The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1820-09-13 00:00:00

'ilil ; i'l:l 4:.

LONDON,
WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER IS, 1820.

In the absence of further information respecting
the state of affairs in Portugal, ail opportunity is
offered of drawing the public attention to some cir..
cutastancer connected with the revolution in that
country, which may seem to give a ;rectifier interest
to that event. The first question that naturally
wises, in viewing the revolution at a distance, re-
spects the probable effect it will have upon the
power of the Crowu mid upon the connexion between
Portugal and Brazil—her farmer colony, hut now
the seat of the royal authority. The revolutionists
publicly proclaim their attachment to the illustrious
Muse of IiaAGIADIZA, and their desire to establish
a monatcliy, limited, like that of Spain, under the
guvertiment of the present King Don JoHY.
But the state of Portugal does not present the same
Licilitits for the accomplishment of this object• that
were offered by Spain and by• Narks, in conse-
quence of the absence of the Kato from Portugal,
arid his consequent freedom boas all personal or
morel contro:. Ku one Can be weak enough to
imagine that the Kings of Spain and Naples were
voluntary agent, iu the reeetit reeolutitnio of their
respective governments, and it iv even to be believed


that if thicirprunotances
Were faieuroble Wash
willingly thrown tl►esrel.
neighbouring Sovereigns,'
of France, have gladly owed ►he recovery of their

even pestrossail wipe wee We, mid the 1,10(
Kings slarearatopelled tit •t to their,imperious.
"Object, tihl4 as good a fries is they 'could assume,
end trio* deprived their sneightsonis however well
disposed, of every plausible pretence for interfering
in the domestic torcerns of The respective States.
The concurrence of the Kings also had this further
immediate advantage, that it occasioned no inter=
ruption in the foreign relatious of the country, for
the other Cabinets could not withhold their rec.)g-
nition of the existing; governments, when the
chaliges mere certified by the Kings themselves to;
have taken place with 'heir perfect sanction. But
Portugal is in this respect placed in a situation of
some difficulty. A considerable time must elapse
Wore the Kittto can be apprised of the revolu-
tion; should he earn t nen acquiesce in the
vrrthrow of his long-cAtibli-beel prerogatives, the
psscige of the Atlantic is a teeious operation ; so
that under the most favourable circumstiinces some

months must pass during which the revolu-
tionary government cannot rely with ronlidence
upon the fidelity and allegiance of the, Royalist
party within the kingdom, nor can it hope, accord-
ing to the general maxims of modern policy, to be
recognised by ally Cabinet in Europe, with the ex-
ception, perhaps, of Spain and Naples. This meat
be a source of great weakness to the govert.ment.
But should tha KING, residing at Rio Janeiro, he-
*lrate to relinquish his power, and refuse to
eatiction the meeting of the Cortes and the re-
strictions upon the monarchy, v. ho does not feel
that a civil war in Portugal must be the im-
mediate tionsequeoce, and that the ultimate effect
will most probibly lie the separation of Portugal
from the Portuguese provinces of South America ?
The KING might he indoced to refuse his acqui-
escence to the project of the Revolutionists, not so
much from all, obstinate adherence to old abuse‘,
as frorn the peculiar difficulties of his own situation,
considered with reference to his Brazilian domi-
nions. The occurrences which took place some
time since at Pernambuco, skew that a feeling of
political trot&lity to the existing government pre-
vailed to some extent in the King's American ter-
ritories, and if hie authority should now appear
to be diminished in Portugal, what will ensure
the safety of the Brazils ? So at least the KING
dial his Minister; may argue, influenced too, us
they mug be supposed to br, by a natural love of
power, a timid of innovation, the flattering hope
of their own strangth and the weakness of the
enemy, and the fond persuasion that the majority
of the nation have not thrown off the shackles of early
prejudices and confirmed habits. The leaders of the
revolution arc no doubt prepared fur every emer-
gency. They may reckon not only upon the affections
of the military brit the !kande, for all classes in Por-
tugal have long since men disgusted by the continu-
ance of the Royal Family at Janeiro, and exasperated
by the constant drain of troops and treasure front
Portugal to Brazil, for the purpose of improving-
that colony ut the expense of the mother country.
Portugal is so far happy tun, in following Spain in
the career of political improvement, for she is now
not only justified by the example, but will be pro-
tected by the kindred feelings of the Spanish Mo-
narchy. Poritezal is therefore safe from foreiini
aggression on the laud ride, and from the sea who
could Hoard her but Great Britain, from whom
we confidently trust en datigor can be appre-
hended.

The cooduct of the British Cabinet in this emer-
gency will, we ere persuaded, be consistent not '
only with the dignity of its character, but also with
the commercial interests of the empire. The trade of
Great Britain with Portugal is very valuable;
there are many indeed—favourers of the old
mereantik system—who will assert that because
of a direct importation of bullion from Portugal,
this is the most profitable branch of British COM.
inerce. We shall not here discuss the merits or
demerits of the Illeiltuen Treaty; but nothing ceos
tainly could be more impolitic in our Govern-
ment than to suffer at the present moment any part
of our trade to be affected by • punctilious adhere
once to diplomatic forms. It is the duty of every
foreign Goer ttttt ent to presume the best of every
change that takes place its the domestic concerns of
another nation, until the contrary is clearly *hews,
and we certainly have no right even negatively to
control the free expression of a people's will nukes
our own interests are materially affected. We trust:
that our Government will in their actions be carload
bow they injure the prorrty of any considerable
portion of our mercantile body.
We have received New York Papers to the 17th
lust. Philadelphia is represented in a very sickly
state. Su great was the alarm excited by the pro.
greys of disease in the quarter adjoining the Dela-
ware, that part of the city le;d been entirely evacu-
ated. The heat was extreme, and singularly debi-
litating and oppressive.

We how received Paris Pavers of Saturday
last. The secoents •frem Pulermo contained in
them do not offcr io melancholy a picture of the
intermit condition of Sicily as was presented by

ing from the Prince VieserAieneret of N

(the►e C4ll be tin doubt that this

.of action ii

A Sirily.
principle

rand if all the toottesslo not seem to concur with the
.Junta of Palermo, we most attribute this apparent
hostility either to eireamptinces of local' jealousy.
or to the casual rout►ol of iiersons loving on interrst
in the roaiiitennoce of the Neopolitim Government.

Some strong representations upon the subject have
been with-coed to the Prince by the Junta since
the return of the first deputir■. but a formal &too-
lution has not yet been pronounced of the political
ninon that has for so long a time bound the tiro
Siciiies. Two hundred entumunts, and as meaty
towns and villages. have declared in &emir of the
Santa of Palermo, but Messina and Trapani still
deny their authority.
The French Fite per Cents. are 74 f. 30 c.—
Bank Stock 1,355 1.

Nothing con be Liore disingenuous than the et:
forts which have been unceasingly made by the
journals usually known as ministerial, ever since
the conimencenient of the proceedings in the House
of Lords against the QUEER, to prejudice the pub-
lie mind sgaiiist her MAJESTY, but there is a dia-
bolical malignity in ;It-Neveriog in such conduct
during the adjournment of their Lordships. The
proceedings were suspended at the moment when
the case for the prosecution was placed in the
strongest point of view by the combined industry,
ingenuity, and talents of the Counsel for the Bill,
airied by a host of minor agent., and without afford-
ing the least opportunity to the QuaEst's Counsel,
offer one word towards mitigating the violence
of die attack, or diverting the force with which the
friends of the Bill must hope that the case would
be calculated to operate upon the judgment of the
country. Ordinary justice., or common humanity,
would, under such circumstances, have taught her
MAJESTY'S enemies the propriety—the decency of
not obtruding their vulgar levity upon the public.
Are they afraid to trust to the native strength of the
case that has berg mode out against her, without
throwing into the balance their little 'Aimee of in-
decent ribaldry, their impure jest, and miserable
taunt ? or are they convinced of its weakness, and
resolved therefore to turn its momentary existence
to the utmost advantage, iii vilifying and de-
faming her MAJESTY? The LORD CHANCELLOR,
with the good sense that belongs to his character,
and the cautious reserve which he has acquired
from long experience in the Courts of Law in
unravelling the mazes, frequently intricate and
skilfully disposed, of villain•, remarked from the
woolsack how possible it was " that all the evi-.
dente adduced et the bar of the House of Lords
might be disproved ;" and upon this principle her
IVIASEsTar's Judges will, we doubt not, endeavour
to preserve their minds as free as blank paper from
every impression respecting the Illustrious Defend-
ant's guilt or ' ucence, until the charge and the
defence be fairly laid before them; yet it is at this
moment of anxious suspense, when every honest

man in the nation will emulously strive to act the
part of au upright nod conscientious judge, that
the scribblers in The Post and Courier conic for-
ward to prove their disinterested love of justice,
their purity and honesty, and with some rude scur-
rility against the QUEEN, endeavour to disturb the
solemn majeay of this great judicial procedure.—
Shame ! shame! The principle that gives birth to
such unseemly conduct is as far removed from
the native generosity and kindly feelings of an
heart, as it is opposed to the pu►e spirit of
English justice. Au epigram or a satire, even
though conceived in the spirit of MAttr[At, or ex-
press.2il with the pointed asperity of Swirl', loses
half its merit if it be not consistent with a sense of
public decency ; but what c►n excuse a jumble of
rhymes in which nothing is apparent but a devilish
malignity of disposition, outraging not only poe-
tical propriety, but violating the decency of public
manners ? The three ' weeks required by the
QUEEN'S Solicitor for preparing her MAJESTY'S
defence will quickly, yass away. To control oar
feelings during so short a time cannot prove very
difficult, mud itotil we shall hear what her MA-
JESTY Can say in opposition to the charges of her
avowed enemies, it is but justice to suspend our
decision.

“ Qui statuit aliquid, parte imandita *Hera,
&gaunt licrt staturrit, Mad se uus fitit.”

Yeatentiy, at two o'clock, • Cabinet Council was
WO ut the Foreign-00e', which sat till about five
o'clock.

The Duke of YORK held ■ levee yesterday at
his office in the Hurse-Guards, as Connurender.in.
Chief, for the first time for several wet ks past►
which was numerously attended.
Yesterday the Duke of W'Et.t.ttrotoN. after
attending the Cabinet Council, left town in * coach
and four.
Monday several companies of the 85th regiment
or foot quitted Uxbridge, with their Staff, where
they had been quartered ever ►irrce the Quata's
trial. They proceeded to Kingston. Richmond, and
other places adjacent to the suelPoticiit, in various
cornpunies, for fresh quarters. Other companies
from distant parts of the cuuutry will supply their
quarters at Uxbridge.

,
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• A•••• ..el22lL'• 4tt

FASHIONARLR NOVRAIRNTs.

I ined

with 31iss Mary Viz.
elarenee, have arrived' ill sisßllll Medley-61feet, from ii.
Cunt inesiL
Arrivals at the Si. Prterabordi Hotel, Dovermortil :
Lady Ilmiloke, and her son, Sir Henry Hisiduke, Hart. ar.
tired yesterday, frum their seat, Drrliyahirr..—.Depanine
from ditto—Lord Hawke, Am lass seal, Itiorivalty Park,
Yorkshire.
Lord Ilyeevor has left his horse, Devermirerf, for IL.
oral, 13ylowor Caulk, South Wales.
Sir Jahn Grey unit Lady &region have ter, tlo,:r ;mm ,
Grafton-street, 11 I.rheet, fur Paris, Os their u It•th.
The Earl of Thariet M expected 10 HUitl.
St. James's-street, in-morrow, fu, Pars.
(;011141P1 and Lady Eleanor Lowther haw. left their house,
Bruton-street, Herteleymiiiisrv, far Cheltenham.
Mr. sad Sirs. 31lichell have left ilea house, Charles-street.
Hierkelty-wo•re, for Tondo Mee
Thu 31airinis anal hlarriiirruess of (7smd+n, and the Lart„,
Pratt, left their seat, the IVilderrietei Jiro, yesterday,
Psylowni Abbey, Snares
The E4II and Countess of Derby have !eh their house
Gmrmesiormquarr, for their twat, lime Oaka, kent.
.Vrstomit Moyoard has left his boast is Grusvem raainari.,
for lois seat ill Essex.

The Doke and I)setiess of Bessfiirt have lift their
in Grosvelior.srisiste, for their seat is Cloncesiersh;re.
Sir Francis Wader, 111. P. has left his house in Carendis:,.
square, fur his seat, Slanur-bniese, Berks.
Viscount Deneanisun Ices left his linage in Graftnn•street,
flond.street, for los seat in Denbighshire, and hr, Lad) sh:p
for Brighton.

Sir Allan nod Lady Harrington and family have Irft their
houa• io Berkeleysgaare, for t►eir seat, Bognor Lodz.,

Lord Blantyre will leave Thomas's Hotel, Prikelty-
squari, this day for Paris.
Lord and Lady George Leeson are arrived at Thomas's
Hotel, Berkeley-square; from a tour.
Lord and Lady Ebringtoss leave left Loan for their seat is
Drvosiski re.

The Earl sad Countess of Harrowhy and family will leave
town this day for their teat, Sandon Hall, Staffordshire.
Viscount and Viscountess Granville and faintly kit their
house in Bruton-street, Berkelspoquare, yesterday, fur their
seat in Suffolk.

,e— •
Aim ollsci*telet of tar lease of those which preceded thew. The :foots of
odll'
li a projects; they Aalhara Petermo, of WhICW the Prince N'ILLA-Fltoica it
'elves into the aunt of the Prevident, exercise the failittions‘ef govennnent
ts,' encl. lilrethe VOURIIONII oppareetly with firmness, awl Persist in demand-