The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-05 00:00:00

THE 81114. 130N•DOESDAy EyENitici, JANUArty 5, 1849.

circulated among the magistricy; one month before the
II) egate sessions.
Mr. lris•coe retired from the Chairmanship of the
Committee, and Mr. Chandler was appointed instead.
To a rc quest that the former gentleman would remain
a member of the Coinruittce,'he declined to accede.

DEFEAT of BOMFIM at TORRES
VEDRAS,

SALDANIIA'S OFFICIAL DISPATCHES.

The following is the oftMd dispatches of Saldanha,
announcing his victory over Bomfirn
%red intelligence that Lisbw,
the Veit:fit-cc': Corps and iNiu-
dare
attack to circumstances
tt
to,
dfnrei°cfend itself if ‘ en,t n-thwes.latrsrle.ebcbcee::ll;
feovri-
cde
s
the united forces of the ex-Conde de Bomfirn, of Mott-
toshboehlidn
sinho de Albuquerque. of the ex-General Celestine, and
of the guerilla chief Fernando de Sousa Botelho, occu-
pied Alcohaca, and Caldas.
" I did not lose an instant upon receiving that com-
munication, which caused me so much pleasure, and
on the 19th I marched with a force under my command
in the direction of taldtts, roy vanguard reasaining for
the night in Tagarro and Cereal. In these
places I united all my force on the following
morning, waiting for information, and for the
result of the parties of cavalry which I had sent forward
in the direction of Caldas and Bombarral. From Cereal
and 'l'agsrro there are three roads, for Caldas, Cadaval,
and Candillios. After midday I acquired the certainty
that the enemy had taken the road which leads from
Caldas to Torres Vedras, and I immediately marched
for Cadaval, u here the troops encamped. Oa the fol-
lowing day we airivt d at Atnial, within a league of
Torres Vedras. Ti.ere I acquired the certainty that
the enemy was in the latter town. The tempest during
these marches, and particularly the last night, was
horrible, and continued the same on the following
day. I was, therefore, still obliged to keep the troops
encatnped.
On the 221 at half-past 10 o'clock in the morning,
we arrived at the position occupied by the enemy. The
lilies of Torres Vedras, famous in the military annals
not only of Portugal, but of the whole world, where the
barrier which. for the first time, checked the rapid
flight of the French eagle. It was there that the armies
of Napoleon, for the first time, found an invincible ob-
stacle. Torres Vedras is itself the strongest part of
these lines. The heights of St. Vincent, covered by a
magnificent redoubt in very good condition, that of
Forca, and that of Saes, on the right bank of the river
Cezindro [in Napier's History and the map of the Lines
this is marked as the'Leandro'], are flanked by the fire
of the castle, which may be considered as the true cita-
del of these works, whose gorges it defends. Between
these heights and the town runs the Cezindro, which is.
crossed by three bridges, approached by considerable
paved ways, which are all enfiladed by the fire of the
castle, and flanked by the fire of the redoubts. This
exceedingly strong position had been carefully occupied
by the rebels, whose leaders had frequently said to the
inhabitants of this town that, even though the forces
tinder my command were four times what they were, I
Should be bate' if I dared to attack such a position. It
is not given to rebels to estimate the courage which
animates loyal breasts in the just and holy cause which
we defend. Rut, without the enthusiasm which ani-
mates us, without the conviction that the Queen's
crown is entrusted to our efforts, as well as the con-
tinuance of the dynasty and of the Constitutional
Charter, the assertion of the rebel chiefs would be of
perfect accuracy.
" At a quarter past eleven the rebels opened their fire.
On reconnoitering the position I saw that the victory
depended on the possession of the great redoubt in the
fort of St. Vincent; and after making the battalions of
the Ist and Bth Cacadores call in their skirmishers, I
ordered Colonel Mesquita a Solla, commandant of the
Ist brigade, to take the redoubt at the point of the bayo-
net, which was executed by the Ist brigade in the most
glorious manner. The fort was garrisoned by a batta-
lion of the 6th Cacadores, three companies of the 6th in-
fantry, and several guerillas.
" The horrible state of the roads had delayed the
march of our artillery, notwithstanding all the efforts of
Brigadier Silva Leao and the entire corps of artillery,
assisted most efficaciously by Major Carvalho, Comman-
dant, and the other officers of the brigade of Engineers
and corps of Sappers, and it was three o'clock before
they opened their fire against the enemy. I then gave
the necessary orders to attack the town, which was to be
executed simultaneously at four o'clock by the three bri-
gades of infantry supported by some cavalry.
" The Bth and 10th regiments, which had advanced in
line, supporting the battalion of the Ist Cacadores,
before the taking of the fort of St. Vincent, sustained
for a long time a fire, both in front and flank, with a
firmness and courage worthy of the greatest praise. To
these two bodies belongs the glory of having been the
first to enter the town by the central bridge with part of
the Bth Cavalry and Queen's Lancers. Colonel Mes-
quita a Solla, at the head of some of the Queen's Grena-
diers, and followed by his brigade and a force of the 3d
Cavalry and Queen's Lancers, with the greatest alacrity
made good the entrance by the right bridge. The 4th
brigade did not enter the town till nightfall:
" The enemy, beaten on all sides, having lost a great
number of prisoners and killed, and seeing the force
which occupied the redoubt of Forca cut off, collected
several
s oelodri
pe rs s
owf h
toh
eh a
edn bed,been dispbeganersedi
2b9e
100
nhgo
irng se.
within the castle all the force that remained, including
to Theth the in e
come over to me, together with the 'three companies of
the 2d Regiment of Infantry, which garrisoned the re-
doubt of Forca.

" I immaliately applied myself to cut off all the com-
munications which led to the castle, and thus we passed
the night. Before daybreak I caused two 6-pounders
and two mortars to be sent out of the town, and at 10
A.m. these were placed in position to play on the castle.
At 11 I caused it to be intimated to the commander
of the forces there assembled that he must sur-
render within an hour, at the end of which time
the cannonade would commence ; the only condition
which I granted being a guarantee for their lives.
The ex-General Valdez (Bomfim) answered, that the
valiant manner in which his troops had conducted
themselves deserved that they should come forth
with military honours—the officers retaining their bag-
gage and the soldiers their knapsacks, which I conceded;
and at midday they came forth from the castle and laid
down their arms-900 infantry, 400 Cacadores, and 200
horse ; the ex-Conde de Bomfins, Mousinho de Albu-
querque (severely wounded), the ex. General Celestino,
all the chiefs, and other officers of the sth and 6th erica-
dores, and of the 2d and 6th Regiments of Infantry, and
the different corps of cavalry and artillery, with a great
number of guerilleros, such as Lauret, Fernando de
Sousa Botelho, Jaynae de Vixen, and other characters
conspicuous amongst the anarchists. Thus, by the per-
mission of the God of Battles, were crowned the efforts
of the faithful subjects of the Most Faithful Queen.
.‘ It is absolutely impossible to convey an exact idea
of the valour displayed by our troops on this memorable
day without seeing the position and passing over the
ground on which we fought; and if it be possible to
enhance such conduct, it would be by a consideration of
the roads over which we passed during those four days,
and of the tempestuous nights during which we en-
camped. But this glory has cost us dear, as your
Majesty will see by the list of the losses which we
suffered, and which I have the honour to submit to your
Majesty. To-morrow I shall have the honour to submit
a list of the persons whose brilliant conduct merits your
royal munificence.
" Sire, the holy cause which we defend has made a
decisive step through the victory of the 22d; but our task
is not concluded, and I can confidently assure your Ma-
esty, in the name of the brave men whom I command,
that we shall not rest till the legitimate authority of
her Majesty the Queen is re-established throughout the
entire kingdom, and that we only aspire, at the cost of
every sacrifice, to strengthen the constitutional throne on
so firm a basis that it will not be given to the caprice of
any party to shake it.

" Duke DE SALDANHA.

" Head-quarters at Torres Vedras, Dec. 25, 1846."
The following are copies of the dispatches which
passed between Salhanha and Bomfim in reference to the
capitulation :

His Excellency the Marshal Duke de Saldanha
has commissioned me to intimate to the commander
of the forces stationed within the castle of
this town, that he must surrender within the
space of one hour after receipt of this, with the
single condition that the life of every individual is gua-
ranteed, and that the private soldiers will be permitted
to continue in the service of her Majesty the Queen; it
being understood that the artillery is already in position
by which the castle will bo cannonaded, unless it sur-
render before the period stated. His Excellency makes
the said commander and the other leaders responsible
for all the Portuguese blood which their obstinacy may
cause to flow. His Excellency commissions me also to
transmit the enclosed copies of the communications in-
tercepted last night. By the Marshal's order I certify
to, the said commander that the fire will positively com-
mence at the period stated, unless the surrender shall
have taken place.

"Baron DE SAA.VEDRA.
" Head-quarters in Torres Vedras,
Dec. 23, 11 A.M., 1846."
BOMFIM'S ANSWER.
"All my life I have served with honour, as well as the
General, chiefs, and officers, and all the soldiers whom I
have the honour to command. To accept the conditions
which are now proposed to us would be to stain the
honour of the Portuguese army, in which we have
performed so many services for her Majesty the Queen
and for the country ; neither could we have expected
such a proposal from those who saw us fight yesterday.
But I would have no hesitation in surrendering, with all
my force, within an hour, provided the accustomed
honours of war be conceded to us, which I cannot do
otherwise than expect from his Excellency Marshal
SalOanha, by whose side we have so often gloriously
fought. For the reasons stated we reckon on a capitu-
lation being conceded to us, the officers of the line and
of the national battalions, retaining their swords, horses,
baggage, and the troops their knapsacks.
" God guard your Excellency.
" Conde DO BOMFIM.
"Castle of Torres Vedras, Dec. 23, 1846, noon."
SALDANHA'S REJOINDER.

" Facts cannot be denied. It is a fact that the Portu-
gues troops on both sides fought honourably; it is a fact
that the troops within the castle of this town deserve
military honours ; but it is also a fact that I cannot go
counter to the determination of her Majesty the Queen.
I therefore require a clear and categorical answer, in
which I shall be informed whether it is understood by
the officers retaining their swords that they are to re-
tain their commissions also, in which case I cannot con-
sent. But if it be sought to retain their swords only as
a military honour, I have not the least hesitation in con-
ceding it, as well as the baggage and knapsacks to those
who so well deserve them.
"Duke DE SALDANHA."

BO?sIFIM'S REPLICATION.
" I have the honour to reply to your Excellency's
dispatch, in reference to the proposed capitulaton, and to
communicate to your Excellency that I am authorised
by General Count Bomfina, i❑ the capacity of his Chief
of Staff; to declare that by the officers under his com-
mand retaining their swords is only meant the conces-
sion of the honours of war, since in respect of whatever

disposirons her Majesty has taken with regard to the
said officers, they are ready to obey in everything her
Majesty's determinations, they having never failed in
their public acts to respect the person of the said august
Lady. "God guard your Excellency.

" Torres Vedras, Dee'..2j3O, 81E8461.3'E' N-TO VALDEZ.

THE RIVER PLATE.

The following memorial has been forwarded to Gt-
vernment relative to the affairs of the River Plate :
"TO THE RIGHT HON, VIS',COUNT PALMERSTON, HER
MAJESTY'S PRINCIPAL SECRETARY OF STATE FOR
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, &C.

" Liverpool, Dec. 31, 1846.
" My Lord,—We, the undersigned merchants, ship-
owners, and others, of the port of Liverpool, beg respect-
fully to state to your Lordship that, having seen in the
London newspapers of the 30th instant a copy of a me-
morial from the merchants of London, drawing your
Lordship's attention to the serious irjury inflicted upon
the commercial interests by the joint blockade of Buenos
Ayres and other ports in the River Plate, by the naval
forces of Great Britain and France, and intreating your
Lordship to take effectuLl measures, in conjunction with
the French Government, for speedily raising said block-
ades, and re-opening to foreign commerce the ports so
long closed by them, we her, by desire to express our
entire concurrence in the terms of sill] mew trial, tied
our earnest hope that your Lordship may see fit to coin
ply with its prayer.
" We have the honour to remain, your Lordship's
most obedient and humble servants,
(Signed by)
" C. Tayleur, Son, and Co., Dicksons, Boardman, and
Co., John B. Moore, and Co., Thomas Dtiwuid,
William and Joseph Myers and Co., Todd, Naylor,
and Co., Rowand and Dunlop, Thomas and John
Brocklebank, Ashley brothers, Buchanan, Browne
and Co., Robinson and Hadwen, John and Samuel
Beckwith, Jones, Mann, and Foster, Frederick
Huth and Co., Rawson and Co., Hughes and
Ronald, Edward Jones and Co., William Moon,
W. Rotheram, M'Tear, Hadfield and Thompson,
Sands, Turner, and Co., James Dalglish and Co.,
George Nuttall, Taylor, Potter, and Co., George
Kendall, Brownells, and Co., Samuel Johnston and
Co., Jamieson brothers and Co., Joseph Green and
Co., Fiellen brothers and Co., Joseph Began and
Co., Cotesworth, Wynne, and Lyne, A. W. Powles
and Co., Dudgeon, Balleny, and Co., Thomas and
William Earle and Co., Leech, Harrison, and For-
wood, Abram Gartside and Co., William and
James Tyrer, Jevons, sons, and Co., Chapman, Bow-
man, and Co., Nicol, Duckworth, and Co., Peel and
Co., Charles S. Middleton and Son, Brown, Shipley,
and Co., John Downes, Rathbone Brothers and Co.,
Charles Ironside and Co., Samuel Lang and Co.,
Ewart, Myers, and Co., James Aikin."
The following memorial on the same subject has been
adopted and forwarded-by the Manchester Commercial
Association:—

"TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE VISCOUNT PAL•
MERSTON, &C., &C.
" The Memorial of the Directors of the Manchester Corn-
mercial Association, by their Chairman,
" Respectfully showeth—That in the month of June,
1845, your memorialists called the attention of her Ma-
jesty's Government to the unsatisfactory position of our
commercial relations with the United Provinces of Rio
de la Plata.

" That shortly afterwards it was attempted by her
Majesty's Government, in conjunction with that of
France, by means of an armed intervention, to heal the
differences which existed between Buenos Ayres and
Monte Video.

" That notwithstanding such intervention, there is
not, so far as your memorialists are aware of, any pro-
spect of a speedy termination of hostilities.
" That the protracted warfare between the Argentine
and Oriental republies has been the source of much loss,
and of serious destruction of property to th© subjects of
her Majesty trading to the River Plate, and has been
otherwise injurious to the commercial interests of this
country generally.

" Tliatunder these circumstances, renewed efforts on
the part of her Majesty's Government to restore pence
are, in the opinion of your memorialists, strongly called
for, and are hereby earnestly solicited.

" That while your memorialists do not seek to pre-
scribe to your Lordship the steps desirable to be taken
for this purpose, they at the same time respectfully sub-
mit that the guaranteed independence of the Oriental
republic should be the foundation of whatever arrange-
ment may be adopted, as otherwise the territory of that
republic will be a perpetual object of dispute between
contending parties, to the great detriment of all com-
mercial intercourse.

" Your memorialists therefore humbly pray your
Lordship's immediate attention to this most important
subject, with a view to adopting such steps as in your
Lordship's wisdom may seem to be advisable.
"And your memorialists, Scc. &c."

shipwrecked happens probably from ignorance of the
mentioned law. Therefore, in future they will not be
received 'n no ways, but must be treated severely when-
ever they become brought in; which they get known
and make known to others.

" That provisions, firewood, water, by the long time
on the voyage, are scarce on the ship is heard by this,
and will be given.
" Upon this order the ship has to leare with speed,
and not stay in close here, but return directly to his own
country."