The Sun.
London, England, 1847-06-11 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS.

(From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of
Commons.)
THURSDAY, JUNE 10.
RAILWAY :BILLS.
Motion made, and Question proposed, " That a Clause
shall be inserted in every Railway Bill in the present and
every future session of Parliament, prohibiting the payment
of any interest or dividend in respect of calls (except the
interest by way of discount on subscriptions pre-paid, agree-
ably to 8 Vic. c. 16, s. 24), out of the capital authorised to be
raised in such Bill, either by means of calls, or of any power
of borrowing contained therein!"—Amendment ioroposed, to
leave out the words " in the present and every," in order to
insert the words " introduced for the first time in any," in-
stead thereof :--Question put, " That the words ' in the
present and every' stand part of the Question." The House
divided :

MAJORITY—AYES, 70.
Aglionby, 11. A. Graham, Sir James O'Brien, S.
Austen, Colonel -- Granby, Marquis of Ogle, S. C.
Brune, Walter Grimsditch, Thomas Ord, William
Bannerman, A. Guest, Sir J. Owen, Sir J.
Baring, F. T. Hamilton, W. J. Parker, John
Bellew, H. M. Hastie, Archibald Peel, Sir Robert
Bennet, Philip Hatton, Captain V. Prime, Richard
Bentinek, Lord H. Ilildyard, T. B. Repton, G. W. J.
Bodkin, William H. Hindley Charles Ricardo, J. L.
Burke, T. J. Hodgson,Jtichard Seymour, Lord
Busfeild, W. Howard, P. H. Shelburne, Earl of
Carew, W. H. Pole Hudson, G. Stanton, W. H.
Cavendish, G. H. Hume, Joseph Strutt, Edward
Clerk Sir G. , Hurst, R. H. Thornely, Thomas
Denison, J. E. James, William. Troubridge, Sir E.
Douglas, Sir C. Jolliffe, Sir W. H. Waddington, H. S.
Duckworth, Sir J. Lascelles, W. S. Warburton, Henry
Duncan, George Lemon, Sir Charles Williams, W.
Duildas, Admiral M'Taggart, Sir J. Winnington, Sir T.
East, Sir J. B. Mileage, 11. Wood, Sir Charles
Ellice, Edward Mitchell, T. A.
Entwisle, W. Monahan, J. U. TELLERS.
Ewart, William Mostyn, E. Tanen, IL
FelMen, Sir W. Mundy, E. M. Somerville, Sir W.
French, F. O'Brien, A. S.

MINORITY—NOES, 27.
Algarn, W. Clive, B. it. Pakington, Sir J. S.
Bailey, Joseph Davies, D. A. Powlett, Lord W.
Bailey, Joseph, jun. Fitzrnaurice, W. Russell, Lord C.
Basket-vine. T. Gill, Thocnas Stansfleld, W. R.
Beckett, W. Gore. W. 0. Strickland, Sir G.
Berkeley. Craven Grogan, Edward Turner, E.
illackburne, J. I. Hamilton, G. A. Yorke, IL IL
Buck, Lewis W. llarris, Hon. Capt. TELLERS.
Buckley, Edmund llornby, John Denison, E. B.
Chaplin, W. J. Masterman, John namell,;C,,

highly his
gratified
deposited
His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Saxe
with the Weimar, attended by Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar
Mackintosh'sH isioal
engineiligb
and Count Beust, honoured the Royal Polytechnic In-
stitutionposited here, called
nume-
rous scientific wonders exhibited in the museum of the
ne s s
expressedyesterday
hi
Claasen's safety railroad, which, consisting of an addi-
tional rail (termed the guide rail), being
aestablishment,nd a
model
which m or more
has particularlyhee n
lately
placed in the
centre of the line and elevated nine or twelve inches
above the train rails. This rail being formed of wood
or metal; under each carriage is placed two sets of guide
mwseiltfh
wheels, each set consists of one horizontal and two ver-
tical wheels, so arranged that the horizontal wheel shall
come within a very short distance of the upper part, while
the verticle, which comes on either side of the guide rail,
none of them, however, touching ao long as everything
remains in perfect order; but no sooner has the carriage
a tendency to run off the line than the vertical wheels
comes in contact with the sides of the guide rail and
keep it down in its position; or should an axletree break,
a wheel become displaced, or a rail removed so that the
carriage has a tendency to drop, as it were, from its po-
sition, the horizontal wheel then comes in contact with
the upper part of the guide rail and carries it on in per-
fect safety. It is even shown by the model that two rails
may be removed opposite the other, and still the truck
will proceed in perfect safety ; this is a test, however,
that we may say it would never be subject to in practice.
FRENCH PEAS.—Some arrivals of peas have taken
place from France, which, as a raw vegetable, are free of
duty, and arriving at this early period, before the home crop
has become sufficiently abundant to be very cheap, have no
doubt met with a ready market, and have well answered the
expectations
• of the importers. The steamer Columbine,
from Havre, brought 141 baskets of the article, and the James
Watt, from the same port, 157 baskets, the produce of France.
Other arrivals have also taken place, but there have been
none, that we are aware of, from Holland, or any other of the
Foreign States, so that, in this particular, our near neighbour,
France, is first in the market. They are not considered so
good as the peas grown in this country, particularly in the
famous market gardens in the neighbourhood of the metro-
polis, but they are of very excellent quality, and at the same
time that they command a fair, and, no doubt, a remunerative
price, assist in bringing the vegetable into general consump-
tion at an earlier period than would otherwise have been
the case,

THE CIVIL WAR IN PORTUGAL.
(From the Times.)

PORTSMOUTH, THURSDAY EVENING.—Her Majesty's
steam .ship Polyphemus, Commander M'Cleverty, arrived
at six o'clock this evening from Lisbon and Oporto, with
important dispatches for Lord Palmerston and the
Admiralty, from the British Minister and Commander-
in-Chief at Lisbon.

The Marquis and Marchioness Camden hare come
home passengers in the Polyphemus.

OPORTO, JUNE 7.

(FRO../ OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
I have not had an opportunity of writing since my
dispatch of the 29th in consequence of the strict orders
given by the British Admiral to allow no communication
with the shore. We are therefore confined to our over-
land couriers to Vigo, and even they are sent only. in the
hope that the Lisbon steamer on its way home will con-
tinue to touch at that place, and take charge of the
Oporto mail.

As I closed my letter of tke 29th, the Gladiator
steamer was clearing the Douro, Captain Robb having
contrived, by unshipping the covers of his paddle-boxes
and by other contrivances, to reduce her draught to 15f
feet, and the expedition destined for the south had also
got over the bar, the infantry being still on shore ready
for embarkation at the word of command. The General-
in-Chief, Count das Antes, and all the members of the
Junta, were present, and as the day was Sunday, and
the weather propitious, all the inhabitants of Oporto
were assembled at the Foz. Rumours of British
armed intervention had been current for several
days, as some part of the orders received by the Bulldog
steamer had transpired, and the alarm became so great
on the Saturday and the Sunday morning that a perfect
panic seized the English, and no less than 230 of our
fellow-countrymen, including servants and children,
embarked in the homeward-bound packet, the Gladiator,
and other vessels. I believe eighty-four of the lot fell to
Captain Robb's share, not to speak of thirty-three chil-
dren, some being babies of ten days old, so that the
comforts of her Majesty's steamer were distributed on a
scale never contemplated by her shipwright or the Ad-
miralty. Some people regret that floating cradles and a
crew of able-bodied waiting-maids had not been provided
for the occasion by the British Government, but these
persons are unreasonable, and the duty was efficiently
performed on board this new nursery for seamen with
the ordinary resources of the fleet.
At three o'clock the members of the Junta deliberated
together on the possibility of the expedition being inter-
fered with by the British squadron off the bar, or by the
ships under the immediate orders of the Admiral at Lis-
bon. It was suggested that the Gladiator had left the
Douro; that numerous English families had embarked;
that unexecuted menaces were never made by our Go-
vernment; and that all these circumstances clearly de-
monstrated the hostile intentions of the fleet. These
suggestions were answered by an appeal to facts—that no
threat unaccompanied by the qualification "probably" had
been used either by Colonel Wylde, Sir H. Seymour, or
Sir Thomas Maitland; that the latter, only two days
previously, had reduced his order to Captain Salter, of
the Mindello, to re•enter the Douro, to a simple
" friendly advice," and that, in truth, up to that moment
no distinct threat of seizure or stoppage had been made
by any British agent. Under these circumstances the
order to embark was given, and about five o'clock 2,400
men were drawn up in front of the house occupied by Das
Antas—colours were distributed by his lady to one
of the battalions—a speech was made by the Com-
mander-in-Chief--hearty vivas were given by the
surrounding multitude, and the embarkation com-
menced amidst the greatest enthusiasm, both on the
part of the troops and the people. While this was
going on, the British squadron, consisting of a fri-
gate, a brig of war, and three large steamers, lay off
the bar, a witness of all that passed, but no message
was sent in, nor any order given, even under the shape
of " friendly advice." About six o'clock the British
Consul arrived at the Foz, and had an interview of
nearly half an hour with Das Antas. The object of the
Consul was to deliver a letter, dated the 28th of May,
from Sir Hamilton Seymour, refusing to protect the
commissioners whom the Junta had proposed to address
personally to the Queen, for the purpose of having a
national question decided by national means. Our Con-
sul, I have no doubt, advised Das Antas in a becoming
manner; but lam positively informed that Mr. John-
stone did not declare that the expedition would be seized,
or use any language unqualified by the word " proba-
bly." The interview being over, Das Antas himself em-
barked, and the Consul returned to town for the purpose
of delivering to the Junta the letter alluded to of the
28th, as Das Antas had declined officially to receive it,
on the ground that being Commander-in-Chief of an
expeditionary movement he had for the time resigned
his presidency of the Junta. The Consul did deliver the
letter, and had at the same time a long conversation with
that body; but I have reason to know without once ex-
ceeding the limits of advice, or converting " probability"
into certainty. The letter is'as follows:
" Lisbon, May 28.
" I have had the honour to receive the letter which you
did me the honour to address to me on the 26th inst.
" It is with regret that I find how difficult it will be that
my opinion should be reconciled with that which you ex-
press respecting the reception by the Junta of the offers of
which Colonel Wylde was the bearer.
" When terms are proposed to any party, it matters very
little, as regards result, whether their terms be met with a
positive refusal, or by counter propositions of an obviously
inadmissible nature.

" I had previously the honour of stating that the terms
granted to the Queen of Portugal's subjects in arms against
her Majesty's authority were, in the opinion of her Majesty's
Government, acceptable and gracious; and a record now
exists of the same views being entertained by the allied
Courts principally interested in this affair.
" The knowledge, then, which I possess of the feelings, as
well of the Portuguese Government, as those of the Govern-
ments closely allied to Portugal, clearly does not warrant
the expectation, that a negotiation between her Most Faith-
ful Majesty and the Junta can have been looked to.
" Her Most Faithful Majesty took certain engagements
towards her Britannic Majesty's Government—made known
certain intentions towards her subjects; and the one and
the other were placed on the same secure basis, the unques-
tioned good faith of your gracious Sovereign.
" It follows from what precedes, that it would not be in
my power to become a party to a plan which may have for
its object the nomination of commissioners by the Junta,
appointed to treat and negotiate with the Government of
her Most Faithful Majesty respecting an extension of the
concessions made by the Crown.
" At the same time I beg to assure you—indeed the assur-
ance, I hope, is not necessary—that no one would more than
myself rejoice on seeing a body of her Most Faithful Ma-
jesty's subjects, at present, and I am willing to believe from
misapprehension, alienated from their gracious Sovereign,
standing again before her throne.
" Such respectful communication would, I feel confident,
lead to the best results, and such it would be not only my
duty, but my happiness to promote.
"G. H. SEYMOUR."

Thus closed the Sunday night, some degree of confi-
dence being given to the few English families remaining
by a hint that nothing hostile would be done by our
fleet in this vicinity, on account of the great value of
British property in Oporto ; and that the expedition
would not be disturbed till it reached Cascaes. In fact,
on Monday morning, the whole of our squadron and the
ships of the Junta were seen peaceably, and to all ap •
pearance sociably, at 'anchor off the bar—" the wolf
lying down with the lamb"—but a notice placed on the
bar book soon altered the case, and we saw, as it ex-
plained, that the Portuguese fleet was in fact environed
by the British squadron. The whole truth then became
known, and it was found that, at 4 I.m. on Monday, Sir
Thomas Maitland had captured the whole of the Junta's
ships, and had disarmed the expedition. This was done
in so offhand and characteristic a manner that I cannot
do less than give the correspondence which accompanied
it. The correspondence begins with the following sum-
mons to surrender from Sir Thomas Maitland to the
Count das Antas :

"Her Majesty's Ship America, off Oporto, May 31.
"I have the honour to inform you that my orders are im-
perative to take possession of the Junta's vessels of war,
troops, &c. If they do not immediately anchor near the
America, I shall be compelled, however reluctantly, to use
furce.

"T. MAITLAND."

Of course Das Antes, on receiving this letter, saw
that he had no chance of escaping, and so, making a
virtue of necessity, he struck his flag and wrote the fol-
lowing answer to Sir Thomas:—
" Minden°, off Oporto, May, 31.
" I have received the communication which your Excel-
lency has made me. Surrounded by forces so much superior
to those under my command, I cons►der myself a prisoner of
war. I protest most solemnly against this violent infraction
of the laws of nations ; against war, without any previous de-
claration of !war, on a friendly nation ; against the greatest
abuse of force ever made under circumstances of the greatest
aggravation, which dishonours for ever the English nation.
Your Excellency will ba pleasedito give orders as to the ulti-
mate destination of the force now under your command.
" CONDE DAS ANTAS."
Sir Thomas Maitland did not leave Das Antas long in
ignorance of his intentions, and he proceeded at once to
the disarmament of the troops in the following charac-
teristic manner:—

" Her Majesty's ship America, off Oporto, May 31.
" As the troops under your command are now prisoners of
war, in order to prevent unnecessary bloodshed, I have the
honour to request that you will give the necessary directions
to them to lay down their aims, otherwise I must use the
means in my power to oblige them to do it.
" T. MAITLAND."

This order was obeyed without resistance. I am told
that one of our boats fired unnecessarily into one of the
smaller Junta vessels, and that two men were killed; but
as that affair is under inquiry, I will not more specially
allude to it. I hear that one officer stabbed himself to
the heart sooner than give up his sword, and that two
sailors threw themselves overboard, one of whom had the
good luck to swim to shore.
The full extent of the news was not known till the
afternoon of Monday. It, of course, produced a violent
irritation in the town, and caused the remaining English
subjects to reflect very seriously on their situation. The
Junta, however, behaved admirably ; not one of them
quitted his post, and by their orders strong patrols of
cavalry and infantry were put in movement, with strict
orders to protect strangers and to repress every symptom
of disorder. Had the Junta shown the white feather,
bad they consulted their personal safety and fled, I
should not probably be alive to write this letter, nor
any other of my fellow-residents. Towards evening
the excitement which appeared during the day came to
a head—groups of men armed with heavy sticks were
seen in various parts of the city; but the policeincreased
well protected during the night that
its activity, the bludgeon men were disarmed,. and the
awctasofsoinjury occurred. The people of Villa
persons
.known as Cabs alistas were
few
wer side of the Douro were not so fortu-
nate,Jn.ainy deserve credit for their
eofor, according to the account which they
notifb
oeorabvt sea publicanear.
aiptannentgi
dThi
forbearance,
cereeh:
publish, and to the answers which they have given to
such Englishmen as called on them, the letter of Sir
Hamilton Seymour, declaratory of the final intentions of
the British
.Uovernment, though dated Lisbon, May 20,
was not delivered to the Casa Pia (palace or. the Junta)

till one o'clock of the afternoon of the 31st, exactly nine
hours after the fleet and expedition were captured. This
fact is so strange—it is so contrary to British good faith
and repugnant to every feeling of fair play, that I have
made minute inquiries into it; and I can state with certainty
that the letter in question was not delivered by our Consul
till after one o'clock P.M., on Monday the 31st, the capture
of the expedition having taken place at 4 A.M., or just nine
hours previously. It is argued that the intentions of
our Government were no secret, that every one knew the
capture would be made as soon as the Gladiator cleared
the bar, that the flight of so many English families was
a sufficient warning. But the Junta state in reply, that 1
suspicion is not proof; that the " friendly advice" of Sir
Thomas Maitland to the Mindello calmed their appre-
hensions, and that acts of hostility are not committed by
civilized nations without an official declaration of war.
There is some reason in this statement, for either the
Junta are traitors, and sent out their squadron and the
flower of their army to be captured—or they placed con-
fidence in the friendly advice of Sir Thomas Maitland
and the " probably" of Colonel Wylde. We cannot sup-
pose they were such bitter fools as to walk quietly into
the lion's den—and the-non delivery of Sir Hamilton
Seymour's letter till after the capture makes out a primd
facie case in their favour. Leaving that matter to be
explained in a satisfactory manner, as I have no doubt
for the honour of the British name it will be, I give the
letter of Sir Hamilton Seymour, of the non-delivery of
which, before the expedition cleared the Douro, the Junta
so much complain.

" THE BEITISIi MINISTER AT LISBON TO THE CONDE DAS
ANTAS.

" Lisbon, ay 20.
"It becomes my duty, with the same views that dictated
dictated
my former letter, again to address you.
" I beg, then, to apprize you and the Junta of Oporto, that
a disregard on their part of the injunction to abstain from
all warlike operations by sea and land, until reference shall
have been made to the allied Governments, will be followed
by measures which will be the prelude of any others of the
same kind which may become necessary for putting a stop to
a useless expenditure of blood in Portugal.
" Her Majesty's squadron have in the first instance re-
ceived orders to close the port of Oporto against the egress
and ingress of all vessels of war, and others engaged in war-
like operations, belonging to the Junta, and while the same
measures will be carried into effect in the case of all other
ports and harbours recognising the authority of the Junta,
any other precautions which prudence may suggest will be
taken to prevent all unnecessary collision.
"It is my further duty, although the precaution is, I hope
and believe, unnecessary, to apprize you—and I beg to do so
in the most serious manner—that her Majesty's Government
will holdthe Junta, both collectively and individually, as
well as all officers, civil and military, of the Junta, respon-
sible forany the least act of violence towards the persons and
properties of her Majesty's subjects.
" I should state, in conclusion, that a discontinuance of all
warlike movements on the part of the Junta's forces will be
met by a corresponding cessation of hostilities on the part of
the forces of her Most Faithful Majesty by sea and land.
" I avail myself, &c. " G. H. SEYMOUR,
"Her Britannic Majesty's Minister."
The dispatch from Das Antas to the Junta, communi-
cating the capture of the expedition, comes in appro-
priately here, and is as follows: