The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-12 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.

Ll_ noN,lioND.4.l . . 3io.—Colonel Icle, nho had
t fir .:;Feral Jsys past at the Brsg.,eza, Hotel
here, set off on the nnori.ing before last again fcr Sal-
danha's head quarters at Cartaxo, opposite Santarem,
to make himself acquainted with the real position of
affairs. Military uen doubt whether Santarem can be
effectively invested with the 6,500 men to which the
combined forces of Saldanha and Schwalbach amount.
12,000 would be requi:ite for a complete investment,
but, with the pontoons and a few gun. boats with which
Saldanha is provided on the Tagus, it seems possible
that the supplies may be cut off, and the town reduced.
The effects of the recent rain on the marshy ground
round Santarem have made it very unfavourable for
military operations.
Colonel Fitch arrived here on Friday morning from
Madrid, with dispatches from Mr. Bulwer for Mr.
Southern. The gallant Colonel came by Elvas, Estre-
, mos, Evora, and Montemor, and states the revolutionary
forces in the two latter places under Bomfim to be con-
siderable.
The Duke de Palmella, the Marquis de Nisa, and
some other members of the anti Cabralist party, sailed
from here in the packet on Saturday for Cadiz, the Go-
vernment having intimated to them that their absence
from the country for some time would be advisable.
The harshness of this proceeding can be only justified
on the plea of state necessity, their presence here having
been interpreted as a standing encouragement to the
insurrection. It was even said that the Duke de Pal-
mella gave money to assist the revolt, but this is believed
to be a calumny. By this " making of a solitude and
calling it peace," Lisbon is so weeded of everything in
the shape of a vigorous opposition, that even the voice
of criticism is silenced, except in the foreign press.
The divisions of Generals Casal and Vinhaes, aug-
mented by the accession of the 3d and 15th Regiments,
after the victory over Sada Bandeira, marched upon
Oporto, which they are probably investing at this
moment.
A telegraphic dispatch from Saldanba's head-
quarters announces the accession of two officers of
tne 2d Regiment of Infantry, who had deserted from
Santarem.
On the night before the Madrid sailed for Cadiz the
Duke de Palmella slept on board the Hibernia (the great
resort of all our reft.gees), stating as the motive of his
flight a dread of assassination, arising from the appear-
ance of some printed pasquinades, in which he was
greatly abused, and charged with aiding the insurrection
with money. His two sons-in-law, Alcacovas and Galvais,
went on board with him, and likewise accompanied him
to Cadiz—the fact being that they wished to escape from
serving in the volunteer battalions.
The Duke obtained a distinguiched reception from
Admiral Parker, and loudly protested his entire inno-
cence of the charges which had been laid at his door.
A rather strange letter has been written by the Duke
de Palmella to the Junta of Oporto, with the privity, it is
said, of Admiral Parker and Mr. Southern, in which he
states, that having been ordered by the Queen to quit the
country, he had a request to make of their Excellencies,
which was to liberate the Duke de Terceira. He added,
that at the same t;me they might insist on the Duke de
Terceira's leaving the country until such period
as the cause may be decided. He concludes by
suggesting that this step would tend to gain the sym-
pathy of the British Government, " for the cause which
the junta has so nobly defended." We are assured upon
the very best authority that the letter contained this
latter phrase. As there is no doubt that this letter will
be conveyed to Oporto by the Cyclops, and forwarded
therefrom by the British authorities, we seem now en.
tirely committed as partisans of the popular party.
The only thing that is likely to prevent the junta from
acceding to this proposition is, that if they let the Duke
de Terceira escape th( m, they will be deprived of the
opportunity of making favourable terms for themselves
and friends, in the event of the civil war terminating in
a " transaction" either at Oporto or at Santarem, when
they could sell the life of the Duke against those of all
the heads of their party. The Duke de Palmella had
been frequently requested to write about the other
Duke to Oporto, and always refused until on board the
Hibernia. The Cyclops, which carries home this
letter, is at Colonel Wylde's orders, and will probably
make some stay at Oporto, on her way to England, to
try the effsct of the letter to the junta in liberating the
Duke de Terceira. It is impossible to anticipate what
will be the result, but it appears not unlikely that the
junta may consent to the liberation, with a view to se-
curing, as they will interpret it, the entire support and
sympathy of England.
The Conde da Ribeira and the Marquis da Villada
have fled on board the Hibernia, alleging that there is
no safety for their persons at Lisbon. This dread is
merely imaginary. It is impossible to conceive a more
quiet or orderly state of things than prevails at Lisbon.
Both these gentlemen are Miguelites, and the Marquis
was one of the members of the late Coalition Electoral
Committee.
ISenhor Pereira dos Reis, civil secretary to the Duke
de Terceira, as the Queen's lieutenant in the north, and
who was one of those imprisoned with the Duke, has
effected his escape to Vigo, where he performs good ser-
vices for the Lisbon Government in the capacity of
agent. The Spanish Government has been active in
rendering indirect assistanee (within legitimate bounds)
to the Government of Donna Maria, by running the
Blasco de Garay steamer from Vigo to Lisbon twice
with news received through the Vigo agency which
could not have been otherwise transmitted, and with
some Portuguese officers and soldiers, who, declining to
participate in the revolt in the northern provinces, had
passed into Spain. But they have abstained from at-
tempting any direct intervention.
Mr. Bulwer has obtained a pledge from Isturitz that
they will not intervene without the concurrence of our
Government. There can be no doubt that, had the
Queen's troops here been once defeated, they would have
inkrnediately intervened, but for this pledge, by march-
ing their troops across the frontier into Portugal, and
the strong feeling of hostility between the two races
makes the idea of an armed Spanish intervention much
to be deprecated.
The blockade of Oporto has not been strictly kept,
and a Sew vessels have entered.

There is said to be great scarcity of provisions at San-
tarem, and when its investment shall be made tolerably
complete by Saldanha on one side and Schwalbach on
the other, there is some hope here that the besieged will
be forced to surrender. This expectation is not, how-
ever, to be relied upon, though the following letter from
an officer in the army of operations shows that it is Sal-
danha's chief object:—
It is impossible to describe to you the despair of the
troops upon the retirement of the rebels behind the walls
of Santarem. They had arrived full of joy, and yet
saw themselves forced to lose that opportunity of dis-
persing guerillas who have only words to attack the
Sovereign, but fly the moment that her faithful soldiers
approach. Our positions are, however, now firmly esta-
blished before Santarem. We know nothing of the
Marshal's plan, for he takes care not to let even those
that are nearest him into his secrets. But my belief is
that he does not wish to make victims by attacking San-
tarem, but to cut off the communications and reduce
them by want, which will take some time ; and for
this reason my belief is that we shall have some delay."
The principal danger for Das Antes is, that if he
should risk an action, his men are likely to desert him
as those of Sada Bandeira. The Royalist army is well
supplied, a steamer going daily up the Tagus from
Lisbon to the nearest point with provisions, and the fresh
loan of 67,5001. by the bank gives life to everything.
The present aliment of both sides, however, is lies. Lis-
bon, which enjoys the greatest tranquillity, is said in the
rebel quarters to be uninhabitable through Chartist vio-
lence ; while the Royalists get up forged letters, mis-
representing the state of their enemies, and describing
victories to which they are indebted only to their own
imagination. In the same way, to keep up the courage
of has Antas's men, when the news arrived on Sunday
last of the total defeat of Sada Bandeira, Santarem
was illuminated at night to celebrate his glorious
victory.
Santarem is a strong place, and contains 8,000 inhabi-
tants. It is built on the Tagus, in the form of a
crescent, about 50 miles from Lisbon, and overlooks a
bagoakt,esadadnedd
aanpoooldr
beautiful plain. Its walls are ancient, with numerous
citadel. Alfonso VL, t
horn-work, without curtain
or outworks ; but as this
modern additions. Thweroe
occupied by the igue ites
was the last place
centuries are six
works, and now presen
late war, it was then
tsrather a formidable appearance.
strengthened with some additional
Saldanha has his pontoonsm completed ; but I doubt not
that he will
with the hope of forcing it to
surrender at discreti o
of Schwalbach,
assistance
n. In the Roman era it was called
prefer co pleting its investment with the
plains before the town have been the
the Moors, and the
it has frequently been besieged by
s obtained over them. It was
of Aviz, and has often
the seat of the military order
Ps
cretrnseidoifu repeated "I
been the residence of kings.
wn Spanish refugee, has
General Prim, the well-known Spanish
is accom-
Juiiuniv;ic
from V i
whgo.
arrived here by the steamer
o has been spread-
tome
panied by a French aide•de-camp,
ing all kinds of ridiculously
false reports, with the
accustomed volubility of firebrand Frenchmen; and the
consequence is, that both will be immediately obliged to
depart.
•
The Queen, by royal decree, deprives Don Fernando
Botelho, son of Count Villareal, of his succession to the
title, in consequence of his having joined the present
rebellion. She also deprives Viscount Bretian • dos of his
title, and Luiz da Sousa Mousiaho de Albuquerque,
late Minister and Colonel of Engineers, and several
other officers, of their titles and decorations.
The Government exhibits increased rigour in
forcing all who are in a condition to serve to enter the
volunteer battalions. Many domestic servants have
this week been apprehended, and forced to enrol them-
selves.

CLOSE OF THE MAIL.
A further telegraphic dispatch was yesterday received,
by which we learn that an officer and two corporals of
the 2d Cacladores had presented themselves yesterday
(in addition to the two officers the day before).
Saldanha's fame as a general is at stake. He has
now beer. nearly three weeks before Santarem with:ut
doing anything. His policy has possibly been a sound
one, in waiting long enough to produce demoralization
and des,-rtion in I)as Antas's force. But, if we are to
believe him, th, se have set in already, and the time has
now arrived for striking a vigorous blow. If he does not
gain pn early victory, I think it probable that operations
will have to be suspended for two or three months, be-
caus, the rains will have reduced the plain around San-
tarem to a swamp, in which no troops can act. Saldanha
will, therefore, have to look to his laurels, which younger
generals are disputing ; for Schwalbach and Casal have
Obtained successes with which he has shown nothing to
cope during the present campaign.
Colonel Fitch's description of the operations in
Alemtejo, of which he has seen a portion with his own
eyes, would lead to the conclusion that the generals,
true Portuguese fashion, are merely playing at
soldiers.
,A dispiitch in this clay's Diario atuaounces that