as the case 
 of the " Prince of Wales " is concerned, they have proposed 
 that the question regarding the officers of the " Forte " should 
 be referred to. the arbitration of the King of the Belgians, for 
 His Majesty's decision whether, in the mode of applying the 
 laws of Brazil to the case of the officers of the " Forte," there 
 has been any 'offence to the British navy. 
 
 Her Majesty's Government have acceded to the proposal 
 thus made for referring this point for the decision of the 
 King of the Belgians ; and I have to instruct your Lordship 
 to ascertain from M. Bogier whether His Majesty will deign 
 to undertake this arbitration: 
 
 I am, &c, 
 (Signed) BUSSELL. 
 
 ¥o. 83. 
 
 M. Moreira to Earl Russell. — (Received February 27.) 
 
 Brazilian Legation, London, February 26, 1863. 
 
 (Translation.) 
 
 The Undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni- 
 potentiary of His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil, has the 
 honour to acknowledge the receipt of the note • addressed to 
 him this day by his Excellency Earl Russell, &c, and hastens 
 to transmit to his Excellency a cheque for the sum of 3,2001. 
 on the Bank of England, which Her Britannic Majesty's 
 Government has fixed for the shipwreck of the " Prince of 
 Wales." 
 
 This payment being made, it is now the imperious duty of 
 the Undersigned to do what he already had the honour to 
 announce in his note of the 9th instant to the Bight Honour- 
 
 Y 2 
 
324 
 
 able Earl Russell,, that is to say, to declare that His Majesty 
 .the Emperor, in making this payment to Her Britannic 
 Majesty's Government, does not recognize in any manner the 
 ri<?ht or justice on the part of the British Government to 
 pretend to make the Imperial Government responsible for the 
 ■wreck of the ship " Prince of Wales," on the coast of Brazil, 
 inasmuch as the Imperial Government used all the means in 
 its power to punish the supposed' malefactors, and sincerely 
 and loyally made' all possible efforts to demonstrate the 
 invalidity of the claim which the British Legation at Bio de 
 Janeiro put forward in this affair, 
 
 And the Imperial. Government, being thus fully convinced 
 of the right which appertains to it, declares, — 
 
 1. That it cannot and ought not to assent to the unusual 
 principles which it is pretended to establish against it on the 
 occasion of this shipwreck, nor can it accept the responsibility 
 thrown upon it, against all which it loudly and categorically 
 protests. 
 
 2. That, therefore it refuses, as it has already refused, to 
 consent to and take part in the liquidation of the losses 
 suffered by the owners of the shipwrecked vessel, or of any 
 compensation for the damages which resulted from that ship- 
 wreck ; and thus, likewise, the Imperial Government abso- 
 lutely declines to take cognizance of the fact that the British 
 Government abstains from making any pecuniary claim for 
 the ship or freight, as declared in the note to which the 
 Undersigned is now replying. 
 
 3. Lastly, that in transmitting to Her Britannic Majesty's 
 Government the aforesaid sum of 3,200£. for the shipwreck 
 of the " Prince of Wales," the Undersigned declares, in the 
 name of his Government, that this payment thus made to the 
 British Government is made solely in consequence of the 
 illegal and violent proceedings committed upon Brazilian 
 ships in the territorial waters of the Empire, and is - the 
 simple result of force, without in any way implying the 
 admission of right or justice oh the part of the British 
 Government. Wherefore it will never be possible, by this 
 payment, to establish a precedent against Brazil or any other 
 maritime nation, inasmuch as the Imperial Government does 
 not recognise the right of such act, but, on the contrary, 
 most formally and solemnly protests against it and its con- 
 sequences. 
 
 The Undersigned, in making this protest to Her Britannic 
 
325 
 
 Majesty's Government, for the due effect thereof, reserves, in 
 the mean time, the right of- claiming, in the name of hia 
 Government, satisfaction for the violation of its territorial 
 sovereignty, in consequence of five vessels belonging to Bra- 
 zilians having been captured and held as prizes in the 
 territorial waters of the Empire, by way of reprisals, by ships 
 of war of the British navy ; as also an indemnification for 
 the damages resulting from the said capture, against all which 
 the undersigned now protests ; and he takes, &c. 
 
 (Signed) 0. MOKEIRA. 
 
 No. 84. 
 Earl Russell to M. Moreira. 
 
 Foreign Office, February 28, 1863. 
 
 The Undersigned, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of 
 State for Foreign Affairs, acknowledges the receipt of a 
 cheque on the Bank of England for- the sum of 3,200/. 
 
 The Undersigned would have gladly confined himself 
 to this simple acknowledgment had not Senhor Moreira, 
 Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of His 
 Majesty the Emperor of Brazil, in transmitting the cheque, 
 made various statements which it is the duty of the Under- 
 signed not to leave uncontradicted. ■ . 
 
 - The first of these statements is, that the said sum of 
 3,200£ is a sum " which Her Britannic Majesty's Govern- 
 ment has fixed for the shipwreck of the ' Prince of Wales.-' " 
 The Undersigned has already informed M. Moreira that no 
 sum is claimed for the loss of the ship " Prince of "Wales," 
 nor for the freight of the cargo. The sum is claimed for the 
 shameful plunder of her cargo and for the negligence shown 
 by the Brazilian authorities in the inquiries to ascertain the 
 delinquency of the sup'pbsed malefactors. When Mr. Consul 
 Vereker arrived on the coast on the 16th of June, eight or 
 nine days after the shipwreck, finding that eight -or ten dead 
 bodies were said to be on shore, he requested the Municipal 
 Judge to proceed to an inquest on the bodies, but he declined 
 to do so. The. Consul attributes this refusal to the presence 
 of Senhor Paustino, the Inspector of the District, with an 
 armed force which outnumbered that accompanying the 
 Municipal Judge. Here was at once a failure of justice. 
 
326 
 
 Had the eight or ten bodies been at once produced, and' had 
 those bodies been examined, it would have been ascertained 
 whether there were any marks of violence upon them ; and 
 as they were withheld for a considerable period, until the 
 bodies were in a state of decomposition, the cause of death 
 could not be ascertained. 
 
 Had a Brazilian ship been wrecked on the coast of \ Corn- 
 wall, and dead bodies, been found on the shore, the Coroner 
 of the district would at once have had the dead bodies pro- 
 duced, and would have held his inquest upon trTem. 
 
 Had any Magistrate appeared with an armed force to 
 prevent or control such inquest, twenty-four hours would 
 not have elapsed before that Magistrate would have been dis- 
 missed, and a military force would have been sent to protect 
 the judicial proceedings of the Coroner. 
 
 \ The Undersigned Will not enter further into the case. The 
 circumstances are well summed up in a letter of Eear- 
 Admiral Warren to. Mr. Christie, dated September 23, 1862, 
 contained in the papers respecting this case presented to Par- 
 liament by Her Majesty's command (page 96*). 
 
 The shipwreck took place in June 1861. At the end of 
 the year 1862, Her Majesty's Government having been 
 mocked for eighteen months by the evasions, subterfuges, 
 and unfounded assertions of the Brazilian authorities, Her 
 Majesty's naval squadron proceeded to enforce the moderate 
 demands of Her Majesty's Government. 
 
 These proceedings have been conducted according to the 
 rules of international law, -after a long period of patience and 
 forbearance. 
 
 The Undersigned, &c, 
 
 (Signed) KUSSELL. 
 
 No. 85. 
 M. Moreira to Earl Russell. — (Received March 3.) 
 
 ■ Imperial Legation of Brazil, London, March 2, 1863. 
 (Translation.) 
 
 The Undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister 
 Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the Emperor, has the honour 
 to acknowledge the receipt of the note dated the 28th of 
 February, and not received till yesterday, addressed to him by 
 
 * See page 194. 
 
327 
 
 his Excellency Earl Eussell, &c., and considers it his duty to 
 reply to his Excellency immediately as follows : — 
 
 It was agreed to by the notes exchanged between the Im- 
 perial Government and the British Legation in Bio de Janeiro, 
 that the payment to the British Government through this 
 Legation should be made under, protest 
 
 According to all the customs and usages observed pi similar 
 cases, when one Government protests against the acts of 
 another, the latter is formally held to acknowledge the receipt 
 of the protest, in order that this document may remain in 
 the international records, for future purposes and proper 
 effects. But the Undersigned obseryes that the Eight 
 Honourable Earl Eussell on this occasion, in his note of the 
 28th of February, merely acknowledges the receipt of the 
 sum which the Undersigned paid tc» .him, without acknow- 
 ledging at the same time the receipt of the protest which ac- 
 companied that payment. 
 
 It is therefore the duty of the Undersigned, to ask Earl 
 . Eussell to have the goodness to acknowledge the receipt of 
 the said protest, when he finds it convenient, for the com- 
 pletion of this transaction. 
 
 In regard to the observations which Earl Eussell makes in 
 his note of the 28th of February, the Undersigned has to 
 consider that these observations are wholly and entirely 
 founded on or originating in declarations made, suspicions 
 entertained, and inferences deduced by Consul Vereker, and 
 that they have all been answered and denied, or refuted and 
 explained, by the Imperial Government in its correspondence 
 with the British Legation, as Earl Eussell will find recapi- 
 tulated in the memorandum of Senhor Marquis of Abrantes 
 which accompanied his Excellency's note to Mr. Christie of 
 the 29th of December, 1862 (page 12] of the Correspondence 
 presented to Parliament*). In that memorandum there is a 
 clear narration and a succinct summary of the facts, removing 
 ,and destroying the allegations, contained in the letter of Vice- 
 Admiral Warren, who had no personal knowledge of the 
 facts, and who wrote merely under the impressions produced 
 by the report of Consul Vereker. 
 
 The statements of this Consul are a series of unfounded 
 deductions, and of unjust suspicions against the Brazilian 
 authorities, and against the forms of the process. It is the 
 duty of the Undersigned to say to the Eight Honourable. Earl 
 Eussell that the strength of these suspicions ought to be, at 
 
 * See page 244. 
 
328 
 
 least, mitigated in the estimation of the British Government, 
 when the latter remembers that Mr. Vereker also went- so far 
 as to conceive suspicions of the inhabitants of Eio Grande 
 having conspired against his life, and that Mr. Christie, after 
 having communicated personally with the Consul considered 
 it his duty to declare to the Government of Brazil that he 
 was convinced that Mr. Vereker laboured under an illusion, 
 and that his apprehensions were without foundation. 
 
 It is not, then, improbable that Consul Vereker" s illusions 
 were not confined to so scandalous an imputation against a 
 people among whom he had lived for many years with all 
 security and hospitality ; but that they likewise extended to 
 other accusations rnade by him in the course of this affair. 
 
 It is certain that Consul Vereker attributes the fact that 
 no examination was ma.de of the bodies that were found there 
 on the first occasion, to the superiority of the . armed force 
 which escorted the Inspector of the Quarter, to the force 
 which hj§id accompanied the Municipal Judge of the place 
 where the wreck occurreH ; and it was owing to this impres- 
 sion that the Consul himself thought it better to return to • 
 Bio Grande in order to begin the trial there immediately, 
 without its being possible notwithstanding to impute any 
 blame tp the Municipal Judge, as the said Consul confesses 
 (page 3 of , the Correspondence*). But in opposition to this 
 suspicious and unfounded inference, the memorandum of the 
 Marquis of Abrantes (page 125 of the Correspondence - )-) shows 
 clearly that the force at the. disposal of the Inspector on this 
 occasion for the police of the place of the shipwreck, was not 
 superior to the number of persons and force which accom- 
 panied the Municipal Judge. 
 
 The inference, therefore, of Consul Vereker cannot be 
 drawn from the alleged apprehension of superior force, 
 because that fact is supported only by this declaration of his, 
 which is incorrect. And so unfounded was that apprehension 
 of superior force; that the Municipal Judge, in accordance 
 with the Consul, proceeded to make a search, of some sus- 
 pected houses, in doing which the Consul himself was not' 
 afraid of accompanying the Inspector of the Quarter, to search, 
 with him" and some soldiers, another neighbouring district, as 
 he himself states. 
 
 Consequently there was not, at the very first, that want of 
 justice which the Bight Honourable Earl Eussell supposes. 
 
 His Excellency suggests what would have occurred if a 
 
 * See page 6. f See page 252. 
 
329 
 
 Brazilian ship had been -wrecked on the coast of Cornwall. 
 No doubt the English laws would have been carried out in 
 such case ; but in the case of the " Prince of "Wales" the laws 
 of Brazil were equally carried out, with as much vigour and 
 promptitude as the locality and the circumstances permitted. 
 Examinations were made on as many bodies as it was possible 
 to discover, and the verdict was, suffocation by drowning. 
 Five inquests .were held successively by different authorities. 
 Consul Vereker might have been present at all these investi- 
 gations ; at some of them he was not present, and he did not 
 appear at the most important of them, although formally 
 invited to do so. A functionary was dismissed by^the Im- 
 perial Government ; eleven persons were tried and sentenced ; 
 and the trial was going on in accordance with the law, when 
 the British Minister had recourse to the violence which is 
 noW known to all. 
 
 Consequently, the Undersigned cannot admit the, justice of 
 Earl EusseU's language when he talks of the negligence of the 
 Brazilian authorities. 
 
 And in view of these long-continued efforts to obtain the 
 punishment of the supposed criminals, the Undersigned rejects 
 the responsibility which the British • Government, by means 
 of force, imposes on the Government of Brazil ; and the 
 Undersigned, consequently, can consider such responsibility 
 solely as arising from the wreck of the " Prince of Wales." 
 
 The Undersigned, &c. 
 
 (Signed) C. MOREIKA. 
 
 No. 86. 
 Earl Russell to M. Moreira. 
 
 Foreign Office, March 4, 1863. 
 
 The Undersigned, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of 
 State for Foreign Affairs, has had the honour to receive the 
 protest which, in the name of his Government, M Moreira, 
 Envoy Extraordinary and . Minister Plenipotentiary of His 
 Majesty the Emperor of Brazil, transmitted to the Under- 
 signed on the 26th ultimo. 
 
 The Undersigned, &c 
 
 (Signed) RUSSELL. 
 
330 
 
 No. 87. 
 
 Lord. Howard de Walden to Earl Russell.^— ( Received 
 March 5.) 
 
 Brussels, March 4, 1883. 
 
 My Loed, 
 
 On the receipt of your Lordship's instructions conveyed in 
 your despatch of the 27th February, I immediately went to 
 the Foreign Office, in the hope of seeing M. Eogier. His 
 Excellency-was, however, at the Chamber, and not likely to 
 return to the office. I, therefore, at once addressed to him 
 a note (of which I enclose a copy) requesting him to inform 
 me whether His Majesty the King of the Belgians would 
 deign to - undertake an arbitration between Her Majesty's 
 Government and that of Brazil. 
 
 The Brazilian Minister had just called on me to inform me 
 that he could not further delay taking the initiative, as no 
 reference had been made in his instructions to any concerted 
 action with me, and as M. Eogier, on his part, saw no object 
 in his doing so. . 
 
 I have this morning received an answer from M. Eogier, of 
 which I enclose a copy, announcing to me that the King of 
 the Belgians accepts the functions of arbitration which he 
 has been solicited by Great Britain and Brazil to undertake 
 in regard to the occurrences which have provoked the mis- 
 understanding between the two Governments. 
 (Signed) I have, &c. 
 
 HOWABD DE WALDEN AND SEAFOED. 
 
 Enclosure 1 in No. 87. 
 Lord Howard de Walden to M. Rogier. 
 
 Brussels, February 28, 1863. 
 M. LE MlNISTKE, 
 
 Her Majesty's Government have with'extreme regret lately 
 found it necessary to have recourse to measures of reprisal in 
 consequence of the refusal of the Brazilian Government to 
 concede the satisfaction required by Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment in two cases where British interests have called for 
 their interposition. 
 
 The matters in question are — 
 
 First, the case of the " Prince of Wales," a British vessel 
 wrecked on the Brazilian coast ; and 
 
331 
 
 Secondly, an outrage committed by Brazilian authorities on 
 Some officers of Her Majesty's ship " Forte." 
 
 Your Excellency -will learn how the matter stands from 
 the copies of notes which have passed between Earl Eussell 
 and M. de Moreira, of which copies are herewith inclosed, 
 and from which you will see that, while the Brazilian Govern- 
 ment have virtually conceded the demands of Her Majesty's 
 Government so far as the case of the " Prince of Wales" is 
 concerned, they haye proposed that the question regarding 
 the officers of the "Forte" should be referred to the arbitra- 
 tion of the King of the Belgians, for His Majesty's decision 
 whether, in the mode of applying the laws of Brazil to the 
 case of the officers of the " Forte," there has been any offence 
 to the British navy. 
 
 Her Majesty's Government have acceded to the proposal 
 thus made for referring this point to the decision of the King 
 of the Belgians. I have, therefore, been instructed to ascer- 
 tain from your Excellency whether His Majesty will deign .to 
 undertake this arbitration. 
 
 (Signed) I have, &c, 
 
 HOWAED. DE WALDEN AND SEAFOED. 
 
 Enclosure 2 in No. 87. 
 M. Rogier to Lord Howard de Walden. 
 
 Bruxelles, le 3 Mars, 1863. 
 
 My Lo'kd, 
 
 Je me suis enipresse" de porter a la connaissance du Eoi 
 mon auguste Souverain le contenu de la communication que 
 votre Excellence m'a adressee: sous la date du 28 Fevrier, au 
 sujet de 1' arbitrage dtfere' a Sa Majesty par les Cabinets de 
 St. James et de Eio de Janeiro. 
 
 D'apres' les ordres du Eoi j'ai rhonneur de vous informer, 
 my Lord, que Sa Majeste" accepte la t&che que l'Angleterre et 
 le Br^sil veulent lui confier, et qu'elle cherchera, a remplir 
 les fonctions d'arbitre avec conscience et impartiality. 
 
 En m'acquittant de ce soin, je saisis, &c. 
 
 (Signe) CH. EOGIEE 
 
332 
 
 No. 88. 
 
 M, Moreira to Earl Russell. — (Received May 6.) 
 
 Imperial Legation of Brazil, London, May 5, 1863. 
 
 The Undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary" and Minister 
 Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil, in 
 addressing the present note, in obedience to the orders .of 
 his august Sovereign, to the Right Hon. Eafl Russell, 
 Principal Secretary of State of Her Britannic Majesty for 
 the Department of Foreign Affairs, believes it to be his duty 
 to commence by declaring that the intention of the Imperial 
 Government is not to reopen a question which has given 
 rise to a profound difference of opinion between the two 
 Governments with regard to the respective appreciation of 
 the circumstances which preceded a recourse to reprisals, 
 but to call the attention of the Government of Her Britannic 
 Majesty" to the manner in which those reprisals were 
 executed, and the natural effect of the unforeseen display 
 of naval force. 
 
 The facts on which the present reclamation are founded 
 are notorious. 
 
 Prom the 31st of December to the 6th of January last the 
 port of Rio de Janeiro and the national flag in that port were, 
 to keep within the very terms of the report addressed on this 
 subject to the Right Hon- Earl Russell, " virtually blockaded" 
 by an English cruiser. "While the Admiral's ship remained 
 in the interior of the port, and, according to correspondence 
 presented to Parliament, the entry of Marines into the capital 
 itself was premeditated ; another steam vessel went out in 
 chase of commercial vessels belonging to Brazil and in the 
 territorial waters of the empire. 
 
 Five vessels captured under these circumstances were con- 
 fined and kept under guard by a ship of war, at a little 
 distance from the capital, in the "Bay of Palmas, thus con- 
 verted into a depot of prizes. 
 
 These facts, such as they took place, are not and cannot 
 but be considered as- acts of war, contrary to the nature of 
 reprisals made in time of peace, contrary even to the procla- 
 mations of the British agents* who contented themselves with 
 announcing them as reprisals within the bounds of a state of 
 peace. They constitute, in fine, a gratuitous offence, con- 
 sidering that according to the note of the Minister-of Foreign 
 Affairs of Brazil, under date of the 29th December, tibe 
 
333 
 
 smallest demonstration of force beyond the bounds of the 
 Sovereignty of the empire was sufficient to assure, under 
 pro|est, to the English Government the object which it had 
 in view to obtain. 
 
 The circumstances which accompanied the acts to which 
 the British Government thought proper to have recourse 
 could not fail to wound profoundly the legitimate suscep- 
 tibilities of the Brazilian nation, excited by an invasion 
 altogether unexpected of its territory, and to provoke on the 
 part of the Government of His Majesty the Emperor a just 
 demand for reparation for the attempt against the national 
 sovereignty. On the other hand, the subjects of Brazil have 
 had to suffer in their property by the execution of those acts, 
 from the seizure of the five vessels which.were taken by way 
 of reprisal. Without having recourse to other arguments," the 
 Undersigned need only refer to the correspondence presented 
 to Parliament. The despatch of the Eight Hon. Earl Eussell, 
 dated the 8th of November, 1862, specifies that the vessels 
 retained shall be restored uninjured. The same declaration 
 will be found in the instructions given for the execution of 
 reprisals by Admiral Warren, on the 31st of December, 1862. 
 These documents alone suffice to justify the demand for 
 reparation, for they implicitly include the right which the 
 Jigured parties have to demand that reparation. 
 
 The Undersigned knows too well the elevated idea which 
 English statesmen entertain of the exigencies required by the 
 national dignity and honour to doubt for a moment that the 
 Government of Her, Britannic Majesty, taking into consider- 
 ation the grievances set forth above, will feel, and be disposed 
 to acknowledge, the justice of the double reclamation which 
 is the special object of the present note. 
 
 The Imperial Government desires the continuance of its 
 amicable relations with the British Government, but on terms 
 honourable for the two countries. On its side, in one of his 
 preceding notes^the Eight Hon. Earl Eussell expressed on 
 the part of the Government of Her Britannic Majesty a simi- 
 lar desire to cultivate the same relations. The two Govern- 
 ments being animated with such sentiments, the Undersigned, 
 in :the name of the Government of His Majesty the Emperor 
 has the honour to submit to the Government of Her Britan- 
 nic Majesty that which would give a satisfactory solution of 
 the present difficulty : — 
 
 The Government of Her Britannic Majesty will express its 
 
334, 
 
 regret for the circumstances which accompanied the reprisals, 
 and will declare that it had no intention to offend the dignity 
 or to violate the territorial sovereignty of the empire.. As 'to 
 what damages have resulted from the seizure of the ships, they 
 will consent to do justice to the claim made in favour of 
 these interests by a liquidation according to the decision of 
 an arbiter. 
 
 The Undersigned, having thus executed the orders which 
 he has received, awaits with confidence the reply of His Ex- 
 cellency the Right Hon. Earl Russell. He hopes that he will 
 have the happiness to be able to announce to the Imperial 
 Government the favourable issue of a situation so prejudicial 
 to the interests and the relations of the two countries. 
 
 The Undersigned, &c. (Signed), MOREIRA. 
 
 No. 89. 
 Earl Russell to M. Moreira. 
 
 Foreign Office, May 19, 1863. 
 
 The Undersigned, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of 
 State for Foreign Affairs, has had the honour to receive the 
 note which M. Moreira, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister 
 Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the. Emperor of Brazil, ad- 
 dressed to him on the 5th instant. 
 
 In the beginning of that note M.. Moreira, commences 
 by declaring that it is not the intention of the Brazilian 
 Government to reopen a question which has occasioned a 
 serious difference of opinion between the two Governments 
 as to their respective appreciation of the circumstances 
 which preceded the recourse to reprisals. 
 
 At the end of this note M. Moreira expresses a desire 
 for the continuance of friendly relations with the British 
 Government on terms honourable to the two countries. 
 
 Such being the desire of both countries, Her Majesty's 
 Government must decline to reopen any part of the ques- 
 tions which occasioned serious differences between Great 
 Britain and Brazil, and they are clearly of opinion that it 
 •would be impossible for them without doing so to enter 
 into any question as to the propriety or execution of the 
 reprisals to which Her Majesty's Government deemed it 
 necessary to have recourse.' 
 
335 
 
 The object of Her Majesty's Government in ordering the 
 measures hi question was simply to .obtain satisfaction to 
 ■which they deemed themselves entitled, and they were not 
 actuated by any feeling unfriendly to the Emperor of Brazil 
 nor by any designs of aggression upon his Imperial Majesty's 
 territory. The Undersigned, therefore, suggests to M. Moreira 
 that he should convey to his government the expression of 
 these sentiments of the British Government towards Brazil, 
 as a sufficient and satisfactory reply to the note which M. 
 Moreira has been instructed to present. 
 
 The Undersigned, &c. • 
 
 (Signed) EUSSELL. 
 
 No. 90. 
 M. Moreira to Earl Russell. 
 
 Brazil, May-25. 
 
 The Undersigned, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni- 
 potentiary of His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil, has the 
 honour to acknowledge the note which the Bight Hon. Earl 
 Bussell, Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of 
 Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, ad- 
 dressed to him on the 10th instant ; and he is compelled at 
 once to declare that the note of His Excellency does not con- 
 tain the reparation which the Imperial Government believes 
 it has the right to expect from the British Government ; that 
 it cannot be accepted as a sufficient and satisfactory answer 
 to the demands of the note of the 8th instant ; and that the 
 peremptory refusal, not only to do justice to the claims 
 therein enumerated, but even to take them into consideration, 
 only aggravates, if that be possible, the offence committed 
 against the Government of Brazil. 
 
 While the Undersigned, in enumerating the grievances of 
 the Imperial Government in the note of the 5th inst, pro- 
 tested at the same time, as the Bight Hon. Earl Bussell re- 
 marks, against any intention of reopening the question which 
 preceded the recourse to reprisals, his only object was to 
 facilitate the solution of the difficulties, by confining his 
 demands in well-defined limits, by recalling many plain and 
 precise facts sufficiently obvious of themselves, aEnd. separating 
 
336 
 
 his demand from everything which had been previously dis- 
 cussed. 
 
 It was in the same spirit of conciliation that he* alluded to 
 the desire expressed by the • two governments to preserve 
 friendly relations under conditions honourable to both. IJow- 
 ever, the Eight Hon. Earl Russell only found in the declare . 
 tion of this desire, in the submission of this sentiment, 
 grounds for refusing to investigate the facts submitted to him, 
 and ' to dismiss summarily the right which the Imperial 
 Government had reserved to itself, when it found itself com- 
 pelled to pay, under protest, the sum that the British Govern- 
 ment demanded for the wreck of the barque "Prince of 
 Wales" (note of the 26th February, 186.3) ; and now that the 
 Imperial Government proceeds to exercise the right thus re- 
 served, the Government of Her Britannic Majesty refuses to 
 enter into any discussion as to the propriety or execution of 
 reprisals, urging the impossibility .of taking such a step with- 
 out reopening questions which have raised serious differences 
 between the two governments.. 
 
 The Undersigned would be wanting in his duty if he" 
 thus sacrificed the right of his Government by admitting 
 the identity of facts which by their nature are separate 
 questions. 
 
 The conciliatory nature of the note of the 8th instant, as 
 regards matters anterior to the reprisals, cannot in any way 
 justify the refusal to investigate, with a view to their repara- 
 tion, the grievances which naturally resulted from the 
 measures adopted in the matter of the said reprisals — two 
 points utterly different. 
 
 The questions anterior to the reprisals relate to the facts of 
 the wreck of the barque " Prince of Wales," and imprisonment, 
 of the officers of the "Forte," and to the view of the circum- 
 stances of the two cases, which has caused the difference 
 between the two governments and given rise to the volumi- 
 nous correspondence presented to Parliament. 
 
 The proceedings which accompanied the execution of those 
 measures are, it is necessary to repeat, the blockade of the 
 port of Bio de Janeiro, and of the national flag in that port, 
 from the 31st of December, 1862, to the 6th of January, 1863;, 
 the menacing. attitude of the Admiral's ship in the port ; the 
 meditated disembarcation of marines in the capital itself j 
 the cruising in the territorial, waters of the empire ; the 
 seizure of five merchant vessels, kept under guard by an 
 
337 
 
 English ship, and quite close to the capital, in the Bay of 
 Las Palmas, converted thus into a prize depot. It is this 
 series of acts of f War perpetrated in a time of profound peace 
 —acts not less offensive than uncalled for ; it is these alleged 
 " pacific " references which closed all discussion between the 
 two governments, which established the right of the Imperial 
 Government to the reparation demanded in the note of the 
 8th instant, a right which nothing can impair, whatever may- 
 have been the causes which urged the British Government to 
 have recourse to violence. 
 
 In refusing to render justice to the claims of the Imperial 
 Government, the Bight Honourable Earl Bussell repudiates, it 
 is true, in the name of the British Government, any intention 
 of insulting the Emperor of Brazil, and any idea of territorial 
 aggression at the moment the order for reprisals was given. 
 But sueh a disposition of the British Government at that 
 time assuredly imposes upon it now the obligation of doing 
 justice to the just complaints of the Imperial Government, 
 when it knows that the manner in which those orders were 
 executed constitutes a grave offence against the national 
 dignity and the territorial sovereignty of the empire. This, 
 it . appears, the Bight Honourable Earl Bussell will not 
 admit. 
 
 The Imperial. Government prefers no . complaint as to the 
 intentions of the British Government at the time it prepared 
 the despatches ordering the reprisals ; it desires to obtain 
 redress for acts* which the note of the 18th proves to have 
 been at variance with the sentiments and views of the 
 British Government. 
 
 The Undersjgned admits that the orders of the British 
 Government, as his Excellency declares, did not amount to 
 a violation of Brazilian territory or a blow to the national 
 honour ; but it is incontestable, and the Bight Hon. Earl 
 Bussell does not deny it, that both were accomplished by 
 the execution of the orders. 
 
 A formal representation on the part of the Imperial 
 Government conveyed to the knowledge of the British 
 Government the true character of those acts executed in 
 flagrant contravention of its instruction, and yet the Under- 
 signed cannot discover in the note from the Bight Hon. Earl 
 Bussell the least expression of regret, the least disposition 
 to give satisfaction for an insult to which the Imperial 
 Government will not and ought not to submit. 
 
338 
 
 Moreover, in remarking the disposition expressed by the 
 Eight Hon. Earl Eussell in his note of the 18th inst., the 
 Undersigned is compelled to declare that it leaves- entirely 
 undiminished an insult of which it seems to underrate the 
 gravity. He cannot, .therefore; adopt the suggestion of his 
 Excellency to communicate the said noto3 to the Imperial 
 Government. 
 
 The Imperial Government had at first hoped that the 
 British Government, on receiving ample compensation, 
 would show itself disposed to do justice by abstaining, 
 from ratifying the extravagant proceedings of its Legation 
 at Bio de Janeiro. Its hope has been disappointed ; but 
 it did not expect the refusal of the reparation it had a 
 right to demand for acts of unprovoked violence against a 
 friendly nation, — acts which the British Government would 
 not have tolerated at any cost from any power in the 
 world. Superiority of force does not constitute a privilege 
 above right and justice. 
 
 With the note of the Bight Hon. the Earl Eussell before 
 Mm the Undersigned must consider as a fait accompli the 
 personal refusal of the British Government to do justice 
 to the demands urged conformably to the instructions of 
 his Government, which he had the honour to bring to 
 the knowledge of the Bight Hon. Earl BusselT at the 
 conference in .which he handed him the note of the 9th 
 instant. . 
 
 In the position in which that refusal has placed him, it 
 only remains to declare, in obedience to the orders of His 
 Majesty the Emperor, to the Bight Honourable Earl Eussell, 
 that the Imperial Government, unable to submit to the unre- 
 dressed insult, yields to the necessity of breaking off its 
 relations with the Government of Her Britannic Majesty. He 
 has the honour of informing his Excellency that his official 
 functions cease from the present moment, and begs him to be 
 good enough to make out the necessary passports for himself, 
 for his family, and the staff of his Legation. 
 
 The Undersigned, &c, 
 
 (Signed) , G. MOEEIEA. 
 
339 
 
 No. 91. 
 
 Earl .Russell to M. Moreira. 
 -'■ «• *■- Foreign Office, May 23,' 1863. 
 
 The Undersigned, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary- of 
 State for Foreign Affairs, has the honour to acknowledge the 
 note of the Commander Moreira, Envoy Extraordinary 
 and Minister Plenipotentiary from his Majesty the Emperor 
 of Brazil of the 25th instant. 
 
 ' The Undersigned regrets to find that the Minister of his 
 Imperial Majesty is not satisfied with the explanation which 
 the Undersigned has already offered. 
 
 The Undersigned must repeat that both in the original 
 orders for reprisals, and in the execution of those orders, 
 nothing else was in view but to obtain reparation which 
 friendly representations had failed to obtain for acts which, 
 in the opinion of Her Majesty's Government.made reparation 
 necessary, and that those orders were not dictated by any 
 desire to offend the dignity or to make any aggression on the 
 territories of the Emperor of Brazil. That which justified 
 the orders of Her Majesty's Government justified also, in 
 their opinion, the measures taken in execution of those 
 orders. 
 
 As, however, the Minister of the Emperor of Brazil appears 
 to have positive instructions to ask for his passports, the 
 Undersigned, in complying with that request, can only 
 regret this needless interruption of diplomatic relations. 
 
 The Undersigned, &c, 
 
 • (Signed) EUSSELL. 
 
 PRINTED BY M'QOWAN AND DANKS, GREAT "WINDMILL 3TREE4 1 , HAYMARKET. 
 
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