The Sun.
London, England, 1841-07-27 00:00:00

" TO THE NATION.

" I, Queen Maria Christina of Bourbon—Considering that,
by artical ten of my august consort, the King Ferdinand VII.,
I am called on to exercise the gvardianship and superinten-
dence of any august daughters as minors: that this nomination
isva id and legitimate as far es the guardianship of the Queen
Isabella, any daughter, is coneered, by the terms of the
law 3, of the title 15, of the partida 2, and in virtue
of art. 60 of the Constitution of the State, and that the
civil laws render this nomination not less valid, as far
as encounter the person of my daughter, the Infanta Maria
Louisa Ferdinanda ; that even if 1 had not become guar-
dian and superintendent of the august orphans by the desire
of my consort, I should be so in virtue of my quality as a
mother and a widow by virtue of the law ; thnt neither the
laws of the kingdom, nor the constitution of the monarchy,
grant to the Government the faculty of intervening in the guar-
dia of the kings nor in that of the infants of Spain ; that
en, of the Cortes resulting from the article of the Con-
st.t.e :on already quoted extended only to the naming of a
an to a king while a minor, when the will has not desig-
nated any, and when the father or mother do not remain in
wi.lowhood. without this right being applicable to any other
ease, or any other kind of guardianship ; seeing that the
Government has put obstacles on the guardianship which
I exercised, by naming agents to intervene in the admi-
nistration of the Royal patrimony and domain, in the
form and for the purposes mentioned in the decrees of the 2d
D-comber last, against which I have already formally protested,
by letter of 20th January of this year, addressed to Don Bal-
(tomer° Espartero, Duke de la Victoria; that the Cortes, in
contempt of the law of Partida of Art. 60 of the constitution,
and of the common law, have declared vacant the guardianship
.f my august daughters, and have named another guardian ;
s clog that my temporary absence does not invalidate the rights
which I hold from the civil and political laws; that the aban-
Uonment of my legitimate rights would imply also the forgetful-.
ness of my most sacred duties, by this very circumstanee,
that 'he mission of watching over the Princesses, my daughters,
was imafided to me, not for my advantage, but for the interests
of :he Princesses and the nation ; I declare that the decision of
t Cozies is a usurpation of power based on force and violence,
usexpation to which I neither ought nor can consent ; that
tile rights, privileges, and prerogatives, which belong to
me as Queen-Mother, and as testamentary and legitimate
guaidi-n and superintendent of the Queen Isabella and the
infanta. Maria Louisa Fernanda, my dearly beloved daughter,
cannot bo lost nor
_proscribed; that I do not give up these
righ's, privileges, and prerogatives, but that they subsist.
and will subsist in all their force and validity, although, in
fact,- the exercise of them is suspended and hindered from
me in consequence of violence ; for these causes, seeing
that I am bound publicly to repel so mensta ous an act of
virde:lea,by all the means in my power, I have resolved to
ptoteyL, as I now do protest once and a thousand times
sol,ranly, in she face of the nation and of the whole world,
of my full arid free will, and spontaneous movement, against
tha tiecrees already pronounced of the 2d December last,
which fettered in' my hands the exercise of the guardian-
Fhip, against the re •olution of the Cortes which declares
tht guardianship vacant, and against all the efforts and
~a 1 the consequences of these arrangements. I declare, more-
over, that the motives alleged for taking awoy from me the
guardianship of my august daughters, and for thus tearing my
entrails'as a mother, are null and false. One consolation re-
m.:l:-.s tome; this is, that elide my hands held the helm of
the state, a number of Spaniards saw shine fur them the day
of clemency, for all the day of impartial justice, for none the
day of vengeance. It was I who, at St. lldefonso, granted the
benefit of the amnesty. Madrid was witness of my constant
efforts to cause the renewal of peace. Valencia saw me for
the last time defend the laws scandalously trodden under feet
by men who were the most bound to defend them. You
know, Spaniards, the privileged objects of my solicitude and
my thoughts have always been, and always will be, the greater
glory of God, the defence and maintenance of the throne of
'lsabella 11., and the welfare of Spain.
" MARIA CHRISTINA.

" Done at Paris, 19th July, 1841,"
" TO DON BALDOMERO ESPARTERO, DUKE DE LA VICTOIRE.

"A sad and sorrowful experience has shown me that the
outrage which, at Valencia, completed the blow aimed at the
royal authority, and at the Government, of which I was legally
and legitimately the depositary during the minority of Queen
Isabella, my beloved daughter, was but the prelude to fresh
violences, and fresh persecutions, which were reserved for me.
Little sa.tistied with depriving me of the Regency, which I was
forced to renounce rather than betray my oaths, little satisfied
with reducing me to the cruel necessity of banishing' me
for a time from Spain, the authors of this attempt, desti-
tute of every principle of religion and humanity, and '
making use of pretexts, false and contrary to my honour
and to my consideration, have since that time laboured, and
in as open manner, to deprive me of the most tender con-
solatirei which can be felt by a mother, animated hy the love
and sulieitude which I feel :or my daughters. I c ,nnot find
word, 'o express the event of the grief I felt on learning that
I had been arbitrarily despoiled of the ;.7,uardian.ilp,
the of which was assured to me by claims as ne;nerous
as ievimate and sacred. The Cortes, in thus d'..ciding the
affair, you an l the ministers, in submitting to *leir delibera-
tion, base arrogated to yourselves powers. which du net
belong to you ; you have not recognised the feelings of
nature, and, as far as was in your -power, have severed its
bonds ; you have overturned every rule of justice, and you
have pitilessly chosen me for your victim ; I who, to arrive
at a wise conciliation, in vain made every sacrifice com-
patible with my dignity as queen-mother, and with my
maternal duties. The long correspondence which I car-
ried on with you to this end will be a weighty testimony of it.
It is fur this reason that I know not how to withdraw myself
from the fulfilment of a duty so grave, which God and nature
impose on me on this occasion, and, obeying the voice of my
necessity -
and impelled besides by the extreme conscience, of
self defence, I have to-day come to the resolution of making, a
seltinn
protest against all on which the Cortes have decided-to
the detriment of my legitimate rights as Queen-mother, and as
the sole guardian and testamentary superintendent of my
au-
n
gust daughters. I .annex to this letter the said Protest, written
eAtireiy with my own hand, in order that you may Cause it to
be imnediateiy published in the Alfadrirl Gazette.
trust
3.nur doing so, and prayx IIIARIA CHRISTINA.
God to have you in his holy keeping.
" Paris, July 19.

PORTUGAL.
LISBON, JULY 19.—The Report of the Finance Committee
for the recovery of the decimas and imposts for the economic:
year of 1840 to 1841, was approved of in the Chamber of rie-
jiuties on the. 16th instant. On the.previous clay, during the
discussion of this question, a very stormy debate took place
ovving to the following circumstances. Last week M.Avila,
the Finance Minister, having had some angry words with N.
Joan Baptista Garrett, this latter gentleman retaliated ina
lotig Paid eloquent speech against the project of Ministers, in
IPillirAi personal allusions to the Finance Alinister were of no
very gentle nature. At its conclusion the Minister against
whom the attack was directed, after having vainly endeavoured to
reply, complained bitterly of the Speaker for not having called
Al. Garrett to order. The President, however, contended he
had acted impartially, and, upon the altercation growing warm,
declared he would never again sit as Speaker in that Chamber.
On Saturday last the House proceeded to ballot for a new.
Speaker, vrhen the Vice-President, M. Jervis cie Autogia, was
the chosen President, and M. Farinho elected to the vacant
Vice-Presidency. Inconsecrence of this violent attack, a de-
cree was published in the Douro do Govern() of Saturday, ex-
onerating M. Garrett of his commissions held under the Go-
vernment—viz., Chronicler of the Realm, Vice-President of
the Dramatic Conservatory, and Inspector-General of the
Theatres. This measure of Government has been badly
received by the public, who view in it a spirit of mere revenge.
The debates in the Senate have been of local interest.
Among the diplomatic changes about to be effected, M.
Lima, the Portuguese Envoy at the Court of Madrid, is likely
to proceed to that of Rome.

The Foreign Secretary announced to the Chambers, thot in
additien to the recognition of her Majesty the Queen by the
Emperor of Austria, the same would shortly be observed by his
Imperial Majesty of Russia.
Recent aarivals from the Azores. hearing date from St.
31ichacl's of the 7th, and Terceira of the 4th instant, confirm
the melancholy intelligence of the destruction of Villa de
Praia da Victoria, and adjacent hamlets, in the latter island,
by the late earthquake. The subscriptions in behalf of the
suffering inhabitants of those places still continue in the
Chambers of Senators and Dei.uties, and upon a very liberal
scale at Oporto. A benefit opera at San Carlos will :Is° be
given this evening for the same purpose.
A calamitous fire broke out on Tuesday last at Costa, a
fishing place near the lighthouse of Fort Bugio, on the south
side of the entrance of the Tagus, which destroyed upwards of
300 huts, leaving the miserable inhabitants in an utter state of
destitution.

Insubordination in the garrison of Oporto has again mani-
iiipl itself, by the 3d Regiment of Artillery and 28th batta-
o" Cacadores having formally demanded their arrears :
they oro appeased by recoiling 15 days' pay, which was ar-
ra!, •i,,on the responsibility of the military governor of that
the Baron de Alcobaca.
he troops in the Algarve% are by all accounts in a most
pitiable plight, without clothing, shoes, or tobacco ; while,
strange to observe, the civic authorities take care to help them-
selves even to an advance of salary.
Exchange u;on London at 30 days' 53.1 d, per milrei.

r

HANOVER.
PROCLAMATION OF THE KING.
" Ernest Augustus, by the Grace of God, King of Hanover,
" On the 30th of last month we saw ourselves under the ne.
ce!sity, though unwillingly, of dissolving the Aseembly, of the
States of the kingdom, because the Second Chamber proved by
its mode of acting that it was absolutely incapable of fulfilling
the duties imposed on it. Our proclamation of the 15th of
February, 1839, pointed out to our faithful subjects the reasons
why the constitution of 1819 was not modified in 1833 in the
manner determined upon on the 7th of December, 1819.
We explained ourselves formally on this subject be-
fore our accession. Thus, at the period of our ac-
cession, the constitution of 1819 was alone placed under
the guarantee of article 56 of the Final Act of the Congress of
Vienna. According to the terms of article 13 of the
Federal Act, there should be a State constitution in each
State of the confederation. The introduction of a written con
stitution is not a proscription of the federal legislation. Thus
we have several times expressed our opinion that written con-
stitutions were not, under every circumstance, necessary to the
States, and even that objections might be raised against their
introduction. Nevertheless, taking into consideration the
wishes of our subjects_, we submitted to the Assembly of the
States on the 18th of February, 1838, a projectof constitution.
On the 27th of June, 1838, the Chambers were adjorned, and
we withdrew the project in consequence of the irregularity of
the discussion. On the 15th of June, 1839, the Assembly of
the States invited us to take again into consideration the ques-
tion of the constitution ; the States added that it was requisite
to proceed according to constitutional modes, conformably to
the wishes of the country. A committee was in consequence
appointed to prepare a project of constitution.
" The Assembly of the States had evidently the right to de-
liberate on this project. The resolution of the Germanic Diet
of the sth of September, 1839, could leave no doubt on this
p..int. On the 19th of March, 1840, the project was submitted
to the States. if some Deputies did not take part in that de-
liberation, this resistance could not be overcome by us. The
project was voted on the Ist of August, 1840, and promulgated
on the 6th of the same month. This constitution, having. been
deliberated on between the King and the States, cannot be
attacked by any legal means. This constitution respects the
rights of our Royal house to the domains, and makes no attack
on the rights of the Crown based on the ancient constitution
of the country. It serves to strengthen the rights of the gene-
ral and provincial states of the kingdom ; it extends the
rights of the first to the protection of the consti-
stitution itself ; it protects the rights of corporations and
individuals, and establishes the equal division of the
taxation. It confirms the independent action of the judicial
power, and equally guarantees the action of the Administration.
It attributes to a special authority the right of separating, its
certain cases, the judicial and administrative powers ; and we
have confided this authority to the most estimable men of the
kingdom. The duration and the inviolability of the Constitu-
tion is assured for the future by the basis of the ancient right of
the Crown on which it reposes ; by the basis of the laws of the
German Confederation, with which it is in accordance on all
points ; by the federal resolution of the sth of September,
1839 ; by our Royal word ; by the assent of the Prince Roy al;
by the approbation of the States; by the rights accorded to the
General Assembly of the States, and in its absence to the Col-
lege of the Treasury, to invoke the protection of. the Gcr-,
manic Confederation. As long as Providence shal preserve
our life, we shall not for a moment doubt the legality of that'
constitution. , Our well-beloved ins the Prince Royal, has.
formally expressed for the future this with in the First Cham-
ber. in consequence, we have, on the 14th April, in this
present year, convoked the Assembly of the States. Haying
received the thanks of the authorities and the inhabitants for,
this new constitution, we have not considered it necessary to
exercise a special surveillance over the elections which should
remain free. It is for this reason we confined ourself to order-
ing a surveillance of police. These measures have affected
some individuals, who are now the objects of a criminal prose-
cution. These individuals were formally opposed to the regu
lations of the constitutional question and compromised public
order. We could even have caused their arrest according to a
law of the 27th June, 1838, and we shall carry that law into
execution whenever plots shall be entered into against the
safety of the State.
" We have just heard that some enemies of our Government
have spread a report that the taxes are about to be raised.
Notwithstanding this and other equally mischievous rumours,
only taking counsel of our justice and of our solicitude for the
welfare of our subjects, we have reckoned on the unalterable de-
votion and gratitude of our subjects. On the 2d of June last
the Chambers assembled; 36 deputies manifested their attach-
ment to the laws of the country, 12 other Deputies have placed
themselves at the head of a party who are hostile to our Go-
vernment. Their object was to revive the constitutional ques-
tion, and to oppose every measure favourable to our subjects.
A number of others were drawn over to their way of thinking,
and thus they formed a majority in the Chamber hostile
to our Government. It has been weak ; it has been,
however, the means of paralysing our paternal views,
inasmuch as they required the concurrence of the States. The
Second Chamber, thus composed, have led away many Depu-
ties who were animated with the best intentions, making them
believe that we wished to attack the established laws, whilst, on
the contrary, we respect them. It is thus with the Liberal
party, which respects neither private nor public rights. The
tyranny was become so intolerable that the members of the ma-
jority, 'fearing the responsibility which would weigh on them,
quitted the assembly, not daring to support a contary opinion.
Our governmental acts, our desire to lessen the taxes, which
press on agriculture, should have deprived the remarks of
the enemies of the Government of all their force. The first
acts of the Second Chamber showed hostile intentions. The
choice of the candidates for the Presidentship fell, first, on a
member who, under the reign of William IV., used all his
ffortS to constrain the Royal power to make concessions and
to enter into compromises with the States. The second can-
didate declared on the 13th of Alarch, 1833, in the Assemble
of the States, that he never wished for a fundamental law based
on the existing laws. The third was declared by us inadmis-
sible to the functions of the Councillor of the Treasure. These
three candidates obtained at the first ballot the absolute majo-
rity of voices, which proved that there was in the Chamber a
party decided on carrying on a systematic opposition against
the Government. Circumstances independent of our will
having prevented ns from convoking the Assembly of the
States at an earlier period, it was our intentied to shorten the
Session, that the :Members might not be kept from their homes
beyond the usual period. The budget should have been the
first object of their attention. The Chamber, at the same
time, had communicated to it different financial and other
Bills. The First Chamber hastened to form a Com-
mittee on the Budget. The Second Chamber, instead of
forming a Committee of able and intelligent men,
made choice of Members who had no knowledge•
of financial matters, and by their turning their attention in-
stead to constitutional questions prevented the proceedings of
the other Chamber. It was our duty consequently to assure
the carrying 'on of the public service by constitutional means,'
and as a commencement to dissolve the States agreeably to an
article of the Constitution, which we should otherwise have
done from the hostile attitude assumed by the Second Chamber.
The President of that Chamber being honoured with an inter-
view. hesitated not to draw conclusions from my words contra's,
to their meaning, but in unison with his own ideas. In refusing
all concurrence with Government, it was wished to suggest to
the people a false idea, that the Constitution of 1840, was not
proper to assure the welfare of the people and the country, and
to excite discontent against the existing authorities. The
Address was rejected by the First Chamber, and blamed by a
large number of the Second. The discovery of these criminal
projects will only render odious their authors, who have sworn
fidelity to us and to our son. We repel with horror such an
opposition.
" We have also to complain of the conduct of the majorityin calumniating our most intimate servants, who prer.-ess an un-
bounded devotion to our person. In all ins' rtant affairs of
State our faithful counsellors are charge!, with the execution
of our wishes, and if they are attaelced the Courts of Justice
will know how to punish them. Conformably to the provi-
sions of the Constitution of August 6, 1840, we shall convoke
within the legal period an assembly of the States to which we
shall again submit the projects of law, which have not been
examined, a_ we are willing to believe that the errors com-
mitted by lhe majority
of the Second Chamber of the dissolved
assoml:iy will exercise a salutary influence on the composition of
th, new one.

" We do not require the concurrence of the States to carry
on the public service and to levy the taxes, but we do require
their concurrence to realise objects which are of benefit to my
subjects,' always the olject of my paternal solicitude.
"Party spirit, which is blind, could alone dissemble that
the welfare and prosperity of the country mast inevitably
suffer by a persistanee in a state of things as adopted by the
dissolved Chamber.

(Signed
" July 14, 1841."

"ERNEST AUGUSTUS.

The following is the text of the Royal decree, issued by the
King of Hanover, respecting the manner in which the Prince
Royal is to sign public documents on coming to the throne :
" We, Ernest Augustus, by the grace of God, King of
Hanover, &c. Moved by our high Royal wisdom, and with
the assent of our well-beloved son, his Royal Highness the
Prince Royal, George Frederick Alexander Charles, in case
the latter shall be called to the throne by the right of primo-
geniture, before it shall have pleased Providence to restore to
him his sight, we have ordained as follows :—l. The reign-
ing Prince alone decides upon the actions he ought to sanction
with his august signature ; except the act of his accession
to the throne, which holds- its force from the Constitution of
the country. 2. 'The Royal signature shall be affixed to the
minute and the original of each act,: in the presence and with
the cmintersign of one of,,,thew eeveral Ministers. 3. As
long as the unfortunate circumstance by which his Royal
Highness The Prince Royal, -onr- well-beloved son, is afflicted
11411 continue, there shall be 'prelent at the moment of sig-
aeltowwitth which it
nature, besides the Ministers, ,two persons taken from
rang twelve who shall be iklibigh for this express purpose.
''' The Royal' signature A'ill,:lia' lie affixed until after the
two persons. 5. The Re) .,
'
is to be iriVeiteil shall been read with
•
a and distinct voice 1111`,bne -of • the above-med ioned
Royal - sionature shall be immediately
followed, and,
counter•sign
attending, and declaring el.t.l;eveisaame sitting, by the :Ministerial
act, signed by the two persons
pre-
sence, and in Conformity" with'
nng that all had passed in their pre-
drawn up and deposited ' these our provisions, shall he
King, m the Archives.-7. None but acts
signed by the accordi
scribed, shall have any bindingf
Opuorwerre.ignGiven at Hanover this
Georg; DFrEedeSrCiektlFALl.Exa'n'
3d July, 1841, the fifth
F
declaration •-:
(Counter-signed) " ERNEST AUGUSTUS. ,
To this is annexed the followin
g‘ We, Prince Royal,
der Charles
well beloved fartehveru dos
Ernest Augustus, having taken cognizance ofe the p is' ea
wr eegeanr dt i rbe
entirely
theaec King,accede
to our
them.
In faithofwhich
we
affix our seal and signature.
declare taken i n
" GEORGE."
that we
,4 Made and signed in presence of all the Ministers, whose
signatures follow."