The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-14 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.

At midnight on Sunday the Margaret arrived at Fal-
mouth from Spain and Portugal, with the usual dates.
The following is from a Lisbon correspondent
LISBON, DEC. 7.—The departure of the mail, which
ought to have gone yesterday, has been delayed nearly
24 hours, owing to the non-arrival of the steamer from
the south in time to take it.

The Montrose steamer, with the mail from England,
only came in this morning, being two days overdue, in
consequence of the tremendous gales she had to work
against nearly the whole passage. The Austrian Mi-
nister, Baron Mareschal, arrived by her. The report
that the Nuncio, Monsignor Capuccini, had arrived here
last week, proved false. lie is not yet here, but is shortly
expected.
In the recent decree, abolishing the premium of 15 per
cent. (differential duties) on the duties upon foreign
goods imported in English vessels,. it was stated that the
abolition was to take place (as regarded goods proceed-
ing from ports in Europe) three months after the publi-
cation of the decree. The term allowed will therefore
expire on the 18th of January, 1842 ; and the question
now is, whether the premium can continue to be claimed
upon goods imported within that period, but not cleared
at the Custom-house until after its expiration. In the
solution of this question the British merchants especially
are much concerned. The Finance Minister, to Whom
several of them have applied, has answered in the nega-
tive; but I understand that, not satisfied with his deci-
sion, they propose soliciting the intervention of the Bri-
tish Government in their behalf.
On Thursday last the instalment due on the claims of
the Duke of Wellington and others, was tendered to the
parties acting on behalf of the claimants, for though
some of them agreed to receive the money at the rate of
exchange current in Lisbon, others, and amongst them
the agent of Rothschild, insisted upon getting theirs at
the London course of exchange, endorsed upon the pro-
missory notes by their principal, to whom the Duke and
Lord Beresford had negotiated them. The agent per-
haps acted properly in obeying his instructions ; but not
so Messrs. Rothschild, who certainly have no right to
compel the Portuguese Government to pay a sum in
Lisbon at the exchange current in a foreign city. The
practice in regard to bills of exchange drawn in London
upon Lisbon has been this—for instance, A in
Lisbon owes B in London 1,000 milreis ; B draws
for as many pounds sterling as arc equal at the exchange
current in London, to a thousand milreis, and A pays
it, because as he is not called upon to pay more than
the amount in milreis which he owes, it is immaterial to
him what the nominal amount in sterling may be. But
here the case is widely different. In the first place the
business, in London, was not an "exchange" transaction, a
term which only applies to transactions in which the coin
of one country is given for a bill drawn for the coin of
another country. The obligations given by the Portu-
guese Government were not bills of exchange, but mere
promissory notes for sums in sterling payable on a certain
day in Lisbon, and the Government is, therefore, only
obliged to pay that amount in sterling at its value in mil-
reis in Lisbon on the day when it becomes due. The pro-
missory notes negotiated to Messrs. Rothschild, in London,
were for so many pounds sterling, and it was pounds
sterling they gave for them, and, therefore, it was not an
operation of exchange. On the occasion of the preceding
instalment the Portuguese Government was silly enough
to submit to the imposition, and lost about 3,0001. by it ;
but it has become wiser now. Mr. Rothschild may per-
haps say that he looked to the re-exchange (a difference
of 3i per cent.) for his profit on the advance of money
he made ; but with that the Portuguese have nothing to
do : he must look to the parties from whom he took
the notes.
I learn that Rothschild's agent has at last consented
to receive the money at the Lisbon exchange, but under
protest.
Her Majesty's brig Espoir sailed from this for Eng-
land on the sth inst.
A boy aged fifteen belonging to the British brig
Europa, drowned himself on Friday last in this port.
His name was James Walker.

----- -
DUTCH MAIL.
AMSTEnDAM, DEC. 9.—We have letters from Batavia
of August last. One of 21st August says :—Letters
from Soerabaya and Bahia bring melancholy news that
the Dutch merchantman Overyssel, Capt. G. Blom,
bound from Amsterdam to Batavia, was totally lost,
having missed the channel, and run on the rocks in the
straits of Lomboch.
There was a number of passengers on board, who with
the crew escaped with difficulty. No part of the cargo
is saved, the crew having taken away only some cabin
furniture. The ship was plundered, notwithstanding
every effort to prevent it. The European inhabitants of
Bahia afforded the shipwrecked persons every assistance.
Tim HAGUE, DEC. 10.—An account from Assen, of
the Bth inst., says, that a market-boat from Pcize to
Groningen, which left the former place at half-past four
in the morning, on the preceding day, was upset, and
sunk about an hour afterwards. Ten persons, not being
able to get on deck in time, lost their lives.
DUTCH FUNDS.—Asirrattnam, Dac. 10.
Money. Bill
Actual Dsbt, 2% per Cent
Jitto, ditto 5 per ccot.
Amert Syndic,•lg per cent 9° 91
Ditto, ditto, 3% per cent ............ .
• "'"" 73% 75%
Commercial Company, 4% per cent 155
-
Ditto (1835 and 1037) 5 per cent. ..... 10154 0.2
1"
Loan 1837, 5 percent.
Exchange on Louden, One month ......... "
Two months
Hamburgh, One m0nth.......,,,,, au.
Twomontha
Dutch Papers, Dec. 11.
BELGIAN UNDS—Baustma, DEe.
Actual Debt, 2% per Cent. ..
Roth6child'a Lean, 5 per Cent. ......
.....
754
Loan of Thirty Pdillions, 4 per ..... ya
3per C • t.... ......
lhirty.aeven•
(184.0) 71%
Loan of City, 1932, 4 per Cent.,, 101 h
Society of Commerce, 4% per Cent ......
Bank of Belgium, 5
per Cent .
Dee. fl.
)fi
—Brussels Paper:,

THE FLEETS OF FRANCE AND
ENGLAND.

The Frerch Journals continue to raise rn awful
clamour against M. Guizot for disarming and separating
the fleet. On this subject we shall just give a petition
from the ship-owners of St. Brieuhe, in Brittany, pub-
lished by the Presse. It is as follows :
" It is an error to suppose that, by increasing the
number of armed vessels at so much expense to the
country, our maritime force will become greater. In
time of peace armaments proportionate to the number
of French sailors, to the wants of the commercial ser-
vice, and to the protection of the national flag would
provide great resources ; and a moderate term of ser-
vice for young sailors would augment, instead of dimi-
nishing, the maritime inscription. Let foreign nations
be taken as examples ; the English Admiralty only
employs one-fi'th of the number of English sailors,
whilst the French fleet employs half the number of
French sailors ; and it is worthy of remark that all
the sailors of foreign fleets since the peace had been
volunteers. The Americans, who have a much more
numerous shipping than the French, have much fewer
ships of war for their protection than France ; they
know by experience that in care of a war with Eng-
land they could not fight squadron against squadron,
but that their best plan would be to have light
vessels and destroy English commerce in detail. The
Dutch have much fewer armed vessels than France,
in comparison with their commerce ; and, neverthe-
less, the vessels of these Powers are not more
molested for that, nor do quarrels more often occur.
Persons who know little of maritime affairs have
objected, that if part of the fleet was disarmed,
a number of sailors would find no employment,
and would be obliged to take to other callings.
It is an error, for the men who would be sent
away would be certainly employed in the commercial
service. And the more sailors commerce employs, the
more new expeditions will take place, especially for the
whale fishery, which has been paralysed during the last
few years by the want of men. In spite of what has
been said at the Chamber of Deputies, and what has
been written on the subject, it is certain that recently
several shipowners have been obliged to give up, be-
cause they found no sailors ; and that the crews of
French merchant ships are generally composed of no-
vices or of men who are too old, and even foreigners.

We could name a vessel which left Marseilles in 1840

for La Plata, having on board six , Genoese and Mo-
naco sailors. This bad quality of the crews occasions
daily misfortunes, and the consequence is that the ves-
sels already built are left in port, and these that are in
course of building are left unfinished.
" Therefore we say that if this system is continued
longer, the maritime inscription will be ruined, and with
it the future strength of our navy. We end as we be-
gan, by saying, reduce the fleet, if you wish to encou-
rage maritime commerce, and increase the number of
sailors ; you will thereby do immense good to naviga-
tion and to the country."

In order to calm French fears of our naval superio-
rity in the Mediterranean, we give the following letter,
written by Captain Cranford to the Malta Times, and
published in its number of Nov. '2O :
" THE BRITISH NAVAL FORCE.—In the number of

the Revue des Deux Monde: of the 16th of October,
there appeared an article on the French fleet—a
clever and well-written art;cle, but evidently not the
work of a sailor. An exaggerated and most incorrect
statement of the active force of the British fleet in line-
of-battle ships was appended to it, in the shape of a
note ; and it appears to me worth while, if only for the
sake of truth, to point out the errors to the editor of
the review in which they had been published. They
amounted to nine ships, carrying 706 guns, some of
which had been paid off (dcsarnzes) for more than a
year. In the number of the Revue des Deux Monde:
which has just appeared, these inaccuracies are acknow-
ledged, and a correct statement of the force is published,
which is as exaggerated as the former one. It includes
all the guardships and ordinary ships of our naval ar-
senals, which are neither prepared nor intended for
service at sea, and most of which are old, and totally
unfit, to go out of port.
" Under these circumstances, I thought it might be
well to draw out a statement of the force in line-of-
battle ships which Great Britain really has at this mo-
ment, either at sea, or preparing for sea (armes ou en
annement), and, as a naval officer, I can vouch for its
correctness :

"In the Mediterranean :—Howe, 120; Impregnable,
104 ; Rodney, 92 ; Calcutta, 84 ; Ganges, 84 ; Mo-
narch, 84 ; Powerful, 84 ; Thunderer, 84 ; Vanguard,
80 ; Cambridge, 78 ; Indus, 87; Revenge, 76 ; Ben-
bow, 72 ; Hastings, 72 ; Implacable, 72. Ships, 15 ;
Guns, ],264.

"China.—Blenheim, 72 ; Wellesley, 72; Corn-
wallis, 72. _ _

" Preparing for Sea.—Queen, 110 ; Formidable, 84 ;
Malabar, 72 ; Illustrious, 72 ; preparing for the flag of
the Admiral lately gone to the North American station.
" Tuus the 31 line-of-battle ships, of which the
Revue des Deux Jl'londes gives a list, are reduced to a
grand total of 22, from which, in all fairness, as having
no influence on European policy, may be deducted the
three ships in China, and the one on the point of pro
ceeding to North America, for the flag of the Admiral
on that station. There will then remain in Europe
18 line-of-battle ships, mounting 1,530 guns. The
French fleet counts 20 line-of-battle ships-1,854
guns ; and to the credit of the officers belonging to it
be it said, I have heard the oldest officers of our Medi-
terranean squadron express their opinion, that it is in
better order, and more efficient, than any fleet the
French have had at sea within the last fifty years.

" Knowing, from personal experience, the liberality
with which you admit statements intended to correct
exaggerations that may exercise an improper influence
upon public opinion, I have addressed this letter to you,
and hope that you will deem the subject of it worthy of
notice in your esteemed and widely•circulated Journal.
" I remain, &c. " HENRY CRAUFURD,
Commander, Royal Navy.'

EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE OF

A FEMALE.

A letter from Boulogne-sur-Mer gives the following
extraordicary account of the courage and presence of
mind of a female, 75 years of age. This person, who is
a widow, named Boulanger, resides in a cottage, which
is her sole property, in the hamlet of Le Bcu Marais,
in the commune of Saint-Pierre-les-Calais, near. Calais'
but her cottage is at a considerable distance from any
other habitation. The only means of livelihood of this
female are the cultivation of her garden and the sale
of the milk from her sow ; but as her habits are very
parsimonious, she passes in the country for having saved
money. On the 29th ult., at about six in the even-
ing, two men knocked at the door of her house, and
asked her to allow them to light their pipes. She
opened the door and admitted them, and as they
said they had been acquainted with the former
owner of the cottage, and had in their business of
smugglers frequently deposited contraband goods there,
a conversation ensued, during which they seated them-
selves before the tire. In the course of the conversa-
tion, they asked her if she resided alone. Having al-
ready conceived some suspicions as to her visitors, she
replied that she had two sons, who were at the barn
thrashing corn, and as she expected them every minute,
and they would be very angry at meeting with strangers,
she advised them to leave. They immediately rose,
wished her good night, and 'left the house. In about
an hour these men, who bad probably ascertained that
the old woman had deceived them, in stating that she
had two sons living with her, returned, and knocking
at the door, requested her to admit them, in order that
they might take shelter from the storm, which was
then raging. She refused to do so, in spite of their
repeated entreaties, and they left. The old woman
then went to bed quietly. At eleven o'clock, she was
awakened and alarmed by repeated blows against the
outer door. She jumped out of bed, and went into
the kitchen in which is the outer door of the house,
and asking who was there, she recognised in the voices
which replied to her those of the men who had already
twice paid her, a visit. They told her that if she did not
open the door they would kill her, having with them a
good knife for the .
lal
purpose ; and they immediately be-
ganwith a vie
be t passing.suoed oo
with this knife to cut a hole in the door. The
woman, however, still refused to admit them, and •
mediately lighted several candles, probably with t
ley
could
o
to attract notice from without, if any body should
entrancefinding knife,
began that
with their
The two ruffians,
an
e in efftti
began throwing large stones against the door, and
then rent to the cow-house, from 1'
a stable-fork, and thrust it through
.16 they brought
They had succeeded in tearing rough the door.
down sufficient of
the door to make an opening fora
but Mme. Boulanger had man to pass through,
armed
piece of firewood, and threatened
herself with a large
the first of them who
reatened to crush the head of
should attempt to enter. They
did not make the attempt, but thrust at the old woman
with the fork through opening. With the energy
of despair she seized the he
fork, and, wrestingit from herh
assailants, made it her weapon of defence, whilst the
ruffians brandished their
d knives, and told
h her t
certain of entering, immediately.e
They DOW endeavoured
wouldl murdertiewheorlewhichthey
had made in the clOortoseon aasrgeto 'admit both at once,
neither having the courage to enter singly, but Madame
Boulanger barricaded the door-way with a heavy
kitchen table, and continued to sustain the siege with
undiminished resolution. The assailants now broke the
windows, but the cotta,3e being an isolated one,
the former owner had put up strong iron bars which
resisted their efforts. They then went into the garden
and began to beat against the back door, but this re-
sisted more firmly than the outer door. Their next
effort was to enter the house through the stable by
digging aholein the clay floor, and they would have
succeeded but for a strong wooden partition deeply
sunk in the ground, and a heavy oaken cupboard which
was set against it. Rendered furious by the obstacles
which they had encountered, they now climbed up to
the roof, and began to strip off the covering, at the same
time tearing away aportion of the chimney, and throw-
ing it down the opening, not having courage to descend by
it lest they should meet with a vigorous reception, and be
unable, from their confined position, to resist effectually.

Finding that it was not so easy to enter by the roof
as they expected, they got down again, and finding an
enormnus piece of wood in the yard, they returned to
the outher door, and used it as a battering ram. The
prospect of effecting an entry was now so clear that
they shouted for joy, and told the poor old woman to
prepare for death, as she would meet with it in a few
minutes. Madame Boulanger saw that all hope of suc-
cessful resistance was at an end, and prepared for
her retreat. Opening the back door quietly, she
flew across the fields to a neighbouring farm, nearly
naked, and frequently, in crossing ditches, up to her
middle in water. On arriving at the faros, the in-
mates were instantly aroused by her cries, and the
farmer, with two of his men, armed with pitchforks,
proceeded to the cottage. &fore they reached it,
however, the robbers, who had effected an en-
trance, had made their escape, but they had not had
time to break (pen the cupboards, and had fled, car-
rying with them only some bread, butter, candles, and
other objects of little value. The gendarmerie of Ca-
lais were not informed of the affair until fi vc o'clock in
the morning, when a corporal went with his brigade in
search of them. They took the road to Gravelines,
suspecting that the robbers bad escaped that way, and
on arriving there learned from the sentinel at the gate
that two men, answering the description, had enterei
the town half an hour previously. It appears, how-
ever, that they passed hastily through the town. They
have not since been beard of, and it is thought they
have succeeded in reaching Belgium.