The Sun.
London, England, 1839-12-13 00:00:00

DISMISSAL OF THE PORTUGUESE

MINISTRY.

Letters from Portugal, of the 3d inst.. announce
the dismissal of the whole of the Portuguese Mi-
nistry on the 25th ult. When Baron SABROSA
and his colleagues were summoned by the QUEEN
to the Palace to receive this proof of her most
faithful MAJESTY'S regard fur the welfare of her
people, they had not the remotest idea of the fate
that awaited them. Queen DONNA MARIA is
not remarkable for extreme courtesy in the dis-
charge of her regal functions, and on this occasion
displayed more than her wonted abruptness. Were
the act performed by a Sovereign of the other sex
it would be designated " kicking out a Cabinet."
The following is a list of the new Cabinet :
Count BONI TIM, President of the Council and
Minister of War.

Viscount CAREIRA, Foreign Affairs.
FLORIDO FERRO Z, Finance.
FONSECA MAGALHAES, Interior.
COSTA CABRAL, Grace and Justice.
Count VILLA REAL, Marine.

As Viscount CARBIRA and Count VILLA
REAL are at present in France, the QUEEN en-
trusted their portefeuilles to the President of
the Council. With the exception of Bom orN and
COSTA CABRAL the new Ministry is composed
of decided Charterists ; but the President of the
Council and the Minister of Justice belong to the
Ultra Liberal party. A great outcry was raised
by the Opposition Press of Lisbon about the
change of Ministry being a concession to Eng-
land—which it doubtless is—but the public peace
remained undisturbed. " The last act of SA-
➢ROSA'S Ministerial career was," says the corres-
pondent of a Contemporary, " the publication of
two more notes which had passed between him
and the British Embassy. That from Lord
HOWARD to him contained a statement of the
several claims, amounting to 376,0001., which he
was directed to urge upon the Portuguese Go-
♦ernment on behalf of English subjects, and a
positive demand for their immediate payment.
Baron SABROSA'S reply was to the effect that he
would submit the matter to his colleagues, with-
out whose concurrence he could ►►ot take any step
in it, but that meanwhile he had a counter claim
to present, founded on the 14th article of the treaty
of 1661, whereby England bound herself, in case
the should recover the island of Ceylon from the
Dutch, to give to Portugal the port of Columbo, in
that island, and that, therefore, as England had
become mistress of Ceylon by the treaty of Amiens,
he demanded the delivery of Columbo to Portugal,
together with all its revenues accrued since 1802."
It is a thousand pities that a man
so industrious in the perusal of forgotten
treaties as the Baron DE SABROSA was
not appointed perpetual keeper of the State
archives. Who can tell but that among the old
parchments he might discover a treaty for con-
verting Great Britain into a Portuguese colony ?
Let the Nacional of Lisbon, so furious against
the " proud and insolent Islanders," bethink how
very easily this hint might be improved upon.

The .11 Mediterraneo states that the French
and English fleets were still at Ourlac on the 26th
ult. Admiral STOPPORD had at first intended to
send a part of the English fleet to Malta, and
proceed with the remainder to Athens, but he had
suddenly changed his mind. The Dido and Ha-
zard corvettes, which Admiral STOPFORD had sent
to cruize between Miconi and Naxos, had rejoined
the squadron. The Powerful and Gorgon of the
line, and three French ships of the line, were at
Smyrna. The Castor was to go to Constantinople to
relieve the Carysfort ; and it was supposed that the
Hydra and the Gorgon would be ordered to Alex-
andria. The same Journal adds that the settle-
ment of the Eastern question was not so close at
hand as was generally supposed. MEHEMET ALI
was continually starting fresh difficulties, and in
reality aimed at the independent Sovereignty of
Egypt.

The Madrid Journals are of the 2d inst. The
QUEEN REGENT had consented to accept the
resignations of Captains-General SEOANE and
VALDEZ. In truth her MAJESTY'S pretended
unwillingness to part with the services of these
gallant and liberal officers was but a piece of Court
acting, intended to impose upon the Constitutional
party. Generals MoNso and BUERENS are spo-
ken of as their successors. A letter from Calanda,
of the 30th ult., published in the Eco de Arragon,
a Saragossa Journal, of the 4th instant, contains
the following account of the position of the
hostile armies at the above date. The first divi-
sion of the QUEEN'S army with the head-quarters
of the Commander-in-Chief, at Mas de las Matas.
The second division at Aguaviva and Tenebrosa,
which they are fortifying. The third division has
a brigade at Castelsaras, and another in the envi-
rons of Huesa, Hijar, Andorra, Alcorisa, and Ca-
landa ; are well fortified, and have strong garrisons.
The positions of the Carlists are as follow ;
The chief, BOSQUE, is at Belmonte and Corollera,
from whence he makes his excursions. LLAN-
GOSTERA is at Monroyo, and from thence his
lines extend to Alolinos and Ejulve. CABRERA
is at Villarbuengo, but it was not believed he would
long remain there. The Carlist garrisons have
been increased by the new recruits to guard the
prisoners.
_ _

A French vessel was seized by the Spanish au-
thoriiies at Santander charged with smuggling, and
with not having her papers regular. She was
bound to Oporto.

Great preparations were making in Madrid for
the elections. Never was there such a political
contest in Spain as there is likely to be when the
new Cortee assemble.

The Paris Journals of Tuesday have all reached
us, but they bring no news from Africa of a later date
than the accounts received on Wednesday. Ac-
cording to private letters the French were expecting
that a formidable attack would be made upon the
garrison of Mascara, which was but indifferently
provided with the means of successfully repelling it.
The Consul of ABD-EL-KADER at Oran had
likewise been arrested by order of Marshal VALEE
as he was on the point of leaving that town to join
the camp of the Emir.
Two other persons have been arrested in Paris on
charges connected with the last Infernal Machine
exl.losion. Some arms and ammunition were found
concealed in their respective residences. On the
morning of the 6th instant, the office and private
apartments of the editor of the Journal du Com-
merce of Lyons, were searched by the police for
the discovery of a correspondence between Prince
Louis NAPOLEON and the Marquis DE CROUY
CIIENEL. The search was unsuccessful, as no
papers of a treasonable nature were found.

The Moniteur of Tuesday is completely silent
about the reported Bonapartist conspiracy.
The accounts from Saragossa are of the 3d. The
Plzare de Bayonne continues to say that Espartero is
going to undertake the siege of Segura.
The correspondent of the Sentinelle del Pyrenees
writes thzt the campaign is terminated.
Arrangements continue to be spoken of, but their
• - ire not known. It is a,'4,;-„zed that the conditions
-. at or at `
will B f'onstitu-
iA
letter from Saragossa Al tni pd informs us that
tonue b .
settlec;