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LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 5, 1851.

, Simultaneously with the peaceful Exhibition if
Industry now presenting so many attractions to the
, foreigners in our metropolis, France, Spain, and Por.
tugal are agitated by a very strange political excite
ment. At Poris the Republicans of all shades and
divieions are looking forward with anxiety to the ap-
proaching period when the nation, through its repre-
sentatives, will have to decide upon the destinies of
the Constitution. At Madrid the Government of
ISABELLA is eagerly watching the suppression of
another Carliat conspiracy in Catalonia. At Lisbon
the advisers of MARIA. DA GLORIA are vainly
endeavouring to encourage themselves into the
belief of an ulterior triumph over SALDANHA. Con-
trary to the expectations of the majority, that illus-
trious commander has recently found his apparently
desperate fortunes again most wonderfully and almost
miraculously in the ascendant. Within twenty-four
hours after his seemingly ignominious departure, or
rather flight towards the Spanish frontier, he appears
to have been summoned back to the city through
which he had just passed as a fugitive; and the latest
intelligence relating to him contains, among other
marvels, the narration of his triumphal entry
into the ancient stronghold of Oporto. Dis-
may has, of course, been scattered among
the ranks of the CABRALS and their partizans by thie
to them terrible and disastrous information. At the
moment when they were exulting over the downfal
of their antagonists they are startled by the news of
his success—a success as brilliant as it is unparal-
leled. While dreaming on the sweetness of that
revenge which appeared to be inevitably descending
upon his few and discomfited supporters, they are
astounded by accounts which carry to their imagina-
tion the terrors of a vengeance falling only upon
themselves. The fickleness of popular opinion was
never, perhaps, more strikingly exemplified than in
the history of the last fortnight in the states of the
Portuguese SOVEREIGN.
Scarcely had the standard of rebellion been un-
furled by the veteran Marshal, Duke of SALDANHA,
than his visions of conquest over his opponents
seemed to be frozen by the icy reception given to his
cause by the multitude. Everywhere the Royal
authority retained the appearance, at least, of an al-
most undisputed predominance ; everywhere the as-
pirations of the insurrectionists assumed the aspect
of disappointment.. The army, although inspired
by a dubious loyalty, refrained from either
supporting or opposing the newly awakened
Revolution. The citizens of the principal places
throughout the kingdom evinced a similar disinclina-
tion to participate with SALDANHA. in the chances of
any such daring and desperate movement. Weighed
down by the terrors of his position,, the old leader of
the anti-Cabralis,s retired almost precipitately upon
the boundary line dividing the territories of the
Peninsula. Scarcely, however, had he set out fur
this forlorn destination when he found himself called
upon to return with all speed to Oporto, for the pur-
pose of assuming the command of a revolutionary
outbreak, such as leaves him the nearly undis-
puted master of Portugal. The cause of thi,
astonishing change in the situation of affairs may be
very readily conjectured. Actuated by a fallacious
belief in the indestructible power of the Queee's Go-
vernment, its leaders ventured to assume towards
their antagonists an attitude at once haughty and re-
vengeful. Enraged at this insolent course of pro-
ceeding, the civilians at length woke up from their
apathy, and the military forces threw off their sem-
blance of allegiance. tinder such circumstances the
audacious originators of the whole explosion
were compelled to withdraw from the capital,
and by their flight from office enabie
the QUEEN once more to bring about,
if such proves to be in any way practicable, some stilt
of tardy but at any rate satisfactory reconciliation.
linmediately upon the resignation of Count TUOMAR
and his Ministerial colleagues,
.the ex-Premier took
refuge in a vessel which forthwith conveyed him to
Vigo, and the KING Consort thereupon seems to have
earnestly recommended her Majesty MARIA DA
GLORIA to submit to the necessity of a compromise.
Deserted, however, though she discovered herself to
be by the chieftain of the Cabral faction, the QUEEN
nevertheless displayed a resolute disinclination not to
abandon thus summarily all hope of an ulterior triumph
over the rebellion. Inspired by which determination,
she appears to have applied to the Duke of TERCEIRA
with a view to the reconstruction, under his auspices,
of another. Cabralist Administration. 11,)w futile
any such endeavour must prove may be easily under-
stood when it
,is remembered that, not only has the
CountA THOMAR fallen, but that the Duke of SAL..
in fallaitbllye ef.
wellas
ast
.
Portugal. an experienced statesman, has become his
success" as the ,virtual ruler of the destinies of
must
by the latter personage, the
Royalists
most, imperative.
reason for:postpotsiegs
orthaewhile their habi-
tual display of aereg„cp
With so large a portion
of the people against bitn, and with the chief part of
her army not merely disaffected,
but openly col-
lected together under the authority
O. 0 ..,ALDANHA,
the SOVEREIGN must at length,
-n spite of
every con-
sideration of personal pride, recognize the need of
concession to the end that the kingdom
may be
speedily released from its present alarming state of
embarrassment. Seeing the inevitable necessity of this,
we shall await the receipt of further intelligence from
the Peninsula with a confidence in the unity of the
popular party, in the strength of their newly ac-
quired position, and in,, the
_moderation as well as
patriotism of the brave old soldier who has thus
suddenly found himself elevated into the orb:ter of
the fate of his fatherland.

We have not Epared the members of the Irish Bri-
g"l' when they supported propositions diametrically
Opposed to their own clearly•expressed views and
feelings, for the purpose of damaging the Ministry.
Nor shall we treat with rgreater leniency the pro-,

lIJN,

fessing cial reformers, who, while denouncing a
tax as "unjust, oppressive, and inequitable," and de-
claring their wishes for its revision, support Sir
CHARLES WOOD in his obstinate adherence to the
" conclusion" at which _he had arrived, and en-
deavour to perpetuate the iniquitous system, lest they
might " embarrass the Government." We do not
see why Mr. JOUN REYNOLDS should be attacked for
voting that "black was white," in order to avenge
what he erroneously, but no doubt conscientiously,
believed to be an insult to his religion, and a relaps-
ing into the path of bigotry and intolerance, while Mr.
RICHARD COBDEN should be lauded for a similar act,
because his object was to enable the Whig Cabinet to
carry their measures, whether right or wrong. We
fearlessly assert that the proceeding in one case is as
factious" and objectionable as in the other. It
appears to us, if any distinction can be
drawn between persons whose votes are given
not in accordance with the merits of the proposition
before the House, but for or against the party by
which it may be brought forward, if " men not mea-
sures" is to be the rule, that greater mischief may be
occasioned by a blind and unreasoning support of a
Cabinet, than can possibly arise from an equally un-
reasoning Opposition. In the latter case the good
taste and feeling of the House will go far to correct
,he evil. Englishmen naturally sympathise with
hose whom they think to be unfairly treated, and it
is not improbable that as many wavering votes may
be caught by the character of the proceeding
43 would more than counterbalance the numbers of
those who avowed a motive so indefensible.
But were it otherwise, it is certain that sac a course
could not be resorted to for any corrupt purpose.
An Honourable Gentleman who invariably opposes
a Government, whether right or wrong, cannot seek
for many favours from the Ministerial whipper-in.
He may certainly sometimes contrive to be shut out
from a division, or absent himself on some important
occasion, and thus establish some claim to
the good graces of the " Patronage Secretary,"
but he cannot hope for as many " crumbs" as the
hick-and. thin Ministerialist, the avowed " waiter on
Providence," will obtain. If the argument put for-
ward by the Honourable Member for the West
Riding of Yorkshire be once recognized there will be
in end to all faith in public men. There cannot be
the slightest use in professions, or even pledges, how-
ever stringent, if they can be set aside and violated
with impunity on such grounds. It will also com-
pletely neutralize the value of " the pressure from
without" even with the most squeezable Ministry.
What can be the use of argument or discussion when
-very question, no matter what it may be, is turned
,nto one of "confidence" or "no confidence." If
such courses were generally adopted, the Govern-
ment of the day, in place of being a constitutional
Ministry, would become an oligarchical despotism,
And there would be no security for the liberty of the
oeople. We feel it our duty, therefore, to protest
utast earnestly and emphatically against this novel
loctrine, which is the more dangerous when put for-
vard by such a man as RICHARD COBDEN, against
me of the most judicious and best-considered proposi-
tions of " the NESTOR of Reform."

The contest will be resumed this evening. We do
not for a moment suppose that Ministers will resign
In consequence of the defeat which they sustained.
They have sustained far more ignominious discomfi-
tures on many occasions, more particularly on finan-
cial questions, without relinquishing the " loaves and
fishes." At present they have got what they asked
fur, but only for a single year in place of three. The
interval is to be employed in investigating the matter,
and endeavouring to ascertain whether the injustice
which was admitted by every speaker on the Minis-
',erial side, except the PRESIIHR and the CHANCELLOR
of the EXCHEQUER, cannot *be greatly modified or
altogether removed. Nothing as yet, therefore, has
been decided that should lead to a change in the Ca-
binet, although the speeches of Mr. COBDEN and other
Itinisterialists might seem to indicate that its fate was
involved in the issue.

The point now to be decided is, whether matters
4hall remain in stalu quo pending the inquiry, or
whether some attempt shall be made to render the
impost in some degree more equitable than it now
is, to approximate to that justice which we cannot
st once hope to obtain. On this point we do not
quite agree with JOSEPH HUME, although it is with
considerable reluctance that we differ from that
consistent and faithful Reformer, for whom we shall
ever entertain unfeigned respect and admiration. He
thinks that the matter is "of too complicated a na-
ture to admit of any change during the present
session." Now, it appears to us that we should
not suffer so palpable an injustice to be con-
tinued for a single moment that we can
prevent it. There must be some distinction
made between Schedules A and C, and Schedule D,
between income arising from accumulated and
realised property, and from the bard earnings of profes-
sional men, or the precarious profits of merchants and
traders. The justice of the case would certainly not
be met by a reduction of the rate under Schedule
D to one-half the present amount, but it would be
an " instalment," which would induce the parties wil-
lingly to satisfy the balance until their cases could be
airly dealt with. This should be done even if it occasioned
a deficiency, or if it rendered necessary an increase,
of one penny or twopence in the pound in the
other schedules, as suggested by the Hon. Gentleman
the Member for Glasgow, whose propositions are de-
serving of the most attentive consideration. But
neither course will be necessary for the present. The
other reductions that have been proposed will not
come into immediate operation, and there will be,
according to Sir CHARLES `Moon's own showing,
nearly two millions and a half to go to the liquidation
of the national debt during the present year. Surely
nine hundred thousand pounds might be taken from
that amount without any great danger, and that
would more than cover the proposed change of
rate under Schedule D.

LYCEUM THEATRE.—MR. RI4DON'S B
The benefit of Mr. W. P. Risdon, the civil box• keeper of
the dress-circle, takes place to-morrow evening. Mr.
Risdon's benefit was originally fixed for the 7th ult., but
ir( in the unavoidab'e closing of the theatre on that night it
was postponed. We understand that the tickets issued for
the 7th nit. will be available to-morrow night.
EXHIBITION or 1851.—1 n reference to a pm..
graph which Appears in the Daily News of this morning,
announcing that Saturday next is the day fixed by her
MMjesty for visiting the building, and examining in detail
the articles exhibited, we are authorised to state that such
an announcement has been made in error, as the day is not
yet settled. Exhibitors will receive notice as soon as the
day is fixed.

DEATH FROM LIGHTNING. A violent thunder-
storm arising from the south-west, about four P.M. en Tues-
day, almost enveloped the neighbourhood of Dengie. in this
county, in darkness. It was accompanied with hail, rain,
and snow, but little wind. A company of six labourers. who
were hoeing in a field on Bridge-wick farm, Dengie, belong-
ing to Mr. R. Page, of Bradwell, had taken shelter by the
side of some mustard straw, when, becoming al ,rmed at the
vividness of the lightuing, which seemed to play upon the
straw, they left the spot with the exception of one, named
James Kemble, who lingered a few moments, and then left
to follow his companions. Before, however, he had joined
them, and when at a distance of a few rodsfrom the parry,
he was struck by the electric fluid, and was instantly 11
corpse. His hair was burnt off, his clothes were rent, and his
shoes literally torn to atoms. The other men, five in num-
ber, were hurled to the ground with great violence, but hap-
pily all escaped unhurt. The body of the deceased was
conveyed to the farm-house of Bridge-wick, when it was
found that the only thing about him which had escaped in-
jury was a glans bottle, which remained in his pocket fur-
broken.—Chelmsford Chronicle.

On Saturday evening last Sir JaMPS Duke, Bart.,
MY., gave a splendid entertainment at his tuansian, Port-
land-place, to the Common Council of his ward and several
other influential gentlemen of Farringdon Without.

FATAL ACCIDENT. Yesterday morning, about
ten o'clock, Captain R. Madden, of the brig Frowning
Beauty, was being rowed on shore from his vessel, lying in
the Pool, fur the rurpose of landing at Shadwell, when,
from some unexplained cause, the boat got foul of a moor-
ing chain and instantly capsized. The apprentice, Robert
Hunter, clung to the chain till assistance reached him, and
he was rescued; but we are sorry to say that Captain Mad-
den sunk and was drowned. Drags were used, but the body
was not recovered.
DIABOLICAL ATTEMPT TO OVERTURN A TRAIN o
THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.— HERTFORD, MAT 3.
This day two men, named Thomas Suddell and William
Smith, well-known in the neighbourh-od of Hatfield, Herts,
as notorious poachers were brought up at the Town-hall;
Hertford, before W. 'Mills, Esq. (chairman), Sir Charles
Pimsdale, and other county magistrates, charged with having
placed certain pieces of timber on the line, for the purpose of
overturning a train on the Great Northern Railway, and
thereb 3>
nta an? declined
dr
asdaLienegsi
em pte d
endanring the lives of her Majesty's subjects.
Williams,tosuerintendent of. the Great Northern
-tisonehresairepolice, attended to prosecute the case. The pri-
soners
n anythingthena inen tthheei r
heinousd fence
0,
ffaenedc
e theef
sacshaving'att lice the lives of innocent persons,
fully committed them
to Hertford gaol for trial.
BRILLIANT METF 0
at ten o'clock, a a Sunday evening last,
bourhood of Manchester' meteor was observed in the neigh-
most splendid, illunainattiichdale. The appea, ante was
the whole district around. The
meteor proceeded in a south-e
eye the luminions train appeasaretedrlytro direction,i3 and to the
length, and it was famed by repeated a twenty yards in
flashes 91 lightning.