information which the American Government received of the Allies' intentions (1).

Although the government of Dom Joâo maintained informal and not altogether irreprochable relations with certain Buenos Aires chieftains, and recognized the independence of the United Provinces on April 16, 1821, and that of Chile on August 11, 1821 (2), or somewhat in advance of the United States, this policy was dictated by enemity for Spain and not by a genuine sympathy for Latin American political emancipation, and the two de jure American governments, that of Brazil and the United States, did not pursue a common policy with regard to the independence movement. Rather their relations were increasingly characterized by continual controversy over the obligations of neutral governments throughout the remainder of the King's residence in Brazil.

1. Sec. of State Adams to Minister Gallatin at Paris, May 19, 1818, Mss. Dept of State, Instructions to. U. S. Ministers, vol. viii; Adams to Minister Rush, at London, May 20, 1818, ibid.; Adams to Sumter, August 27, 1818, ibid. These documents are to be found in the Manning Transcripts.

2. Robertson, W. S., The Hispanic American Relations of the United States. New York, 1923, p. 30.

CHAPTER II

THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF NEUTRALS

THE NEUTRALITY OF PORTUGAL

At the outbreak of the War of 1812, the Court of Rio de Janeiro showed unmistakable leanings toward Great Britain, and a corvette, the Benjamin was actually loaned to the British fleet in South American waters (1). But the British Minister, Lord Strangford, believed that it would be better for Portugal to remain neutral in the conflict so that the British armies in the Peninsula might receive American supplies (2). Portugal

1. Sumter to Sec. of State Monroe, October 1, 1812, and May 9, 1813, Mss. Dept. of State, Despatches from Brazil,

vol. i.

2. Intercepted letter from Lord Strangford to Lord Gastelreagh, September 30, 1812, Mss. Dept of State, Despatches from Brazil, vol. i.

then reassumed possession of the Benjamin, and on August 18, 1812, the government announced its neutrality in the following circular instruction to its officers:

"It being deemed to the best interests of these Kingdoms to observe the most perfect neutrality for the duration of the war which has, unhappily, broken out between Great Britain and the United States, and since the preservation of this attitude may be greatly facilitated by avoidance of the disputes which in such times arise from captures of prizes made by the vessels of the belligerents, the Prince Regent, our master, renews the instructions contained in the decree of August 30, 1780 (1), which forbid the entry into the ports of his Kingdoms of Portugal and the Algarves of prizes which frigates, men-of-war, or privateers of either of the said nations may have made or shall make at the expense of the other, only excepting cases in which the law of nations makes hospitality indispensable. At the same time however, it is

1. Cf. the text in Wharton, F., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States, Washington, 1889, 6 vols., vol. iv., p. 83. During the American War of independence, Portugal ad adopted a hostile attitude toward the Colonies at the start and meted out the same treatment to our French and Spanish allies upon their entry into the conflict. Thanks to the Armed Neutrality League and increased French-Spanish military and naval strength, the decree was reluctantly issued at the expense of Great Britain.

ordered that in these latter cases, no consent shall be given for the sale or unloading of the prizes which they may bring into said ports, nor to remain longer than may be required to avoid danger, or obtain necessary supplies or relief. The authorities upon whom the execution of this instruction is incumbent shall make themselves cognizant with it and enforce it. Rio de Janeiro, Government Palace, August 18, 1812.

Signed by the five governing ministers of the Kingdom (1).

A few months after this instruction was issued, three celebrated American naval heroes commanding three famous vessels set out for the South Atlantic. They were: Commodore Bainbridge, in the Constitution, Captain James Lawrence, in the Hornet, and Commodore Porter, commanding the elusive and ill-fated Essex. Bainbridge and Lawrence left the United States together in the fall of 1812, Porter having been instructed to follow and join them. The wily sea dogs stopped at Ferdinand de Noronha, off the coast of Pernambuco, and not knowing what attitude the Portuguese officials would adopt toward them, 1. Borges de Castro, op. cit., vol. xvii, p. 378.