The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-21 00:00:00

ettentili

LONDON, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1846.

CABINET COUNCIL.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL, Lord PALMERSTON, Lord
GREY, Lord AUCKLAND, the CHANCELLOR of the Ex-
CHEQUER, and the other Cabinet Ministers in town,
were present this day at the Cabinet Council, held at
the Foreign-office, Downing-street, at twelve o'clock.

The existence of the Portuguese monarchy is now
staked upon the precarious Itenouement of a revolu-
tion. Although, as we have already intimated,

the principal leaders of the insurrection have
not committed themselves to the abolition, or
to the temporary suspension, of the
sovereign authority, it is evident that the recent be-

even

haviour of the QUEEN'S Government has been so

peculiarly rigorous as to transform the comparative
lenity, or loyalty, or whatever that shadow of sub-
ordination may be designated, into a most intense
and predominating sense of injury. The minute
vestige of affection for her MAJESTY, which had
hitherto survived the alternations of the different
Cabinets and the vicissitudes of the popular cause,

has utterly disappeared. MARIA DA GLORIA is es-
tranged from the hearts of the Portuguese. When
the protracted misrule which that misguided lady
has persisted in supporting in direct opposition to
the will of the population is remembered ; when

he execrable domination of the CABRALS is borne

in recollection ; when we call to mind the

unconstitutional influence acquired and exercised by

the royal pedagogue DIETZ, it cannot be matter of
astonishment that the nation has ultimately risen to
wreak its vengeance upon those who have been in-
strumental in the perpetration of so many grievous
outrages upon the community. It cannot be mat-
ter of astonishment that a civilised race should
look with jealous suspicion upon a Govern-
ment whose course has been so wonderfully
devious, and the sinuosity of whose policy has
interfered so marvellously with the general pros-
perity, and placed the liberties and rights of the
citizens in such imminent jeopardy. It is possible that
much further encroachments might have been made
upon the fundamental principles of the Constitution
of I'ortugal without inciting the multitude to
any overt exhibition of its indignation, if

the aid of a foreign Ministry had not
been summoned to the assistance of a shame-
less Legislature. By that imprudent and flagitious
proceeding the downfal of the court minions
has been precipitated. The perils by which the
young SOVEREIGN is now encompassed have been
evoked by the sorcery of her own unpopular sway.
The conflagration by which the monarchical power
is threatened with destruction has been enkindled
by the abrupt collision of her own and the na-
tional will, by the continual friction of opinion,
especially amongst the bourgeoisie, and which friction
is attributable solely to the unwelcome character of
the Government.
Everything portends some unprecedented catas-
trophe in the metropolis of Portugal, and the conse-
quent diffusion of some novel influence throughout
the different provinces.
By the latest intelligence from the seat of
these intricate commotions we have observed
that matters are momentarily assuming a more for-
midable appearance, and in this they are only realis-
ing all our anticipations. The Portuguese conceive
themselves to have been not merely irredeemably in-
sulted by their present rulers, but to have had all their
dearest rights as men, emancipated from the thraldom
of fewiality, shaken to the very foundations. Among
the many indi,.:ations of the disposition with
which the present emeutes are conducted, the dispatches
of the valorous chieftain SA DA BANDEIRA are about
the most significant. The recklessness of tone as-
sumed by this insurgent captain, while it indicates
a most decided enthusiasm for the cause of the revo •
lutionists, evinces at the same time a supreme indif-
ference to the displeasure of the Sovereign whose
forces are leagued together for his destruction and
the subjugation of his fellow-countrymen. Reading
one of those independent documents we are naturally
reminded of the spirit in which HAMLET scorned the
frowns of his father-in-law, with that contemptuous
couplet :
" And if the King like not the comedy,
Why, then, belike he likes it not, pardie !"
So confident are the popular commanders, both in the
integrity of their cause and the unanimity of the popu-
lation in their favour, that they appear to have
actually alarmed the Loyalists into a trepidation
which will inevitably be productive of fatal conse-
quences, unless the army of SALDANIIA and his asso-
ciates be swelled by foreign battalions. According to
our latest information the British squadron in the
Tagus was held in readiness to receive and defend
Queen MARIA and her royal relatives in case of any
sudden and alarming emergency. From this arrange-
ment it would appear that serious alarm was expe-
rienced in the Palace at Lisbon as to the result of the
civil war which had been aroused in Portugal by its
ignorant and debasing policy.
That the animosities of the insurgents against the
existing form of government should continue to
be of the deadliest character, is scarcely sur-
prising, when we consider the despotic reprisals
and enormous penalties by which they have been
opposed. An adventitious lustre and an additional
importance has been imparted to the recent disturb-
ances, by the fact of certain amongst the most in-
fluential of the nobility having identified themselves
with the insurgents. Under the championship of DAS
ANTAC, Of SA DA BANDEIRA, Of CASTRO DAIRE, Of
DA. TAIPA, of FRIAS, and of JOIE ESTEVAO,
have assembled not merely vast multitudes of guerillas,
in communication with a number of juntas, but many
of the largest territorial proprietors and some of the
most illustrious of the national aristocracy. The
stringent measures by which the Goverment have
endeavoured to thwart the intentions of the popu-
lace, and to punish their more distinguished
supporters, have only tended to consolidate
the power of their antagonists, and to render the in-
fluence of the sceptre more than ever contemptible.
By depriving the noblemen, who have rendered them-
selves thus obnoxious of their titles, and thereby re-
ducing them to the rank of private individuals, and by
ordaining that the armed peasantry shall be shot
immediately on their capture, and after the merest
mockery of a military investigation, they are
driving the insurgents to a state of desperation
that nothing but victory or annihilation can ter-
minate. Propitious as are the prospects of the
people, they must remember that their conquest
must not only be over the soldiery in the
pay of the SOVEREIGN, but over the prejudices
of the minority of their fellow-citizens, and we
fear, besides, over the prowess and stratagies of
foreign armies. Otherwise their triumph will be
neither complete nor beneficial. Let them reflect
that, supposing DAS ANTAS to be victorious over
SALDANIIA, the Spanish forces will be still upon the
frontiers, or will have actually advanced into the
kingdom. Let them be true to themselves, moderate,
valiant, collected, and Portugal may be speedily extri-
cated from its present dilemma.

Amongst the many plan; which have been adopted
by landed proprietors in Ireland for the purpose of
affording employment and rendering assistance to
their tenantry, few have been- of a more extensive or
beneficial character than that which has lately been
promulgated by the Marquis of HERTFORD. The more
extensive farmer is thereby encouraged to undertake
works which are calculated, not only to provide ample
work for the inhabitants of the district, but to in-
crease the value of the lands, to bring them into im-
proved cultivation, to multiply their productive qua-
lities, and lead to a vast addition to the supply of food
which can be raised to meet the exigencies of the