The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-10 00:00:00

THE SIEGE OF OPORTO.

OPORTO, May L.—The arrival of the steamer of the 29th
from Lisbon has caused a strong sensation here, as all ac-
counts agree in stating that the Queen has finally accepted
the conditions proposed by her allies, and that Colonel Wylde
is about,tolvisit this place for the purpose of obtaining the sub-
mission of the Junta. I fear that Colonel Wylde will be dis-
appointed, as I believe the leaders of the insurrection feel, that
though the terms of the agreement are as favourable as they
could desire, they cannot, in common prudence, accept them
without an adequate guarantee. England is acting with
good faith, and in the most friendly manner for the Queen as
well as with equity to the Junta; but what power has she
over Donna Maria's future Cabinet? and how can she pre-
vent the destruction of the popular partisans one by one
at convenient intervals? The Junta are, I hear, de-
termined, therefore, not to lay down their arms :un-
less they receive security for the future ; and that
security, they say, consists in their being allowed
to garrison with their troops Lisbon and Oporto.. Colonel
Wvlde w:11 have to accede to these hard terms, which I pre-
suine he is not prepared to do, or to find an equivalent— a
matter of no slight difficulty. I observe, as indicative of the
predetermined obstinacy of the Junta, that all the strong
points of the lines have been recently faced with solid ma-
sonry, and I should not be surprised to see some of the
leaders shutting themselves up in this city, reckless of con-
sequences, should things turn unfavourably against them.
Aiid then comes the difficulty of dealing with the Realista
officers, against whom the Queen has been relentless since
1834. They and their adherents are now with arms in their
hands. Will her Majesty confirm their several grades and
trust her crown and person to Povoas and Bernardino? In
fact, I fear that the Lisbon diplomacy has been reckoning
without its host. Treremos !

The blockading squadron have been called down to Lisbon
to strenghthen the blockade of St. Übes. The bar is now
clear, and all the outward-bound ships in the Douro are
taking advantage of it.
• The joint circulation of paper and coin ceases here to- day,
and in future all payments must be made in hard cash. The
Junta have authorised the issue of 200 contos in debentures,
but they have not yet constituted them a legal tender. Theßritish merchants are determined to transact business '• in
1 half paper, half c,sh," in accordance with the decrees of the
Lisbon Government.
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Ablextr'er.—idTohuet toleftetbnetioexnpoofrthe Falcon steamer allows me
to add a few lines to my former letter. I have just received
authentic intelligence from the camp of Marshal Saldanha. An
extraordinary delusion seems to prevail there, as the Marshal
and his officers imagine that the whole affair is at an end—
that the
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and that Colonel Wylde's mission is to be confined to a pe-
remptory summons to the Oporto insurgents to submit with-
out reserve, and in which case only the Spaniards are not to
act against them. In all this Saldanha forgets that the
Junta troops are much stronger than his, and that the na-
tional feeling is so decided against Spain that it is certain the
whole
population will rise against an invading force. Colonel
Wylde was hourly expected at the Marshal's head-quarters.
I can only confirm the statements I have already made
as to the feeling of the Junta here. They are determined to
resist, and, if Colonel Wylde confines his mission to a sum-
Mons of surrender, it will be indignantly repelled. The in-
surgents are prepared to listen to a medietion, and to accept
the terms which have been agreed to by the Queen, but they
are resolved to do so only under a proper guarantee, and the
great difficulty Colonel Wylde will have to meet, should he
be willing to negotiate, must arise from that determination.
The Realistas in arms and-the patulea will compel the Junta
to hold, their defensive position, even if some of the leaders who
are suspected of a desire to submit should accept the terms
offered by the Queen. ,
Marshal Saldanha has granted permission for several wine-
boats detained about Regoa to land their cargoes at that
place, under condition that the empty boats be then returned
to the left side of the river.
I forget to mention that Senhor Alipo da Silveira Pinto
has been elected Judge Conservator of Oporto.
The blockading squadron are again off the bar.—Times.

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