PeACI; BeTWEEJJ i)IiITAlJT AKD BpAZIL. lOS 
Oreightou immediately after our arrival in Georgetown in the year 1841, 
and wliicli demanded immediate evacuation of the village by the 
Brazilians was next sent on by Captain Leal to the President of Para, 
and from there had only tirst reached Eio Janiero. In .lannary, 1812, 
an agreement had already been concluded between the British 
Ambassador on the one side, and the Brazilian Minister of Foreign 
Alfairs on the other, according to Avhich Pirara, so long as the boundary 
disputes were not definitely settled, A\ as to be regarded as neutral soil 
and territory which neither Brazil nor England miglit occupy with 
soldiery. In tlie meantime it was permissible for the f<n'mer as well as 
for the latter to send missionaries there. But before this treaty conld 
receive the force of law, it had first of all to be forwarded to London for 
ratification, and this happened to l)e at the very time when, acting u])on 
previous instructions, tlie military liad set out on the Essequibo for War 
operations. It had been ratified in London in June: at the end of .Inly 
its notification was received in Demerara whence the Governor had 
despatched the order for the recall of the military some days after the 
departure of our boats containing the provisions and trade. The 
President of Para, wliom the treaty had also only readied at the end of 
July, had of course up till then made all arrangements for driving the 
British out of Pirara immediately after the entrance of tlie dry season. 
Besides the assembled military of the Rio Negi-o there were yet two 
regiments of the line on the marcli out from Para, who had already 
reached the Rio Branco, when they received the orders to return. 
267. The peaceful conclusion was all the more welcome to our 
officers because they foresaw too well that with the scanty forces at their 
command anything but laurels could be gained, and so the despatches 
arrived just in the nick of time before the attack on (lie ]iart of the 
Brazilians, who were 'quite eight times tlie stronger, was to be attempted. 
From the accounts that I subsequently received fioni wvy reliable 
sources, the execution of this certainly ill-conceived project luid cost the 
Government not less than 24,000 dollars : with this sum they could have 
carried out their intended purpose far more securely, even more cheaph^ 
in fact, if they had simply blocked the mouth of the Amazon. It was a case 
of having to say good-bye to our friends and also to the Fort which, 
according to the instructions just received, had to be razed to the ground. 
208. It is hardly necessary for me lo describe the sensation this new s 
caused not only us, but also the dwindling population of Pirara. On tiie 
one hand, thoughtless joy and rejoicing, on the other keen disappoint- 
nuMit: in short, people in the most contrasted moods crossed one anotluM' 
in the motley crowd. The boats which were to bring the troops and war 
material back to Georgetown had followed close upon the one with the 
despatches and accordingly might be expected at any time. As the 
officers regarded every hour spent here snbsequent to the arrival of the 
transports as a loss from the social delights of Georgetown, they j>egan 
making a start the very, next day with the packing of the military 
stores, etc. 
