Thanks to the fact that nowadays more and more books are digitized we are able to read books that are some times for decades no longer available for the public for several reasons. That’s quite a pity while these books contains useful information while the archives are destroyed, incomplete or nor accessible.
P. 233: “ What is the use of a small navy ? What advantage can accrue to a state that possesses one old corvette, two brigs, and a steamer, to float in strange harbours with a strange flag at their peaks, and to imitate, on a small scale, the habits of the French and English men-of-war? Take the example of Greece, which possesses one steamer, whose adventures were detailed in the United Service Magazine for November, 1854. Or take the example of Brazil, whose navy is somewhat more extensive, but not, as a whole, much more important. If we may trust a list of the Brazilian navy given us by a French author, M. Charles Beybaud, that state possesses two frigates, seven corvettes, eight brigs and brigantines, seventeen schooners and yachts, one steamer of 300-horse power, two of 220, two of 150, four of 130, one of 90, two of 70, one of 40, and two of 25.
Brazil is a commercial country, but we do not suppose that its navy is to be considered at all in the light of a protector of commerce. If any protection was needed, there are always English men-of-war at hand, ready to perform any service that may be required. Certainly since the Brazilian Government took an anti-slavery line, their navy was of some use in cruising off the coast, and boarding vessels suspected of engaging in the African traffic. Once or twice slavers were seized by Brazilian men-of-war, and, we believe, some which might have escaped the vigilance of our own cruisers, fell a prey to the insignificant steamers and brigantines on which the English looked with such unaffected contempt. But the success of Brazilian cruisers was small, and their effect on the slave-trade by no means to be compared to that produced by governors of places where slaves were landed. We have shown on a previous occasion how the Brazilians effected the almost total suppression of the importation of negroes, and very little credit belongs to their navy for its exertions in that service. During the Monte-Videan disturbances, although no naval actions took place, the Brazilian men-of-war were of some use in conveying troops from Rio Janeiro to the scene of action. But this duty might have been discharged by merchant vessels with equal or greater celerity. We are still unable to perceive the exact need of a Brazilian navy.
p. 234: We perceive by the list given us by M. Reybaud, that the two-decker which once belonged to the Brazilians is no longer in existence. This two-decker was named the Dom Pedro Segundo. She was built at Bahia by Brazilian artificers, and sailed from thence to Rio Janeiro. On her passage she rolled so dreadfully that her masts went by the board, and this accident induced the Brazilian government to abstain from sending her on another cruise. She was sold for the purpose of being broken up two years ago. After the said two-decker, the finest vessel belonging to Brazil is the frigate Constituciao, which will be recognised by the English (under the name of the Constitution) as an American frigate, which distinguished itself during the American War by capturing with great difficulty the Java, an English jackass frigate of about half the size of the Constitution. The Brazilians purchased this frigate of the Americans, and were taken in, as one reasonably might have expected.(1) They paid a large sum, supposing her to be copper-bottomed; but when she was drydocked in England, the Brazilians not possessing a drydock of sufficient dimensions, it was discovered that a slip of copper was nailed round her just about the water-line, so as to convey the impression that she was completely coppered. Such is the origin of the finest vessel in the Brazilian service. Few of the corvettes or brigantines have any pedigree to boast of. One or two of the most beautiful schooners have been captured with slaves on board, and converted into men-of-war. Yonder graceful yacht, with the pendant at her mast-head, and the green ensign at her peak, was a notorious slaver, after whom cruisers of every kind toiled in vain. She was captured during a calm by a contemptible little steamer of 25-horse power. Having given a list of the Brazilian navy, and noticed the most prominent vessels, it remains for us to chronicle its achievements. What has the Brazilian navy done ? Has it gained any victories, or have any remarkable actions between single ships graced its records ? With difficulty we have discovered one encounter, whose importance entitles it to a prominent place in the future annals of the state. An English brigantine was once cruising in search of slaves, when a suspicious-looking schooner hove in sight. The brigantine gave chase, and, as the schooner paid no attention to her presence, fired a gun, unshotted of course. On this the schooner hoisted the Brazilian ensign and a pendant at her mast-head, and the brigantine, satisfied, hove to. Immediately the schooner hauled up and fired a shot at the brigantine, and then bore up and made all sail to escape any punishment for this insult. Of course the brigantine declined to end the matter thus and went in chase again, firing at the schooner with shot and shell, ten of which brought her to a state of submission. Two officers were sent from the brigantine on board the schooner to demand some apology or explanation. The captain of the Brazilian schooner apologized humbly, and offered the two officers a glass of ale as a compensation!
A history of the Brazilian navy would not be complete without a sketch of one of its vessels. We will therefore select a corvette for
P. 235: this honour. A recent traveller has given this description of a corvette, named the Bertioga: “I had the pleasure of paying her a visit, and found a strong resemblance between her and a Newcastle collier. She was very 'slummy' (naval term for slovenly) and dirty. Aloft she seemed excessively untidy : ropes' ends flying about, sails badly furled, yards not squared, and ropes not taut. Some men were aloft, looking very uncomfortable, hanging to the slack ropes, that waved and swung about at each roll, with more than landsman-like tenacity. I entered into a conversation with an officer on board, who spoke a little French, and found that the Bertioga had that morning taken some slaves, who were visible on the main deck, men and women together in a state of nudity. The crew of the Bertioga consisted chiefly of Brazilians and negroes. I saw also one or two Englishmen on board, who seemed heartily ashamed of their ship, and sneaked about in a pitiful manner, as if the fact of belonging to a Brazilian man-of-war had robbed them of all their courage. The boatswain, a fierce man out of uniform, dressed in a sort of linsey-woolsey frock, roamed about the decks with a rope's end in his hand, applying it freely and indiscriminately. The officer with whom I was talking, informed me that the corvette had on each side eight 24-pounder guns, and one of 32-pounds; eighteen in all.” Such is the history of the Brazilian navy.”
One of the readers of this magazine reacted and his letter was published in July, p. 457. “[The gallant author of the subjoined letter is mistaken in supposing the article he complains of emanated from the Editor: it was from the pen of an officer who, having served on the coast of Brazil, might be supposed to know something of the subject referred to.]
To the Editor of the United Service Magazine.
SIR, My attention has been drawn to an article in your magazine of this month, entitled “The Brazilian Navy,” upon which I beg to make the following observations, not doubting that you will find them a place in your ensuing number. You ask. “What is the use of a small navy ? and what has the Brazilian navy done?” Large and small are merely relative terms, and convey no sort of meaning as to the value or merits of the things they describe. If you mean that the Brazilian navy is small, as compared with that of other nations, the idle comparison will hardly be disputed; but no one at all acquainted with the subject can call the navy of Brazil small, relatively to the present resources or population of that empire. Small or large, however, it has effectually fulfilled the purposes for which it was created. At the period when Brazil first declared the independence, it drove the superior naval forces of Portugal from the South Atlantic. It preserved, during a long and turbulent minority, the authority of the Imperial government in all the ports of the continent, extending from the equator to 33° south latitude, and finally it prominently co-operated towards the overthrow of the despotic power which closed to the commerce of the world the navigation of the tributaries of the river Plate. These are facts not to he disputed, unless by one who can credit the absurdity that the North Americans sold their frigate Constitution (“old Ironsides”) to the Brazilians; and they are a fair set off for the occasional shortcomings of individuals, of which it would not be difficult to find examples in more distinguished services - facts which certainly claim for the Brazilian navy more respectful consideration than would be implied from the article referred to. I enclose my card, and remain, Sir, your obedient servant, Liverpool, June 20, 1856. A SAILOR. “
Source
The United service magazine, part, 2, June and July 1856.
Note
1. According to the www.naval.com.br the frigate Constituição laid down July 1825 and launched May 1826. Ex-Isabel and ex-Amazonas. Displacement 1.768 tone Ladas with as dimensions 53.94 x 7.92 x 4.57m and draught 6.09m. Armed with 30-32pdrs, 30-42pdr carronades and 2-4pdrs (‘colubrinas‘). Built at New York and required by order dated 13 September 1824? In 1880 serving at the Escola de Marinha.
