Journal of a Voyage to Brazil: And Residence There During Part of the Years 1821, 1822, 1823Callcott, Maria, Lady
History
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil: And Residence There During Part of the Years 1821, 1822, 1823
Callcott, Maria, Lady
Brazil -- Description and travel
His Majesty's ship Beaver arrived, two days since from Bahia. It seems
that Madeira, unable to hold the place any longer, is resolved to leave
it. He is pressed to the utmost by Lord Cochrane's squadron, which cuts
off his provisions, and by continual alarms kept up on the coast, by His
Lordship's own appearance from sea, and by the preparations he is making
in the Reconcave for an attack with fire-ships and gun-boats on the
town. It is expected, therefore, that Madeira will abandon the place as
soon as he can get shipping together to embark the troops. It is
asserted even that he has fixed the day, that of San Pedro, for
evacuating the place. The following proclamation is certainly
preparatory to his doing so; but as the time must depend on
contingencies, it cannot be so certain:--
"Inhabitants of Bahia!
"The crisis in which we find ourselves is perilous, because the means of
subsistence fail us, and we cannot secure the entrance of any
provisions. My duty as a soldier, and as governor, is to make every
sacrifice in order to save the city; but it is equally my duty to
prevent in an extreme case the sacrifice of the troops that I command,
of the squadron, and of yourselves. I shall employ every means to fulfil
both these duties. Do not suffer yourselves to be persuaded that
measures of foresight are always followed by disasters. You have already
seen me take such once before: they alarmed you; but you were afterwards
convinced that they portended nothing extraordinary. Even in the midst
of formidable armies, measures of precaution are daily used; because
victory is not constant, and reverses should be provided against. You
may assure yourselves, that the measures I am now taking are purely
precautionary: but it is necessary to communicate them to you, because
if it happens that we must abandon the city, many of you will leave it
also; and I should be responsible to the nation and to the King, if I
had not forewarned you. (Signed)
"IGNACIO LUIZ MADEIRA DE MELLO.
Head-quarters, Bahia, May 28. 1823."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account