The National Register.
London, England, 1821-01-14 00:00:00

F

7-57-77- 7-

No. I,IIIII.—VoL. XIV.]

PORTUGAL.
MANIFESTO OP THE PORTUGUESE NATION TO THE
SOVEREIGNS •ND reorcr OP EUROPE.
The Portuguese nation, animated with the most sincere
bad ardent desire to maintain the political and commercial
relation which have hitherto bound it to all the governmeap
and people of Europe. and having more particularly at.
Mart to condom to merit in the °patios of illustrious Ines
of all nations the return and consideratioo which have never
been reread to the loyal and bonounthie character of the
Portuguese. judges it indispensably necessary to offer to the
public a succinct but frank exposition of the ceases which
produced the memorable events that have lately taken
place iu Pnrtngal, of the true spirit that directed them, `of
the sole object to a hich the changes tended that hove been
made, or which It is Intended to make, iii the internal form
of its Government. It is confident that this exposition, ree
tlfyleasltle false idea which may perhaps have been con.
plead of those events, will merit the kiud attentions of the
Sovereigns and of the people,
All-Europe knows the extraordinary circumstances which
be 1807 forced his Majesty John VI., at that time Prince
Sagest of Portugal. to remove with his Royal Family to
tramAllentic dominions. It is granted that this rests-
!Minn of his Mikity was judged then of the most decided
advantage to the general cause of liberty In Europe.—
Stibedy, however, failed to perceive the critical situation in
milk* Portage' was placed by the absence of its Prince, and
Unseen it events proved that this foreboding wall not vein
.1 nab.
Portugal, separated from her Sovereign by the vast ex-
panse of the ocean, deprived of all resources from her
Summarise possemiiins, and of the benefits of commerce by
the blockades of her ports, and governed at home by a hos-
tile force, which was then thought invincible, seemed to
have reached the final term of its political existence, never
In be replaced la the rank of independent milieus.
In such a desperate crisis this heroic people did not lose
its hamar, its courage, or its fidelity to its King. which
could nut be torn from itsbreast by the force of circulate/sees,
our by the preponderant power of Use enemy. They, iu
feet, displayed themselves in themes* energetic meaner as
lone as a Caursurebleoppertanlty o&red. The Portuguese,
with the assistance of their allies, roc d at the expense
tithe moat painful sacrifices, their political existence; re.
stored wills marrow loyalty to their Motiarch the throlse
sad the crown ; and impartial Europe must confess (though
this justice is not always done) that to them are also in a
greet measure owing the triumphs which have since been
joined to the advantages of the liberty and independence of
thrones and nations. It is more easy to conceive than to
express what was the internal situation of Portugal, after
cireamstanees so new, effects so extraordinary, and a con-
vulsion so general.
'rhe ruin of its population, commenced by the emigration
of the inhabitants who followed the Prince, or endeavoured
to withdraw from the distrustful suspicion or the systematic
persecution of the enemy ; which was iucressed by the two
fatal invasions of 1809 and 1810. and by the inevitable losses
of a long °agitate war of seven years.
Commerce and industry, which can never prosper but
under the henificant protection of peace, security, unit pub-
lic tranquillity, were not only suppressed and abendoned,
but seemed to have been wholly destroyed by the aniimitted
liberty given to foreign vessel, in the ports of 'Brazil; by the
disastrous treaty of 18101 by the consequent decline of the
national manufactures, by the almost total destructiou of
the mercantile, marine, and naval force; by the absolute
want of all care to protect and encourage these two must
Important branches of pualic prosperity.
Agriculture, the basis of the tic hes stud strength of nations,
deprived of theism' which the army of death took from it
destitute of the capitals which supported it, and which hi"
been sometimes employed on sitijects of the more urgent
necessity; deprived of the vital strength which it used to
receive from the withut! industry, and from the active cir-
culation of commerce, both domestic and furelo, lay In a
fatal lethargy, and presented to the astonished spectator only
the melancholy picture of famine and misery.
The sensible direliation of the public revenuer caused by
the ruin of the population, of commerce, and of industry ;
by the irrevocable loss of the great sums which the enemy
violently extorted from the hands of the Portuguese; and by
theeecessive expellees of the war, obliging the nation to
contract new and enormous deists, fur the payment of which
Its resources 1%,1"0 engaged, gave the final blow to politic
Credit, which was already shaken by the scandalous waiver-
cations of the fiscal agents, as Sidi as by the most CllOllllOl/11
system of nitininistrat toil.
lint the elutiecter of the Portuguese could not belie
itself. They chose uglier to hope every thing from their
Prince thee le give to Europe, already sittlieled by the
mistertnnes. the sight et a turbulent mid impatient
.tion, or to swear to abuse the facility afforded by eir-
etimstences to show it spirt; of revolt 41111 want of
mission. The silent aid peaceful endurance of their
evils was the lasts of their procredings•—coutidonce in the
acknowledged virtues of the Pratte, the foundation of
their holm.
After this introduction. the manifesto proceeds to Oh-
io URI It is linuecessary to paint In detail the mocha's-
ly picture of the plop wive decline of Portugal in
• 1451 six years, es being uutoritms to ail Einutot. He.
fring to .he pi tOl coding, it stairs as aci.hiton4l cAnst, of
ruin, the :intim; so twiny thousand tio.,ps in lii .rI ti
carry anti Will' of which, Nutt& bore thd Inn den, 4itti
Which exposed it to the attacks of a powei fill nejzlintinci
always Its rival, and now oilelided anti ptueuked.
The Manifesto thou allows how this dearcss ads still fur.
'r aggravated by continuing
the Court a etc,•till al Eistioti, whit. the ir5.11114. wa.
Ornisibly diminishing by iise bo'v i suso,. w. !lip
,egligeims dud 0,411411 .)14 401 04, V:11,1.1 a. 'the ium seat.

SUNDAY,

_ilk Mitittr•

-..

-
with tranquillity, and consequently with the pn•
servatiOn of peace in Europe. The letter then
proceeds:—
'• Pimhated with them truths, the Bps,..tisave with one
accord, firmly remind to Ann shahs to over •
throw the actual Mate of thises holm Isisior-orW;Ricts and
to make the King at the same time Is amitature constitution of
his states in such a manner as to correspond Trish the. true inte-
rest of his people, and the tniaqufility of neighbouring' cowl- .
hies."
The letter then states that these monarchs,
wishing to effect their object, by peaceable means
through the mediation of the Kin,' of Naples,
addressed the letters to him, requiring his presence
at Laybach. The King of France is also said to
have written to Ferdinand requesting his compliance
and likewise the Popo.
The King of Naples returned an answer to the
following terms to each of the three Sovereigns:—
" Sir, my Brother—lf, under existing circumstances, my heart
could open to a feeling cit'joy, it would certainly be when I
received a letter from your Majesty from Troppau. lam offer- •
ed beyond all expression by the generosity which directs all your ,
steps for the welfare of die European nations, and in particular
for the interest which you take with regard to my person, and
the peo, le who are confided to me by Providence, whose peace
and -happiness is the sole object of all my efforts.
" After this sincere exposition of my santiments, your
Ma-
jesty will readily conceive with what gratitude I accept. the invi- •
tatioa which you have given me to repair to Laybach to take a
part in the confeeenoes there, which you have no other object
than that of consolidating. the basis of the most hot), of alliances.
" I perceive in this invitation a fresh instance of the benignity
of Providence, which presents an opportunity of co-operating
with my allies in a work which will render their name dear. to
**faint posterity, and thus to participate in the glory which
smite them. Your Melody will not doubt my eagerness m
amt of such air invitation—my departure shall take place as •
sgssitily as circumstances will admit.
s' I shall feel peculiar pleasure in seeing again the Emperor of
4, and in becoming personally acquainted with the Eat-
. Ramie and Kiagof Prussia. It is to your wisdom and
that I shall owe the tranquillity of my states; and
jiff gradfying care shall be to inspire into every member of
' the sentiments of gratitude with which my heats is
•--." Mph% Des. a. (Wend) 44 FERDINAND..
Vsuiw*, December 27.—0 n the Ist of Jamilry
Prince Metternich will depart fur Laybach, with
the principal persons. of the Cb.tuumilerie; the
rof Austria• on the 2d ; the Emperor of
•
RElPsidear°on the 3d; and the Ambassadors, Ministers,
stud Envoys on the 4th. It is said that Deputies
/from all the Italian States will be at Laybach.
MADRID) Dec. 28.—Last night the Marquis do
Cerulbo repaired to a society which had assembled
at the Cross of Malta to break it up, conformably
to the law of the Bth of November last. The
members made open resistance, and the authority
of the laws waa completely defied, and the greatest
tumult ensned.
To d.ty (28th) very severe measures have been
taken to prevent the renewal of similar scenes.—
The tribunes were seized at the coffee-houses; but
the people besieged the authorities whilst e‘eeuting
this measure. The National Guard is under arms,
and we arc fearful that some serious proceedings
will ensue.

It appears by the Spanish Papers, that the Go.
%fern:mut experiences some uneasiness from the in.
temperance manifested by some of 40 flubs. At
Madrid, it has been found elidisesle 110 make these' •
meeting contOrm themselves the pmeisioni eater.
blished. by the Constitution, respecting periodical
meetings for the discussion of political subjocts.—
This is one of the principal dangers to which newly
acquired powers expose men, who have been long
kept under an impolitic degree of restraint indeed,
it is not a single danger, tie their own passions urge
them on the one side, and their enemies never neg.
lect to endeavour to excite them to illegal acts, that
such acts may furnish arguments for the old
order of things. Even to countries more on.,
lightened than Spain, the enemies of freedom know
how to employ emissaries for the purpose of urging
men to crimes, that may furnish pretexts, fur the
exercise of powers unknown to the laws. CV% we.
wonder, then, at such promodings in countries ..
which have yet to learn the proper discipline of a
well-rei;ulsted constitutional order of things ?
&Thu defeated party at the late Meeting of the
county of Dirby have sent forth a letter, in which,
with the view of chewing that they had no intention,
by their projected Loyal Addresses, of approving the
conduct of Ministers, they " solemnly declare, that
if they had beard that his Majesty had called ether
)liiiistsrs to his Councils, they should have been
equally noxious to make this public oopression of

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