The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-14 00:00:00

PORTUGUESE BONDS.

We have been requested to publish the forbiwirig
letter, addressed to a Morning Contemporary. it is a
melancholy tale, yet what) thousands have. been ruinjd
in a similar manner, there are yet parties wicked enough
to concoct new loans for the bankrupt Governments of
the Peninsula :

" Sta,—Being in great pecuniary difficulties, and in
doubt how to proceed with regard to my little Portu-
guese stock, may I ask the favour of your opinion on the
subject. You have great experience thereon, and have
kindly granted to the public the benefit of the $41116. A
few years ago I held the rank of lieutenant=colphel in
her Majesty's service, but as age was fast creeping on
me, and having a family (a son and two daughters) to
provide for, I resolved on disposing of my commission.
I did sn, and the proceeds, added to my own private
property, produced me a capital of 9,5000/. In one
fatal hour, and under the advice of my (riendi, I in
vested the whole in Portuguese Fire per Cents., at 99i.
When the Government first, to my surprise and great
distress, ceased to ply the dividends, I declined seling
out any of my stock at the reduced prices (between 40
and 50) to meet my pecuniary engagements, but raised
money on my bilis at 5 per cent., pledging my stock ns
security. My bill.; were so frequently renervtd that I
found myself compelled, in 1839, t.,) dispose of 4,0001.
Stock, at 32 per cent., to pay them and meet my cur-
rent expenses, as well as an unfortunate liability for
which I had made myself responsible. A few months
afterwards my son was Gazetted to a commission
(by purchase), in the army. Although the Por-
tuguese Stock was at 28, I was obliged to sell. out
2,5001., which procured me only 700/. Finding
the Stack still decreasing in value, and distressed
beyond description for the fit!e of my daughters, we re-
solved on establishing a boarding-schooloind this I.yd me.
by October, 1840, to sell out 2,000/ more of my stock.
Sir, we commenced our undertaking with npparent
prosperity, whilst my dear but ill-fated daughters dis•
played the calmest resignation to the will of Provi-
dence. In three short months my eldest daughter was
no more, she caught a cold and died of a brain fever.
My turn came next, a rheumatic fever made me (now
68 years of age) bedridden and wholly helpleis for five
months afterwards.

" The charge of the school now falling, on my orly
daughter, scarcely 20 years of age, her delicate frame
and sensitive mind, under our heavy afflictions yielded
(but not until after the most severe struggles) to the
labours and a:.xicties which oppresFed ber. Sir, my poor,
dear, dear daughter is now out of her mind. She is----
but, Sir, I have not the nerve to continue further on
these disclosures. _

" You are now in possession of the wretchedness and
helplessness of our position. The favour I have to ask
of you is this. I have still 1,5001. of the Five per
Cents. remaining, which, if realised at the present price,
would produce 5101. There is a mortgage of 4001. on
them, so that 110/. only would be coming to me.
" Would you recommend me to continue paying 7
per cent on the mortgage a short time longer unthr the
hope that Lord Palmerston's protection will lead to the
stock improving in value, or at once to make a sacri-
fice and save what I can lest the stock might go down
to 281. per cent. again. If I can but amass about
2001. lam not without hopes of securing my dearest
diughter and self some future provision. My prayers
will ever attend you, Sir, if you will kindly advise me
bow to act, for my money is gone; and my friends have
gone with it.
"A DISTRESSED AND BROKEN-HEARTED

OLD SOLDIER.
" Camden-town, May 6, 1841."

DOVER, THURSDAY EVENING.—The Duch •
ess of Cambridge landed here this evening, from Calais, in
the Widgeon, Commander Hamilton. The Duke was on the
quay to receive her, and a guard of honour, under the com-
mand of Colonel Monro, and a great concourse of people to
greet her. A salute was fired from the heights on the occasion.
WHITBY.—STOPPAGE OF MESSRS. CAM-
rzoN's BANK, AT WHITBr.—An extraordinary sensation and
panic was felt in this town on Monday last, by the closing of
the banking establishment of Messrs. Campion, in Churc.s.
street. The parties in this old establishedand well-known firm
are not only bankers, but ship-builders, ship-owners, mannfae-
turers, and very largely connected with the trade of the port.
The particulars will bs best learned from .the follow-
ing extract from the letter of a correspondent :—" My
object. in writing to you now, is to inform you that
Messrs. Campion's bank closed on Monday, nay, in fact.
it was never opened for business. This has caused one of the
greatest stagnations that could befal Whitby. Farmers ar,
flocking in from all sides with notes, and stand round the bai,
looking as if they knew not what to think. '1 here are main
rumours as to the cause, but nothing is yet known for a cer-
tainty. Their bills were sold yesterday for 50s. each—that is poor
exchange, but many may think the first loss is the bo.q. The
ship-yards, smiths' shops, block and mast yards, and the
kelp works, are all closed, thereby throwing above hundred
hands out of employment. This is a serious occurrence for
Whitby and its neighbourhood, and I am afraid it is the fere-
runner of a serious evil to the neighbourhood.—York Courant.
TEXAS.—W'e see by an article from' a late
number of the New Orleans Bee, that information has been
received from San Antonio de Bexar, a frontier town of Texas,
that the Mexicans, 8,000 strong, under General Arista, were
making pr. partitions for a campaign, ostensibly against the
Indians, but which was intended for the invasion and subjuga-
tion of Texas. Similar rumours have been put in circulation
by persons opposed to the interests of the yqung Republic,
ever since the decisive battle of San Jacinto, and have by their
representations 110 doubt deterred many favourably disposed to
Texas from emigrating thither, or embarking in its couse.
To those in the least conversant with the history of the tsio
1 countries, the absurdity of entertaining for a moment, the idea
that Mexico will ever be able again to subjugate Texas, is evi-
dent. And not the less improbable is the idea,'tha.: Mexico is
striving to raise a force for this purpose, when it is well known
that all her energies and resources are at this time reetiiied at
home, to quell internal disturbances, and resist the, insurrec-
tions continually waging throu:shout her provinces. The fact
is, that Texas was never in a more prospet-dus condition than
at present, and to those disposed to embark in her interests, the
most favourable inducements are presented.
HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—MadameLoewe
made her first appearance, on the occasion of Tamburini's be;
-
nefit last night, as Alaic'a, in Bellint's opera of La, Straniera,
one of the poorest compositions in existence, but so far'suit-
able to a debutante, that the interest rest entirely on the hero-
ine, and that there is much room for histronic display, the
drama being infinitely better than the music. Madame Loewe's
' first song was given behind the scenes, and the ear of the
audience was at once charmed by the truth of her intonation,
and the perfectness and precision of her executien. On her
entrance at the conclusion of this song she .Was greeted
with loud applause. In her duet with Mario .0e exhibited
her her best qualities, though not her full power, ,wl.ich 'was'
only called forth on rare occasions. Her voice is of a
fine quality, though not remarkably full, and when she exerts
no unusual force, is entirely under:her contrcl, and susceptible
of the nicest light and shade, while she evinces .a depth of
feeling and a beautiful correctness and neatness of execution
generally. As an actress she is entitled to a Very high rank,
and those bursts of passion which seemed to us less advantage-
ous to the singer were often magnificent exhibitions of his-
trionic genius. Her countenance, though not striking at first,
is capable of the greatest variety of expression ; her eye is
with intelligence, and she is able to penetrating., and beaming
express a restless anxiety by glances which ace singularly rapid
and vivid, and sometimes to assume a fixed look, which is
almost supernatural. Perhaps, so complete an absOrption of
the actress'into the character is seldom seen as Madagie Loewe
displayed at the close of the epera. The second act of Figaro
was played most delightfully by Peraiaui, Grisi, Tamburini,
. aa4 Lalgache.