The Sun. — London, England, 1847-06-15 00:00:00

:k) nti )d ied be• bst ord t he lb ° lb° or ;o9 t o ing lea Rho, when they saw the country in danger, and the Con atitution jeopardised, changed sides, and arrayed them• Ares by the side of the King. The Hon. Nembsr to; Montrose said that the principle of intervention was un warrantable, but there were combinations of circuin ataneea that required statesmen to depart from general r u▪ les and general principles. If they were entitled to Interfere in a war of succession, were there not circum &lees which would justify their interference in prevent -11 It War of succession? They were as well entitled to Prevent the evil as to remedy it. Upon these grounds, it appeared to him that the Government had an ample de nee for their interference in the affairs of Portugal. Re hoped that henceforth Portugal would be secure of that constitutional freedom which had been guaranteed for it by that Constitution which had been so much violated, Lord J. MANNERS said that he rose, with much flirty to support the motion of the Hon. Member for Ontrese. It had been stated on the part of the Go i ernMent that the interference of this nation had been necessary , in order to secure the peace of Portugal as well as that of the adjacent nations. He would ask the Ouse, in respect of the assertion that the state of Por tugal required this intervention, what benefit had the Peninsula ever derived from their interference in their dornestic concerns? Intestinal discord had been the re sult of it, and disorganisation had gone on to such a degree, that the country had become a by-word to other nations. He would refer to the opinion which had been given by the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, that the constitutions, both of Spain and Portugal had been violated, and that those freedoms which had been guaranteed to the people had been most flagrantly violated. It was well known that the very last revolu tion which had taken place in Portugal had been suc cessful without the slightest danger or injury to the throne or liberty of the Queen of Portugal, and what !Cason was there to suppose that, had the present revo lution been carried out, any more disastrous circum litaneea would have occurred than had taken place in the former instance? The proceedings which had taken place in reference to the Portuguese Government had— so far from reconciling it to the people—separated it from them, and rendered oppression more e Ztnin to the people of that unfortunate cou n try . ;oe Nobl e L o rd (Palmerston) distinctly reminded Mr. ' lll lwer that the British forces were sent to Lisbon in L 8 26, under the terms of a treaty, in order . to prevent a Lthreatened invasion? He reminded him of Mr. Can n's conduct on that occasion. Very different had been the conduct of the Noble Lord on the present. Mr. b een deprecated, in 1826, the very course which had pursued in 1847 ; he deprecated Britain meddling a 7 Ol the internal concerns of any foreign nation. 7, 4 1 what was the defence presented? Altogether e ", 3 'Pothetical ; the possibility of Don Miguel usurping "%Throne, and the necessity of preventing an event Which, whensoever it should happen, was certain, it was !Pill, to be unpopular. Unpopular 1 then how be (Lord Oun s Manners) asked, what distant prospect could the re 0 f the event taking place ? He would leave t h e N oble L or d, o r any other gentleman, to explain that. Bad it been argued that they had interfered to prevent bloodshed, or if they had actually interfered to prevent Tis there might have been a show of reason. But no , t hey allowed the Queen's troops to engage , and to me teher the peasants, and to drench the country with blood,hn. It was, however, justified on the ground o f its ding necessary for the interests of Great Britain. It had been said that Spain would interfere, whatever course might be adopted by Britain, and Government had acted only in defence of the interests of Britain a nd of Europe. Iledenied that Spain would haveinterfered without the countenance of Great Britain, and if she ,Fad, that was no reason to justify Great Britain pursu e a course which in itself was unjustifiable. Look znere this principle led? Let them suppose a revolu rn in Spain. Then France and Portugal would no d oubt feel themselves called upon to interfere. What Would be the course of Great Britain, would she de- P e reettte intervention in these circumstances? How could taaltd after the course se w at present purs the affairs of uing? She , e she was at present pursuing? She d committed herself intervention i n F r Peninsula. He agreed with the lion. Member for w hich in thinking that this could not be the c ourse they ought to pursue on this occasion. Well " 4 14 ht Das Antas assure Colonel Wylde that it was ne cessary the insurgents should have some guarantee that their just demands should be secured equally with those 1 1 ,f the Q ueen, f or th e y had but too true a presentiment unit the conditions entered into on the part of the Queer, , t "ortugal would be violated. He (Lord J. Manners) d) therefore, that it was incumbent on England to see tout the conditions laid down as the grounds of its inter vention should be observed, and that the party of the Queen should not be allowed to act in the despotic and m'u . el manner they had hitherto done. The Noble Lord !ttl attempted to justify this intervention by an appeal z u preced en t s , and he had referred to the revolution which h ad• occurred in this country in 1688. He (Lord John s quired maintained, however, that a revolution which ; -e quired to be supported and carried on by foreign in r!rference ought not to he supported at all.—(Hear.) fte did not think that a case had been made out for their L at erferenceson this occasion.—(llear, hear.) Nothing than be more unjust ; also, nothing could be more cruel uttn the Queen's troops in quelling the insurrection, and thetroops of the Junta presented in this respect a marked Zeitrast to such revolting proceedings. This was h fled by n a English resi dent in Oporto. who wrote to taa that a single theroghfare in London was more rftfused and excited than the whole of Oporto.—(Hear.) ,er an attentive vie v, therefore, of all the circum stances connected with the revolution, he thought the et;Riuct of the Portuguese Government jasti fi Al, if any iletng could justify, the rising of the people.—(llear, %t a r.) Their acts had been of the most despotic and et _bitrary nature, and he placed no reliance whatever on e proms which ha ben ade them, or he in eventionise of the English e Gove m rnm b en y t.—(tlear, t hear.) 14 .23_ belie ve d th at t hi s i nter f erence wou ld no t p r oduce the , I ,nite anticipated, an d h e c o nsidered that the result L _Tid be most di sastrous not on ly to those on whose I %if they interfered, but also to British interests. re ee 'V oe impossible to undo the past, but the Coin place th ` England could repudiate the precedent, and needin stamp of their reprobation on the whole pro would g s w hich had taken place. He trusted the Hous e pronoun ce that opinion, end would let the world ne se▪ e, that however- be Government might be disposed to e FTeddle i n th e a ff a i rs o f f ore i gn coun t r i es , the people of his countr Op y did not concur with them, and were o f luaion that the present int e r ve ntion was unjust, uncon stitutional, and contrary to th e principles of interne o nal law. —(lmmense cheering.) Mr. T. DUNCOMBE said, in rising to move the Intendment, of which he had given notice in the early Pert of the evening, he could not help expressing his te gr e . 7. et that the House was not treated earli er in the sion with some of those expressions of att a c hment to Co nstitutional freedom which hal ju st been heard from ti ;7°, 11 . Gentlemen on the other side of the H o u se, because nis memory did not fail him, he thought he recol ,_ . e nted, s ome time ago, these same Hon. Gentlemen pro thatr the public thanks shoul d be offered to the Emperor of Russia, the Emperor of Austria, and the i n tu e Peror of Prussia, for extinguishing the liberties and u ePendence of Cracow.—(Bear, hear.) Now he could nipOt help thinking, recollecting these things, that there th 4 a some secret, something more than met the eye, in i a ,,• ° support, Hon. Gentlemen opposite, were about to Montrose. He could not help thinking, relying, of u rsee upon the well-known consistency of the protec e Tita—(A. laugh)—that they were now going to stand p. 0r the cause of absolutism. Whatever might be the zne itohneroet this House with regard to the motion of his „v o te _ . bad there Friend the Member for Montrose, ho thought no would deny that the question his Hon. Friend °tight under their consideration was one which 'ad the calm deliberation of the House, and the If,Sousejt: would ( have neglected its duty had it made light Hear, hear.) And, in discussing it, whatever izgat be the views of those who opposed or supported t.t which thought there was one principle and one object roach ought to be kept before them. Now that this it Or had taken place, whether they approved of Or not, they ought now to have but one object in view, namely, to secure to the Portuguese people who had e e'e e en justly in defence of their constitutional rights, all the advantages and all the benefits that the intervention e nn possibly afford to them.—(Hear, hear.) It was With that view that he proposed to move the amendment of which he had given notice. He confessed, after Perusing the papers that had been laid before that House —after having heard the speech of the Noble Lord at the head of the Government in explanation of these papers—that he had come to a very different conclusion from that which he had originally intended when he first beard of this interference with the rights and domestic Concerns of the Portuguese people. In these papers and in that explanation he found a determination and a decided wish on the part of the Government to t esPect and protect the rights and liberties of the Portu- Peso people. He thought there was sufficient evidence in the documents that had been laid before them to rove that Government bad had a difficult task to per eelln, and even now they stood abused by both parties— 'untied by the Queen's party, and abused by the Junta. /t had th been urged, in justification of this interference, at had her Majesty's Government not interposed Spain w ould. Now he thought that was no justification what ever, for he maintained that every claim to intervention 2% part of this country ought to stand upon its own ept lttg. They ought not to be induced to commit a wee nng because it was anticipated that another country 41 4 4 about to do the same ; but when they did Of t rf ere, they ought always to stand upon the justice %e lle cue calling for the interference. Such was the net of the British Government in 1826, when Mr. g e , l i T i ng Was at the head of affairs. What was the lan d,T..6° of Mr. Canning in 1826, when Portugal was 7atened with a foreign invasion. Mr. Canning came ellr n to Parliament and asked for its approbation and con k, eice to the course be was about to take. The speech One P e nning made on that occasion was almost the only P ar il"' iris which ho (Mr. Duncombe) had ever heard in th"nen% and he confessed he recollected it even now et re .. at an impression did it make upon his mind at the m e. Mr. Canning, in concluding his address, told ataed a Va of Commons that he was going to plant the *ha re t r, of England on the heights of Lisbon, and com e uat was planted foreign dominion should never to do'--( Hear.) Depend upon it then that they ought not on wrong because - others - were about t ) do it; but they cajled (other only to interfere where reason and justice 40. it. Now, with regard to the motion of his pr Opos -L' e r d lend the Member for Montrone, to which he tapers he t ltiove an amendment after . readipg the riend' ba dd id not agree with the conclusion his Hon. t7l thi s Come to. He did not think that the result we e ,_ itervention will prove mischievous, or danger (ipe_6o the liberties of Portugal. He appreciated the ettlties that Government had had to contend with, „pert!, abused by th e C a b ra li st par ty, whose conduct PepPl"iron gb t about the revolution and disaffection of the sh e a , for not promoting the cause of absolutism, and yes Were abused poste the me • . b y the Junta and the people for op t:teat ela• interests. Now, had her Majesty's Govern egattuncroxie4linrigviiietaw the rinciplof protecting the and f reed o m s of the Fortuguese people? That was just the question for them to con sider, and it was the greed aim and object her Majesty's Government ought to have in view. The people had been offered terms it was true, but there was no guarantee given that these terms should be strictly carried out. The people did not object to the term;, and therefore, he fur one said let the offer be repeated by the two powers who had interfered in conjunction with the expression of opinion in declaration of the House of Cemmons, to see them etrictly and faithfully performed. It was with that view that he should move the amendment he was about to bring forward. It was done to the people who had risen in defence of their constitutional rights ; and who was that people, let him ask ? They were not persons who delighted in getting up revolutions, because they served their own interests —they were not Suns-culottes, but the nobles and wealthy landed proprietors of the country.—(Hear.) These parties being now the prisoners of war to this country, it was the duty of the House and of the country cordially to accede to the resolution which he was about to propose, and thereby obtain for itself the gratitude and thanks of the Portuguese nation. He would, there fore, move the amendment of which he had previously given notice.—" That Great Britain having become a party to foreign armed interference with a view of ter minating the civil war now unhappily existing in Por tugal, it is the opinion of this House that on tranquillity being restored it will be the duty of the British Govern ment to endeavour by all just means in its power to se cure to the people of Portugal the full enjoyment of their constitutional rights and privileges."—(Hear, hear). Mr. MACAULAY, in rising to second the motion, said—Sir, I have heard with great pleasure the amend ment proposed by my Hon. Friend—(Loud and pro tracted cheering)—and I beg to assure my Hon, Friend that in that amendment is set forth the principles which have guided, and which will continue to guide the con duct of her Majesty's Ministers. They feel, Sir, that whenever a Government is unfortunately compelled to depart from the general rule which prescribes the abstinence of all interference with the internal concerns of foreign nations, that it takes upon itself a duty, of which it cannot afterwards divest itself, until the principles of the amendment of my Hon. Friend have been fully carried out. It is with the full conviction of these circumstances that her Ma jesty's Ministers determined to interfere in the affairs of Portugal, and they will continue to act upon those principles which have hitherto guided their conduct, and I see with the greatest pleasure that my Honourable Friend and other Honourable Mem bers who, like him, looked on at first with jealousy upon the course pursued by the Govern ment have since upon an examination of the whole of the circumstances found reason to change their opinions upon the subject. I am not surprised, Sir, that such jealousy was entertained by Hon. Members.—(Hear, hear.) There can be no doubt that the rule which con demns interference in the affairs of foreign nations is a sound general principle, and that upon the Minister who shall depart from such a rule must rest the burden and the proof of his case. There can be no doubt that the Minister, be be who he may, who shall so depart from this general principle, is bound to make out his case to the satisfaction of the House and the country. In the present case, it must be acknowledged, (and. there are circumstances which must be taken into consideration,) that there can be no doubt, and it was what, so far from wishing to conceal, the Government thought it an impor tant part of their case—(Hear, hear)—there can be no dcuht that the throne of Portugal had long been surrounded by evil councillors. There can be no doubt that most violent and unconstitutional measures had been resorted to by the existing Government. There can be no doubt that there were many acts committed, which I feel compelled to designate as a disgrace to the Government. There can be no doubt that the people of Portugal were justified in resting upon the distinct as surances of the Government, and I cannot wonder that persons looking on with dislike on the interference in the internal concerns of foreign nations, should look with peculiar jealousy upon the first inter ference in the affairs of Portugal, more especially when, at the first sigh', the object seems to be to rescue the Government which had committed great faults, and from the peril which was the natural consequence.—(Cheers.) All this I admit ; yet, in admitting all this, I am con vinced that the Government, in acting as they have done, have chosen the lesser of the two evils ; and in such a case as this, it was absolutely necessary that a choice should be made between two existing evils. Considerine, Sir, the relations of Portugal with this country—considering that Portugal was disturbed by a civil war—and considering that other persons felt a strong inclination to interfere in its internal concerns, I hold it to be clear that no course whatever could be abso lutely and entirely free from risk and danger to the British Government. But cases similar in principle to this frequently occur, both in public and private life; the experience of the trader, the merchant, and, above all, the medical man, will tell them that they are often placed in positions and situations in which they must act, and in which every course has its risks and its inconve niences. It is, I contend, no fair way of reasoning to dwell upon, or to exaggerate, the risks and inconve niences of the particular course which has been taken. No argument against such a course, under those circum stances, can be sound, except the person who condemns that course gives also his own line of conduct, and shows you also some good reasons for believing that his line of conduct would have been less hazardous, and attended with less inconvenience than the one which he re probates. Remember, too, that in defending what has been done, the speaker always speaks at a great disadvantage, because he has to compare inconve niences which have been felt against a course which has not been taken, and the consequences of which you did not feel. Your line of conduct is a mere matter of dis quisition and speculation, and its advocates may even deny that any risk at all attaches to it. Under these circumstances. I think that the Government is fully en titled to call upon every Honourable Member— not to lay merely before the House, or dwell at length upon those inconveniences which are admitted by ourselves, and which are inseparable, from the course which has been adopted, but also to lay before the House the plan and the policy which should entirely and distinctly avoid these rinks and inconveniences. My argument rests upon the particular relations between England and Portugal. With any other powers no such question as the present could possibly cccur. There are other States to which we wish well, but supposing a similar state of internal confusion to arise, for in stance in the kingdom of the Two Sicilies or in the Grand - Duchy of Tuscany, we might probably send a force to the Bay of Naples, or to Leghorn, in order to protect the lives and property of English subjects, but interference like that which has taken place in Portugal would have been a matter of discussion to Ministers or to this House. Our relation with Portugal is one without a parallel in the history of European politics, nay, without a parallel in the history of the whole worn. I do nut know any thing which ever struck me more than when we called for the collection of the treaties between this country and Portugal, for, seeing them begin with the days of the Black Prince, and bearing date in the year 1373, not produced for the mere pur pose of gratifying an antiquarian curiosity, but for the purpose of ascertaining the nature of their treaties; looking to the earliest of them dated in the 14th cen tury, there is one thing which it seems almost impossible not to be struck with. It seems that those who framed these early treaties had some sanguine presentiment of the relations which they would continue to maintain with this country. One of the stipulations was, that England was to furnish " archers, good men and true," to Portugal. It is rather singular that a similar clause is still in existence in the present ti eaty to that which existed in the fourteenth century. There is an analogy between the manner in which the treaties were observed in the fourteenth century, and e in ,n w tu h r i y ch . they lt iare s t he most observed singulard o wn even thing a o g t h nineteenthl dare say that the Noble Lord opposite, who has made' it his delight to study the records of tnedicev 1 and the history of chivalry, will remember that F a ro times, i. gives an account of the embassy who, in the year 14 5 4%! called on the King of this country for assistance against the Castillians. The description which he gives of John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster, standing beside the throne of King Richard the Second, while the Ambassadors in their robes stated the case of their master the King of Portugal, and craved the assistance of the King of England, whom he makes reply—" He is our friend, and the foe of our foes, he asks what is just, and he shall have what he asks;" and then 500 archers and 590 men at arms were sent off to Portugal, again, rtugrtel, in h just in the same manner as in the prese n t case. Then year 1826, a requisition was sent from Portugal in our own day, praying us to protect the same country from the same risks, and from the same enemy. Such an unbroken alliance for a period of 500 years is unparalleled in the history of the world. It was a strong remark made by Canning, " that all treaties made between this country and Portugal had a character not exactly dip lomatic, that there was a force and fervour belonging to them which made them appear almost romantic in com parison with the treaties of other States." By virtue of these treaties we found ourselves compelled " to defend Portugal against all men." In the year 1661, the treaty st set forth " that we should take the int of Portugal to heart as the interest of England." In the year 1703 all the former arrangements were confirmed, and there is a stipulation in the present contract to the same effect. There may be some persons who may think it inexpedient for this country to force circumstances of this.sort. Upon that subject, however, I think very differently. I think that the services we have rendered to Portugal, have been de served on her part throughout the whole of that fearful struggle. In the reign of Queen Anne, Portugal continued trne to her engagements. When we had France and Spain against us, when they joined in insisting upon Portugal that she should join them for the purpose of resisting " the Tyrant of the Sea," Portugal constantly refused—its capital was lying in ruins—its King had scarcely a place upon which to lay his head—a Spanish army was invading his territory, and spre adin g abroad the ravages and horrors of war ; vet Portugal remained steadfast to her ally, and true to the spirit of her treaties. In the last war, the noble house of Braganca preferred exile across the Atlantic to breaking faith with her ancient ally. In the last great European conflict, Por tugal was the spot where you took your stand, where you fought the battles of your own country. Never was any thing more true than the statement of that great Gene ral, in one of those remarkable papers which, even tmeoreposttheariiity, that his ,. battl willthes,eq hand i dow w nhisg t l w or e i e e n s (Cheethe defence of Por la t m u tlia g nsn a utru l ffy a fea n rwee d thtui the invasion of England."— rs.) ovuasrtafiteii),s,ear P n td o h r oa t tu u re g ircefhos enabledrtous a n supplyd us ()two: wascultivate f the world p . ( capital t i a w t - i a t t n e a dn l i massacre ss o sb f aoc T nr Tor r ia r t s e le s ai V rr .g e e d r r , v a a s hr t ei h en a h t et, p rh r , e o a t g e n c rde t e aa d t a s p t gr r oa u ui e nd g se l tr e s ended you find those two nations still more en. cleared to stitch other, and you have the old engagements solemnly entered into in the settlement of Europe in the year 1815. In consequence of this agreement you sent, in the year 1826, assistance against the supposed designs of France and Spain. Again, in the year 1834, when pretenders for the crowns of Spain and Portugal having a common interest, and almost the same parties, you came forward to aid them in their conflict. England inter fered, and became a party to the quadruple alliance; the preamble of that alliance set forth expressly the grounds of the treaty, and the solemn alliances entered into be tween this country and Portugal for so long a period. It might be said that the Queen was held in a state of tutelage. Nevertheless, though trade was stopped, and English interests were endangered, the principle of non interference was never put forward more strongly than when the question became international and the Go vernment first interfered. In the case of France the principle acted upon by the British Government had bee❑ adopted. It was quite clear that Spain meditated an interference. This was evident from the letter of Mr. Bulwer. It was perfectly clear that an armed interven tion was at that time contemplated by the Spanish Go vernment. After having endeavoured to arrange tho question, without interference, what were they to do? He thought t hat a course of non-interference would be a di>grace to this country, and an abdication of that influ ence which they were supposed to possess in Portugal. I say that man would have incurred a great, an im mense responsibility, who would have ac:ed thus, be cause he would not, unlikely, have set the first spark to the mass of combastible matter which may soon blaze out into one vast conflagration. Nothing would hare been easier than to have caused an European war ; but whether that war may take place in 1850, 1860, or 1570, is a problem which is beyond the solution of the wisest man.—(llcar, hear.) I say, therefore, that unless you can show that we have done all this, have done some • thing so pernicious, something likely to incur the out break of an European war, you must he with us. Now what are the circumstances ? and I think the Hon. Gentleman, the Member for Finsbury, has treated them a little more slightly than I think he should have done. I mean the question of war ; but I quite agree with him in this. I would not, for example, have given up to the Queen the head of a single Member of the Junta, to avoid war with the whole of the countries of Europe.— (Loud and vehement cheering.) I would say as Fox said, who was the great advocate of peace, when his p )Fcy was accused as likely to prove dangerous to the Bourbons on that occasion, my Friend Mr. Fox said " I always looked upon the Bourbons as a bad family, but rather than injure the poorest Bourbon, or violate the right of hospitality, I would go to war with the whole of Europe."—(Cheers.) And, undoubtedly, I recommend no hostile, no unjust cause ; but I say it was desirable to make any sacrifice which should be just, humane, and favourable to the liberties of Portugal ; and by doing so avoid the too great degradation of the mo narchy, than to give her up to the absolute disposal of Spain, and to risk the danger of an European war. Then what was the course we adopted Take the protocol in which provision is made that all arbitrary decrees would be revoked, especially on those who had raised arms against the Queen; but let me tell you that if you had heard how hard we had to fight for the amnesty; and if you draw inferences unfavourable to the Government for having struggled so long about those terms, I think also you ought to be of opinion that if they did not agree, it would have been impossible to carry them out without adopting the course we have. But observe those to whom these terms were offered, said—" Well, as we are to have no capital punishments, let us have some security that those who have rendered themselves objectionable to the Queen, shall not be sent out of the country." He replied, " They shall not be sent to Africa, they shall not even be sent to France, they shall not be sent to Paris, they shall not be sent one . mile from the territory of Portugual—not even 18, 16, not even 12—not one mile from their country." These were the terms to which we adhered to the last. —([Tear, hear.) Those who oppose the Government should bear in mind that in order to prevent any hardships the Government made it expresely understood that they would not consent to the banishment of one member of the Junta to Paris for six months. Then with respect to the amnesty, I think oar case is complete. Our second article is that all the conditions we had stipulated should be received and made law ; the fourth that no member of the party, which had rendered himself objectionable, should form a part of the Queen's Govern ment. Mr. CHRISTIE—What guarantee had you that ,hest conditions should be carried out ? Mr. MACAULAY—How were we to guarantee com pliance with these conditions. I cannot easily believe that we should have encountered more difficulties than belong to all such questions as these. The best guarantee that we could have was this—that if, instead of observing the agreement, it had been broken either by the Queen of Portugal or her subjects, we, with the aid of France and Spaia, had the most undoubted power to compel the observation of the conditions.—(Loud cheers.) I think this is a sufficient justification of the course of the Go vernment. There is a circumstance on which I think some misrepresentat i on has taken place, and to which I wish to put an end—it is just to my colleagues that I should do so, and just to those to whom they trusted the carrying out their orders. Ido not think it fair that tho officers should be charged with neglecting to send a proper notice to the officers at Oporto of the course which they intended to pursue. I do not think that even if they had been guilty of the charge, that it would have justified the censures con tained in the motion of the Hon. Gentleman the Member fur Montr ise ; but I think it is the duty of the Govern ment. to clear from unmerited charge those who have served them faithfully. It has been stated that no notice was given to the Junta of the course which the com mander of the squ idron intended to take previous to his taking it ; but I think no one conversant with the cir cumstances can affirm that that was so. (The Hen. Gentleman then read the letter of Mr. Roffe, of the 23d of May, to the Secretary of F,,reign Affairs to the Junta. stating that if any of the vessels of the Junta attempted to go into the Douro, that they would be stopped by the British forces.) Under these circumstances, I defy any person to say that a full and fair notice was not given. And now I have nothing to add but to thank the House for the patience with which it has listened to me, and to the statements I have made.—( Hear, hear.) I sum up our case satisfactorily, as I think thus:—l say that it was utterly impossible for us, intimately connected as we are with Portugal, to observe the rule of non-inter ference, from the moment that the intervention of Spain and France was sought by Portugal ; if we had not interfered, and suffered them to interfere, we should have lowered England in the whole scale of nations. If we had not interfered, but instead declared that we would go to war if they had interfered; we should have taken upon ourselves the terrific responsibility of bringing upon Europe a general war: nothing remained for us but to adopt the course we did. I defy any person to read the artf.cles set forth in the protocol, and to say that we have not acted as it become us to act in such an emergency. There were three objects almost incompatible, which we had, if possible, to obtain, and to obtain each one in such a manner as not to lose the other—there the dignity of England, the liberty of Portugal, and there was the peace of Europe ; and we believe we have adopted that course which is likely to promote the welfare of all. If our policy is a right one, there will be little difference of opinion as to the manner in which it has been carried into execution, but it will scarcely be denied that the course which we have adopted will end as we have anticipated, and that it was sufficiently well chosen. I can only repeat to my Hon. Friend that we feel the interference we have been com pelled to resort to must cast upon us the duty so empha ' tically set forth in the amendment he has moved. I can only add, that our own consciences acquit us, and that we hope that that vote will acquit us of having in this most difficult, embarrassing matter, failed in any part of our duty to England, to Portugal, or Europe.—(The Right Hon. Gentleman resumed his scat amidst loud cheers. Lord GEORGE BENTINCK said he trusted every Member in that House would sincerely believe the state ment of the Eight Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down. He had heard with c msiderable satisfaction that his Hon. Friend the Member for Finsbury had come to the rescue of the Government with an amendment to the motion of the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Montrose. He was sure her Majesty's Ministers must have been highly delighted that the Hon. and Gallant Gentleman the Member for Finsbury, who was pleased in the cour4e of his speech, to make certain remarks upon those who sat on his (Lord George Bentinek's) side of the House, had now left it beyond all doubt a discussion, that whilst he had often enough had the word "liberty" upon his lips, he was in favour of despo tism in his heart—it must have been a source of gratifi cation to them, to find that he got up to save the 3rli• nisters of the Queen from a vote of censure for their interference in the internal concerns of Por tugal —an interference at a moment when it was admitted by the Ministers of the Queen at Lisbon, that the interest of the Queen of Por tugal had become desperate. The Learned and Right lion. Gentleman had referred to many passages in ancient history, but he did not refer to one which was very applicable to the present occasion—he did not refer to the fact that when Philip 11. wished to conquer Por tugal, he did so by gaining over the chiefs of the oppo site parties to mix sand with the powder of their troops. This he considered was the plan which had been adopted by her Majesty's Ministry, as exemplified in the conduct pursued by the Member for Finsbury. They found the advocate for liberty defending the Government for aiding despotism. The Hon. arid Learned Member did not attempt to defend those proceedings which led to the insurrection in Portugal. He found it quite impossible to defend the principle of interference, and he conse quently appealed to the danger which would arise from non-interference, and he appealed to the terrible responsibility which would Fall upon Ministers if they risked a war, and he read a dispatch of Mr. Bul wer, of the 7th of April, following very much the ex ample of the Noble Lord, who read a dispatch of the sth of the same month, skipping very dexterously that most important one dated the 6th. Mr. Balwer had an inter view with M. Pacheco, and stated to him distinctly that if he did interfere without the consent of England he should be prepared for most serious consequences. But M. Pacheco answered, " Oh, no, we shall do nothing without the concurrence of the English Government." Mr. Bulwer asked him, was he quite sure that such a pledge would be carried out? and M. Pacheco again, in the strongest terms, re-assured him that nothing would be done without the full knowledge and the full consent of this country ; and that was what was contained in the dispatch of the 6th instant, to which he referred. Well, then, what becomes of the fear expressed of the interfe rence of Spain ? and he was at a loss to find through the whole of the voluminous evidence laid before them the remotest hint that France would interfere. The to of a n y Portugal. Government But i w t h a i c p h . Right Hon. the Membe r for Edi nburgh and the Noble Lord at the head of t he Government, said that they " belong eopinions, which th e y h e ld, ) t w h 'eoo e auu y r lledd quite n betovghe neglect toremy sorry regt :h a o ttteht intereststo ino t hes wishes or the feelings of the p eo pl e . ge would lilt* to see any treaty between the magma THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 15, 1847. in which it was stipulated that England should support the Queen of Portugal against her subjects, and he thought that there was room for doubt, when they re collected that she did not possess a single acre, save that held by her troops ; and when they were aware that out of one hundred and twenty-six families of the ancient nobility, only nine were found on the side of the Queen. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman had stated to them that evening that he would have taken a very different course from that which had been adopted by the Go vernment, of which the Hon. Gentleman was a Member. How did they act in 1833, when Lord Grey was in office. Don Pedro was then de facto King of Portugal, but Spain threatened to interfere. Lord Grey stated to the Spaniards that if they interfered for Don Miguel, the British Government would take part with Donna Maria. A similar course was adopted at an earlier period, when in 1826 Mr. Canning determined to inter fere. The two cases are in point —the language of Lord Grey in 1833, respecting Don Miguel, described the very situation in which the present Queen of Portugal ' now found herself. Let them but transpose into that speech the name of D onna M ar i a for that of Don Miguel, and then s h ow th e H ouse what guarantees they could give that th e wor d o f th e Queen of Portu gal would be carried out i n goo d f a ith. But could they de fend the Government of the Queen as more humane, or offering more hope of humane measures than another dynasty? She rule 1 the country with oppression. On the estimates of the army were found 19,000 men; while on the muster roll were only 10,000 men, the surplus of the money being distributed among the officere. It was notorious that every office was sold, and that sanatory ltws had been passed, with a view of creating 4,000 mere places. The tobacco monopolies were also sold, not fur twelve years as formerly, but for twenty three years ; so were the gunpowder and soap monopo lies. The elections were managed by the military—the regiments were marched into town ; the men voted by companies ; the ballot was conducted in the view of compulsory force. A poll tax was also imposed, nomi nally for the purposes of public works, which again contributed to the ends of corruption. The public works were made the means of jobbing, and Jose Cabral made 50,0001. by contracts on these public works between Lisbon and Oporto. Such were oppressions sufficient to stir up revolutions. The people then did rise ; they took arias ; but upon the prospect being offered of having their grievances redressed, they laid their arms down, and act e d in a way becoming a people deserving of constitutional government. The people were called upon, at the approach of the elections to impeach the Ministers of the Crown , who had violated their pledges. The natural course of the proceedings of the Queen was that the whole country should rise in arms. The whole country was united, not to dethrone the Queen. but to effect a change of Ministry. This was shown by the petition presented by the Junta to the Queen of Portugal, and from that document, which professed great affection for the person of the Sove reign, it could not be established that the Junta were regicides. In the conflict that took place between the Junta and the troops of her Majesty the Queen of Portugal, humanity was on the side of the for mer. There were no instances of cold-blooded murder of prisoners on their part. They certainly kept De Terceira prisoner. What had the Queen done to show that she relented in sanctioning these violent proceedings of her troops ? But so late ago as February last, from 900 to 400 political prisoners were arrested in Lisbon, and kept incarcerated in unwholesome dungeons till within twenty days after S;r Hamilton Seymour had in timated to the Queen that he intended to interfere with the force of arms. And even then the pri soners were only set at liberty by the breaking open of the prison when seventy of them were cruelly butchered by the troops of the Queen. What security had they, then, that the Queen would be less tyrannical in future? and, therefore, the interference of the Government bad broken the hearts of a brave and patriotic people. It was the greatest blow, in his opi nion, that had been struck at the free Governments of Europe, while how much better it would have been— how much more satisfactory to this country and to Por tugal it would have been, had the victorious party of the two combatants been left to name the new Adminis tration. Here the Noble Lord had told them that he in tended to provide for the deposing of the Cabralist party, but how were they to know all the members of that faction. The more, therefore, that he looked at, and examined the policy Government had pursued towards Portugal, the more was he convinced of its injustice and its folly. They had taken a step lately at variance with all they had done for the last thirty years —at least for the last twenty. seven. For that space of time they had diligently endeavoured to carry out the principle of non interference. how differently did the Duke of Welling ton act in the case of Charles X. Why, by the very return of post, he acknowledged the right of the French people ; so likewise in the case of the revo lution of Belgium. They had carried out this ruling principle of non-interference. How differently also did Mr. Canning act in 1826, which had been so often re ferred to. lie felt that the conduct of the Government, contrasted sadly and solemnly with that pursued by Mr. Canning, who, when he felt he had the interests of Por tugal to protect, feared not what Spain or France might do. Were they now, when the people of this country said that Spain owed them 70,000,000/. to be brow boated and bullied by Spain ? Why should they not hold the same language, and plant the British flag as the banner of the protection of foreign nations? The Noble Lord might have followed in the steps of Mr. Canning, and then he might have come down to that House and thrilled the hearts of every Member within it by the proud declaration—" We have humbled Spain and silenced France ; we go not to Portugal to dictate or to rule ; we go to preserve the independence and the liber ties of the people ; we have planted the standard of England on the well known heights of Lisbon, and where it is planted no foreign dominion shall come." Mr. Bolan WICK explained, that he did not dis tinctly admit notice to have been given by Capt. Hoffe. Dr. BOWRING moved that the debate be adjourned. Mr. 11UME called the attention of Lord Palmerston to certain papers which were published, and purported to be letter,: between Sir H. Seymour and the Conde I)as Antas. One was dated the 20th of May, and appeared to have been delivered only on the 31st. That required explanations, gather those letters togeth er a nd let the House have them and he h o p e d the Noble Lord would officially, that they might know what they ought to take as true. Lord PALMERSTON assured Mr. Brotherton that the Junta had notice of the intentions of our fleet, and that their forces embarked with that knowledge, and the reason of the delay in the delivery of that letter lay in the absence of Das Antas from Oporto. It was true that some correspondence bad passed since the blue book had been laid before the House, and he would readily have these additional papers collected and laid up,,n the table. Thu motion for the adjournment was then put and agreed to. INSOLVENT DEBTORS BILL. This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. TITHES COMMUTATION BILL. This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed. JOINT STOCK COMPANY'S BILL. This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on Monday next. REPRESENTATIVE PEERS (SCOTLAND) BILL. This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed to day. POR l'-NATAL COLLECTION OF DUTIES BILL. This Bill went through Committee, and was ordered to be read a third time to-day. BATHS AND WASIIIIOUSES BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. LEITH HARBOUR AND DOCKS BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed. ROYAL MARINE SERVICE BILL. This Bill went through Committee, and was ordered to be reported. TOWNS IMPROVEMENT BILL. Sir WILLIAM SOMERVILLE moved that the Lords' amendments to this Bill be agreed to.—Motion carried. The House then adjourned at a quarter past ono o'clock. IRELAND. THE CIRCUITS. DUBLIN, JUNE 13.—The judges met in chamber yes terday afternoon, at four o'clock, to consider the clues.- tion of adjournment or no adjournment of the summer assizes. Their Lordships remained in deliberation until nearly six o'clock, after which it was announced that the decision was for holding the assizes at the usual time. FRIGHTFUL MURDERS. in addition to a long list of agrarian outrages, the Limerick Chronicle of yesterday contains the following: " On Tuesday night a most barbarous and fatal out rage was perpetrated near Heathfield, in this county. Between seven and eight o'clock a party of armed men surrounded the house of a farmer named John Bennis, steward to property in that quarter belonging to Mr. Scanlan. The unfortunate victim of th e i r vengeance was at the time surrounded . by his wife a n d c hild ren, b ut, reckless of this affectionate tamily ci rc l e, they assailed him without hesitation, felled him to the ground, and while prostrate one of the miscreants lev e ll e d a gun c l ose to his head, and shot him dead. Bennis's son and daughter endeavoured to save their p ersecuted father from his assailants, but received no mercy at the hands of the bloodthirsty ruffians, who dragged the unoffending woman outside the door, dashed her to th e ground, and, with a refinement of barbarity, violently stretching out her arms, rolled a heavy laden car across them, b rea ki ng both wrists! Not cont ent wi th this savage outrage, the demons again entered the house, where Bennis's wife was .lamenting over the dead body of h er murdered hus band. They struck her with guns on the head, ictli,ting serious wounds, and left the son almost a lifeless corpse by his father's side. From the fat a l i n j ur i es sustained the youth has since died, and the o nly cause assigned for such diabolical atrocity is, that Bennis had served latitats for non-payment of rent a few days before." COURT OF COMMON COUNCJL. _- THE CONSERVANCY OF THE RIVER THAMES. Yesterday a Court was held for the purpose of taking into consideration the subject of the Bill in Parliament relative to the conservancy of the Thames. A short discussion took place upon the motion for the admission of strangers, and it was stated by some mem bers that " closed doors" would inevitably cause misre presentation. The opinion of the Court, however, was, that whatever disposition there might be upon the part of some persons to misrepresent the body, the question was one which ought not to be publicly discussed, inas much as the communications between the Government and the Committee of the Court were private. The Court was occupied for several hours in delibera tion; but the result was not publicly stated. The Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde re• ceived a distinguished party at dinner on Sunday, at the fa• roily resitlynes on Carlton House-terrace. BANK OF AUSTRALASIA. The thirteenth annual meeting of the proprietors was held yesterday morning, at their premises, in Austin Friars, Oliver Farrer, Esq., in the chair. After the advertisement convening the meeting had been read, Mr. Milliken, the secretary, was called upon for the report which the directors had decided upon sub mitting to the meeting, which is as follows "THE THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT BY THE DIRECTORS OF THE BANK OF AUS tRA LASIA, TO THE PROPRIETORS, ASSEMBLED AT THE MEETING HELD AT THEIR OFFICE, No. 8, AUSTIN-FRIARS, ON MONDAY, JUNE 14, 1847. " 1. The directors, in making this their thirteenth re port to the proprietors, submit, as usual, a statement of the affairs of the Bank since their last annual meeting. "2. During the past year the trade of the colonies has improved ; and by extended transactions, that por - - tion of the capital of the Bank which had accumulated in London, has recently been brought into active operation. " 3. On the other hand, the agricultural interests have suffered from the low prices obtained for the wools of the last season, and by a great deficiency of labourers. The latter has been most severely felt by stockholders and settlers, and has made their properties compara tively unproductive, while at the same time it has ren dered those held by the Bank difficult of realisation. " 4. The altered circumstances of the Bank, and the suspension of dividends, rendered it, in the opinion o the directors, imperative to discontinue the operation o the Retiring Fund, noticed in their report of 1842, and the amount that had accumulated, has for the pre. sent been placed in relief of the Bad Debt Fund ; but the re-establishment of the fund may become a matter of consideration hereafter, should the interests Of the Bank appear to require it. " 5. The directors have hitherto refrained from giv ing in their reports any estimates of the losses on doubtful debts ; until further progress had been made in the realisation of insolvent and bankrupt estates, and until the superintendent and managers had been en abled to make more correct calculations. This having now in some measure been accomplished, the directors think the time has arrived when the amount of such losses should be stated. " 6. With these preliminary observations, the direc tors proceed to give the following statement:— " 7. On reference to the last report, it will be observed, that there remained on the 13th of October, 1845, an unappropriated balance (but which the proprietors were informed would in all probability be absorbed by losses) o" _ . £109,307 0 7 To this are now to be added the nett profits in the colonies and in London, for the year ending the 12th of October, 1846, after defraying all expenses of _ management - 46,586 1 3 Making £155,893 1 10 Deduct the half-year's di vidend in Apri1,1846....£13,500 0 0 And the whole of the ex penses incurred in the suit against the Bank of Australia,from its com mencement up to the 12th of October, 1846, (a considerable portion of which it is expected may ultimately be reco vered) ........ .... 8,252 13 1 21,752 13 1 Leafing 4134,140 8 9 The total amount of losses ascertained and estimated by the superintendent and managers being 142,265 1 9 It follows that a balance remains to be provided for out of the profit of the current year of #8,124 13 0 "8. The above statement shows the estimated amount of loss, according to the opinion of the superintendent and managers, the entire accuracy of which can only be finally ascertained when the various and extensive pro perties, held by the Bank, in security or satisfaction of debts, are realised. The directors consider the greatest care and caution in the gradual accomplishment of this object as most essential, being, in their opinion, the only means of preventing further losses upon some of the old accounts, of which they cannot but feel apprehensive. "9. The numerous and diversified duties of Mr. Hart the superintendent, in the general control of the business, and in the management of the several properties held by the Bank, notwithstanding his acknowledged zeal, in crustry;--and talents, render it impossible for him to give that minute and constant attention to these various matters which their nature and magnitude demand. Under this conviction, the directors came to the resolu tion of sending a person to the colonies, to aid and coun sel Mr. Hart in the performance of those duties; and it was with much satisfaction that they found their late colleague, Mr. Atherton, willing to undertake so im portant a mission, from which they anticipate the most beneficial results; and they await his report with great interest. Mr. Atherton's duty will be to advise and co operate with Mr. Hart, but without executive power. " 10. The directors are convinced, from their expe rience of Mr. Atherton's talents and general habits of business, his intimate acquaintance with the affairs and position of the Bank, as well as his legal knowledge, and his perfect agreement with them, as to the course to be pursued, that they could not have selected n fitter person for the office. " 11. In accordance with the assurances given in their last report, the directors lost no time in obtaining the necessary documents from Sydney, to enable them to proceed with the appeal against the Bank of Austral . a, and they have now to inform the proprietors, that the cause has bern set down for hearing before the Judi cial Committee of the Privy Council. " 12. The directors conclude with the usual Statement of the Assets and Liabilities of the Bank. ASSETS. Government Stock, Specie, and Cash £430,027 7 3 Landed Property and Bank Premises 23,056 0 2 Bills Receivable, ar.d other Securities 1,309,544 17 9 Balance (to be provided for out of the profits of the current year) 8,124 13 0 £1,770,752 18 2 LIABILITIES. Capital £900,000 0 0 Circulation _ Bills Payable, and other Liabilities 222,459 6 2 Deposits £1,770,752 18 2" The CHAIRMAN, after some observations on the general state of the Bank and the Australian colo nies, moved the adoption of the report, which, after the meeting had been addressed by Mr. Newsam, the Rev. Mr. Madge, Mr. G. R. Robinson, and several other proprietors, was received and adopted. Mr. Liananel De Castro was then chosen a director, in room of Mr. Atherton, resigned on going out to the colonies in the service of the Bank ; and the three directors going out by rotation were unanimously re elected. Votes of thanks to the Chairman, and of continued confidence in the Direction, were then passed, and the meeting separated. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. TATTERSALL'S—DIortDAY. Our quotations, like the share lists, aro somewhat lengthy, but, if analysed, would show but a moderate amount of " business done." We may, therefore, con fine ourselves to stating that the Conjuror, Conspiracy, Grimston, and Best of Three, were in demand for the Northumberland Plate ; The Hero, for the Goodwood Cup ; Vampyre and The Questionable, for the Good wood Stakes; and Assault and Nil Desperandum for the Derby. Closing prices:— THE NORTHUMBERLAND PLATE. 5 to 1 agst Mr. Green's The Conjuror—t. af. 5 to 1 agst Lord Glasgow's Conspiracy—tak 6 to 1 8 to 1 agst Sir J. Gerard's Grimston—taken 12 to 1 agst Mr. S. L. Fox's Executor—taken 12 to 1 agst Mr. Meiklam's Inheritress—taken 12 to 1 agst Lord Eglinton's Eryx—taken 12 to 1 agat Mr. Meiklam's Best of Three—taken 14 to 1 agst Mr. Yarburgh's Miss Sarah. Even on Conjuror, Conspiracy, Grimston, Executor, and Best of Three agst the field. A question has been raised whether Conspiracy, as the of weights. 20 01 . , or up wards,he T winner of a pocket handicap at Newmarket, comes the of declaration l a r handicap atien ef within the meaning of the condition imposing a penalty of6lbs b s . on-sute subsequent winner t to matter is before the Stewards of the Jockey Club. 000DWOOD CUP. sto 2 agst Mr. John Day's The Hero-3 to 1 taken freely 7 to 1 agst Mr. G. 11. Moore's Wolfdog 12 to 1 agst Monsieur Aumont's Fits Emilius—t. 12 to 1 agst Sir J. Hawley's Mendicant ' 15 to 1 agst Mr. Isaac Day's Sir Tatton Sykes 16 to 1 agst Mr., Whaley's Burgundy 20 to 1 agst Baron Biel 's Sunbeam 000DWOOD STARES. 17 to 1 agst Duke of Richmond's Vampyre—taken 25 to 1 agst Mr. Sainsbury's The Questionable—t. 30 to 1 agst Lord E. Russell's Dulcet—taken 30 to 1 agst Colonel Anson's Martext 33 to 1 agst Sir J. Mill's Miss Ells—taken 35 to 1 agst Mr. Gratwicke's Queen Mary—taken 35 to 1 agst Mr. Etwall's )Egis—taken 35 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Stultx—taken 40 to 1 agst Mr. Sandford's Kimblesworth 40 to 1 agst Mr. Robinson's Morpeth—taken 40 to 1 agat Mr. Wormold's hydrometer— taken 50 to 1 agst Mr. Hutchinson's Emigrant. ST. LEGER. 3 to 1 agst Mr. Pedley's Cossack—taken 6 to I apt Lord Eglinton's Van Tromp 20 to 1 agst Mr. Stephenson's Black Dwarf 25 to 1 agst Mr. Merry's Limstone—taken 30 to 1 agst Mr. John Day's Farmer's Daughter 40 to 1 agst Lord Stradbroko's Coningsby—taken DERBY. 13 to 1 agst Mr. B. Green's Assault —taken 25 to 1 agst Mr. John to 100/ y . Da's Nil Desperandum -30 to 1 agst Mr. • tken 13 Green's Flatcatcher—taken , o 1000 t 30 agst Mr. Mostyn sSurplie—taken 45 to 1 agst Mr. Sandford's Sheriff. FOUR-OARED MATCH BETWEEN THE THETIS AND THE ST. GEORGE'S. Yesterday this match, which has for the last month excited much interest, " eame off," and afforded great satisfaction to a large number of the elite of the river. Although this match may be termed most emphatically an amicable one, yet had the rival crews been animated by the bitter feelings of the Montagu and Capulet they could not have devoted more time and attention to their training and practice, in the course of which they dis played such speed as materially increased the inter* resulting from the well-known merits of the crews, of whom a word or two of comment may not be out of season. The St. George's Club have fur years past dis tinguished themselves in four-oared and other matches, and in 1845 represented the Llndon river in the eight oared matches at Henley and Putney Re;attas, winning the Ladies' Cup at the former, and rowing oar and oar with the Cambridge University at the latter ; at Erith, also, they shared the honour, though not the victory, with the "brilliant Leander." The Thetis Club, though less fortunate, have rowed " well in front" at both Put• ney and Erith. The course was from Chiswick Eyot to Putney-bridge, with tha tide. Amongst the cutters ac companying the match, we observed Lord Kilmorey's four, the Leander, Thetis, and St. George's eights, the Engineers four, cum multis aliis. The racing crews were composed of the following gentlemen:— ST. GEORGE'S. i TIMM. IW. Full, Esq., 9st Glb 1 ,1 J. Robertson, Etq., 9st 2 J. Lane, E, q., lOst 101 b 10:b 3 S. Wallace, Esq , 12st 101 b 2 Murray, Esq., lOst Slb 4 W. Couithu.d, Esq., llst 3 llind, E q., lOst Slb 101 b '4 G. Porter, Esq., lOst 91b Coxswain—R. White, Esq. —Breachett,Esq.,cr.xswkin The ha tting was fluctuating. T. L. Jenkins, Esq., of the Leander, officiated as umpire, and the crews now took their stations; the St. George's, hlirirr won the toss, took the Surrey shore, and on the word " off," the oars of both crews "clipped " the water simultaneously; the first dozen strokes, however, waft the St. George's half a boat's length ahead, another dashing dozen bring them clear, and in this position they swing down to Hammersmith; here a spurt is put on by both boats, the result of which tends to increase the lead already gained by the St. George's. Between this and the Crabtree the surf raised by a stiff south-easter is decidedly "lumpy," end the weight and strength of the St. George's crew tell heavily, they lift their boat ahead at every stroke, and ultimately ra-S under Pt Viey-bridge nearly twenty boat,' lengths ah , ad. Both boat; shipped water, the Thetis being most unfortunate in this respect. The pace was very good throughout. COURT CIRCULAR. The cerem ny of christening the infant daughter of Lord and Lady Charles Wellesley took place at twelve o'clock yesterday in the private chapel in Buckingham Palace, in the presence of the Queen and Prince Albert, the Duke of Wellington, Lord and Lady Charles Wel leFley, the Marquis and Marchioness of Exeter, the Marquis and Marchioness of Douro, the Right Hon. Henry Pierrepont, the Lady and the Lord in Waiting, the Maids of Honour, the Master of the Household, the Groom in Waiting, and the Equerries in Waiting to her Majesty and Prince Albert. The infant was named " Victoria Alexandrina." The sponsors were her Majesty the Queen, the Marchioness of Douro, and the Marquis of Exeter. The ceremony was performed by the Hon. ani Rev. C. Leslie Courtenay, assisted by the Rev. Gerald Wellesley. In the evening the Queen and Prince Albert honoured the Duke of Wellington with their company at dinner, at Apsley House. The Royal suite consisted of Vis countess Jocelyn, Lord Camoys, Lord Alfred Paget, and Colonel Bouverie. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, attendei by Lady Augusta Cadogan and Mr. Edmond Mildmay, also honoured the Duke of Wellington with their company at dinner last evening. Lord John Russell had an audience of the Queen yesterday at Buckingham Palace. Her Majesty, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and the Princess Royal, and attended by the Viscountess Jocelyn, took an airing yesterday in an.-open carriage and four. Lord Alfred Paget attended on h orse b ac k . His Royal Highness Prince Albert rode out on horse back, attended by Colonel Bouverie. Her Majesty the Queen Dowager, attended by the Countess Brownlow, visited the Queen yesterday. Prince Alfred, the Princess Alice, and the Princess llelena, took airings yesterday, in the pleasure grounds of the Palace. The Queen's copy of Gray's " Elegy," illustrated by the Etching Club, was presented to his Royal Highness Prince Albert, yesterday, at Buckingham Palace. A statuette of Una and the Lion, about to be executed in Parian, at the Staffordshire Potteries was also submitted to his Royal Highnev. Their Royal Highnesses the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Saxe Weimar, attended by the Countess of Assenburg. Count de Beust, Baron de Zigesar, and Colonel Cornwall, visited and inspected the Royal Mint yesterday. Her Royal Highness the Princess Mary, attended by Baroness Hammerstein and Major Stephens, honoured the performance of Mr. Benedict's Concert at her Ma jesty's theatre with her presence yesterday morning. A Cabinet Council was held at three o'clock yesterday afternoon at the Foreign-office. It was attended by Lord John Russell, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Minto, Sir George Grey, Vis count Palmerston, Earl Grey, the Chancellor of the Ex chequer, the Earl of Auckland, Sir John Hobhonse, the Earl of Clarendon, Lord Campbell, Viscount Morpeth, the Marquis of Clanricarde, the Right Hon. T. B. Mac aulay, and the Right lion. H. Labouchere. The Council sat an hour and a half. Mr. Entwisle, M.P., and Mr. D. Derbishire, had an interview with the: Right Hon. Edward Strutt at the office of the Commissioners of Railways in Great George street. Dr. Lynch, accompanied by the parochial officers from St. Andrew's, St. Bride's, St. Dunstan's, and St. Se pulchre's paris tes—namely, Messrs. Batchelor, Sweet- Boreton, Brett, and Ilerepath, had an interview with Viscount Morpeth yesterday, at the office of the Woods and Forests. The Marquis of Normanby had an interview with Viscount Palmerston yesterday, at the Foreign-office. The O'Connor Don had an interview with the Earl of Clarend•in yesterday. The new Bishopricks Commission had a meeting yesterday in Whitehall-place. The Commissioners pre sent were the Archbishop of Canterbury. the Marquis of Lansiowne, the Earl of Chichester, the Bishops of London, Durham, Winchester, and Lincoln, and Sir Cherles Wood. Lord C')ichester had an interview with Sir George Grey yesterday. A deputation, consisting of Mr. Frewen, M.P., Sir W. Fielden, , Mr. Gren'ell, Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Sil chester, Mr. Stephenson, Mr. Burchell, Mr. Kigour, Mr. Sherrard, Mr. Bidder, Mr. McGregor, Mr. Fearon, and Mr. Clayburn, had an interview with the Right Hon: E. Strutt yesterday. THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON'S GRAND FE FE TO HER MAJESTY AND THE PRINCE CONSORT. The Duke of Wellington gave a princely fête to the Queen and his Royal Highness Prince Albert last even ing, at Apsley House. We understand that the Noble and Gallant Duke re ceived intimation of her Majesty's gracious pleasure, on the Queen signifying it to be her intention to stand sponsor to the infant daughter of Lord and Lady Charles Wellesley, that her Majesty and her illustrious consort would honour his Grace by their company at the fete which was to be given on the interesting occasion. • The Duke of Wellington invited the several members of the Royal Family and a distinguished circle to meet the Queen at the sumptuous entertainment which pre ceded the musical reception, the banvetting-table being laid for about forty guests. Agreeably to the invita tions, the guests began to assemble shortly after seven o'clock. The full band of the Grenadier Guards (the Duke's regiment) was stationed - in the vestibule, and performed a variety of airs while the august visitors congregated prior to her Majesty's arrival. tier Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert arrived at halt-past seven, and as the royal carriage drove into the court-yard were warmly cheered by the populace congreg ated in Piccadilly. The Duke of Wellington was in waiting to welcome his Sovereign and her illustrious husband, and after a cordial greeting, p roceeded ueen resting on the arm of the venerable Duke, p to the gallery, where the majority of the guests had met; Prince Albert, Lord Charles Wellesley, and the attendants on the Queen and Prince followed to the picture gallery, Lady Charles Wellesley advancing to the staircase to meet the august visitors. The banquet was served in the noble dining-room, the table presenting a gorgeous display of plate, from the celebrated Portuguese plateau occupying the centre, besides a rare collection of ornamental plate. The whole was relieved by the choicest flowers, and massive cande labra, from which the festive board was illuminated. The spacious apartment appropriated for the banquet is hung with the portraits of the continental sovereigns in alliance with this country during the wars that suc ceeded the French revolution. The following is a list of the dinner circle, in addition to the Queen and his Royal Highness Prince Albert, and the noble host:—Their Royal Hignesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Gloucester and Prince George of Cambridge, the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk, the Duchess of Sutherland, the Marquis and Marchioness of Eieter, the Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury, the Marquis and Marchiones of Douro, the Countess of Westmoreland , V iscount Jocelyn, iord and Lady John Russell, Lord and Lady Charles Wellesley, the Right HOD, Sir Robert and Lady Peel, the Right Hon. Henry Pierrepoint, the Hon. and Rev. Gerald Wellesley; and Lord Camova, Viscountess Jocelyn, Lord Alfred Paget, Lady Caroline C ocks and Colonelßsaverie, in waiting on the Queen and Prince; Lady Augusta Cadogan and Baron lineseheck. in waiting on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; Lady Georgians Bathurst, in waiting on t he Duchess o f and the Hon. Capt. James Macdonald, in waiting on Prince George. Her Majesty retired from the dining-room at half-past nine o'clock. His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Constantine of Russia arrived shortly after ten o'clock. Their Se rene Highnesses the Heredizary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Saxe Weimar had previously arrived. Ms Royal Highness the Hereditary Prince of Lucca was also among the early arrivals, arid among the general com pany we observed their Highnesses the Prince Francois and Princess Lichtenstein, his Excellency th e Aus trian Ambassador and the Countess Dietrichstein , his Excellency Prince Castelcicala, his Excellen cy the Prussian Minister, and Madame andcY Misses and Baroness his Excellency th e R uss i an Minister d Baroness Brunnow and M a d emo i se ll e Olga de Lechner,a his Excellency the Portugue se; _ Minister and Baroness Moncorvo, his Excellency Count Kielmansegge, his Excellency the Bavarian Minister and Baroness de Cetto, his Excellency Count Schimmelpennick, his Excellency the American Minister and Mrs. Bancroft, his Excel lency the Danish Minister and Countess Reventlow, and the Countess Hilda Reventlow his Excellency the Bra zilian Ministe r an d M a d ame Lisbon, his Excellency the Saxon Minister and Baroness de Beust, his Excellency M. Van de Weyer, his Excellency Baron Hugel, the Swedish Charg6 d'Affaires and Baroness Rehausen, Count Reyel, Count rotiNkir Bata gofer,M, de Berg, the Duke of Rutland and Lady Adeliza Manners, the Duke de Palmella, the Marquis and Marchioness of Abercorn, the Marquis and Marchioness of Nermanby, the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne, the Mar quis and Marchioness of Ailesbury, tie Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde and Lady Emily de Burgh, the Marquis of Granby, the Marquis and Marchioness of Ely, the Earl and Countess Spencer and Hon. Miss Lyttelton, the I'arl and Countess of Haddington, the Countess of Manvers and Lady A. Pierrepoint, the Earl and Countess of Wilton, the Earl of Liverpool, the Earl and Countess Fortescue and Miss Geale, the Earl and Countess of Lincoln, the Countess of Clarendon, the Earl and Countess Grey, the Earl of Auckland and the Hon. Miss Eden, the Countess of Chesterfield, the Earl of Ripon, the Earl and Countess of Desart, the Earl and Countess of Cawdor, the Earl and Counte.s Delawarr, the Earl of Warwick, the Earl and Countess of Clan william, the Countess of Charlemont, the Earl and Countess of Minto and Ladies Elizabeth and Harriet Eliot, the Earl and Countess of Morley, the Countess of Morton and Lady Ellen Douglas, 'Viscount Morpe;h, Viscount and Viacountess l'Ccapert, Vi , Dual Cap lsca and Lady ilonoria Cadoaain, Viscount Strangfard, Viscount and Viscountess Br c.l;lc , e, Viscount tit. Vin cent and Hon. Mrs. Dy ca Sombre, Viscount-Psi Palmer ston, Vise , unt and Viscountess Canning, Viscount and Visamintess Falkland, Viscount and Viacountes s tiyl ney, Viscount and Viscountess Combermera, L e, L or d Chancellor and the Hon. Miss Pepya, Lord and Lady Lyndhurst and Hon. Miss Copley, Lord and Lade Ash burton and lion. Miss Baring, Lord and Lady D. Ros and Hon. Miss De 11 as, Lord Foley and lion. Foley. Lord Duakell la Lady Blanche Bilfour, Lord and Lady Ernest Bruce, Lord Clarence and Lady Adelaide Paget, Lord and Lady Beauvale, Lor4 Heystesbury, Lord E. F. Howard. Lady Granville Somerset and Miss Somerset, Lord Campbell and Lady Stratheden, and Honourable Miss Campbell, Lord and Lady Stanley, Lord Lyttelton, Lord and Lady Fitzroy Somerset and Misses Somerset (2), Lady Marcus Hill, the Lord Chief Justice and Lady Wilde, Lady Georgiana Fane, the Right Hon. Sir C. Wood, Maajor- Geaeral and Lady Isabella Wemyss, Honourable Colonel and Hon. Mrs. Anson, lion. Colonel Liddell and Mrs. Liddell, the Right Hon. Sir James and Lady Graham, the Right flon. Fox and Mrs. Maule, Hon. Major West' lion. Captain and Mrs. Daneombe, Major-General Sir Harry and Lady Smith, Sir E. and Lady Bowater, Mr. and Lady Charlotte Watson Taylor, the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Courtenay, Mr. G. E. and H on . M rs. A nson, t h e Right Hon. W. E. and Mrs. Gladstone, Sir Horace Sey mour and Lady Clinton, and Misses Seymour, Sir John and Lady Macdonald, Sir Willoughby and Lady Gordon, lion. S. Pierrepont, Hon. Lieut.-Colonel and Lady Mary Wood, Lion. Mrs. Grey and Miss Copley, Hon. Lieut.- Colonel Phipps, Colonel and Lady Catherine Buckl e y, Captain Meynell, Miss B. Coutts and Miss Burdett, Mr. and Mrs. Assheton Smith, Captain Pakenham, Lieut.- Colonel Seymour, Mrs. Shawe Lefevre and Miss Lefevre, Hon. Colonel and Mrs. Arbuthnot, Mr. Wynne, Mr. Algernon Greville and Miss Greville, Mr. H. Greville, Hon. William Bathurst, Hon. J. Fane, Sir Henry and Lady Wheatley and the Misses Wheatley, Hon. V. and Mrs. Pierrepont, the Right Hon. H. Goulburn, Captain Francis Seymour, Hon. Mrs. 1). Darner and Miss Darner, the Right Hon. Sydney and Mrs. Herbert, &c. The concert commenced about half-past ten, and the subjoined is the programme of the performance:— PART FIRST. Trio, " Qual volutta," Madame Grisi, Sig nori Mario e Tamburini (I Lombardi) . Duo, " Si tr el credi," Madlle. Alboni e Sig Tamburini (Esule di Granata) Meyerbeer. Quartetto, " Ave vernal," Madame Grisi e Madlle. Alboni, Signori Mario e La blache Duo, " Dillo tel chieggo," Madame Grisi e Sig. Mario (Parisina) Aria, " Per non istare in ozio," Madlle Alboni (Maria di Bohan) Donizetti. Quintetto, " Ali m'illuse," Madame Grisi e Madlle. Alboni, Signori Mario, Tam burini, a Lablache (Zelmira) Rossini. SECOND PART. Trio, " Ferma crudele," Madame Grisi, Signori Mario e Lablache (Ernani) Verdi. Aria, " Se d'amore," Madame Grisi (Ales sandro nelie Indic) Pacini. Duo, "Bel paese," Signori Tamburini e Lablache (La Regina di Golgonda) Aria, " Connais-tu la chanson?" Signor Mario (La Chanson de Mai) Aleyerbcer. Duo, " Ciel qual destino," Madame Grisi Donicetti. e Mdlle. Alboni (Bianco eHero) Rossini. Coro, " Felice, eta.," Madame Grisi e Alboni, Sig. Mario, Tamburini, e La blache The instrumental artists engaged were, at the violon cello, Mr. Lindley; the contrabass°, Mr. Howell; and at the pianoforte, Mr. M. Costa. Iler 'Majesty and Prince Albert took their leave of the noble host at a quarter to twelve o'clock, the Noble and Gallant Duke seeing his august guests to their carriage. His Grace soon a ft erwar d s re ti re d f or th e n ight, after taking leave of the Grand Duke Constantine. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH,' JUNE 14.—The Poly phenan s steam sloop, Commander M'Cleeerty, left the harbour this morning at daylight (about 2) for Lisbon direct, with dis• patches fr,im the Government for the British Minister and Commander-in Chief. We are authorised to state that there is no truth what ever in a pur , graph which has gone the round of the 1-irrts to the etY:et that Captain Canal:be:l. Royal Navy, of Suuthsea, intended to contest the borough of Ports mouth, on the Conservative interest, with the present Members, in eJnjttmtion with Mr. Jones, the banker, of I'ortsea. rLYMOVTII, JUNE 12.—Her Majesty's ship Caledonia, 120, Captain Manly H. Dixon, eri'h the flat; or Port- Atheiri.l Sir John West, end her Alnjesty's ship Queen, 110, Captain Sir Henry Luke, left their tuoorilgs in the S.alnd this morning; and proceeded to pea. Be- . tween one and two o'clock in the afternoon they wrret observed outside the linap-buoy with the Rame Ileac' open. The Qu-en was about half a mils ahead, on the weather bow, and on being signalised from the Admiral ship hoisted her three top-gallant sails. Both ships wire reaching W.S.W., with the wind about S.S.E. In the evening it veered more to the westward. Her Majesty's ship San Josef, 101, Commander HAIL is to be supplied with 14 six-pounders, for the purpose of returning salutes in the absence of her Majesty's ship Caledonia. Her Majesty's steam-tug Confiance sailei suddenly on Wednesday for Falmouth with a party of artillery, two pieces of ordnance, and a detachment of the sth Fusiliers. She returned on Thursday, and the same evening, when at her moorings in Hamoaze, a fire, whi c h originated close to the boilers, was discovered on board her. The Confiance is not provided with e. gun, but having hoisted a distress flag, the powerful float-engine, manned from her Majesty's dockyard, was soon along side, and speedily extinguished the flames, which have not done much damage. Unfortunately, ,one of the hands belonging to the San Josef, in his haste to join that ship's boat, for the purpose of aiding the Confiance, fell overboard, and was drowned. The officers and crew of her Majesty's steam-sloop Growler, Commander Potbury, were paid advance yes terday, and she is now lying at the moorings of her Ma jesty's ship Queen, in the Sound. She will probably sail to-morrow for Sierra Leone, there to embark emigrants for the West Indies. Captain Ellbrecht and the officers of his Danish Majesty's corvette Flora, now in the Sound, went yester day in the passenger steam-packet Queen up the river as far as Morwelham, and on their return visited Cote bill House, and were much delighted with their excur sion. When in the Sound, the steamer passed round her Majesty's ship Queen, the band of which honoured the strangers by playing the National Anthem. Captain Mahommed Ben 'fames, commanding his High ness the Imaurn of Muscat's ship Caroline, at anchor in the Sound, is now on a visit at Mainhead, the seat of Sir Robert Newman, Bart. The Caroline is the ship which brought the rich present of Arabian horses from the itnaum to her Majesty the Queen of England. When. the captain joins her she will sail for Zanz;bar. JUNE 13.—1 n consequence of the thick weather which came on yesterday afternoon with the westerly wind, her Majesty's ships Caledonia and Queen returned about 4 o'clack to the Sound. They were accompanied by Port- Admiral Sir John West, in the Sylph tender, and by Admiral-Superintendent Sir John Louis, in the Ply mouth tender, both of whom went out with the inten tion of- witnessing the comparative sailing qualities of the two ships. The Caledonia, with the flag of the Port- Admiral, red at the wizen, is now lying inside the eastern arm of the Breakwater, and the Queen, with the flag• of the Admiral-Superintendent, white at the main, is moored near the western end. The Growler continues in the Sound. Wind southerly, blowing strong. WooLwrcir, JUNE 14.—The Hecate steam-sloop, Commander Joseph West, was paid off at this port on Wednesday, the 9th inst., on her return from the coast of Africa, to which place she proceeded in June, 1845. On her return to England she had note man on the sick list, and during her time on the coast the master, boat swain, and four of hot- crew died of fever. These per sons bad not been more exposed than the rest, and it is supposed some previous constitutional malady was the cause of their death. The Hecate visited every part of the coast as far south as .Angola, and the excellent pre servation of the health of the crew is partly attributable to her keeping under weigh whenever she could, and employing the mess in the exercise of their various duties, and not exposing them to the heat of the sun, or the miasma off the land. One pvinciple was strictly en forced on board this vessel to keep her perfectly dry— whitewash her fore and aft once a week, and keep up a thorough ventilation. Since her arrival at Woolwich she has met the approbation of those naval officers who have visited her, and.sonie idea may be formed of the Ociency of her crew when it is stated that at the time h er _Tloyal lliihne:s the Duchess of Kent en barked at w oo N•ich for Ostend, half-pest nine o'clock A. 111., the H ecate L'1(1 royal 3 ards across, and htr yarcki manned, and, at twe: Ye o'clock, she was at a gentling:, w;th all her spars OTCIb3aA alongside. and the whole of her rigging jr , lump -m-vessel, being old and tiseleal , was The Charon stems r today by the Monkey steam towed down the riv. her to serve as a break 2. vessel, and it is inteLdeo water at Harwich. Nwime•omm --- STEAM NAVIGATION IN TEM PACIFIC.—PANAMA, Arum 21.—The pacific Steam Navigation Company's steam ship Ecuador, from Callao, arrived .here on the 21st of April. bringing, in additiom to her usual paztsengers and cargo, the mails in continuation with the company's steamer Chile, which left Valparaiso on the 28th of March, from the under mentioned ports in 0, ile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and New Oranada of the respectiv, s dates as undernoted :—Chile—Vtil p!iraiso, March 28th ; C. nuimbo, 29th ; Huasco, 30th ;, Co- Napo, 30th. Bolivia—C, obija, April Ist. Peru—lqukijae, April 2d ; Arica, 3d ; Islay, 4th ; Pisco , 6 th ; Callao, 11th; Paytn, 14th. Ecuador--(,} t layaquil, April 16th, New Gra nada—Bitewigttura, Agit , 19th.