The Express.
London, England, 1847-06-11 00:00:00

,TEST INTELLIGENCE.

THIS DAY, Ibur o'Clock.
'ORTANT NEWS FROM PORTUGAL.

the Polyphemus, arrived at Portsmouth, we
sews from Lisbon to the sth, and Oporto the
it. Our previous advices from the latter port
own to the 29th ult. ; and from the news now
d, we learn that, on the 30th, notwithstanding
monstranees of the British consul, the embarks,-
' the Junta's forces, amounting to 2,500 men,
the immediate command of Du Antes, took
at Foz, the British squadron, consisting of a
a brig of war, and three large steamers, being
time off the bar. The British consul then de-
. to the Junta the following letter from Sir H.
ur to Das Antes, which the latter had refused
ty to receive, on the ground that he had already
rd the presidency of affairs, and taken the com-
of an army of operation.
ON, MAY 28 —I have had the honour to receive the
rhich you did me the honour to address to me on the
at. It is with regret that I find how difficult it will
my opinion should be reconciled with that which
press respecting the reception by the Junta of the
f which Colonel Wylde was the bearer. When terms
posed to any Testy, it matters very little, as regards
whether those terms be met by a positive refusal, or
tier propositions of an obviously inadmissible nature.
previously the honour of stating that the terms
I to the Queen of Portugal's subjects in arms against
jesty's authority were, in the opinion of her Majesty's
meat, acceptable and gracious; and a record now
of the same views being entertained by the allied
principally interested in this affair. The knowledge,
rhich I possess of the feelings, as well of the Por-
t government, as of thaw of the governments
allied to Portugal, clearly does not warrant the
glen, diet a negotiation between her most faithful
y and the Junta can have been looked to. Her
faithful Majesty took certain engagements to-
her Britannic Majesty's government—made known
intentions towards her sultiects ; and the one and the
rare pissed on the same secure basis—the unquestioned
kith of your gracious sovereign. It follows from what
es, that it would not be in my pow• r to become a
to a plan which may have for its object tha nomi-
of commissioners by the Junta, appointed to treat
sardine with the government of her most faithful
y respecting an extension of the concessions mad*
crown. At the same time I beg to assure you—in-
he assurance, I hope, is not necessary—that no one
more than myself rejoice on seeing a body of her most
majesty's subjects, at present, and I am willing to
e, from misapprehension, alienated from their gramour
ign, standing again before her throne. Stich respect-
nmunication would, I feel confident, lead to the best
1, and such it would be not only my duty, but my hap-
, to promote. Ct. H. Savuourt.
twit standing that on the 28th the 3lindello
ter had been ordered by the officer commanding
Iritish squadron to re-enter the Douro, the Junta's
a attempted to cross the bar early on the morning
! 31st nit, whereupon Sir Thomas Maitland im-
ately ordered it to anchor, and subsequently
d the following summons to Count Das Antes :
Her Majesty a ship America, off Oporto, May 31.
are the honour to inform you that my orders are HIY.
ire to take possession of the Junta's vessels of war,
1, de. If they do net immediately anchor near the
ice, I shall be compelled, however reluctantly, to use
T. MAITLAND.
is Antes, on receiving this letter, of course our-
ered, and, having struck his flag, sent the
wing answer:
Mindello, off Oporto, May 31.
are received the communication which your excellency
rade to me. Surrounded by forces so much superior to
under my command, I consider myself a prisoner of
I protest most solemnly against this violent infraction
e laws of nations ; against war, without any previa*
ration of war, on a friendly nation ; against the greatest
e of force ever made under circumstances of the greatest
tvation, which dishonours for ever the English nation.
r excellency will be pleased to give orders as to the ul.
r destination of the force now under your command.
CONDE DAS ANTAS.
e annex the despatch of Das Antes to the Junta,
enticing the capture of the expedition :
THE CONDI DAS ANTAR TO THE JUNTA.
&Lindell° steamer, May 31.
Len I was prepared this morning to proceed with the
ditiou placed under my command, according to the
r of the Junta, I received an intimation from the COM'
der-is, Chief of the naval force of her Britannic Ma-
close to the bar of Oporto, to anchor under the cover
t artillery. I required that the raid order should be
a to me in writing, in order that I might comply with
hales to 'he Junta as a soldier under its commend,
gb obliged to yield to a superior force. I then received
sccompanying notice from the commander of the Eng-
forces. 1. rider these circumstances, surrounded by ars.
I English ships of war superior to us in force, and my
igth consisting chiefly of soldiers, fit to act on land and
It tea, I felt myself unable to repel force by force, and
compelled to lay down my arms, which f did, accos-
ting the act by a protest (a copy of which is annexed)
net the unjust aggression made on Portugal.
I am, de., CONDE DAS ANTAS.
di soon as the capture of the flotilla became gentr-
y known, much popular excitement was maid-
id; but patrols were established in the vicinity of
city, and extraordinary measures were taken to
ten disturbance. In the meantime the Junta
reseed a protest to the British consul against
ign intervention and the seizure of their vessels
rinse to any declaration of war ; and they coze-
ned too, that this had taken place before they had
in possession of the following letter, addressed
Sir H. Seymour to the Count Des Antes. Had
letter been communicated to them sooner, it is
bable the expedition would have been counter-
Idea; unless we are to suppose that the Junta
r anxious to surrender the fleet and army, upon
ich there only hopes remained :
MON, MAY 29.—1 t becomes my duty, with the same
rs that dictated my former letter, again to address you.
beg, then, to apprise you and the Junta of Oporto, that
'regard on their part of the injunction to abstain front
warlike operations by sea and land, until reference shall
I been mule to the allied governments, will be followed
measures which will be the prelude of any others of the
e kind whi,h may become necessary for putting a stop to
ess expenditure of blood in Portugal.
ler Majesty's squadron have in the first instance received
es to dos the port of Oporto against the egress and
no of all vessels of war, and others engaged in warlike