The Sun.
London, England, 1823-09-23 00:00:00

POItTLIGAL

- Wrong the West Briton.]
By the Bluoher packet, Captain Fultzt, which
arrived at Falmouth from 'Ashen on Sunday last,
we have received the folirwing.comMunicatton:—
" LISBON, SEPT. 6, 1823.-I:Nine of the troops that compos-
ed the garrison of Bahia have arrived here • they embarked at
a very short notice, and the preparations made' for their recep-
don were very few: General Madeira is on board a ship of the
line which has not yet
Arrived, andlas with him all the brass
ordnance that was in the place. The militia belonging to the
city, were left to settle matters with the Brazilians as they best
could. The soldiers who have arrived here expected to find the
Constitution in full energy; but they learned at St. Michael's
that it had been overthrown, - They wore the Constitutional
cockade until they arrived in this port ; previously to their,
landing, they were disarmed, and are now carefully looked
after; a considerable degree of sickness prevails amongst them.
Lord Cochrane's squadron followed, the fleet for some days
:after it left Bahia, and succeeded in capturing several ves-.
sels ; some of which were retaken by a frigate belonging to
the flying squadron, which consisted of nine Sail of ships of
war, and about 80 transports. A,,ftigate, bearing the Brazilian
flag, boarded a large rnerchanarran, and after plundering 'her
guns and military stares, allowed her to proceed.
" This Government- have furnished the French with mili-
tary stores for their operations against Cadiz. All the regi-
ments in this city, except two, are ordered to proceed to the
provice of Alentejo.
" On the 3d instant, the new French Ambassador had his
first audience; he was conveyed to the Palace in the)King's
own carriage, and was followed by upwards of 100 carriages
filled with the principal nobility, who attended to offer incense
to their Gallic friend. The British Ambassador, Sir Edward
Thornton, has arrived ; he landed from the boat of the frigate
which conveyed him over, and was scarcely noticed by the
Government people, who have beer so assiduous in paying
court to the trenchmen. In fact, tlie French are every thing
with the people who govern, and the British nothing. Sir
Edward Thornton has solicited and obtained a private audience
of the King, with whom he continued for two hours. The
governing party here resort to the most violent measures ; all
the officers of the 4th regiment, except four, are confined in the
castle, as arc 27 officers of the 16th regiment;" some officers be-
longing to every, other corps are also in confinement. The
priests, the ultra nobles, and the private soldiers whom they
have bribed, are the chief supporters of despotism.
" On the 4th, the money raised in London, as a loan to this
Government, was received, and has been distributed amongst
the supporters of the counter-revolution. The Patriarch, Ama-
rante, and Pamplona have had a full share. Tho Patriarch
has resumed all his former authority, The King is kept in
the greatest ignorance of what paases; the Queen and her son
are the real rulers.
" The Lisbon Gazette of the 31st of last month contained a
lengarticle against the Freemasons, who are accused of being
enemies to Christianity, and whose object is to overthrow all
religion ; they are said to be principally Jews.
". It is understood, that on learning the overthrow of the
Constitution, the principal inhabitants of the Madeiras applied
to the English Government to take them under its protection ;
but that in place of returning an answer to the application, the
British Alimstry sent the document to the- Government here,
who thus possess the means of ruining a number of the most
respecnible individuals in these islands, and who had signed the
application. For the honour of England, I hope this state-
ment is not correct.
" Mr. R. B. Whitney, the agent for I,loyd's here, was bar-
barously murdered by robbers, about 56 miles from the city, on
his return from doing some business at Vigueira. Two shots
were fired at him, both of which took effect. After plunder-
ing him, the wretches fled. Mr. Whitney lived for 30 hours
after the attack : 'he was interred in the liritish burial ground
at Lisbon, on the nth, with eveTy demonstration of respect."