The Sun.
London, England, 1824-06-22 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.

Lissost, MAY 31.—The Gazette contains letters from the
Ambassadors of Spain, Russia, Austria, and Denmark, and
the .Pope's. Nuncio, to the Marquis of Palwella, in answer to
his Note to the Diplomatic Body, expressing their gratification
at the flattering manner in which his Most Faithful Majesty has
been pleased to convey to them his satisfaction with their con-
duct on a late occasion.
An official dispatch, received by the Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, dated Benguella, Oct. 6, 1823, signed Jose
Antonib• PuiSch, states that the news of the reinstatement of
his Majesty in his just right had been received there on the
15th of September, by the Portuguese gaily Industry., and had
given great satisfaction to the inhabitants, who had immedi.:
ately installed the King's GoVernment at Benguella, the said
Senor Puisch being chosen Governor by the municipal autho-
rities and chief citizens till the illegitimate Government of
Loanda, shall be abolished, and his Majesty shall please to ap-
point another Governor.
JUNE 4.—The Gazette contains a very long articlein excuse
of the conduct of Prinda Miguel, in suffering himself to be
led away by evil counsellors.
JUNE s.—This being the anniversary of the day when his
Majesty returned to Lisbon after resuming his absolute autho-
rity, the Gazette contains some reflections on this happy occa-
sion, by way of introduction to the following
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.
" Don Jouw, by the grace of God, King of the United
Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil, and Algarve, &c. &c: Sze. To
all whom these preseats shall come greeting.
44 The Junta appointed by my Royal Decree of 'lBth June
last year, for the purpose of drawing up a plan of a fundamen-
tal law, having r:presented to me that, considerinp.
duty it as a sa-
cred du not to adopt other principles, or other b'ases, for the
foundation of the new fundamental law, than those which I
deigned to indicate and declare in the Decree for its convocation;
and considering in the first place that one of the most just reasons
for which I rejected and declared null, de facto and de jure, the
monstrous Constitution of 1822, was its being incompatible with
ctheievaednctileiantt
tliilaebintse,wopcinhiaorntesr, a(ncdawrtaan) should be conformable to
wants,) of the Portuguese,and,
moreover, at variance with the Monarchical principle, con-
the ancient usages, opinions, and habits of the nation, and re-
gulated by the soundest public and private law, on which is
established a pure and independent Monarchy, moderated by
wise and just laws, according to which justice may be admi-
nistered, the rights of every person secured, crimes punished,
and law suits between individuals of all classes be' de-
cided by means of judges and tribunals, in which truth .and
justice may prevail, and the laws be administered ; and as only
deluded and corrupted heads can possibly think of calling such
a monarchical Government arbitrary and despotic, or that the
expression of absolute King, who governs his people in this
manner, can have any other ineaning than that which. it always
had, of an independent King, who acknowledges no superior
on earth ; that, observing in the second place, that I declared in
the same decree that the new institutions, or new charter, or

fundamental law, should restore to the throne on which the

Almighty placed me, the grandeur and respect which belongs
to it, and that no change should be introduced which might
eclipse its splendour, or lower its dignity and greatness ; that.
in the third place, observing that in the said decree I manifested
the intention that the charter of the fundamental law should be

accommodated to the form of the representative Governments
established in Europe, and to the mutual relations of the various

parts of the Portuguese Monarchy, it appeared that there must
be a national representation, but that this ought to be such that
it might be in harmony with the preceding principles, and that
its being accommodated to the form -int' other Governments does
not mean that it is to be identical with them ; that meditating
with the most mature reflection on an object of such import-
ance, observing also that these were the principles which
formed the ancient Portuguese Constitution, in which they were
found in the most wonderful concert, and the wisest combina-

don ; the experience of many ages having shewa the incalcu-
lable advantages which have resulted from it to the Porniguese
nation ; and it being certain that neither greater nor even equal
benefits are to be expected from new and different Institu-
tions; reflecting finally that according to the maxims of the
most esteemed politicians no form of government can be use-
ful to a nation which is not conformable to its character, educa-
tion, and ancient usages, and that it is extremely hazardous,
and almost always impracticable, to attempt to introduce such
a one,_ and to reduce to one general form the customs peculiar
to each nation ; judged that it was not proper to demolish the
noble and respectable edifice of the ancient political Constitu-
tion, consisting of wise laws, written and unwritten, confirmed
by the oath which the Kings of these nations took, and which
I took myself, to maintain the rights and privileges of the na-
tion; and that the plan of a Constitution which if(theJunta) was
to submit to my Royal approbation, could he no other than to
propose to me that I should be pleased to declare in vigour the
ancient Portuguese Cortes, comprised of the three estates of
the kingdom, the clergy, the nobility, and the people, which
had not been convoked for much more than a century, that
they might be convoked and might assemble when I thought
fit, conformably to the ancient practice, privileges and usages
of the nation, in order'that, answering to the various objects
for which 1 shouldl order them to be opened, they might place
before my Royal presence, in the manner practised in all the
preceding Cortes, the deliberations ( copitulos et Consnlios ) on
the public wants, the public good of my subjects, the care of
their rights and privileges, the administration of justice, the
remedy of public or private grievances, the • prosperity and
welfaee of the monarchy, by which I should prove to the whole
nation how desirous I am of confirming and preserving its
rights, and would enhance, in all respects, my beneficial in-
tentions, since, by convoking the ancient Cortes, and main-
taming the ancient Constitution, it was evident that I should
preserve the old habits, opinions, and usages of the Portuguese
nation; that the majesty and greatness of the throne, and all its
rights, would be'inviolate ; that the said Cortes contain a true
National Representation, in which the people are represented
by their procurators, the clergy and nobility by those of their
members who have votes in them : finally, that the public feli-
city would be promoted, not by uncertain, new, and dangerous
ways, nor by means of precipitate and destructive reforms,
which easily lead to the most fatal disorder, as experience has
unfortunately proved ; hut by ways already known, and by
progressive ameliorations in the administrations of the State;
that it was by the deceitful promise of convoking the an-
cient Cortes, that the rebellious and disorganizing faction
contrived to delude the Portuguese people, having only in
view the destruction of the very institutions which it pro-
claimed, and to subject the nation to the shameful yoke
from which I have happily freed it; that it being evident
that the Portuguese nation attained such pre-eminence among
other nations, was great, respected, and happy with its an-
cient political constitution, I should by its entire restora-
tion indisputably complete the glory with which I have co-
vered myself by destroying the revolutionary monster, and
should most amply fulfil the Royal promise, which, from the
impulse of my generous love to my faithful subjects, I was
pleased to make them, to bless them with a good Constitution ;
it being known, besides, by the general opinion manifested in
various ways on occasion of my restoration to all the rights of
sovereignty, that no other could be so satisfactory or more
suitable to my people than that by which these kingdoms were
made so respected and happy ; that it would also be proper
that, after convoking these first Cortes, I should be pleased to
determine the periods of their convocation, that they might be
regulated according to my Sovereign rights, and with a view to
the public wants, without its being to be inferred that I de-
prived myself of the inalienable right to prorogue or convoke
them before the appointed period, when the general good of
may people should require it.
" I, therefore, taking into consideration these and many other
judicious arguments, enforced by the Junta with so much wis-
dom and prudence; bearing also in mind the opinions of many
persons fearing God, and faithful to my service, and zealous
for the good of my kingdoms ; considering the evils that have
always resulted from the introduction of innovations founded
on vain theories,_ and Constitutions hastily drawn up and ge-
nerally rejected by experience ; convin”ed that the duties
,which I contracted, when 1:•y the Divine mercy 1 ascended the
throne, demand that I should respect and preserve untouched
the ancient fouNdations of the monarchy; and seeing that the
ancient Portuguese constitution contains all the elements ne-
cessary for the preservation of our holy religion, and the
majesty of the throne, and the security of the individual rights
of all my subjects, and of good order in the administration of
justice ; that it is confirmed by the spontaneous oath, which I,
and all my august predecessors; took in our elevation to the
throne ; and that finally it is desired by the great majority of
the Portuguese, and is consequently the only one that can ful-
fil my royal promise.
" With the advice of my Council of State, I have resolved
to declare, in full vigour, the ancient political constitution,
convoking the Cortes of the three estates of the Kingdom, in
older that, hearing them in the prescriptive limits of their pri-
vileges, according as I am pleased, they may represent to me,
in their consultations, in the form usually practised, according
to their rights and privileges, what is suitable to each branch
of the said estates, the common good of my people, the aggran-
disem,ent of the monarchy, which each and all of them is hound
faithfully to maintain; reserving myself to take into considera-
tion, in the first Cortes which I shall convoke, the observation
of the Junta respecting the fixing of stated periods for their
meeting, as well as the other measures which may seem to me
essentially necessary for the good administration of my king-
doms anti the consolidation of its internal institutions. And
my Council of Ministers, assisted by those persons whom I
have thought fit to name, is charged immediately to proceed
to all the preparatory steps to make the convocation, wnich is
to be regulated according to the usages of these kingdoms,
proposing to me also such other measures as may be necessary,
that the said convocation may be duly effected.
" Wherefore"—[iere follows the order for publishing this
Decree in the usual form, and in the most solemn manner, that
it may be generally known to all persons concerned.]
The Gazette contains various other Decrees—as,
1. Dissolving the Junta appointed to draw up a Plan of a
Constitution.
2. Creating a Junta for preparing instructions for the con-
vocation of the Cortes.
3. Declaring that, though every thing proceeding from the
Cortes is null anti void in point of right, yet it is judged
proper to retain some of the new institutions and regulations,
which are therefore confirmed ; among these is the Bank of
Lisbon.
4. The Junta for the revision of the laws and innovations
proceeding from the late Cortes is dissolved.
5. Another Junta is created for the revision of certain laws ;
this Junta is especially charged to proceed immediately to draw
up a project of law for the trade in corn.
6. Proclaims oblivion of all past political offences, and pro-
nounces a general pardon to all those who have been accused,
already prosecuted, or may be so, as followers of perverse politi-
cal opinions up to the sth of June, 1823 ; all Tribunals and
Magistrates are commanded not to proceed against them for
such offences, of which they are to be held acquitted.
Excepted, are,
1. Those who since that day have plainly shewn that they
follow the same opinions, maintaining and propagating them,
who are to be prosecuted as disturbers of the public tran-
quillity.
2. Those who contrived and aided the infamous conspiracy
whiCh broke out at Oporto on the 24th of August, 1820. Yet
even these are to he free from the heavy penalties attached by
the laws to such horrible crimes, and are only to be banished
from the Portuguese dominions.
3. The Commanders of corps and others, who are proved to
have been the instigators of the revolution in Brazil, obliging
lig to accept and swear to the Constitution, as made by the so
aided Cortes of Portugal.
4. Those Members of the Cortes, who, exceeding the limits
of what may be called opinion, were guilty of insults to my
Royal Person, and to the Queen, my beloved consort, and
others who in their speeches gave evident proofs of scan-
dalous immorality. It is understood that none are included in
this article but such as for these just reasons his Majesty orders
like those in the preceding' article, to retire to different dis-
tricts, or who, impelled by remorse, have voluntarily left the
kingdom.
Those who are to enjoy this amnesty, and who are suspend-
ed, or deprived of any office, civil or military, cannot be re-
instated without a new grant from his Majesty ; the Ecclesi-
astics cannot enter on the exercise of their parochial office
till the Diocesans have judged them admissible to that im-
portant duty.
Palace of Bemposta, sth June, 1824.
Another decree announces the severest penalties against the
members of secret Associations.—( Lisbon Gazette, June 5.)
[The Gazettes to thb 9th inclusive contain nothing of any im-
portance.]

SIERRA LEONE.

SIERRA LEONE GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY,
FRIDAY, APRIL 16.

The Members of his Majesty's Council have the melancholy
duty of announcing to the Civil and Military Officers, and to
the inhabitants of the Colony at large, the heart-rending and
afflicting intelligence of the death of his Excellency Bregadier-
General Sir Charles Macarthy, their revered Governor and
Commander-in-Chief, who was killed in an action with the
Ashantees, on the 21st of January last.
In making this communication known to the public, the
Council are aware of their inability to do that justice to their
own feelings, and those of their fellow-colonists (who have, for
so many years, enjoyed the benefit of his Excellency's parental
care and government), which such a distressing calamizy would
call forth. His Excellency's administration of the Govern-
ment of this Colony during the most arduous and important
period of its establishment, has been marked throughout by
the distinguished approbation of his beloved Sovereign, and is
visible in the. increased and increasing welfare and prosperity
of its inhabitants. Under his auspicesit has arisen to a state
of importance and respectability, which places it among the
most improving of his Majesty's colonial possessions, and has
'eminently proved the wisdom of his Excellency's measures.
The unwearied attention which his Excellency ever paid to
the most minute concerns of his Government, and the fostering
care he extended to those placed under his command, have SO
sensibly endeared him to every class of the inhabitants of
this Colony, that time alone can soften their grief, or mitigate
their sorrow. It may indeed, be truly said, that in him his
country has lost a brave and highly talented Officer, while Africa
and Afric's sons are doomed to mourn the death of one who
has mr shewn himself their warmest friend and benefactor.

The Council cannot close this notification, without alluding
to the lamented loss of one of its Members, the Honourable T.
S. Buckle, find of J. W. Wetherell, Esq. Private Secretary to
the Governor, who fell gallantly fighting by the side of his Ex-
cellency in the.same action. In them the Colony at large have
to deplore the loss of two of its distinguished ornaments, whose
public and private virtues, during many years' residence,. have
so justly merited their good: opinion.
D. M. HAMILTON.
J. REFFELL. •
K. MACAULAY."