josé da silva carvalho - DSpace CEU

small, and when a powerful political party were opposed to us.
I risked my rank in my own service, I left my family, and forfeited
the friendship of some persons who were of weight, rank and high
influence, and who were then disposed to serve me, but who from
that day to this, have ceased to acknowledge my acquaintance, solely
owing to my having joined that heroic little band of patriotic Portu­
guese who have set their country free. I could never, therefore, mean
a slight, much less a disrespect to the nation, or to the Emperor,
who by his devotional love of country, justice and valour had endeared
himself to them.
A sense of my having done an injustice to some individuáis
induces me to contémplate a visit to Lisbon, and as the present is
the only period since I left Oporto in November 1832, when I could
without injury to my own interests leave England, I mean to avail
myself of that circumstance, and do so ere long, and then I hope
personally to offer my homages to Her Most Faithful Majesty the
Queen and to Her Imperial Majesty the Duchess of Braganza.
I hope respectfully to ofFer to those exalted personages such
explanations as will prove satisfactory and exonérate me from ever
having intended by act or word to be wanting in respect to the
Prince, whose character while living I enthusiastically admired, and
whose memory I venérate now that he is no more, and if I return
home with the satisfaction of having accomplished this first object
of my ambition accompanied with the restored regards and good
opinions of those who struggled early and who worked to the last
in their country's cause I shall feel truly happy.
Should Your Excellency be pleased on my arrival at Lisbon to
favour me with an audience, it will afford me the satisfaction of
renewing an acquaintance of which I shall always feel proud, and
an opportunity for which I am most anxious of removing an unfa-
vourable impression with regard to myself, should any after this
letter still exist in Your Excellency's mind.
I have the honour to remain Your Excellency's most respectfui
and very obedient servant. = (r. Lloyd Hodges
To His Excellency José da Silva Carvalho, Lisbon.