The Express.
London, England, 1847-04-17 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

THIS DAY, Four o' Clock.
By the Montrose steamer, arrived last night at
Southampton, we have accounts front Gibraltar to the
4th; Cadiz, the sth; Lisbon, the 10th; Oporto, the
11th ; and Vigo, the 12th inst.
The news from Portugal is most important. The
insurgent troops front Oporto, under Sada Bandeira,
which were landed at Lagos on the 31st ult., marched
on the 2nd for Evora, with the intention of forming a
junction with the Conde de Mello's force, somewhere
close to Lisbon, on the south side of the Tagus. As
De Mello wits approaching Pegones on the 7th, and Da
Bandeira was expected at Setubal about the Bth, it
was thought probable that both generals would be at
Caxilhaa, in the immediate vicinity of the capital, about ,
the 11th or 12th, with a combined force of 3poo men.
The progress of these movements was not likely to be
impeded by the division of Soh walback, which was
held in check at Estremnz, by Tovira and Maldonado;
but everything would depend upon the rapidity with
which they were made, for Saldanha had detached a
brigradc of 1,200 men under Vinhaes, with orders, if
possible, to pass over into Alemtej.), but, in any
event, to secure the important position of Santarem.
Should this general succeed in joining the :queen's
threes, nAder Ventle de Palmetto, between the Tagus
end St. Übe's, the insurgent leaders might find some
difficulty in carrying out their plans with the expe-
dition tley proposed ; but in any case the royal cause
wears a discouraging appearance. At Lisbon every
thing was in confusion. 'rho ministers had fallen into
consternation, and, sending fur Sir Hamilton Seymour
and the British admiral on the station, begged for
a force to protect the Queen, in case a rising should
take place. This, however, was returned ; the admiral
offering only to receive the Queen on board the
Hibernia, in case it was found necessary for her
to leave the Neceasidadea. Preparations, however, were
making to repel any attack. A body of the in-
surgent cavalry had driven out the Municipal Guard
From St. Übe's, but these were subsequently repulsed,
a few men being killed. The cholera was raging,
principally among the prisoners in the gaols.
The Duke of Cornwall steamer had arrived at
Lisbon, having been hired by the Portuguese govern-
ment. The government wished to employ her in carry-
log arms and troops; but this her commander declined
doing, under the British flag, as it would vitiate his
insurance. Sir W. Parker was applied to, but refused
to Knetion anything that bore the colour of interven-
tion under the sanction of the British flag, and the
steamer left the Tagus. By the last accounts from
Oporto, she was engaged cruising with the Portuguese
ships of war, with a pennant flying, but no colours.
The four English vessels seized by the blockading
aquidron at Oporto, and sent to Lisbon, had been re-
Week, with their cargoes, and sailed for England.
The accounts from Oporto are unimportant. Sal-
danha was said to be moving, or preparing to move,
in a retrograde direction.
The following is the letter of our Lisbon correspond-
ent:
LISBON, Arati. 10.
There is at length some prospect of a decisive blow being
Orrick in the tedious and unsatisfactory struggle that has fur
the last six months been going on in this country. To-day
st soon the ministers of the Queen summoned the British
Minister; Sir Hamilton Seymour, and the admiral in command
Of the fleet, to a conference, at which they were all assembled,
when s communication was made to her Britannic Majesty's
representative here that the government of Donna Maria
seed not be any longer responsible for the safety of their
etveeeign, in ease a commotion took place in the capital, and
they requested to knew whether, in the event of any rising
easearrlng on the part of the people, the ambassador and
admiral were prepared to land any armed throe in order to
Subdue or to awe the popuLce, and to protect the Queen
from danger.
The answer which Sir 11. Seymour and Sir W.
Parker made to this demand was, that the instructions
they had received from their government forbade their
Ishinff .217 part whatever in the domestic dissentinns of Por-
tugal, but that if the person of the Queen was in danger,
they were prepared to offer her Majesty an • tYlum on
hard the Hibernia, and to land a guard sufficient to ensure
la safe retirement to that vessel. After making this cem-
Munication, the admiral hastened on beard his ship, and slit-
lolled all the captains of the fleet to repair to the Hibernia,
when Sir W. Parker gave them instructions how to act in
Ohs event of the emergency, which threatened, being
Wised; and thus she matter stands at this moment. The
bamediate cause of the alarm which is entertained at the
Palace, appears to be the arrival of letters in Lisbon, stating
the fact that the Marquis de Mello was fast advancing on the
baring passed the night of the 7th at Perrier and
mug last evening expected at Aldea Gallega, whence
be was to march to Czeilhas (opposite Lisbon), on the
Ihnontue day, in order to form a junction with the
inemet Si, da Bandeira who was to arrive at St. Übes
Cm the evening of tho Bth, and from which place
it is an easy day's march to the rendezvous at Caxilhar In
thet, news arrived in town to-day that
°Mamba, with 250
siTalc7 to . had' arrived at St. Übes, in order join Sada
Itandeira's force, the Queen's troops to the south of the
TIMIS baring retreated from Palmas, as being utterly un-
equal to offer any obstacle to the advance of the popular
Irma
Ix combination with this movement, it is said that the
Insamers Mindello and Porto are at the mouth of the Tagus,
°lndy to enter the river the moment that an opportunity for
teeciewating with De Mello and Sada Bandeira, offers.
however, is as yet a doubtful piece of iatel-
Ifluae, whereas what I have above stated is true to the
litter. The' expedition, therefore, which sailed on the 29th
from Oporto appears to be on the point of completely
'nutmeg the expectations that were entertained of it, and
eft4iBl7 the activity, decision, and boldness of the brave
viscount de Sa were never displayed to greater advantage
Inn they have been in this affair. To add to the
disereallture of the Lisbon government, advice, have
hum received here of the safe arrival. on the
lifterneon of Good Friday of the Black Cat, bring-
in 7.000 stand of arms, 2011000 cartridges, 150 cavalry
sesoutrements and pistols, 180 barrels of gunpowder, a
towel of sovereigns and some bHs for the treasury of the
°luta. This importation positively took place in the very
Minh of the blockading squadron; and, on the evening
/Mowing the safe arrival of the Black Cat, a mall
migao was despatched (rim the Douro. ha" rag on
beard 1.700 stand of arms, with ammunition, antler the
clumerand of Mr. Salter, a naval man of great skill and
bittncli who took the little teazel safely over the her mad