The Express.
London, England, 1850-02-25 00:00:00

THE PENINSULA MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON. SUNDAY.
The Oriental Company's steam-packet Iberia,
CaVain Charles F. Barney, arrived here this morn-
ing, and lauded her mails under the charge of Lieut.
James Inglis, R.N., Admiralty Agent. Her dates
are: Gibraltar, 16th Feb.; Cadiz, 17th Feb.; Lisbon,
19th Feb.; Oporto, 20th Feb; Vigo, 20th Feb.
The Iberia brings the following passengers : From
Gibraltar, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas and two servants,
Kiss Grant, Buie Webber, Lieut.-Col. Orange, Dr.
Faris, Mrs. Ferns,and two children, eight discharged
omelets, and two deck passengers. From Cadiz,
Messrs. Murphy and Manby, and one deck passen-
ger. From Lisbon, Messrs. Craven, Sheepshank,
Csrus, Jacoby, and Lima. From Oporto, Messrs.
Mitchel, Hoops, and Feneria, and Misses Donkins
and Richards.
A serious misunderstanding has arisen between the
Governor of Gibraltar and the senior naval officer at
the port. It will be recollected by the readers of the
Express that during a frightful hurricane which
cccurred off the coast of Spain a few weeks ago,
great damage was done to the shipping in the har-
boar of Gibraltar, and that a merchant vette!, named
the Lady Rowley, went ashore on the
neutral ground. The Spanish troops took
possession of the vessel for the purpose of
claiming salvage, and refused to allow any attempts
to get her off. The Governor of Gibraltar was ap-
plied to, to remonstrate with the Spanish authori-
ties, but he declined interfering. An application
was then made to the senior naval officer of the port,
Lieutenant Powell, commanding her Majesty's
steamer Janus, who immediately ordered the steam
to be got up, when he proceeded towards the neutral
ground, and threatened to tire a broadside at the Spa-
nish troops if they did not allow the vemel to be got
off. The Spanish commandant was alarmed, with-
drew his soldier's, and the vessel was got off. Lieut.
Powell received the thanks of the merchants
of Gibraltar publicly for his promptitude and
decision, and the service he had rendered.
In consequence, however, of the commander
of the Janus acting without the advice or authority of
the governor, the latter has accused the former to the
government of interfering with his prerogative as
Lord High Admiral, and the whole of the circum-
stances are undergoing an investigation. When the
Iberia left Gibraltar the decision of the government
respecting the conduct of Lieut. Powell had not been
received there. It was most anxioudy expected, how-
ever. The governor has increased his unpopularity
on account of his conduct in the matter.
The Iberia brings intelligence that the quarantine
regulations had ceased at Gibraltar and Lisbon, but
that at Cadiz and Vigo they were enforced with as
much rigour as ever.
Our Lisbon correspondent communicates the fo
lowing :

LISBON, FIB. 18.

The first account we received of the termination of
the affair between the Count de Thomar and the Morning
Poet was by way of Preece, but it being doubted, little was
said on the subject. Since, however, the arrival of the packet
brought us news that the rule was made absolute, under the
ecluations of the present proprietor and editor, upon which
no further proceedings were considered necessary for the
ends of jasuce, the opposition press has been violent is the
extreme, declaring the matter to stand as it originally did—
that is, before the application for a rule—and loading the
Count with the foulest abuse.
The proposed charter for the Bank of Portugal is at pre-
sent under discussion, but I deem it prudent to omit further
mention of it until I may be able to communicate the whole
or the substance of what shall pass to become a law.
The subject which at this moment engrosses most attention
is the dismissal of the Duke de Saldanka, from his office of
High Steward of the Household, which I communicated in
my last. The decree for his dismissal declares it to be " for
just reasons which had been laid before me (the Queen)."
The duke has demanded a court martial. The situation of
Lord Steward of the Household is a civil office, from which
the eovereiga has a right to dismiss, it being held during
pleasure. How, then, can a military man obtain a court
martial, when he is neither deprived of any military poet or
command, or aceseed of any military offence ?
The British fleet, of nine vessels of war, sailed on the 16th
ea a mules of exercise ; but while in the river it Ceased to
bare that moral effect upon party which it has been known
to have formerly had. It is even said that some foreigners
have mixed themselves up in matters as they are going on,
aced it is tried to make people believe that a foreign cabinet
UK the bottom of embryo events. Moreover, a paper is be-
=up in a foreign language, which, it is said, is to be
by a foreign government. The government are not
stausgers to all proceedings, and have ulna many measuras
of a preventive nature.
Two railroads are proposed, one from Lisbon to Cintra, by
Mr. Sandman ; and, the other to Badajos, through Santa-
rem, by Mr. Low. Proposals will be laid bitter* the cham-
bers for the carrying them into effect, as the guvernment
wishes to give them every encouragement. It iilroads will
certainly tend to develop the resources of the country, which
are unquestionably great. The country can grow every
thing for home consumption, and leave abundance for expor-
tation, which railroads would greatly assist.
The Bank of Portugal have had a meeting to elect direc-
tor, 80., and some who have been elected have refused to
swept the charge.
The general revenue is increasing; the duty on fish in-
creased last month 7,480,000 refs. The committee of in-
vestigation have found more embezzlements against Page-
chi°, which now amount to 81,456,675 rail.
Exchange on London, IQ; Discount of Lisbon Bank
Notes, 17.

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