BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF DOM PEDRO II ibo 



Towards the end of 1S62, some officers of the Eoglish navy bad, in 

 the garb of peasants, deserted from a military post in the vicinity of 

 Eio; they were seized in a brawl by the civil authorities and impris- 

 oned un^il they conhl be identified, which was done the next day. The 

 English government claimed satisf^iction for their detention, but the 

 Brazilian government, believing no satisfaction was necessary, submitted 

 to the decision of Leopold I, King of Belgium, the question whether the 

 English navy had cnnse for offense. The Belgian monarch replied in 

 the negative. But, before this decision was received, the minister from 

 England at Rio, (Mr. Christie,) either because he was angry with the 

 Brazilian government for refusing the satisfaction demanded, or fore- 

 seeing the sentence of the king of Belgium, and not wishing to remain 

 under the unfavorable impression of a condemnation he had himself 

 provoked, demanded and obtained authority from England to require of 

 the Brazilian government an immediate settlement of a claim which had 

 been under consideration for two years, and which necessitated the 

 payment of a sum of money (6,000 pounds sterling) as indemnity for 

 the losses resulting from the shipwreck of a small English vessel upon 

 the coast of Brazil. This was the second incident. The imperial govern- 

 ment refused to comply with the demand before the claim had been 

 fully discussed. The English minister then ordered the commander 

 of the English squadron stationed in the Brazilian waters to exercise 

 the act of reprisal until the sum named was paid. As soon as this order 

 was known the entire populace of the capital arose in indignation, and 

 a large body, carrying the national colors, proceeded to the palace of S. 

 Christovam,* the ordinary residence of the Emperor, and encountering 

 the sovereign on the way, conducted him in triumph to his city palace, 

 where the monarch had already called a council of the ministers. It 

 was on this occasion Dom Pedro uttered these memorable words, which 

 secured to him forever the love of the Brazilian people: "J desire above 

 all to shoic that in the presence of danger I am the equal of every other 

 Brazilian citizenP 



Although the ministers shared the indignation of the sovereign and 

 the people at this uncalled-for violence on the part of a foreign power, 

 still, as responsible for any measures taken, it was necessary to reflect 

 carefully before acting. The opinion was earnestly maintained that force 

 should be met with force, but by the minority. After a long deliberation, 

 it was concluded that a contest upon the sea, although offering some ad- 

 vantages in the commencement, would at last become too unequal to 

 be continued with any chance of final success ; it was therefore decided 

 that the government should agree to pay the required sum, but directly 

 to the English Government, provided the latter persisted in the demand 

 made by its representative at Rio. The English Government insisted, 

 and the sum was paid, but under protest. ^' 



The Emperor, considering the conduct of the English government as 



* The palace of S. Christova.m is in the suburbs of the capital. 



