The Sun.
London, England, 1831-10-10 00:00:00

DON MIGUEL.

The papers presented to Parliament relative to the
treatment of British subjects in Portugal, the capture of
British vessels off Terceira, and the interference of the
British Government to procure for our fellow-countrymen
protection or reparation, have been printed. They em-
brace copies of the representations made to the servants
of Dun Miguel, on the insults and injuries suffered by the
English from him and his agents, from the time of his re-
storation to Portugal under the British flag, to a late pe-
riod in the year, together with extracts of the cor-
respondence between our Foreign-office and our consular
agents at Lisbon, or in other parts of the Portuguese do-
minions, on these and other matters. This correspondence
extends over a period of about three years, and bears the
signature of successive consular agents and successive mi-
nistries. Theugh very voluminous, and relating to events
already generally known, it is still interesting, and would
command attention, if auy allusion to foreign topics could
gain the public ear at this present awful crisis of our
domestic affairs. It probably exhibits on the one hand
a more striking display of the insolence and law-
less violence of a petty despot attempting to op-
press and insta the subjects of a great nation, and,
on the other, of the patience and forbearance of a
powerful Government, under injuries and provocations
almost unbearable, than is to be found in history. The
I)ey of Algiers, relying on the disunion of Christian
states, and the strength of his own piratical fortress, was
not more unreasonable in his pride, more deaf to remon-
strance, or more indisposed to the demands of just re-
paration, before the expeditions sent by England or France
to chastise him, than the Dey of Lisbon before our late
expedition to the Tagus. These documents, which occupy
upwards of 200 folio pages, contain the correspondence of
three B. itish Consuls-General (Mr. Matthews, Mr. Macken-
zie, and Mr. Hoppner)with the Foreign-office, under Lord
Aberdeen and Lord Palmerston. Without a knowledge
of the transactions described in the first part of this period,
those in the latter part could not be thoroughly under-
stood. Without a due attention to the injuries inflicted
on-British subjects before the accession of the present Cabi-
net, the justice of their late peremptory demand of satis-
faction could not be estimated. The Ministers were there-
fore right, when papers were required to ascertain how
far their conduct had been consistent with the claims of
national honour, and the dictates of sound policy, to pro-
duce the whole series of correspondence, from the com-
mencement of our understanding with the petty despot,
till our triumph over his obstinacy in obtaining satisfac-
tion. The earliest transactions referred to in these
papers date from July, —, 1828, immediately after the
unh ippy issue of the insurrection at Oporto, which while
it was disastrous to a great body of Portuguese patriots,
drew down upon the British residents in Portugal the
suspicions and hostility of the usurper. The letters of
Mr. Matthews, our Consul-General, from the I 1 th of
that month to the termination of his correspondence to-
wards the end of 1829, relate to the various cases of Sir
.1. Milley Doyle, Mr. Young, Mr H. Cubhatn, Mr.
Rospigliosi, Mr. Reeves, Mr. Ascoli, Mr. Noble, Mr.
Norton, Mr. Macrohon, and several other persons who
suffered outrages of less or more violence. Lord Aber-
deen, who was then our Foreign Minister, gave instruc-
tions to our consular agent how to act respecting these
persons—instructions which united moderatio❑ and diplo-
matic knowledge with firmness, and which, in any other
quarter than in Lisbon, would have produced an imme-
diate effect. There bad been, as yet, no contest between
the British Government and the chiefs of the refugees in
this country, and the affair of Terceira had not occurred.
The British Government, upon hearing of the arrest and
imprisonment of Sir J. M. Doyle, and learning that no de
ling ueney could be proved against hint, demanded, through
the medium of our Consul-General, his instant liberation.
Three weeks after this Sir John was still in prison—in
close confinement—in a loathsome dungeon.
" The violation," says Mr. Matthews, " of every right and pri-
vilege in this case will not, I hope, be attempted to be screened
by a process at law, so made up as to prevent that exercise of
the authority of the Jul. Conservador which, if duly applied at
first according to treaty, nust have protected Sir John Milley
Doyle from such unjustifiable persecution, which becomes sub-
sequently quite nugatory."

Oa the 9th July the same consular agent had to com•

plain that Mr. W. Young, a cornet in the British Wag-
gon Train, had been likewise imprisoned without cause
from the beginning of June. Similar representations had
to be made in favour of other persons imprisoned equally
without cause.

Instead of lawful measures," says our. Consul to the Minister
of the Interior," your Excellency may see from the moment of
his arrest to this day, that there has been nothing but a series of
infractions of those articles of our treaties which I have formerly
quoted, and even breaches of the law of this country, by the
severity used towards this prisoner; and the trial itself men.
tioned by your Excellency as instituted in a competent Court
of Justice, is so ordained as to prevent Sir John Milley Doyle
from sheltering himself from that pressure of injustice which the
very appointment of a Judge Conversator was framed by our
reaties to avert."

To show that the Portuguese Government did all, and
therefore was answerable for all, in this case, we need

only repeat the remark of Mr. Matthews that there is not
a Judge in Portugal who would venture to act in direct
opposition to the will of the Government, and that the
sentence passed in political cases is a " mere emanation of
the Government." The following instructions of Lord
Aberdeen to our Consul-General at Lisbon will show both
his Lordship's just indignation at the injustice and hard-
ships to whirls our countrymen were subjected, and his
firm resolution to extend over them, if innocent, the
shield of their country's power. The letter is dated July
23, 1828
Claim for those British subjects who are now under arrest in
Portugal, the full benefits to which they are entitled by the
treaties concluded between the two kingdoms. If the offences
with which they are charged should be beyond the province of
the Judge Conservator, they have still an unquestionable right
to a speedy and impartial trial, according to the laws of Portugal.
His Majesty's Government had learnt with deep concern, that
the British subjects to whom I have referred are still de-
tained in unhealthy and loathsome places of confinement, not
only without having been brought to trial, but even without
having been furnished with any act of accusation, contrary to
the established laws of Portugal, and to the plainest dictates of
justice. It would appear, that if ever the exertions of the Judge
Conservator could be useful, we might expect them to be so in
watching over proceedings of this nature.
At all events, you will again seriously remonstrate against
a perseverance in the course which has hitherto been adopted
with respect to these persons. Should they be found upon a
trial to have been guilty, it is no doubt fitting that they should
sutler a punishment proportioned to the offence. Against the
just sentence of known laws administered in mercy, his Ma-
jesty has no wish to interpose, but it is not less his Majesty's
inclination than it is his duty to extend his profession to the
meanest of his subjects against the effects of arbitrary and vexa-
ions oppression."

Notwithstanding the energetic remonstrances made to
the Portuguese authorities in consequence of these in-
structions, the persons above named were driven about
from court to court for four months, and banished from
Portugal without compensation for their sufferings or in-
demnity for the loss of their property, though no crime
could be proved against them. The case of Ascoli was
one of still more crying injustice, because founded on a
less plausible pretext. We have no room to refer to the
particulars, but we may say that the chief charge against
him was that he belonged to a lodge of Freemasons. We
may quote Lord Aberdeen's view of this case, and the re-
monstrances and menaces which be ordered to be made
to the Portuguese Government in consequence
It is unnecessary here to particularize the various instances
of oppression which have formed the subject of my previous
despatches; but the case of Marcos Ascoli has been attended
with the most flagrant injustice. He appeared to have been im-
mured in a secret dungeon for thirty-four days, notwithstanding
your having claimed him upon the day of his arrest, and what is
most extraordinary, notwithstanding the Intendant of Police had
assured you on the eighth day of his confinement, that he should
be liberated on the succeeding day; and notwithstanding, also,
that M. de Santarem had himself, on the 224 day of his confine.
ment, addressed to you a written declaration that he had actually
given orders for his release to the Intendant of Police.
I do not enter into a consideration of the charge itself,
trifling and futile, even if true ; although it would appear to have
been made under circumstances of gross dishonesty and corrup-
tion. But nothing can justify the cruel treatment which this
person has received.
I am to instruct you, therefore, upon the receipt of this
despatch, to request an audience of M. de Santarem, at which,
should Marcos Ascoli be still in confinement, you will demand
his immediate liberation, as well as full compensation for the
wrongs which he has endured. In addition to this, you will
require that the Intendant of Police should be made publicly re-
sponsible for having been guilty of wilful oppression against a
subject of his Majesty, in direct disobedience of the orders which
it had been stated that he had received.
,‘ It is to be hoped that the Portuguese Government will not
hesitate to comply with the just demands of his Majesty, but will
see the necessity of pursuing for the future a conduct more con-
sistent with the spirit of our treaties; and with the amicable rela.
tions of the two countries. But should this unfortunately not
be the case, and should your representations remain for thirty
days not complied with, you will then report to me, for the infor.
matron of his Majesty's Government; and you will, at the same
time, communicate to the British merchants and others, his
Majesty's subjects at Lisbon, that you have done so, in order
that they may be prepared for those measures to which his Ma-
jesty will be compelled forthwith to have recourse, for the pur-
pose of obtaining that reparation which he will have vainly ex-
pected from the Portuguese Government."
This decliration would appear to have produced little
or no effect, for we find Mr. Matthews afterwards
complaining that not a day elapsed without some
injury or some breach of treaty. These insults and
infractions of treaty continued during the whole of
1829 and up to the autumn of 1830, when the Portu-
guese squadron at Terceira added its illegal capture and
detensions to the other grievances endured by British sub-
jects in Portugal.
On this occasion again the British Go-
vernment was roused to indignation, and Lord Aberdeen
remonstrated with firmness and spirit. The captures were
styled " unjustifiable :" it was said to require prompt
interference." Mr. Mackenzie was instructed to demand
their immediate restitution, as well as compensation for
the losses and injury which our merchants may have sus-
tained. " You will further demand the dismissal of the
officer commanding the Portuguese frigate Diana, as a
just punishment for bis cruel and unmanly treaqnent of

the individuals on board the St. Helena packet; and the
audacity with which he bas thought proper to regard offi-
cers and invalided seamen in his Majesty's service as pirates."
No effectual step was taken towards the ful6lueut of
these objects till the Consul-General. Mr. Alackentie was
changed, and Mr. Hoppner appointed by Lord Palmerston.
In his instructions to this gentleman, dated Jan. 17, 1831,
his Lordship gives him the following excellent advice,
which we have no doubt he has followed, notwithstanding
the charge of Lord Londonderry :
" In adverting to the state of Portugal, and to its relations
with other Powers, I have to desire that you will be careful to
avoid any appearance of interfering in any political question
relating to the internal affairs of that country, and that you
will observe, both in your language and your conduct, a strict
neutrality between the contending parties into which the na-
tion is divided. You will not fail, in the mean time, to incul-
cate upon all British subjects in Portugal the necessity of ab-
staining from all interference in its political dissensions, and to
explain to them that they must abide by the consequences which
might attend any violation, on their part, of the laws of that
country. On the other hand, it will be your duty to keep active
and vigilant watch to prevent any subject of his Majesty, resident
in Portugal, from being treated by any Portuguese authority in
any manner sanctioned neither by the treaties subsisting between
the two countries, nor by the general law of nations."

Other outrages followed -those which had occurred in
the time of the late Administration. Mr. O'Neil, a
British merchant, had been arrested without cause. The
house of Mr. Roberts, another British merchant, had been
broken open by a civil and military force at midnight.
Mr. Cassary's manufactory hail been entered, and his fore-
man carried to prison, by a wretch who declared that lie
acted under the immediate orders of Don Miguel ; and
other excesses had been committed, which threw the Bri-
tish residents into the greatest alarm for their persons
and property. The Consul himself apprehended insult
and indignity, and thought that he would be compelled
to take refuge on board a British frigate in the Tagus.
.‘ I beg leave to assure your Lordship," says Mr. Hoppner,
" that so long as the authorities of this country are permitted to
entertain the conviction that his Majesty's Government will be
appeased by the mere protestations of their regret for acts winch
are unparalleled among any other people pretending tociviliza.
tion, neither the persons nor the property of British subjects
can be considered as secure in this country, nor must we be sur-
prised if not a week passes without a repetition of similar insults."

- In these circumstances, Lord Palmerston, on the 15th
of April last, instructed our Consul-General to demand
redress, in ten days, for a list of insults and grievances
which he enumerated, and to support the demand by an
expedition sent to the Tagus. The result is known,
and has procured for the Government the gratitude
and confidence of the. British residents in Portugal.
There never was a negotiation conducted with more
ability, temper, and firmness than that which is detailed
in the correspondence now submitted to Parliament.
These papers entitled A are followed by another set
of documents entitled 8., containing the correspondence
relative to applications made by the Portuguese Govern.
ment to the British, in reference to the demands of
France.— Times.

FRENCH PAPERS.

(From the Quotidienne of Thursday.)

The discussion on the Peerage made no progress in to-day's
sitting. Every thing said was a repetition, and the impossibi-
lities of M. Cormenin appeared evident to all parties. The

Chamber was debating in a chaos.

. M. Guizot was an unsuccessful imitator of M. Royer Collard.
It seems to be the constant object of those orators to establish
the doctrines of orders distinct from order itself. They want to
have the semblance of inheritance to replace a social principle,
and atlbrd the first fruits which they deem requisite.
But M. Guizot and the revolution cannot fail to read these
astounding words in the speech of M. Bignon :—" Inheritance
can neither be created by an ordinance nor by a law."
By letters from Rome we have received a confirmation of the

recognition of Don Miguel by the Sovereign Pontiff: It was
not as a mere Envoy, but as an Ambassador Extraordinary and

Plenipotentiary, that the Marquis of Lavradio was received by

his Holiness on presenting his credentials. The Pope received
him and his suite with every mark of kindness and friendship.
In a few minutes after this reception the Ambassador called on
the Cardinal Secretary of State, and then at the residence of the

Cardinal Secretary of the Memoriali ; he subsequently paid
what is called the St. Peter's visit, and last of all waited on the
senior Cardinal. The greatest pomp and splendour were dis-
played on this occasion, so that the astonishment of the spec-
tators was much excited, and the crowd was so dense as almost

to obstruct the passage of his " Excellency the Portuguese Am.
bassador."

We understand from a correspondent in La Vendee, that
M. C. Perier has given orders for a general disarming of the
country, without excepting the fire-arms used in field sports.

M. Joseph Perier, brother of the President of the Council,
arrived yesterday in Paris, on his return from a journey to Bel-
gium, whither he was sent with a special mission, in which he
has not succeeded as well as had been hoped.
(From the Gazette de France of Friday.)

The editor of the Gazette de France has just cited before the
Judges the editors of the Constitutionnel, who have signed the
numbers of that journal, containing two libellous articles
against the Gazette.
A letter from Munich states that the Bavarian Chamber of
Deputies has reduced the King's Civil List to 2,500,000 florins.
Thesum proposed by the Ministry amounted to 3,290,000 florins.
The Ex-Emperor Don Pedro paid visits to several Ambassa-
dors yesterday.
The Journal de la ifayc contains the following paragraph :
" It is true the French regiments are returning across the
frontiers into France; but shortly after their arrival in their
own territory about five or six hundred men from each regi-
ment were sent back into Belgium, disguised in the garb
(blouse) of countrymen, and, passing themselves off as natives
of the southern towns of Belgium, they are distributed in the
different places in which Leopold is forming his army. It is
thus that all these soldiers of the Allies will, by degrees, be
united to the Belgian ranks, as the Belgians could do nothing
without them. As soon as the armistice has expired the Dutch
will have to contend against Frenchmen, not Belgians—as
France has the means of prolonging this fraud for an indefinite
period. Thus a nation of thirty-two millions of men, in order
to restore the honour of the Belgic name, is preparing to enter
into contest with a nation of about two millions !"

(From the Constitutionnel of Thursday.)
Extract of a private letter from the Necker Gazette :—"Ac_
cording to the admission of the Russian Generals, Field_
Marshal Paskewitsch attached so much importance to the tak-
ing of Warsaw that he concentrated a force of 112,000 men
under the walls of that capital. This army, strengthened by
230 pieces of cannon, was divided into three columns of
30,000 men ; 18,000 formed the reserve ; 4,000 infantry and
1,800 cavalry were ordered to compose a cordon around the
principal army, for the purpose of keeping Rozyzki in check.
To this mass was opposed a force of 16,000 Poles, who, during
two days sustained a most obstinate, bloody, and glorious com-
bat; 23,000 Russians were buried under the ramparts, and an
equal number will be prevented from joining the service in
consequence of their severe wounds. It was not the Govern-
ment, but the Commandant of the place, who concluded the
capitulation with General Paskewitsch. As soon as the capi-
tulation was signed, the inhabitants of Warsaw were engaged
in removing the bank, the state coffers, the artillery and am-
munition, and spiking the iron cannon upon the ramparts.
Five thousand men of the national guard have followed the
army; the others gave up their arms to the troops who left the
city."

FRENCH FUNDS.-PARIS, OCT. 7.-Five per Cents., 87f. 90c.
95c. 9uc. 88f. 87f. 95c. 80f. sc. 88f. 87E-95c. 90c. 95c. 88f. 88f. 10c.
88f. 87f. 85c. ; Loan of 1831, 88f. ' • Four per Cents. 72E; Three
per Cents., 58f. 35c. 45c. 50c. 65c. 70c. 65c. 70c. 60c. 50c. 58f. 55c.
60c. ; Bank Stock, 1,527 f. 50c. ; Rente de Naples, 69E 50c. 80c. 70f.
69f. 70c. 09f. 60c. ; Royal Spanish Loan, 62% ; Rente Perpe_
tuelle d'Espagne, 46% 4 % 1,4 ; Havtian Loan, 215f.-Exchange
on London, one month, paper, 25f. 10c. ; money, 25E 10c. ; three
months, paper, 25f. ; money, 24f. l'sc.-fours Authentique.
FRENCH F
FUNDS, PARIS, OCT. 8.-Five per Cents. 87f. 90c. 88f.
881. 15c. 88f. 88f. sc. 88f. 87f. 90c. •, Loan of 1831, 88f. ; Four per
Cents. 72f. ; Three per Cents. 58f. 40c. 50c. 60c. 55c. 40c. 35c.
:30c. 25c. ; Rente de Naples, 69f. 70c. 80c. 70c. 6tlc. 70c. ; Rente
d'Espagne, 10; Royal Spanish Loan, 62% • Rente Perpetuelle
d'Espagne, 46% w % lA. Exchange on London, one month,
paper, 25f. 10c. ; money, 25f. 10c. ; three months, paper, 25f. ;
money, 24f. 95c.-Cours Autheatique.