Arrived off Bahia--Bahia de los Todos Santos (Bay of All Saints)--perfectly sheltered and capable of holding the fleets of all nations. Cochrane had been before us, and the Brazilian flag had replaced that of Portugal. We anchored on the west side of the bay, off the city of San Salvador. It appears that in June, about three months back, Lord Cochrane, with the Brazilian squadron, consisting of the _Don Pedro_, 74, and three frigates, manned, with the exception of 170 English seamen he had in his flagship, by natives, appeared off this place, which was then in possession of the Portuguese Government. He had no sooner made the entrance than he discovered the enemy’s fleet of thirteen sail standing out to prevent the threatened blockade. Cochrane formed his line-of-battle, and immediately bore down and put his enemy to flight. Nothing occurred beyond the hammering some of them got, but it led to the establishment of the blockade of their port. In the meantime Cochrane had prepared fireships. One dark night he stood in in his flagship alone to reconnoitre. On being hailed, he replied that it was an English ship. However, the consternation was great when it was announced to the Portuguese Admiral and officers, who were then at a ball, that Lord Cochrane’s fleet was in their midst. A panic was established: the evacuation of San Salvador determined, and on July 1 a Junta was formed to carry on the Government in the name of the Brazilian Empire. [Sidenote: Aug. 22.] We found trade going on in the same way as I suppose it had been under the Portuguese flag. It made but little difference to the unfortunate slaves as to the colour of the bunting that flew over them; although most of the Portuguese merchants were in favour of the mother-country. The new Imperial troops were not much, although they exhibited on their shakos “Libertad o Muerte.” One afternoon the Captain ordered me to take a despatch on board the _Tweed_ to the commanding officer. On going towards the landing-place I met Nightingale, the coxswain, who informed me that he was not allowed to pass the guard. On my remonstrating with the officer, who I noticed was not the same who was on guard when I landed, I showed him the back of the letter, which appeared to make matters worse. Now, I believed myself to be in charge of a despatch of importance. Having, on landing, noticed that the muskets in the racks at the guard-house were beautifully polished; and thinking them more fit to look at than for use, I told old Nightingale to be ready for a rush. The crew were up to the occasion, and before a musket could be got at, the sentry was on his back, and we were all in the boat, with the exception of Harrison, a coloured bowman who had a slight bayonet scratch on the back of his neck, being slow in casting off the painter.