The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-09-19 00:00:00

FRENCH PAPERS.

SEPT. 4.

LISIBOW,
PASTORAL LETTER OF THE CARDINAL PATRIARCH Of

LISION•

Since Divine Providence has constituted us raptor of the import-
ant Bock whose safety it hes committed to us, my well-beloved
children, you cannot fail to be the objects dearest to my heart, which
is afflicted and men with a fear of seeing some of the sheep wander-

log from the field of eternal felicity.
In the existing crisis of the new form, and of the new political
order, my fear increases, because illusion and error can make a
blessing be considered as an evil, a benefit as a loss, and the im-
provement of oar ancient institutions as their overthrow, and entire
abolition, by rendering you besides distrustful of the safety of the
holy religion which we profess, and sowing among you the seeds of
discord, capable of bursting the bonds of Christian society, and of
producing monstrous and atrocious crimes. Yes, it Is thus that turbu-
lent spirits will endeavour by dexterous impostures to indispose you
against the constitutional charter, wise and well.fratned, which our
august Sovereign Pedro IV., casting benevolent regard upon the Por-
tuguese nation, has deigned to send us from the distant regions be-
yond the Atlantic, to coastitute our happiness, and to consolidate
our greatest interests. I cannot but acknowledge the powerful
influence of uniformity, or, at least, the great resemblance be-
tween the two Governments, to draw closer and closer the bonds of
friendship between two allied and independent nations—the Porto,
guese and the Brazilians—and the better to establish between them
ancient relations, with reciprocal advantages, greater and more
favourable. It is thus that the King, in his profound wisdom, has
thought and acted.
But the genius of evil and of seduction, opposed to truth and
public tranquillity, is desirous of making you believe that the il.
legal and proscribed constitution of 1822 is going to be established
in the constitutional charter of this year, and that, after having
fallen, it is about tube raised.

Can such an imposture, dearly beloved children, seduce you,
and lead you to rebellion and disobedience to your Sovereign ?
Will you consent that they should sport with your reason ? It is very
easy to discover by yourselves the artful snare which has been laid
for you. Compare the new constitution with the new charter which
his Majesty gives you, and you will acknowledge at once that they
are in perfect opposition in their principles, in their essence, and in
their results.

The constitution of 1822 was, as you know, the work of a rebel-
lious faction, which usurped the sovereign power, and arrogated to
itself the right of disposing of the nation and its destinies. The
Cortes, convoked by it without legitimate authority, could not re.
ceive that authority from those who had it not to bestow. On the
contrary, the charter of April 19 descends from the height of the
Throne. It is dictated by the spontaneous will of our august
Sovereign, who, in vii tue of our ancient laws, possesses in himself
the legislative power.
The constitution, by the shock of the elements which composed
it, disorganised the monarchy to its foundations, overthrew all its
ancient institutions, and annihilated the rights and privileges of the
ranks and hierarchies of society. It invaded the right of property,
which it had promised to defend, and debased the ancient throne of
our Kings, whom it had stripped of their sovereignty, as far as the
most revolutionary reform coulJ go. The new charter, so far from
invading the rights of the nation, maintains and revives its ancient
institutions, preserves the rights, the privileges, and the social hie.
rarchies conseera.ed by them, preserves likewise the dignity and
splendour of the throne, and separates from supreme power what.
ever can render it odious, while it gives guarantees to the cit'sens
for their individual safety, and for their properties. It is in all its
parts the work of a father who desires the happiness and the well-
being of his children.
The constitution of 1822 had only created one national represent-

ation, to which almost only the members of one of the three orders
of the state would have been called. From this it would naturally
have resulted that the interests of the two others would have been
left without defenders ; but all the three orders were called by the
charter of the natiemal representation, and concurred to form two
distinct assemblies, which will protect and encourage, by all the
means is their power, the interests of all classes, and the general
welfare. In fine, dais charter is nothing but the improvement of
the ancient political constitution, and of the fundamental laws
which served as a basis to our representative Government.
What then is wanting to it? At different epochs long since
passed the Portuguese people besought• their Kings to assemble the
Cores at certain fixed periods, and even King John I. was suppli.
coed to convoke them every year; but the humble prayers of the
nation did not receive a favourable hearing, and it is Don Pedro IV.
who is the first of cur Kings to satisfy the ancient prayers of the
people, and granting them, with a generous heart, what their an.
cient Monarchs had denied. The generosity of his Majesty eve a
goes further, for he even grants to the new Cortes legislative powers.
whilst the ancient ones possessed only consultative rights, sithout,
however, prostittiting in any way by this glorious concession the
supreme power of the rights of the sovereignty.
Finally, a Monarch so Christian and so religious could not !me
sight of the religion of our ancestors, of which by our Ministry
we are the hest sentinel, and in the very first articles of the con.
stitutional charter we find it declare the religion of the State, and
place it under the protection of the Sovereign authority and of the
laws.

Is any thing further neceastry, me faithful flock, to demonstrate
to your satisfaction, and to convince your hearts, that the charter
granted by his Majesty is altogether different from the Constitution
of the Cortes, and that this work of the august wisdom of our Pa.
ternal Monarch perfects our ancient Constitution, and procures new
advantages to the Portuguese nation ? Let calumny and imposture
then be confounded—let timid, minds be re-assured—let us reply to
the greatness of the benefit by an obedience, by our loyalty, and by
a fidelity without limit.
The Chester has opened to you the path of happiness, foltow
t., be obedient and faithful, and experience will demonstrate the
advantages of the new political order. Union and obedience, two
precepts of the divine laws, are the basis of the social edifice, with.
out which it falls int) ruins. On them depends the eternal and
temporal happintas of men. They form the doctrines of the
Gospel, and they are the greatest of all blessings, as discord is
the greatest of all evils. Nevertheless, this union, which of a
nation makes one Family, and which we recommend so ear.
neatly, is impossible without a prompt and faithful obedience
tothe sovereign authority ; and our Saviour Jesus Christ preached
and practised it, and his disciples ought it to the whole
world, as the first and the most sacred of human du. ies. A
society without subordination would be an assemblage of mon-
sters, always ready to devour each other. The fury of ambi-
tion and of the other passions would extend every where hatred and
vengeance; and the pride of dominion, in oppressing weakness
without resistance, would constrain the peaceable inhabitant to con.
teal himself in the bosom of his family. In tine, we should see on
all hands only calamities.
My well-betoved children; regard with horn:Tr-rebellion, disobe-
thence, and discord, so fatal to all nations and to all Governments.
Do not call down upon your heads the sufferings of those who, re-
volting against their King, and against supreme authority. become
criminal before God and before men. lou can only collect the
fruits which will result from the new Constitutional Charter by
obeying It, and showing yourselves grateful towards ham who ha
given it. Do not allow yourselves to be misled by the shameful
example of some madmen. Pity them, and pray for them, that
they may return to the road of honour, and that they may enter on
the most sacred duty which religion imposes on them. God grant
that my pastoral exhortations may find your hearts ready to receive
theta, that you may spare me the sorrow of seeing frustrated my
ardent desire to lead you into the way of all good, and to turn you
from the path of all wickedness.
The peat!! of God be with you.
We enjoin, on their personal responsibility, the pari.h clergy to
instruct their parishioners in the doctrine of this pastoral letter,
which, after being read at slass,must be posted up in the city, that
It may come to the knowledge of all.
Given at our Archiepiscopal Palace of Jonquera, the 23d of
I August, 1826.
Psra
thecc,Card ei
finnatlrigattarcech.
that
The Government (Shiaagnedrece'ivea; officially,
the constitution has been sworn to with great enthusiasm in the
, islands of Madeira, Azores, San Miguel, and Fayal.
Mont% SEPT. 5.
The Charge d'Affaires of Portnpl in Spain has refused to take
the oath to the Constitution. ¶the Secretary of Legation super-
sedes him till the arrival of an Ambassador, whose appointment Is
I announced.
General Silveira is still at Madrid. It is not supposed that he
will undertake any expedition against his country.
' Fan ucis FUN DS...—Five per Cents. 881.60 c. Three per Cents.
66f. 35c. Naples Stock, 73F. 60c.

As a proof of the effect which the late long drought pro-
duced on the value of live stock, we may state, that two
fine calves were purchased in Grantham market, on Satur-
day week, by Mr. Dorr, of that place, for eighteen-pence
each ! A cow, about six years old, was sold in Boston
market, on Wednesday week, for thirteen shillings.