The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-10 00:00:00

PORT UGAL.

LISBON, AUG. 2.—The Bill of Foracs, or land-pro-
perty, has been but slowly progressing, owing to M.
Soure, an opposition deputy, having declared that such
a law would be but a panacea, bring no eventual good to
the country, and prove only the means of creating end-
less litigation. On Wednesday a project for lessening
the postage on newspapers which circulate through the
kingdom was adjourned sine die, Ministing hariag ob-
jected to it. Their opponents, who seem to have had
the superiority in argument, were obliged to succumb to
Ministerial numbers, and after some bitter reflections
against the press, which fell from the Foreign Secretary,
M. Rodrigo da Fonseca Magelehaes, a division was called
for, which decided its adjournment.. The vital question of
the stoppage of payment or bankruptcy bya capitalization of
the floating debt up to the end of June last, as proposed
by the Palmella Committee, is given as the order of to-
day. On this question the variance which exists between his
Grace and the Ministry, particularly M. Avila, of the
Finance Department, is well •known ; the latter, in a
meeting lately held, said he would resign office if his
colleagues intended to give their support to the mea-
sures ; his Grace answered him in rather an angry tone,
and observed, that arguments ad terrorem were but a
poor mode of discussion, concluding, that if the present
Ministers were to go out, the country would not, in con-
sequence, be lost. Notwithstanding this divergency of
opinion, the continuation of the finance scheme in statu
quo will, in all probability, be carried. From the aspect
in which affairs now are, and are likely to assume, it is
conjectured that, soon after the 15th of the present
month, Ministers will call for a vote of confidence, and
then prorogue the Cortes to next January.
I learn, from good authority, that M. Aguilar, the
Spanish Envoy at this Court, has written in the most
energetic terms to the Government upon the recognition
of the late Miguelite Bishops, and their appointment to
the two dioceses on the Portuguese frontiers. Braganza
and Elvas. Spain looks with a jealous eye upon these
recognitions and on the negotiations carried on with the
Pope, and seems to discover a plan for undermining the
Spanish revolution, and establishing a propaganda in
Portugal.
Saturday, the twenty-ninth anniversary of the birth-
day of her Imperial Majesty the Duchess of Braganza,
was feted as a grand gala, and the usual domon-
strations were shown by firing Royal salutes from
the Portuguese forts and ships of war in the Tagus.
A Royal dinner was given at the Palace at Cintra to
her Imperial Majesty on the occasion; amongst the guests
were the gallant Duke de Terceira, the Marquis de Sal-
danha, and the Bishop of Braganza. The invitation of
this Prelate, who five years ago in a printed address ad-
vocated the cause of Don Miguel in opposition to her
Majesty the Queen and the Pedroites, has afforded much
matter for animadversion. Her Serene Highness the
Infanta Donna Isabel Maria, the once Regent of Por-
tugal, has left her Palace at Bemfica for that of Ramal-
bao, near Cintra, to pass the summer.
The revenue of the Lisbon Custom-house, and Excise-
office and Custom-house of Oporto for the month of June
last, paid in debentures, ex-paper money, and coin,
amounts conjointly to 329,038,050 reis, equal to 75,4091.
2s. Bd. sterling, showing an increase on the preceding
month of May of 7,9541. Bs. 3d. sterling.
The accounts from the Algarves are of a most lament-
able nature, scarcely anything but murders, assassina-
tions, and robberies of the worst description are to be
heard of ; the churches of Santa Marinha do Zezere,
Trisouras, Loivos da Ribeira, and San Nicolas, have
been recently broken into and stripped of everything of
value. _ _

Yesterday, at mid-day, a calamitous and extensive fire
broke out in the premises of a Swiss cabinetmaker at the
Thesouro Velho, near to the English hotel of Madame de
Belem, which, being increased by a very strong north
wind, threatened, for upwards of two hours, destruction to
the whole of the neighbouring districts. Happily, how-
ever, through the well-directed exertions of the firemen,
assisted by many private individuals and the officers
and seamen from the Portuguese ships of war, the
French corvette Coquette, and the British brig Espoir,
the flames were got under ; and by five o'clock all appre-
hension for the safety of the adjoining dwellings had sub-
sided. Much property has been destroyed, but no lives
lost. Captain Franca, who it may be recollected after
the revolution of September, 1836, was Inspector of the
Naval Arsenal and Colonel of that battalion, and impli-
cated in the attempts at revolution in August last, after
having saved the whole of the family of the house where
he resided, by conducting them at ,the risk of his lift,
along a parapet, returned to secure some papers and va-
luables, but unfortunately losing his equilibrium, owing
to the violence of the wind and raging of the fire, fell
from a height of nearly two stories, and is now lying se-
verely injured at the house of a relative.
Three suicides, by persons moving in a respectable
sphere of life, brought about by gambling, and other
pecuniary embarrassments, have taken place here during
the past week.
The Brandywine United States frigate left on Thurs-
day last for her station in the Mediterranean, touching
at Cadiz.

Exchange upon London at 30 days' sight, 54d. per