The Express.
London, England, 1847-02-08 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-ship
Iberia, brought news to Southampton yesterday,
from Portugal, to the following dates :—Gibraltar,
Jan. 28th; Cadiz, 29th; Lisbon, Feb. Ist ; Oporto,
the 2nd; and Vigo, the 3rd. At Lisbon much anxiety
prevailed, and the country in general was much die-
turbed and convulsed. The Bank paper at Lisbon
was down to 33 per cent., and was expected to fall
lower; indeed, all matters of commerce and business
were suffering. At the moment our &dykes left a
war steamer was gettitig. steam up to tow out the
Andace brig-of-war, having on board political pri-
soners, amongst whom are Villa Real, llomfim, and
others of note; her place of destination, whether
Africa or Madeira, was not known. It was feared
that if such an exile were intended for these pri-
soners, the junta of Oporto would take their
revenge by sending the Duke of Terceira
to the Gallegos. Macdonnell, the Miguclite
general, was killed at Villa Ponca d'Aguiar by a
Queen's dragoon in an action against Vinhaes and
Lapa, Queen's officers. This encounter is said to
have taken place either on the 30th or 31st of
January; some particulars relating to which will
be found in our correspondent's letter, written,
it must be remarked, before the event was decided.
On the night of the 24th, upwards of forty wounded
men of the royalist forces entered Lisbon, and next
morning rumours prevailed that an affair had taken
place in which the latter had suffered much loss. The
Portuguese squadron of blockade was driven into
Vigo by stress of weather on the 22nd ult., and sailed
on the 3rd. All was quiet at Cadiz. There was much
buying up of Indian corn and other food at Vigo,
whence numerous vessels had departed for England.

OPORTO, JAN. 28.
The Phoenix is expected here in the course of a few days
from Lisbon : she has orders to remain in the river for the
purpose of receiving on board those British subjects who
may think it advisable to seek shelter under the guns of a
man of-war steamer during the expected assault of this city.
When she has got safe in, the Bloodhound will proceed to
England with despatches. With reference to the interesting
question of safety to the British residents at Oporto,
which doubtless attracts some attention amongst their friends
and connexions at home, it may be as wed to state what
further steps the consul has deemed it adytiable to take in
this respect. Mr. Johnson issued a circular to his country.
men on the 23rd, informing them that the men-of-war
steamers in the river (the Gladiator and Polyphemus), were
ready for the reception of those who desired to go on board;
at the same time stating that it might be necessary for those
vessels to put to sea in the course of the expected hostilities,
and warning those who sought shelter in them of this possi-
bility, in order that they aught be duly pr ovided. The con-
sul also requested to be furnished with the names of
all British subjects who intended to go on board the war-
steamers, and he also stated what he had done in respect
to the alleged intention of the junta to order the doors of all
houses in Oporto to be thrown open at the hour of the as-
sault but as I have already informed you on this point, it is
needless to recapitulate this part of the circular. The precau-
tions adopted by Mr. Johnson, in consequence of the instruc-
tions and information sent to him by Mr. Southern, reflect
great credit as well on himself as on the British minister at
Lisbon: they were, in point of fact, the inevitable
result of Marshal Saldanha s threat to make an attempt to
take Oporto by storm. The result has by no means
realised the marshal's expectations (if he entertained any)
that his menace would create terror in the minds of our
countrymen here. The general sentiment expressed with
reference to the alternative offered to the English residents,
of taking shelter on board the steamers, or of remaining in
their houses to watch over their property, is, that of the two,
the latter is by far the most likely to be adopted by the
generality, and unless their courage oozes out in propor-
tion as the Queen's forces approach nearer to the city,
it may be expected that the hospitality and protection
which are so cordially offered by those two excellent officers,
Captains Robb and M'Cleverty, will be accepted by
very few British subjects. As something will probably be
said in England with respect to the conduct of Jose Passos,
the vice-president of the Junta, in evading a direst reply to
the question put by the consul 'as to his future intentions, it
may be proper to observe that, although it is undoubtedly for
theinterest of the Junta to create as strong a sense of security
in the minds of our countrymen as circumstances will admit of,
it is, nevertheless, quite impossible for its sice.president to
foresee what conjuncture future events may bring about,
and he seems to think it will be quite time enough for
him to diodpate the rumours that have been
spread when the moment of real danger arrived.
and that, judging by the hesitation, and even retro-
grade movement of Saldanha, cannot be said to be even
proximate. lam informed that only five persons have
expressed their intention to go on board H. M. ebip, so
alight is the alarm felt here. The Phcenix is expected to
bring Colonel Wylde to Oporto, and the natural inference to
be drawn from the apparition of this officer here is
that he is charged with some proposals to the Junta
of Oporto, for the purpose of ending this melon-
eholv war. One thing, however, which will, I fear,
reader his mission here utterly abortive and fruitless,
is what I cannot help calling his strained and uncalled for
courtesy towards Marshal Stadanha, by abstaining from
making pubic the apology which this personage sent to him
for having used his name in the unwarrantable manner in
which it was pot forward in the duke's despatch of Nov. 13.
By neglecting to observe this impartial and fair course to-
wards the leaders of the party with whom he is about to re-
new his intercourse, Colonel Wjlde incurred justly their
blame and suspicion: and this circumstance will, I fear, render
his mission here fruitless, should he carry out the intention
ascribed to him of coming to Oporto. Nevertheless, the project
of his being deputed hither, if realised, is of very great im-
portance, and cannot fail to be duly appreciated by the
members of the Junta, to whom any appearance of a desire
on the queen's part to heal the wounds inflicted on her
people, must prove in the highest degree satisfactory; and if
this desire is sincere, the terms of mutual accommodation
might be easily arranged, provided always there exists on
the part of Donna Maria, none of that secret self-will, or
rather mental reservation, which has rendered former
reeonclliations utterly abortive. I understand that the
Prince Alexander Mensdorff, who has lately been on
• visit to his royal relatives, at Lisbon, returned
to England by the Tiber on the 20th inst., charged with de-
spatches of more than ordinary importance. It is out of my
province to speculate upon the contents of these letters, but
a correspondent, whose information I have hitherto found to
be uniformly correct, writing from Lisbon, ascribes to Donna
Maria a wish to be relieved from the cares which she has
found to be consequent upon the tortuous domestic policy
pursued of late years at her court, and a rumour exists
among a 8e1e.% few, that the purport of Count Mensdorff 'a
despatches is to communicate this sentiment to our court
and government, with • view, in ease Lord Palmerston con-
tinues in the determination to observe the guarded policy
hitherto maintained, to carry this wish into effect.
The popular sympathies in favour of the movement are
fan extending towards • class which has hitherto viewed
with supreme indifference the quarrels of the Carliatas, Ca-
marillists, and Septembrists ; I mean the partisans of Don
Miguel, who now term themselves Realistas, or Royalists.
Ia my last letter I detailed the proposals of the Junta of
Oporto for effecting a junction with this party ; and I also
furnished the counter proposals of the M' elite chiefs. The
facts and comments by which I illustrated them documents
are fully sustained by this circumstances which have sinew
come to light, and I am now in • condition to complete the
narrative of the transaction, and to show to what extent the
prnjected fusion has taken place, and also wherein it has
fiile.d . . . . _ . .

I mentioned that the Junta had nominated the Miguellite
Oeoeral Poems to a commend ; and that in the decree of
nomination he was termed " Marechal-de.Caingo," pro-
moted to the rank of lieut.-general thin decree was dated
Jan. :1, and it was published in the National here on the
26th inst., accompanied by another decree, dated Jan. 9,
appointing POTOSI& to the command of the province of the
Two Beiras. Notwithstanding that these two decrees were
miter to a certain extent, they became known to the
• negotiators, who consequently drew up the tou-
ter propeeitioes which are already before you, with the
express view of rendering them utterly impracticable. On
rewiring them, the member of the Junta who had drawn up
and signed the proposals of that body, requested as interview
with the negotiators, in the course of which be pointed out
the tenor of articles .5 and 6 of their proposals, and re.
quested to be informed whether, as the purport of these
articles justified him in believing, it was the intention of
the Miguelites that, alter having been supplied with anima-
aition, arms, accoutrements, and cavalry equipments by the
Junta of Oporto, their general-in-cluef, acting indepen-
dently of the Junta, should be free to take possessies
of the whole country, leaving the Junta only the city
aleintrrto ; " because," observed Senor Luis de Seabee (the
of the Junta charged with this business), "if
you are to raise the Ifiguelite banner throughout the whole
country, wining our banner is confined to Oporto, the ine-
vitable connquenee of our united lace comparing the
common enemy would be that you would, in virtue of the
universality of your beano., immediately appeal to that as the
expression of the wdl of the Portuguese nation, and call upon
us to put down our one banner which would tie outnumbered
by your hundrede." The point thus explicitly submitted to
the consideration of the Miguelite negotiators was admitted
by them to be correctly stated the articles in question had,
they allowed, been properly appreciated; they cxuld bear,
indeed, no other interpretation, and moon that showing, the
nog* iation was brought to an abrupt termination.

In the meantime, however, the &drawee that had been
Lade to General Poeta were under the deep and prolonged
°Druid/ration of that officer, and the result of his determina-
tion was awaited with some anxiety by those members of the
govenulvat of Oporto who were privy to the facts. I have
some raison for believing that the hesitation manifested
by ()fetid Payne took its rise in his reluctance to aban-
deo the cause in which be had formerly acqaired
("aided') an honourable name ; but this reluctance gave
way before the exigencies of hie country ; and it is a singular
..,1 significant feature in the aspect of affairs here that the
scruples of the general were mainly silenced by the argu-
acute of bis brother, a canon of the Homan Catholic Church
of Portugal, who drew up, I believe, the proclamation
wherein the former Miguelite general avowed his
allegiance to the Septembrist Junta, adopting by
that act all the consequences of their political creed,
even to the extent of acknowledging the authority
of the queen, in whose name the Junta exer-
cises its functions. Thus, it will be perceived are at
length united in one common bond the various shades of
political sentiment and elements of discord throughout Por-
tugal, commencing in the lowest democracy and terminating
in the meet exalted ideas of kingly rights. Miguelite, enlists,
fiepterabrista, democrat, are all animated by one spirit of
hatred to the system of government pursued by Donna
Maria, and what is of more importance than their
anion, they have merged their individual sentiments
in the beanie under wnich Sada Bandeiru fights, thereby
dimipating the apprehensions that were entertained respect-
ing the division of the Seplembrist party, or a departure
from their principles by some of its most important and
valued adherents.
rooms, though dated Guards,
The proclamation issued by
Jen. 17, was not io reality made public until the '23rd or
24th. It is most carefully worded, as the following extracts
will prove; at the same time it fully bears out the remark,
I have made upon it i
" Inhabitants of the two Beiras ! The provisory Junta of
the kingdom has, by a decree of the 9th inst., nominated
General Povoies military commander of your province, i “ order
that be may to the extent of his powers co-operate with them
towards the triumph of the national cause. Gen. Povoas
deems himself highly honoured by this mark of ciintidence on
the part of the supreme Junta. His own convictions and the
love of his country's good had already induced him to co-
operate, as much as was compatible with his physical and
moral situation, in order to complete the glorious movement
of Isist May ; but the events which have occurred subsequent to
the unhappy day of the 6th of October, which imposed on
all good Portuguese the obligation to take arms for the pur-
pose of redeeming the movement Of May, were such, as not
to enable this old genera! to dispense with lending likewise
all the assistance that was compatible with his situation.
Inhabitants of the two Bevis; generals commanding
division+ ; officers and commanders of regiments of the line
of the popular forces, fixed as well as moveable, the General
Pones calls all your attention towards this transcend-
ent national object ! It is not alone a question I
of liberty which we have shed SO much blood to secure. It
is the question whether the people shall be saved—whether 1
they shall be reinstated in their rights, preserving at the
same time the rights of the crown, suet, as the elected
deputies of the people declared them in the Cortes to exist,
bolding In view the ancient prerogatives of the crown and
of the people, modified by the light of the present age, dis-
cussed and adopted according to the forms generally observed
' In constitutional countries," tee. There is no mistaking
such language as this. It is expressive in the highest degree,
and coming, as it does, from a mina who, amidst all the
conflicts of party has uniformly preserved a character for
uprightness and consistency, the proclamation of General
Povoas, of which the above is • specimen, cannot but produce
a most important effect on the minds of the classes who are
more particularly addressed by him : namely, the old
Miguelitee. There will, doubtless, be many amongst this
class who will still abide by their old convictions and refuse
to coalesce with or recognise their former foes: but their
number will not be very. great ; and I am disposed to think
they will remain pasenve spectators of events. Whether
• Guedes and some others of this class will so act is
yet however a matter of doubt. During the last
ten days two different forces of 1,500 and 800 men have
sallied forth on the Braga road; the first was under the com-
4 sand of the General Baron raftelmargem, second in corn-
nand ; the other was under the orders of Brigadier Csesar
Vasancellos. Their object,. I apprehend, re simply to make
such demonstrations as will suffice to let Baron Casa' know
that he is carefully looked after. This officer is still at
Viana, having only two moves left him—viz., from that place
'to Valence and from Valente' to Viana; he, consequently,
W suffered a sort of stale mate. The English merchants of
Oporto are very anxious that he should remain at Viana,
as his presence there protects the heavy shipments of maize
which are now making to Ireland. Another object which
the moveable columns sent out from this place have to effect,
is to obtain supplies from the surrounding country, in which
they are tolerably successful."
&Idaho is still reported to be at Agueda, a small town
near Serdan. The numerous bodies of guerillas which in-
het the country around him, and the presence of Penns,
at Guards, with 700 men, are sufficient, it would seem, to
bold the whole of the Queen's army in check.
The exchange here is as follows: Exchange for notes,
451; metal, 56/ ; new crowns, 57 ; discount on notes,
Porto, 231; 1,050 rs. per moidore Lisbon. H•
POSTRUKIPT TO LETTER OF Jaw. IS, SENT TO Viola
ha. 30, Five P.M.—The Iberia is expected from the south
early in the morning. In the interval since my former
dispatch nothing of importance has occurred, unless the'
feet that Colonel Lip (one of Saldanha's subordinate officers)
has crossed the Douro in order to reinforce Viscount Vin-
bees can be so regarded. Macdonnell is still hanging on the
skirts of this last named commander threatening toattack him.
If he di ee so, the Miguelite general will be doing the work
of the Junta of Oporto. Povoas has left Guards; the force
with him is said to he 2,000 well-seasoned and ancient
soldiers, but unarmed. This is, however, a double
exaggendion, as the guerillae about him are only
raw levies, and half the number asserted. Saldanha
is said to be at Lameho, but this is doubtful news.
There have been a good many people ordered out of the
city during the last week or tea days ; amongst them are an
Englishmen (Mr. Perry), and two Spaniards, but their re-
spective consule have interfered for their protection in their
rielas. la other respects, I believe there is the best
order maintained in Oporto, and to do Senor Jose Paseos and
his colleagues justice, it is but fair to erste, that in two in-
stances where they have detected foreigners meddling in this
war, and earning supplies to the Queen's forces, these indi-
trdaals have been let off with a warning, and under a pro-
fligate again to commit a similar breach of neutrality, a
Er'M as el, I am sorry to say, one of them h broltra,
iminting to carry money to Casal, at Viana or Valence.
troops constitutuag the garrison of Oporto are in con-
Mast activity, in so far as the very heavy rains will permit
them to move. The services which they are employed upon
are simply of marching a few leagues into the provinces,
sad of receiving such voluntary contributions as the in-
habitants may offer, or, what is much more likely, of levy-
*, the supplies of corn, hay, and straw, which are required
ler the soldiery and cavalry, after the same fashion that the
beggar extorted a contribution from Gil Blas, when
that worthy set out on his travels. They may, how-
ever, have another and ulterior object, tamely, to ma-
ilman between Saldanha's vanguard and Canal's
hie, so as not only to prevent a junction, but
ea endeavour to bring the latter to action, an event
which is most eagerly coveted by the Septembrist officers, as
be has not only been a thorn in their side from the moment
that the soldiery were induced to desert Si da Beuideira at
Valpassos, but bemuse also his mode of carrying on the war
his sot been altogether of a character to excite much respect
Or
his so a leader. Independently, likewise, of these con-
siderations, Cooal is looked upon, with what reason I cannot
ley, as a deserter from the opinions which he always main-
laud on political subjects; and desertion at a moment when
his adherence and co-operation were expected, if not pledged,
is not a circumstance of easy forgivenese. The force he has
with him, is reported to me by an English gentleman, who
arrived here from Viana on the 19th, as consisting of about
2,200 or 2,100 men, including a battalion of seamen of 200.
Truer accounts, however, reduce it to 1,700 men underarms.
He is said to be very ill at this moment at Viana,
and unable to stir. A good deal of anxiety
has prevailed in Oporto amongst the Portuguese
'immunity with respect to the intentions of the govera•
out of the city on the subject of forced loans. Oa Tues-
day, Jan. 12, the vice-president of the Junta, together with
tome others• presented himself at the Commercial Bank, in
the Rua Nova das [mans, and ordered the treasurer to
Poises his keys. There were about 12,000/. in notes and
rid In the coffers of the bank, which sum was at once
limmierred to the strongbox of the Junta, and a notice was
Mask cep by the directors of the hank giving as a reason for
MI son-payment of the dividend falling due the pro-
Men in question. It ia difficult to vindicate such
0 I Nap, but it must be borne in mird that, at
a atiosent when Don Pedro was in a position similar,
if aft indeed less justifiable by circumstances, to that of
Uinta, he levied very large suun on the subjects of Don
1111•11, under the title of forced loans. Certainly, unless the
Joe obtain the sinews of war their cause is gone, and
wesidering that the large port shippers here have deferred
Peking any entries of wine outwards until matters are set-
- tied, whereby an amount of more than 90,0001. is withheld
' from the customs, which, in ordinary times, would produce
1
that sum within the next five weeks, it can hardly be
ids a matter of wonder however much it may be de-
SIM and even censured, if the Junta takes precaution to
its
treasury from being empty. A decree, signed by's bl t
SlMmis of Louie. Civil-Governor of the city.

COLONIAL.
HoNlita.ts.--We have received intelligence from
late (via New York) to the 19th of December. No =en-
gin is made of the results of the trials. A heavy gale had
been experienced, but no disasters are reported. The ac-
counts of the mahogany trade are unfavourable.—" With
tee, math regret, but with equal confi.lence and cer-
tainty, we predict that the present prices, bad as
they ore, ca❑not Its, sustained." A decreased cutting hats
been recommended to the settlers to restore prices.

Ax
ILLIetT DisTiLieitt—A seizure of a very large
illicit distillery was effected on Saturday, by the officers of
tsetse On proceeding to the premise*, Yo. 1, Grattan-
Bethnal-green, where ostensibly was carried on the
Dew or a general dealer in the wood and fish trade, they
found in a lower kitchen under the shop a large still, fitted in
brickwork, Shia appeared to have been recently at work, as
it was warm; a quantity of fermented molmem wash,
moo, for charging the still for further operation ; several
barrel. of yeast, forty large barrels, a small stock of spirits,
and the usual fittings of a distillery. A man, found on the
Preours, gave the name of John Spencer, and said be worked
the lfor his father. He was taken into custody, and
eva‘ried to Worsts street police station. The wail' sad
E_ltt were destroyed by the officers, and a van having
."" Procured, the still, stock, and utensils were conveyed
to the excise warehouses in Bl:oadatreet, to be adjudicated
*Poi ty her Majesty's Commissioners.

glit 0301 M.
WINDiOR, SUNDAY. Yesterday morning the
Queen and Prince Albert took walking exercise in the
slope" and grounds around the Castle. Their ItR.HII. the
Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, the Princess Royal, and the
Princes' Alice, took walking and pony exercise yesterday.
H.R.H. the Princess Helena was taken an airing yesterday.
H.R.H. Prince Albert hunted yesterday morning, accompa-
nied by Count Alexander Mensdorff, and Wended by Lord
Camoys, Mr. Amon, the lion. Capt. Boyle and the Hon.
Capt. Gordon.
Viscount Morpeth arrived at the Castle yesterday
on a visit to the Queen.
This morning her Majesty and her Royal Consort
took their usual early walk. the Royal Family took walk-
ing and pony exercise this forenoon in the grounds around
the Castle. The Queen and Prince Albert, the ladies and
gentlemen of the court, and the domestic housekold, at-
tended divine service to-day, in the private chapel of the
Castle. The Hon. and Rev. C Courteniy officiated.

A deputation front the merchants and planters of
Ceylon, consisting of Mr. S. Gregson, Mr. P. W. Ans.
truther, Mr. J. G. Frith, Mr. W. 11. Thomas, Mr. R. Chris-
tian, and Mr. J. S. Stopford, had an interview with Earl
Grey on Saturday, at the Colonial-offic ~ The deputation
was headed by Mr. Pattison, M.P. Dr. Ferguson and Sir B.
Brodie had an interview with Sir 0. Grey, on Saturday, at the
Horne-office. A deputation of the Health or To ens Association
had an interview with Viscount ?.1 orpeth on Saturday, at the
office of the Woods and Forgets, in Whiteball•place. The
deputation presented to his lordship suggestions for the
heads of a sanatory bill fir the metropolis. The Earl of
Powis and a deputation from the Shropshire Union Railway
Company had an interview with the Right Hon. E. Strutt
on Saturday, at the office of the Commissioners of Railways,
in Great George-street.
Despatches were sent off on Saturday evening,
front the Colon'al•office, for the governor of Gibraltar.
The Bishop of London has appointed Mr. R.
Barnby ao gentleman of her Majesty's chapel royal, in the
room of the late Mr. E. Hawkins.
_ _

The Marquis of Lansdowne left town on Saturday.
LADY J. HCASELL.—The illness under which the
wife of the Premier has been for some days suffering, has so
far abated that alarming sympt nes are no longer manifest.
Drs. Righy and Ferguson are in constant attendance on
her ladyship. The answers to inquiries yesterday evening
were, Lady J. Russell plasod a geed night, and is going
on favourably."