The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-11 00:00:00

rendering indirect assistance (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
immediately 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 k pt,
and a few vessels have entered.
There is said to be great scarcity of provisions at San-
tarem, and when its investment shall be makKtelerably
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 tor, 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 Das 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
beautiful plain. Its walls are ancient, with numerous
modern additions. There are six gates and an old
citadel.. Alfonso VL, two centuries back, added a poor
horn-work, without curtain or outworks ; but as this
was the last place occupied by the Miguelites during the
late war, it was then strengthened with some additional
works, and now presents rathei a formidable appearance.
Saldanha has his pontoons completed ; but I doubt not
that he will prefer completing its investment with the
assistance of Schwalbach, with the hope of forcing it to
surrender at discretion. In the Roman era it was called
Prcesidium Julium ; it has frequently been besieged by
the Moors, and the plains before the town have been the
scene of repeated victories obtained over them. It was
the seat of the military order of Avis, and has often
been the residence of kings.
General Prim, the well-known Spanish refugee, has
arrived here by the steamer from Vigo. He is accom-
panied by a French aide-de-camp, who has been spread-
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 Bretiandos 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 Cariadores 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 been nearly three weeks before Santarem Ns ithcut
doing anything. His policy has possibly been a sand
one, in waiting long enough to produce demoralization
and desertion in Das Antas's force. But, if we are to
believe him, these have set in already, and the time has
now arrived for striking a vigorous bloW. If he does not
gain on early victory, I think it probable that operations
will have to be suspended for two or three months, be-
cause 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 Casa.' have
obtained successes with which he has shown nothing to
cope during the present campaign.
Colonel Pitch'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,
in true Portuguese fashion, are merely playing at
soldiers.

A dispatch in this day's Diario announces that
Schwalbach's column crossed the Tagus n little on this
side of Santarem the day before yesterday, for the pur-
pose of joining Saldanha's division. There were some
turther desertions from Santarem to Saldanha's head-
quarters at Cartaxo. The deserters declare (says the
Diario) that all within Santarem are greatly disheartened
since the 26th, when the defeat of Sada Bandeira at
Valpassos became known. They add, that the troops
of the line under Das Antas's orders are determined at
the first opportunity to follow the example of the 3d and
15th Regiments, and desert ever to the Queen's side.
This may, or may not, be probable. The people have
been too used to revolutions to have much fidelity for
any side,

The Diario further announces that Colonel Lapa's
column has routed a guerilla at Cadaval, north of Torres
Vedras, which had perpetrated all kinds of violence and
extortion, and that the men composing it had returned
to their homes, while the Colonel had passed on to
Caldas, having cleared the north of the Tagus of gue-
rillas. But while the country elsewhere is disturbed,
these detached guerilla parties only disappear until the
troops have passed, and then they are at the work of
plunder again.
Lisbon abounds with seditious placards and incendiary
publications, which sufficiently indicate the views that
will predominate in the event of the triumph of the de-
mocratic party. The game is now to preach up the fine
qualities of the heir-apparent (a child of 10 years), with
a view to procure his succession in the room of his,
mother.— Times.

SINGULAR. DELUSION.—The following remarkable
instance of delusion is related in a letter from Nogent-
le-Rotrou (Eure- et-Loire):—" The widow of a wealthy
farmer near this place had a daughter, for whom she had
great affection, and who would easily have obtained a
rich husband, for she is very pretty and will have a
good fortune, but she had fallen in love with a young
man of the place, without fortune; and as she did not
dare to avow her attachment to her mother, she gave
way to melancholy. The mother, convinced that some
secret grief was preying on her daughter's mind, en-
deavoured to ascertain the cause, and at length it was
avowed. Anxious for her daughter's recovery, the mo-
ther consented to the union, and the lovers were mar.
tied. The young man went to reside with his mother-
in-law,
obtaining made
the
mother'sa n exc e l
gl eonotd
grater.husband, andh
This
uwc
ec
ne et doe
on for
i inn
whenu a
efier e
inorceceutri
gr
i,
n and t
oaks it p wa
oaea,
the arrest of a young man of bad
whichssuevpeproasleedomdoetnodt hi
bsne
character. The day after the arrest an acquaintance of
the prisoner's called on the mayor, to reveal the following
extraordinary secret, which had been confided to him :-.-...
The prisoner had, he said, told him a few days before.
his arrest that he bad been offered 1,000 francs by the,
widow above spoken of if he would murder her son-in-
law. He had consented, on condition of the money being
paid beforehand, but this she had refused, and therefore
the affair vk as, for the mcment, broken off. The widow.
was sent for by the mayor, and interrogated. She con-
fessed the truth of the charge, and when asked whither
she had any reason to be dissatisfied with the conduct of
her son-in .law, she said no, but that his good conduct
and the happiness of her daughter were the effect of
sorcery, and therefore she could not suffer him to exist.
He possessed, she said, the secret of preparing three
powders, which enabled him to make all persons happy
in spite of themselves. This, she said, had been revealed
to her by the cure of the parish. The cure being an
enlightened man, the mayor did not think it necessary
to put any question to him on the subject,s lto keep a
but, regarding
son-In-law
the woman as insane, advised, the o
strict watch over her actions.'
DinGeeWltilnEgNTorAthssisocaisesToriaNtr—on
Yesterday
flume.
rously attended.. The chair was taken by G, P. Parkin,
GEeenAtLheAll;
NthulartYlnuEaNl
was held at the London Tavern, and was very
Esq. Mr. Hewitt, the secretary, read the report of the
directors, which was of a gratifying Lature, except only
that a fraud to the extent of 1.,411. 13s. I Id. had been
committed by a clerk lately in the employ of the associa-
tion, but of this amount 500/. had been recovered from
the Lureties. Daring the year, 58 members, holding
124 annuities, had jollied the association. The amount
of capital on the 30th September last, was 202,443/. 125.,
being an increase during the year of 12,5891. 10s. 6c1.,
after the payment of 8,031/. 3s. 2d. The amount for
distribution this year would produce the sum of
17/. ss. 2d. for every annuitant on the civil fund, and
81. 14s. 3d. on the military and nautical fund, which,
being under the minimum recommended by the actuaries,
the sum of 1(1. 10s. would be paid to each annuitant.
The interest derivable from the invested capital would he
found very nearly sufficient to pay all the annuities of
the past year. Twenty-seven members on the civil fund
and four on the military and nautical fund had died
r
during a
n thepast v
year.l a r r
eTheWarren were
erreep
electedor t
d
was
iadopted.
ectors and lir.
a.
Wray d Captain
vote of thanks being passed to theh airman and direc.
tors, the meeting adjourned.
At the Middlesex Sessions on
Thursday, a number
of indictments against
individuals, most of whom were
either Italian or French, for keeping disorderly houses
at the West-end, were heard, and the parties allowed to
stand upon their own recognisanees, on consideration);
their 41)44 the nuisances.