London,
7 February. According to an official tiding of viscount de St. Almare fitted
the Brazilian emperor a fleet out to blockade the harbours belonging to the
government of the provinces of the Rio de la Plata. The British commodore
Taylor refused his appointment as commanding officer of this squadron as
advised to him by the British consul. Instead of him was an American officer
called Jewit appointed. The latter arrived with the ship Pedro Primeiro coming
from Ceara. There was also a small squadron to be fitted out, ordered to keep
an eye on the Northern provinces. The foreign consuls at Rio Janeiro were
informed that the port of Buenos Aires was to be strictly blockaded and rumours
were that a ship flying the colours of the republic already in Rio Janeiro was
seized.
