The Express.
London, England, 1846-12-09 00:00:00

~~~~

tte Advertisers
isms be et re I

SHIPPING
Meats ARRIVED: 3. Dublin; 2, Waterford; 1, Dona-
ghadee ; 1, French; 1, Flanders; 1, Mexico; 1, West India;
1, Bermuda.
LONDON, Dec. 9. —Wind this day at neon, N.N.W.,
moderate breeze, and thick weather.
DBAL, Dec. B.—E.N.E., fresh.—Arrived: Corsair, Lima.
Sailed : Royal Alice, Bombay ; Quebec, New York.
PORTSMOUT, Dec. B.—N.N.E.—Sailed Queen, China.
Orr Ins OP WIGHT, Dec. s.—Sophie, Rio Janeiro.
DARTMOUTH, Dec. B.—E.—Arrived : Recovery, Mira-
michi, for Weymouth, leaky.
PLYMOUTH, Dec. B.—N.—Arrived : St. George, Sydney.
N.S.W., with part of cargo thrown overboard, quartergalley
carried away, and stern timber transom started.
WzrEarorto, Dec. 6.—N. to N.N.E.—Sailed : Dunbrody,
Savannah.
Cogs, Dec. B.—N.N.W.--Sailed: Ratite, Barbadoes.
CROOILHATEN, Dec. 3.—Arrived: Sabina, Cellos, for Cork.
Orr NORTH FORELAND ; William and Thomas, Quebec.
SOUTHAMPTON, Dec. B.
Arrived: Tay (s.), from Vera
Cruz.
CLTDE.—Sailed : Cape Breton, Barbadoes ; State, Penang;
Rolalist, New York.
:INGSTOW.rriv Monroe, Havannah, for Clyde.
Dl:smog:, Dec. 4.—E.—Arrived : Mary, Newport, for
St. Domingo, leaky.
OPP CAPS CLEAR, Dec. 2.—Athol, Quebec, for Grange-
mouth; John Bolus', Quebec, for Liverpool.
GALWAY, Dec. C.—Arrived: Maria, Quebec. 6th, St.
Milledge, Quebec.
Lens ROADS, Dec. 6.—Arrived : Frances Ann, Batavia.
EDW., Dec. B.—N., light .
--Sailed : St. George, Cape of
Good Hope.
MARGATE, Dec. B.—The St. Jean. for London, on the
main, and bilged yesterday, is a complete wreck.
••• For Yesterday's Marisa & see the last page.

NIGH WATER AT LONDON-BRIDOR.
Tail DAT. Morning, 11 rein. put 5; Afternoon, 2 min. put 6.
Tomoanow—Plorning, 22 min. put 6; Afternoon, 13 min. pert 6.

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9.

FOR the last years, as often as Spaniards were
embarrassed by their own reflections, or by the
questions of others, with regard to the unsettled and
discouraging aspect of their political affairs, their
remark and consolation were, that the Queen's mar-
riage would put an end to uncertainty, would reconcile
parties, would remove the rivalry and antagonism of
foreig' coarta on Spanish ground, and become the
starting point for a new and sincere course of consti-
tutional government.
No person or power, that had any knowledge of the
Peninsula, or affection for it, but must have felt that
the marriage of the young Sovereign was, indeed,
the great opportunity for laying the foundation of
permanent peace and freedom, and if not for an shoo-
lute reconciliation of all parties, at least for reducing their
antagonism within constitutional limits. Unfortu-
nately, the selfish motives and persons which perpe-
trateathe Spanish Queen's marriage, took neither care
nor thought of Spain. The interests consulted were
exclusively those of the BOURBON family, or of the
ORLEANS dynasty, to the predominance of which the
interests, prospects and freedom of Spain were utterly
sacrificed. Instead of those Royal marriages being ce-
lebrated under the united approval of Spain's best
allies, and the united adhesion of Spain's most enlight-
ened and liberal parties, but one foreign court pre-
aided at the ceremony; and but one Spanish party,
but a mere fraction of a party, had the advantage of
concluding the match.
The Liberals were, of course, excluded from court
and capital, previous to and during this marriage ;
1 their press was gagged and confiscated,andthemselves
threatened with severe punishment if they dared to
show themselves in the streets without throwing up
their hats for the French prince. Not only the
Liberals, but more than half the Moderado party, were
dissentient. And no pains were taken either then or
since to effect a union even amongst the Moderadoe.
The consequence is, that the poor coterie of a minis-
terial party is menaced and kept in check by ano-
ther poor little coterie of Moderados, whilst the great
parties are left out of the pale of the constitution to
conspire, and to prepare fur favourable opportunities
of insurrection.
Amidst this mass of blunder and negligence, the
young Queen has shown several symptoms of a wish
to exercise her authority for good and generous pur-
Her Majesty insisted on revelling Don
Cilai.cm, it is said, against the wishes of her coun-
sellors. To such kindness, the prince could scarcely
do less than waive his protest against the Infanta 's
marriage. Another event occurred to put the young
Queen at variance with her ministero. The place of
Procureur-General was filled by Senhor PACIIECO,
the chief of the Puritans, as that portion of the
Mattered°, opposed to B3TURITZ are called. He de-
sired to absent himself, to prepare for his re-election.
The ministry would not admit of this, but refused
with singular insolence. Whereon he resigned ; but
theyoung Queen refused toaceepthis resignation. This
popular act, frankly decided, was done. The ministry
resigned. The natural course would have been
for the young Queen to have allowed PACIIECO and
his friends to form a ministry, and conduct the elec-
tions. But this they could only have done by con-
ciliating the Liberals. And, to prevent this, in
stepped the Queen Mother and the French Ambassa-
dor. This precious pair of intriguers made a show of
endeavouring to form a new ministry, by sending for
the semi-Carlist Marquis of VILLUMA, who, of course,
could not form a ministry. And, in consequence
ISTURITZ and his coterie of Afrancesados resumed
office. The only curious circumstance in all this is,
the evident wish of the young Queen to liberate her-
self, and to throw the government out of the limited
circle within which the French and CURISTINA re-
strict it, and thereby conciliate the Liberals. This
wise course is probably recommended by the family of
the Queen's husband ; but, as yet, it is evidently pro-
hibited by a stronger influence.
In Portugal we are sorry to say, there is not this
hope. The court of Lisbon seems steeped in the very
worst tradition and habits of absolutism, and, as we
stated some time back, has a very fair chance of
success. It must not, however, be imagined to have
carried everything before it, as one might judge from
the double capitals of the Times. Spanish and Por-
tuguese events and military feats, do indeed seem to
infest our London contemporaries with Spanish and
Portuguese modes of trumpeting, and multiplying,
and exaggerating them, until the grain of true seed
is lost in the bushel of chaff.
This same victory of the Baron DE CABAL over SA
DA BANDEIRA on the 17th of last month, first ap-
peared in our columns on the 26th. They were then
reported in the other papers on the 27th. A day
after the Globe gave the same intelligence, in the
shape of a telegraphic despatch from Madrid.
Whilst, last, but not least, the Times treats us to the
intelligence of the self-same battle yesterday, the
7th of December. The truth is, that this number of
victories, seen through the kaleidoseope of our
contemporaries, is merely the one skirmish known
here a fortnight back.
Even if this conquering army from the Minho, so
happy in trumpeters, has followed up its victory, it
shouldscarcely be a cause of triumph to the Queen. It is
more a legitimist than a constitutional army. Senhor
CABRAL, who was overthrown by these very peasants
of the Minho, has since contrived to suborn and
raise them, nominally in the Queen's behalf. And
at present it appears that this province of the Minho
can impose its wishes upon all Portugal. Whenever
it rises, the government falls; whenever it appears
Ton
the field, the regular troops are defeated.
Minho is to Portugal what the Basque provinces are
to Spain, the head-quarters of absolutist loyalty,
of legitimist independence. The inhabitants abhor
the constitution and the tax-man, and they seem pro-
ceeding in a very fair way to extinguish both.
Donna MARIA herself seems to feel that it is by
an absolutist force and party that she is triumphing,
for her acts and SALDANIIA'S are as Nliguelite a n
MIGUEL himself could devise. Her assumpt onf
absolute power; her application of this to finance, de-
claring that the paper of the bankrupt banks shall
be legal tender, under a promise to pay at the Greek
'Calends; her suppression of all publicity; merely
prove her intention to reign on absolutist
_principles.
The counter-revolution themple in Portugal--
wanting merely to have name of MIGUEL substi-
tuted for that of Mows.
Can such events as these take place without effect
upon Spain? If the Minho and its band she have sub-
dued Portugal and dictate the policy of