The Sun.
London, England, 1847-11-05 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-
ship Jupiter arrived last night at Southampton,
bringing intelligence from Gibraltar of the 27th ;
Cadiz of the 28th; Lisbon of the 30th; and Oporto
of the 31st ult. It was said that the French and
Spanish Ministers at Lisbon had tendered their re-
signations, in consequence of having received in-
structions from the Government to disregard the
Protocol (on the faith of which the Junta had sur-
rendered), and to aid, by every means in their power,
the designs of COSTA CABRAL, who is thus openly
avowed by the French Government as their agent
and nominee. For the rest of the Lisbon news, we
refer to the accompanying letter :
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The elections of the municipalities are nearly over,
and, with a few exceptions, the vast majority of these
bodies have the Cabralist tint. In England and ge-
nerally abroad, where it is impossible to form an
accurate idea of our political situation, the predominant
opinion, and the inference drawn from the fact must
necessarily be, that the majority of the nation is in
favour of the Cabrals. The- reverse is however the
case, as the bulk of the people are either lliguelites
or Septembrists ; yet in presence of the frauds prac-
tised with the franchise, which were the very same
complained of under Cabral's system, besides the votes
unlawfully given by the military, the result could he
no other but favourable to the Cabral candidates. To
this must be added the circumstance, that the Go-
vernment gave no list, and by a spirit of forbearance,
which I disapprove, it allowed Cabral's list to circu-
late unmolested. Thus the result became in favour
of this party, which boasts most unduly of a victory
easily gained over the negligence and forbearance of
its antagonists.
In Lisbon the elections were peaceable, and the
same happened in many parts of the kingdom ; yet at
Oporto a respectable husbandman was assassinated.
and an artist dangerously wounded. At Leiria
several disgraceful scenes took place, and in many
towns the military were turned out to prevent the
electors of the Opposition from voting. If the Go-
vernment does not take some measures for the free
access to the ballot at the next election of Deputies,
the same result will take place, and the political
career of Ministers will be closed for ever, not much
to their credit.

Six new Peers have been appointed, amongst them
Fonseca Magalhaes, Baron Chancelteiros, Souza
Azevedo, and Manuel Duarte Leitao, ex-Ministers
of State; Macario de Castro, and Nicolas d'Arro-
chella, rich landowners in the Minho. These nomi-
nations appear to be intended as a counteraction
against Cabral in the House of Peers, of which he is
member; as in that house intellect was not abundant.
The selection of these high functionaries for the dig-
nity of Peers, perhaps with a single exception, was
well received by the public, as talents and services
have been remunerated in the present instance.
There is much talk about the nomination of new
civil governors for the different districts, as all of
them, with but one exception, are rank Cabralists,
yet Ido not believe that the change will take place
for the present, as the first example must be given on
the Marquis of Fronteira, who is now more powerful
than the Government itself—disposing at will of the
volunteer battalions. This circumstance has fright-
ened Ministers, yet they must some way or other
secure their places, and show decision, or else they
must let power fall from their hands and anarchy get
the lead, with the Cabrals at the head of it.
Three days ago the Vixen steamer-of-war left for
Madeira, with the Duke of Palmella and suite. The
Duchess appears to be in a very precarious state of
health, yet with the sea voyage she has improved a
little. The climate of Madeira, however, recom-
mended in England by the faculty, is not milder than
that which is enjoyed in Lisbon. The present
season is complete summer, notwithstanding we
are at the end of October. So mild is
the weather, that her Majesty Queen Adelaide has
prolonged her stay a few days more than she intended
at first. The Duke of Palrnella, before his departure,
was invited to a Council of State, but he declined the
invitation, stating, that having resigned his place as
a Councillor of State, when some months ago he was
ordered to leave Lisbon, he could not be present at
the Council. His Grace's answer having come to the
knowledge of her Majesty, the Minister of the In-
terior was directed to state to the Noble Duke, that
as her Majesty had not accepted his resignation of a
Councillor of State, his Grace ought to consider him-
self as such. Notwithstanding this second invitation,
the Duke pleaded as an excuse his short stay in
Lisbon, and did not attend the Council.
There has been a report afloat of a change of
Administration, and the Councillor of State, Fonseca
Magalhaes, it is said, was sent for by her Majesty,
and intrusted with the formation of a new Cabinet.
To-day I hear he has failed in the attempt, much to
the annoyance of the moderate party.
The organ of the Cabrals, the Liistandarte (Stan
dard) published, two days ago, a curious article, in
which allusion is made to Prince Albert, and to a
letter written by his Royal Highness to his cousin,
the King-Consort. I send you the translation of the
most interesting part of the article, which proves the
state of irascibility of the party:—
" The idea (says the Standard) is still gaining
ground that Prince Albert wrote to his Majesty the
King, Don Fernando, a letter, in which he alludes to
his having been charged with a want of faith in car-
rying out the stipulations of the protocol of the 21st
of May. Such a remark is not only highly improper,
but beyond measure unjust ; and, however pure the
intentions might be that dictated it, it is utterly un-
founded upon the principle of the plain and noto-
rious falsehood upon which it is based. We could not
believe that Prince Albert, to whom the English con-
cede not the slightest importance in the political
affairs of the country, and would not even allow to
be attended, except by English servants—we say, we
could not credit that the august Prince who, being
merely the husband of the Queen of Great Britain, is
strictly circumscribed in his adopted country to the
duties of the father of a family, possessing only, and
not being able to possess more, than the voice of any
other subject, would think of giving laws for, the
government of Portugal, or the political administration
of this country.
On Sunday, between the hours of :ten and eleven
at night, a great phenomenon in these southern parts
of Europe appeared in the heavens—l mean the
aurora borealis. The direction of the meteor was
from north-east to the west, and it was visible for
fifteen or sixteen minutes. At the fair of Campo
Grande, where crowds of people walked about that
night, the appearance of the meteor was looked upon
with awe and dread. The bloody colour which it
assumed was immediately considered by the ignorant
as a presage of approaching war and famine. It is
certainly most extraordinary that amongst so many
newspapers published here, scarcely a passing allusion
has been made to the meteor, one of them stating it
could not be the aurora borealis, as our latitude is too
much to the south for suck phenomenon !
The Howe, having on board her Majesty Queen
Adelaide and suite, sailed yesterday evening for Ma-
deira. She was accompanied by the Terrible steam-
frigate.
The late accounts from the Douro represent the
grape crops as most magnificent this year; around
Lisbon they are equally so, and grain of every de-
scription has been abundant.

Trade continues in the same state of dullness, and
money is very scarce, Ihnk-notes suffer a discount
of 36 per cent. Exchange upon London 532 at 30
days' sight.
Lisbon, Oct. 28, 1847.

time,l
Th The
shallm ai having f beenew li n
edsettoa i
mn eyd
fboerymoenrdo theorr e
supsouna!
dence, to state a few particulars that have come to
my knowledge.
There is no doubt that Senhor Rodrigo Magalhae%
failed in the attempt of forming an Administration.
After his failure, the present Ministers most un-
willingly made the sacrifice of continuing in office,
in order to avoid either of the two extreme parties—
the Cabralist and Septembrist—obtaining power,
conscious of the dangers that would follow such an
event.

25Tthhiensftaarnmt,inagndonfn tbhieddreexcsise duties closed on the
appeared at the auction.
The Government does noti
appear much inclined to
farm out this revenue.
understandth it has in view
to ameliorate the financial state
of
paid condition of
.
the creation of Exchequer-bills, e country, by
admissible at the
Customs. This facility will better the
the public functionaries, who can be
bills, and discount them at a moderate premiu'nisuch
reduction also in the expenditure is intended, and A
n
doubt, with the sincere wishes of the present Minis-
ters for economy, something will
_be done to better
the public credit.
Count Esterhazy, on the 28th instant, presented his
credentials as Plenipotentiary of his Majesty the Em.
peror of Austria. He was received at the Palace of
Necessidades, at a public audience held for that pur-
pose, and to which was invited the diplomatic body,
the nobility, and the high functionaries of the State. '
It was rather singular that, invitations having been
sent to individuals of the several political partico: with-
out distinction of opinions, the Septembrists did not
appear, notwithstanding many were invited, as the