The Sun.
London, England, 1822-10-12 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.

Mit. EDITOR.---I have obserVed.in an Evenin g
Paper a letter on the- affairs of Portugal, and am very
much gratified to find that any one is disposed to give us infor-
mation respecting the state of that country. England has been
long and intimately allied with Portugal ; and, during the late,
eventful war, when Britons and Portuguese fought and bled
together, as friends and brothers, in the same good cause, we
had many opportunities of witnessing the bravery and noble
virtues of our ancient allies : I confess, when 1 heard of the late
Revolution, I was afraid it was the work of a radical faction,
whose object was the destruction of all that was sanctioned by
authority or sanctified by antiquity, and not a reformation for
the benefit of a brave, loyal, industrious, and frugal people.
Time, however, has undeceived me, and I am. now disposed to
give every credit to the first movers in the great work of Refor-
mation. The General Cortes have acted with prudence, dis-
cretion, and sound judgement, in all their deliberations,—and
have conducted their proceedings with a dignity that does
nation to the atiOn of which they are the Representatives.
The cruelties 'and oppressions which were exercised in the name
of the King, by the persons who were entrusted with his autho-
rity, were certainly such as no nation could bear; and every
person at all acquainted with the country, must have been con-
vinced of the necessity of some change,—things could not exist
'as they were. After the horrors of War had passed from.the
kingdom, the Governors, instead of encouraging agriculture,
and improving their commerce, .seemed only anxious to ruin
and oppress the already ruined and oppressed peasantry. The
army that had established their freedom, and secured their in-
dependence, was despised and neglected,r-while the revenues of
the .country were expended in the 'erection of useless palaces,
and in idle pageantry,—and the old system of abuses began
to prevail in every department of the State. The Inquisition,
too, that last resource of feeble despotism; was brought into
play, with all its horrors of espionage and denunciation, to rivet-
more firmly the chains of the people. Was it to be wondered
at, then' that the worm so trod upon should at last rise up
and cry for vengeance ? No, Sir: the wonder is, that the Portu-
guese have been able to effect their deliverance with so much
good' sense and moderation. But when we consider the in-
nate loyalty and attachment to their beloved Sovereign which so
universally prevail among all ranks of the people of Portugal, we
need not be surprised at the quiet and orderly manner in which
the reformation in the GovernMent has been accomplished. If
there were any evil spirits in the higher orders who wished for
revolution and bloodshed, and who lent their aid in hopes of
producing anarchy and confusion, they have been grievously
disappointed, and must leave the Lusitanian shores, and trust
to their efforts for better success in the other hemisphere, where
I am sorry to see a bad spirit prevails. The Cortes of Portugal
have a delicate and very difficult duty to, perform in regard to
the Brazils, and I sincerely pray that they may be guided in
performing it with the same spirit of moderation which has
marked all their acts in regard to the Mother Country. The
Liberators of Portugal have shewn that they merit the confi-
dence of all good men, and deserve .the support of every well
regulated Government. They have done nothing more than
accomplish the wishes of their legitimate Prince, and, whatever
may be said or insinuated, the KING and the Constitutional
Assembly of the nation have never for 'one moment been at
variance. His MAJESTY was sensible of the abuses which
existed—absolute power was not what he-coveted, and I sin-
cerely and firmly believe that he has long , had more at heart
the benefit of his subjects than. the preservation of any anti-
quated rights or powers that were totally incompatible with the
good government of an enlightened and polished nation.
My object in addressing you on the present occasion (and I
hope to be allowed to continue my correspondence) is, if pos-
sible, to do away with any false impression which may have
been made or may 'exist in this country, respecting the nature
of the reformation that has taken place in Portugal ; if pos-
sible to aid in bringing about the confidential and strict union
which has alWays existed between the Governments of the two
nations." Our present Foreign Secretary knows the Portuguese.
He has resided amongst them—enjoyed their friendship and
partaken of their hospitality ; I therefore trust that he will