The National Register.
London, England, 1821-02-18 00:00:00

56

INSTALLATION of the PORTUGUESE CORTES.

Lamm, JAN. 25.—T0-day the Deputies to the
Cortes assembled, in order to arrange, in this pre-
paratory meeting, the preliminary steps to the In-
stallation, which is fixed tin to-morrow. The first
object to-lay was the choke m.f a President pro tem-
• pore, which fell on the Archbishop of Bahia ; then
a Secretary was chosen, and a Commission) to verify
the power of he Deputies. A form of oath was
also drawn up, to be taken on the Holy Gospels, at
the solemn mass which will be performed, with all
the pomp worthy of this most solemn act, in the
church of St. .\lury, which will commence at nine
in the morning. When this religious ceremony is
terminated, the Government will proceed with the
Deputies w the Hall of Session to instal the Cortes;
after the installation, the Government will with-
draw, remaining in the exercise of its functions, till
the Cortes have named a new Government, that
there may be no interregnum.
LISBON, JAR. Q6.—This morning, at ten o'clock,
the Deputies of the Cortes being assembled in the
majestic church of St. Mary, solemn mass began,
accompanied by the most select vocal and instru-
mental music, at the same moment a flight of sky-
rockets gave the signal, and immediately the Castle
of St. George, and the flatres es, the ships of war,
and all the vessels in the river; which were adorned
with flags, fired a Royal salute, which was repeated
when the Deputies proceeded to take the oath on
'the Holy Gospels in time following words:—
" I swear faith:ay to fuhil in the exercise of the powers
which have been i,i en me. the of Deputy oo mile extraor-
dinary tortes, vbout to make the political constitution
of the oortagn-se mons xliy, m id the reforms and ameliorations
'ley shall jutl.,e ncees. y for tie Int:al and paaspethy of
nr ;on, the Catlio,ic alt!. o,ic Homan maintaining
the Throne of amber Dun Job 3 VI. King of use United King-
doms of Poste al, Brazil, and Algaive, and preserving we
dynasty of the Serene House of Braganza."
After the oath was taken, the very Rev. Father
Vincente de Santa Rota Lisboa ascended the pulpit,
and delivered an eloquent discourse adapted to the
sublime object of the wlenwity ; after which the
Members of the Government, and the Deputies,
proceeded to the Hall of the Sessions, amidst the
lively acclamations of the immense multitude which
thronged to witness this august man's oration.
A battalion had been posted at the entrance of
..the palace, and all necessary precautions taken,
when, at Iwo o'clock, the Members of the Govern-
ment and the Deputies began to enter, the galleries
being already crowded with spectators. The Mem-
bers of the Government took their seats on the
right of the President's chair; and on the left,
and remaining places on the right, the preparatory
Junta of the Cortes. The Archbishop of Bahia
acted as President, and the Deputy Fe/gueiras us
Secretary. All being seated, and silence made, the
most illustrious Count de Sampayo delivered, in a
clear and impressive voice, an eloquent and appro-
priate discourse.
When his speech, which was generally applauded,
was concluded, his Excellency declared the Cortes
to b 2 installed ; and the president thanked the go-
vernment, in the name of the nation for its labours
in so arduous aet isis. The members of the govern-
ment then withdrew; and those who were deputies
went and took their seats as such.
The election of the president followed; the choice
fell on the Archbishop of !Una, by 61 votes out of
V 4 (the president is to be chosen monthly.) The
Deputy Manuel Fernando Thomas was elected vice-
president, and thur secretaries were also chosen.—
The Assembly proceeded to deliberate whether they
should immediately choose a mww Executive Go-
vernment ; but it being late, it was resolved to tlecer
this till the following mi.my ; and a deer.,e was passed
that the provisional ;,ovcrinnent should combine t
exercise its functions in the interim. Ills Niakty's
portrait was then uncovered, and the resounded
with cries of " Long live the King, the Ita/ai
Family, Religion, the Cortes,'' and every thing
that is dear to the Portuguese. The whole city was
ikaentliaty iihnowated ia the evening, in honeur of
time natlaial :01eninity of this meitiorabie day.