The National Register.
London, England, 1820-10-01 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER

all law, and involving the claims of equity, and the
very preservation of the government itself, make
uch visitation indispensable? and whatever might
be the inconvenience and embarrassment arising from
having a Queen supposed to be as dirty as the
green bag would make her out to be, such a case
would yet never involve a state-necessity of this
kind; for, if strict morality, and not public conve-
nience, were the ground-work of the stability of
monarchy, we are sorry to say that monarchy would
never have lasted half a century in any kingdom or
in any nation.
Another and unanswerable objection to the 131.11
is, that the party who makes the marriage
contract is one of the three branches of the legisla-
ture who is to make this same contract void. Now
if any human obligation is contracted between two
parties, it surely can never be just that one of the
contracting parties should be able to set aside the
contract, except by a regular judicial process; and a
man who marries a woman can never be justified in
getting a parcel of servants and a host of particular
friends and adherents to be a jury, to whom he is to
appeal upon the subject of such a difference between
him and his wife, and upon the consent of those
alone who are notoriously favourable to him and his
views iu general, to set aside a contract made in the
face of heaven, and only voidable by adultery on
the part of the wife, clearly proved before impartial
and disinterested witnesses. It is not enough to say
that among those to whom the appeal is to be made,
there arc many even bitter opponents to him. If the
majority are his adherents and particular friends, and
a majority are to decide, the pretence that there is a
minority not well disposed towards him would be
ridiculous. Either a contract of this solemn nature
ought to be set aside by a jury whom no one would,
on common principles of human justice, impeach, or
not attempted to be set aside at all. And as to de-
gradation without divorce, it is absolutely impious to
expect him (who has sworn to love, honour, and
cherish his wife, so long as she is his wife, " till
death do them part") to degrade and injure that
wife f Can those who arc such sticklers for
moral and social obligation whenever the violation
thereof can be pleaded in argument against
their opponents, can they take away the title of
Countess or Marchioness, &c. from a woman with-
out divorcing her '"a vincwlo matrimonii?" Can
they deprive her of her privileges and rights as a
wife any further than those of intercourse of bed
and board, under certain circumstances, without a
lawful dissolution of the marriage contract ? They
cannot—they cannot strike out from matrimony what
is inherent in it, not only as a social, but a divine
obligation, while it exists, unless death separate the
parties who have contracted. Who are the bias.
phemers ? Gracious Heaven ! Who are the seditious
here ? Those, we affirm, who would trifle with
this contract ; and we have no hesitation in saying,
that if Parliament attempt to separate from a sacred
obligation that which, while the obligation is un-
dissolved, is inherent in it, Parliament will do an
act of impiety. The filet is, that by travelling out
of the plain road of law and justice, the ministers,
many of them ind ividually honest and well inten
tioned men, though too much lcd by party spirit and
a desire to retain their power, have placed Parlia-
ment, the country, the crown, and themselves in a
very lamentable situation. They cannot retract
without danger to thetnsclves, and they cannot go
on without violatiag justice, if they do what they
propose, and without risking the best intereqs of
the country. Already, ind Led, the evil done is be
yond all calculation, but they may yet avert danger
to themselves, and save the country from peril, if'
they will but come 14ward after the Queen's defence
has been heard, and if they arc wholly satisfied with
the same, acknowledge they are so ; if not still
acknowledge that the nature of the evidence and
the circumstances of the case, at all events, do not
justify them in persisting in the prosecution, that
they have dune what they thought best, sad that if
they have been xaisioken, tiey throw t:lcnisclm on

the candour of the public, and, to spew that they did
not act as they have acted, with a view to their own
interests or ambition, let them resign their places,
and promise to support such a mild and conciliatory
system of government and public measures, as shall
cause the present fermentation of men's minds to
subside. We have no motive in this advice, but a
sincere desire of public happiness. We neither court
the smile, nor fear the frown of ministers or opposi.
don ; but we arc convinced that the present coun-
sels of government cannot, and ought not to stand.

Extract of a Letter, dated Oporto, Sept. 13
What do you think of the heroism of the people of
Oporto ? Are they not a daring set 10 attempt
such a change without being organized, and pre-
viously on a good understanding with the rest of
the Grandees. However, the fact is, they were
tired of oppression and excessive despotism; the
voice of the nation was general, and it only wanted
a beginning. Thus it was left a second time for
the people of Oporto to strike the blow ; and, now
it is struck, we fineourselves with all the north of
Portugal in our favour, with even considerable de-
sertion from Lisbon to the good cause. The key of
the river Tagus, Fort St. Julian, is in the posses.
sion of the artillery of Lisbon, and in our favour.
The citizens of Lisbon in general (but particularly
the military) are in the Oporto cause; but, the old
governors holding good places, it goes herd with
them to resign them.

The Portuguese Regency have issued a Procla-
mation, convoking the Cortes, at the same time
that they designate the gallant Patriots at Oporto
Insurgents. The Members of the Regency how.
ever content themselves with treading in their track,
and tidlowing them as their leaders. The coquetry
of indirectly aspersing the Patriots of Oporto, is
probably to conciliate, in some degree, the Court of
the Brazils, as it: very prolrble the Regents will
ultimately be sent of/ to the Brazils, as Portugal
will dispense with their future services. fhe Junta
of the Supreme Government of the Kingdom have
issued an unimstiag address to the people of Lisbon,
and the spirit of Liberty is extending itself in every
direction. The powerful voice of a nation cannot
be resisted, and they are determined to be free.--
Portugal is tranquil, and whether the Cortes are
assembled by the Regency or the Constitutionalists,
they must produce an important change. Portugal
is our ancient ally, and we must rejoice in every
circumstance that adds to her happiness, or improves
her condition. The revolution, like that of Spain
and Naples, recognizes the sovereign, and it is likely
to succeed without a civil commotion, which seldom
ends otherwise than in military tyranny, or some
fatal change for the worse.

Extract of a letter, dated Glasgow, Sept. 21
:
" On Saturday last an Address to the Queen having been set
in motion in this City. the inhabitants were invited by hand-bills
to sign it in the Laigh Kirk Session-House. On Monday many
signatures were obtained; but the Magistrates interfered, declared
they would not allow the Address to remain there ; and on being
remor.strated with, the Acting Chief Magistrate said. if it was
not instantly taken away, he would send a pore of constables.
and enforce his orders. It was then removed to Mr. Turnbull's
Session House, Campbell-street. In the course of the first eight
hours no fewer than *oo persons signed the .Ithlress ; 15,000
wore signatures were affixed yesterday, and ahem 5,tr,0 tc day;
making altogether '..x6,00u."

Springfield new Bridge.—The new beautiful
gothic iron bridge, lately opened to the public over
the River Chalmer, in the County of Essex, in the
Great East Road leading from Chelmstiml ttl Col-
chester, Harwich, Sic. is the first bridge in this
country ever erected, without resting on or thrusting
against piers, it being a fiat straight-line bridge.
similar to the same architect's design of Waterloo,
but without any spandell3, it having nearly a straight
cord, keeping together the basement ends of
the cliptic arches, which cross the river in one
span, resting wholly on cast•iron columns driven
into the river banks on which it is placed. Being a
a bridge on the principle of tenacity, the principal
stress and pull on the iron is longitudinally. There
are groves on the top of those iron columns, on
which the whole bridge has room to contract or
expand, so necessary from the changes in this country
from heat to cold, as the other previtSus iron bridges
have sulhaed materially from the want of this pre-
caution. In short, evidence has been given before
the House of Commons that the arches of the
Southwark Bridge rise from two to two and a hal
inches in the middle of the day, and settle again in
the evening. Of those iron columns introduced on
the river, instead of piers or buttresses, if they resist
the Boating ice, of which, from their strength and
dimensions there can be nu doubt, Mr. Dodd, the
engineer, has certainly introduced an economical
plan in bridge building, as in this there is no occa-
sion for expensive batterdeaux, coffer dams, &e. a
saving must desirage is the expensive work of
bridge In:Laing.

FROM LAST NIGIIT"S GAZETTE•
BANK RUPTCY ENLARGED.
S. Warner, Ashfonl, Kent, ship owner, from October 31 to
Nov. V.
BANKRUPTS.

C. F. Woolcoft, High Holborn, window glass cutter. Solici-
tor, Mr. Turner, Percy Street, Bedford Square.
A. Morton. Lower Thames Street, fish factor. Sol. Mr.
Flower, Fcnchurch Bulidings, Fenehurch Street.
J. Payne, D. Reid, and T. Hall, Norwich, bonibazeen manu-
facturers. Sols. Iklessrs. Taylor and Roscoe, King's Bench Walk,
Temple.
W, Stannard, Norwich, manufacturer. Sols. Messrs. Taylor
and Roscoe, King's Bench Walk, Temple.
DIVIDENDS.

Oct. 21. W. Brettle, Ryarsll,iierUtiarrner-21. W. !lonian,
Barking. Essex, smack owner-21. J. Ramsay and R. Forster,
OM Broad Street, merchants--25, W. parish, Whitehaven,
rintriner-23, .1. Perkins, Coventry, medicine vender-23, E.
Alcoa, Atherstone, Warwickshire. hatter-23, W. Newcomb,
Wood Street, Cheapside, ribbon manufacturer-26, T. Harris,
Hereford, grocer-24, C. Scoles, Bensington, Oxford, baker-
-28, G. Baylis, Stapleton, Gloucestershire, dealcr-23, A. Boyer
and R. Kcnyon, Liverpool. merchants--23, 'l'. Meacher, New.
port Pagnel, Bucks, common brewer-14, W. Miller. Mitre
Court. Fleet Street, merchant-IM. L. Lyons, Lower Shadwell,
brewer.-24, H. Walmesley, M. Turner, and W. J. Turner,
Basinghall Street, merchants-144 R. Collens, Maidstone, hop
dealer-28, T. Brown, Strand, tailor—Nov. 6. D. Johnson,
Brown Street, Hanover Square, smith-4, J. Hemming, Long
Acre, linen draper-4, G. ate, Bristol, victualler.
CERTIFICATES to be granted Oct. fl.
W. Pettinger, Seukeates, Yorkshire, wood turner—W. West,
Bridenbury,-Hereford, dealer—C. Wright, Old Ford, Middlesex,
sand dealer—T. Stanton. Drury Lane, cheesemonger—R. Eowle.
Blandfonl. Dorset, draper—J. Greaves. Birmingham, maltster—
G. Rose, Sheffield, grocer—J. Mars, Snow's Fields, Bermondsey,
leather dresser.

PRICE
Bank Stock shut
3 per Cent. Red. shut
3 per Cent. Consols 664
31 per Cent. shut
4 per Cent. shut
5 per Cent. Navy 1044
Lnul; Aim. shut

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Eontion.
SUNDAY, OCTORER 1.
--0,-

The Aurora, Blackburn, is arrived off Dover from
Oporto, with letters from thence of the 13th inst.
There is intelligence also from Lisbon of the 12th,
at which time that city enjoyed the most profimnd
tranquillity, but the accounts from Oporto assert,
that troops were approaching towards Lisbon from
the north. It is not probable that they will meet
with opposition, as the Count Aramante, Luid the
army under his command, on whose co-operation
the Lisbon Regency so confidently depended, have
declared in favour of the cause of the Patriots. All
the troops also at Coimbra, Levis, and the adjacent
towns, had declared for the Oporto party, and no
fears were entertained for the British property or
persons being molested, unless the English inter-
fered. A Proclamation has been issued by the Go-
vernment of Lisbon for convoking the Cortes, which
is an acknowledgment of the justice of the demands
of the troops and of the people of Oporto. The
Regency offer a free pardon to " the soldiers who
have been deluded," which proposals the Patriots
say, are evidence of apprehension and fear. The
great objection which appears to the accommodation
of differences in Portugal, is the uncertainty as to
the mode of assembling the Cortes. If it be as-
sembled on the mad of the ancient Cortes, it will
be a most inefficient body ; because if it had not
been an inadequate representation of the people, it
would never have fallen into disuse. It was a
representation of !.editions, not of natural classes—
of those who have interests opposed to the people,
not of the people themselves. Whether the Gover-
nors will consent to a convocation of the Cortes, on
the Spani:li model, or on a plan similar to that of
Spain, is a question on which the tranquillity of
Portugal must depend. On this point the procla-
mation ofkrs no assurance. The I:evolution has,
we believe, taken deep root in Portugal, and is
likely to be firmly established without a civil com-
motion.

We have received the Paris Papers of Monday
and Tuesday last. The Duchess of Berri on Satur.
day paraded on the Terrace of the pavilion, and on
the tidlowing day heard Mass in her apartments.—
On Monday she visited the King. ' Iler Royal
Highness's accouchement, so peculiarly interesting
to the Bourbon Dynasty, was expected to take place
in the course of this week. The proceedings against
our Queen excite a consitterAle degree of attention
throughout the Continent. where the general feel-
ing is were freely exprc.stv.l than could have 1.,,e:2