The Sun.
London, England, 1822-09-13 00:00:00

[PRIVARE LETTER.]

" BaisrA, JULY 14.—Since the commotions here, all busi-
ness has been at a stand; for as the 100 European troops
are determined not only to retain the city and province to
the last, in expectation of reinforcements from Lisbon ; but
Madeira, the Commander, is an active officer, and he has
been actively engaged of late in strengthening
.and loading the
different strong holds and fortresses with provisions and ammu-
nition, and throwing up entrenchments preparatory to an at-
tack which the Prince is supposed to have in contemplation by
dispatching up from Rio vessels to blockade the port, and troops
foihostilities. Every Black, therefore, appearing in the streets,
is pressed and occupied in this way. Some are of opinion
that no forces will come up from Rio ; others have advices that
those forces must now be some eight or tor} days at sea, there- ,
fore a short time will develope the fact. As the principal pcor-1
tion of the shopkeepers are Europeans, and all embodied into
a militia, they now attend on the field' daily to exercise, which]
adds to Madeira's forces about 3,000. tolerably well disciplined
men. But all shops are in conseqence closed at twelve
o'clock. The native regular troops which this officer dislodged
from the different forts some months back, disarmed and dis-
banded, have been invited by the separate planters up to
their different estates in the .interior, a large portion of whom
have escaped to the different destinations accordingly, in spite
of every exertion on the part of the European Commanders to
stop and prevent it, by searching all launches and other con-
veyances; and these men are reported to be furnished with
arms, ammunition, and double pay by these private opulent
individuals, with a view either of ultimately making an entry
into the town to co-operate with any other • forces that may
be dispatched with the intent of attacking the European
forces; and wresting the city out of their grasp, or of cutting off
all 'supplies from us; as we unfortunately depend much upon the
interior. In this event, then, we shall soon be greatly distressed
for provisions from this quarter, and if the Prince can really
place us in a state of blockade, we shall obtain nothing from
without, and the neighbourhood grows very insufficient for its
supply. These impressions have set every individual upon stock-

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ing his house with flour, codfish, salt beef, biscuit, and all other
obtainable provisions; in consequence the importer is no w ask-
ing 14 and 16 dollars per barrel for flour, 8 to 10 for fish, and
every thing in proportion, as six months stock at least to every
individual family is considered as prudent and indispensable.
Here then we are perhaps on the eve of a long civil war,
and not far removed from a famine, unless Portugal can
send a sufficient force to raise the blockade, if attempted.
Nothing but provisions are now bought or sold, and little
else paid for. No, or few, English houses dispatch any thing,
the Customs are in consequence crammed, and few get in
' any outstanding debts of importance ; even bills are in most
instances left to be protested. Now whether we are to fall a
prey to any or the greater part of the miseries and privations
attendant on this state of things, will in good measure rest
with the Rio party interfering ; and if it does not, I think
it likely that Madeira will quietly retain this portion of the
Province until he can get succours from the Cortes, and being,
a central spot, they can ultimately sally out to attack each indi-
vidual province as a convenient occasion may offer, and thus
make successful exertions in reducing other ports under obe-
dience once again to the will of Portugal ; and the Mother
Country will hardly lose, so favourable an opportunity of re-
gaining its former ascendancy ; but if, upon the contrary, the
troops from Europe receive orders to retire, which, I think, is
not very probable, then commerce will instantly revive.