The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-09 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.
LISBON, AUG. 2.—The Bill of Foracs, or land-pro-
perty, has been but slowly progressing, owing to M.
Soure, an opposition deputy, having declared that such
a law would be but a panacea, bring no eventual good to
the country, and prose only the means of creating end-
less litigation. On Wednesday a project for lessening
the postage on newspapers which circulate through the
kingdom was adjourned sine die, Ministing having ob-
jected to it. Their opponents, who seem to have had
the superiority in argument, were obliged to succumb to
Ministerial numbers, and after some bitter reflections
against the press, which fell from the Foreign Secretary,
M. Rodrigo da Fonseca Magelehaes, a division Was called
for, which decided its adjournment. The vital question of
the stoppage of payment or bankruptcy bya capitalization of
the floating debt up to the end of June last, as proposed
by the Palmella Committee, is given as the order of to-
day. On this question the variance which exists between his
Grace and the Ministry, particularly- AI. Avila, of the
Finance Department, is well known ; the latter, in a
meeting lately held, said he would resign office if his
colleagues intended to give their support to the mea-
sures ; his Grace answered him in rather an angry tone,
and observed, that arguments ad terrorent were but a
poor mode of discussion, concluding, that if the present
Ministers were to go out, the country would not, in con-
sequence, be lost. Notwithstanding this divergency of
opinion,, the continuation of the finance s-.:heme in statu
quo will, in all probability, be carried. From the aspect
in which affairs now are, and are likely to assume, it is
conjectured that, soon after the 15th of the present
month, Ministers will call for a vote of confidence, and
then prorogue the Cortes to next January.
I learn, from good authority, that M. Aguilar, the
Spanish Envoy at this Court, has written in the most
energetic terms to the Government upon the recognition
of the late Miguelite Bishops, and their appointment to
the two dioceses on the Portuguese frontiers, Braganza
and Elves. Spain looks with a jealous eye upon these
recognitions and on the negotiations carried on with the
Pope, and seems to discover a plan for undermining the
Spanish revolution, and establishing a propaganda in
Portugal.
Saturday, the twenty-ninth anniversary of the birth-
day of her Imperial Majesty the Duchess of Braganza,
was feted as a grand gala, and the usual domon-
strations were shown by firing Royal salutes from
the Portuguese forts and ships of war in the Tagus.
A,Royal dinner was given at the Palace at Cintra to
her ImpefialMajesty—on the occasion; amongst the.gueSt's
Were the gallant Duke de Terceira, the Marquis de Sal-
danha, and the Bishop of Braptiza. The invitation of
this Prelate, who five years ago in a printed address ad-
vocated, the cause of Don Miguel in opposition to her
Majesty the Queen and the Pedroites, has afforded much
matter for animadversion. Her Serene Highness the
Infanta, Donna Isabel Maria, the once Regent of Por-
tugal, has left her Palace at Bemfica for that of Ramal-
hao, near Cintra, to pass the summer.
The revenue of the Lisbon Custom-house, and Excise-
office and Custom-house of Oporto for the month of June
last, paid in debentures, ex-paper money, and coin,
amounts conjointly to 329,058,050 revs, equal tn. 73,402/.
2s. Bd. sterling, showing an increase on the preceding
month of May of 7,9541. Bs. 3d. sterling.
The accounts from the Algarves are of a most lament-
able nature, scarcely anything but murders, assassina-
tions, and robberies of the worst description are to be
heard of ; the churches of Santa Marinha do Zezere,
Trisouras, Loivos da Ribeira, and San Nicolas, have
been recently broken into and stripped of everything of
value.
Yesterday, at mid-day, a calamitous and extensive fire
broke out in the premises of a Swiss cabinetmaker at the
Thesouro Velho, near to the English hotel of Madame de '
Belem, which, being increased_ by a very strong north
wind, threatened, for upwards of two hours, destruction to
the whole of the neighbouring districts. Happily, how-
ever, through the well-directed exertions of the firemen,
assisted by many private individuals and the officers
and seamen from the Portuguese ships of war, the
French corvette Coquette, and the British brig Espoir,
the flames were got under ; and by five o'clock all appre-
hension for the safety of the adjoining dwellings had sub-
sided. Much property has been destroyed, but no lives
lost. Captain Franca, who it may be recollected after
the revolution of September, 1836, was Inspector of the
Naval Arsenal and Colonel of that battalion, and impli-
cated in the attempts at revolution in August last, after
having saved the whole of the family of the house where
he resided, by conducting them at the risk of his life
along a parapet, _returned to secure some papers and va-
luables, but unfortunately losing his equilibrium, owing
to the violence of the wind and raging of the fire, fell
from a height of nearly two stories, and is now lying se-
verely injured at the house of a relative.
Three suicides, by persons moving in a respectable
sphere of life, brought about by gambling,, and other
pecuniary embarrassments, have taken place here during
the past week.
The Brandywine United States frigate left on Thurs-
day last for her station in the Mediterranean, touching
at Cadiz.
Exchange upon London at 30 days' sight, 54d. per
milrei.

TO THE EDITOROFTHE SUN.
SlR,—Should the following verses meet with your op
probation, the author will be obliged by your giving
them a place in your columns.
He has the honour to remain, Sir, your most obedient
servant, - A CANTHARIDIAN.

A NOSTRUM FOR THE NONCE.
The tincture of Tamworth, and Peel's patent pill,
Are medicines Britannia must bolt and must swill ;
While Morison's ghost is in raptures to see
A Premier like him—a quack doctor can be !
Oh, here is a recipe grand—universal :
" Misce argent. aurumqm (to find these coerce all
The Commons) est bolus (this Latin will end us)
Beatus, et optimus, seniper capiendus."
Edinburgh, August 6, 1841.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AND LOSS

• OF LIFE.
Chow:LAN, AUG. 7.—This melancholy event took place
on Friday afternoon. The fire was discovered about five
o'clock, and from the quantity of inflammable materials
on the premises they were soon a heap of ruins. The
building thus destroyed was an oil manufactory belong-
ing to Messrs. Chesson and Holding. On the premises
were erected three stills for the purpose of distilling oil
from ingredients known only to themselves ; and it is
supposed that the bursting of one of these occasioned
the accident whereby Chesson's life has been sacrificed.
The place presents an awful spectacle. The body of
Chesson was dug out of the burning pile about five o'clock
this morning ; it presented a most awful sight, the lower
extremities, legs, and thighs were completely burnt to a
cinder. One arm was lost off the body. The head and
chest' remained whole, but burnt completely through.
There were on the premises about 120 gallons of oil and
22 cwt. of resin. The unfortunate man has left a wife
and three children, and the wife is near her confinement.
The awful news of her husband produced such a shock
upon her nerves that little hopes are entertained of her
recovery. The property destroyed is about 2001- and
not insured, beside the building, which, it is believed, is
insured in the Norwich Fire-office.

An inquest was held on the body on Saturday after-
noon at the White Horse public-house, Gillingham,
before Mr. Hinde, Coroner. and a respectable Jury.
Mr. Henry Holding, the partner of the deceased,
sworn, said, the deceased and myself manufactured and
rectified three descriptions of oils. I have frequently
cautioned the deceased not to work thestill by himself,
as I considered it was not safe for him to do so alone,
and was not aware he had done so. I heard of the
accident about six o'clock in the evening of yester-
day. I went to the building immediately, and the.'
place was all in a blaze. The first thing I did was
to make inquiries for the deceased. The distil-house
was down. I could not learn anything about him. I
then went and examined the apparatus the deceased had
been working at, and found the side of the still had been
blown out, and there was a large hole at the bottom of
the boiler, which caused the ingredients to ignite, which
fired the building. The bursting was owing to the still
being so thin. The danger in which I knew the still to
be in, it ought not to have been worked by the deceased
alone, and I have repeatedly cautioned the deceased about
tile dangerous state of the apparatus. Our manufactory
was always kept a socret. My opinion is, that the de-
ceased finding the place on fire must have gone into the
great loft, and intended making his escape from the lower
gallery. The deceased was about thirty years of age.
Richard Cooper sworn, proved the finding of the body.
The Jury, under the advice of the Coroner, returned a
verdict " That the deceased was found burnt to death."
The Foreman and some of the Jury considered it
highly necessary that the Coroner should severely repri-
mand the partner of the deceased for working a still of
so bad a construction, which was done.

GUY FAWKES.—As every one knows, this
romance has continued for some time a leading feature
in Mr. Bentley's Miscellany. The chapters, scattered
throughout that periodical, are now collected, and pub-
lished in the regular form of a three-volume novel. This
might have been anticipated, not only from the reputa-
tion of the author, but from the intrinsic ability and in-
terest of the work itself ; and there is no doubt that it
will be still be more extensively read and circulated than
it has been in its detached condition. It will be read
again by many who have perused it piecemeal, with re-
newed appetite ; and this is a compliment which we
think it merits, for Mr. Ainsworth, both in the concep-
tion, construction, and development of his subject, has
exhibited more care, and we are inclined to add, more
ability, than in any of his other productions with which
the public are familiar.—Edinburgh Evening Post.
MESSRS. DAIN TRY, RYLE, AND CO.'s BANK-
RupTcy.—We understand that the total number of proofs
of debt under this fiat is 589. The amount of the debts
proved against the Macclesfield Bank i 5116,902/. 198.2 d.;
against the Manchester Bank, 48,571/. 6s. 11d.; and the
private debts proved amount to 3311..185. 3d. ; making a
grand total of 165 Whitmore. 4d.; besides which, the as-
signees of Messrs'. . and Wells, on whom the
bank drew in London, claim to prove for 218,5081.55. 3d.
Manchester Guardian.
- Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent was
expected to arrive in this country
owi pFevious to thly e
to the e
unsettlen-
suing week ; but we learn, that ng d
state of the weather, it is probable her Royal Highness
may prolong her stay on the Continent a short time
longer. At the date of the last letters we rejoice to state
her Royal Highness continued in the enjoyment' of ex-
cellent health.—Observer.
BRUSSELS, AUG. 7.—lt results from the ave-
rage prices of wheat and rye last week in the ten pro-
vincial markets, and from the law of the 31st of July,
1834-1. That wheat will be exempt from import duty,
dating from the 11th of this month; 2. That the im-
portigo mrdautymeosn rye remains fixed at 25f. 50c. for 1,000
and rye is ; 3. That the export duty on both wheat
25c. for 1,000 kilogrammes. The average
prices of wheat is 2if. 60c. ; that of rye, lit 1/5e7