The Sun.
London, England, 1833-09-23 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.

(From the Times.)
The annexed letter from Lisbon is important, in
showing the excellent state of the defences, as well
as the confidence and enthusiasm with which the
inhabitants were awaiting the expected attack :
" LISBON, Szrr. 3.—Everything is a la guerre—
everything smells of powder ; no one occupies himself but
about our new position. The army of Don Miguel has
advanced close upon us, which that of Don Pedro has
allowed it to do, with a view of drawing it within the fire
of our lines; but Bourmont, finding that we were more
inaccessible than he supposed, thought proper to take up
his position on the side of Lumiar, Bemfica, and Charnier.
His advanced posts showed themselves the whole day on
the heights of Palma de Cima, working at a redoubt that
they were anxious to establish on the road which descends
from Redemaker towards Machado. On our side, we are
working night and day, not only to render our positions
inaccessible, but to put them in such a state as to he enabled
to confide them to the 14,000 national volunteers of the
town, and permit us, with our 8,000 regular troops, to take
the offensive, and which number will be augmented by
reinforcements that are expected from Oporto; so that,
including about 300 Lancers, English, French, Prussians,
and Poles, the terror of the Miguelitep, we shall be, one
and all, about 10,000 good soldiers. It really is delightful
to go through the lines and witness the enthusiasm of the
troops, and see the monks and priests working at the re-
doubts. The line of fortifications commences on the right,
at Madre de Dios, which is supported by the men-of-war,
who command the whole of the banks to Chabreyas ; from
thence it is carried over the heights which command the
valley of Chellas, by l'Alto do Sa❑ Joao, Alto do Varijao,
and in front of Penha de Franca, as far as the heights on
the right of Arroyos, which command the magnificent po-
sition of that convent, where we have taken the precaution
to place four of the twelve famous 64-pounders which
Joao Paulo Cordeiro procured for Don Miguel. The
valley of Arroyos being thus defended, and, besides,
being cut sag-zag by a trench bordered by a ditch,
fifteen feet broad, and very deep, the lines continue
in front of the house of the Count de Linhares, straight
to the barrier Arco de Cego by the heights of that
name straight to Picoas, from thence to St. Sebastiao da
Pedriera, the country-house of the Viscount da Bahia
(Ciabria), under Palhavaa, straight to Campo Lide, below
the house of Pedro de Souza, straight to the commence-
ment of the arches, and lastly by Arco do Cavalhao to
Praseres, to the bridge of Alcantara, which is also fortified
and commands the river. All along the line are batteries
strongly constructed and well situated ; but the one at
the commencement of the aqueduct is really superior.
The whole is divided into districts, and every one has his
place assigned and fixed ; there is also a corps de reserve,
and to.morrow telegraphs are to be constructed, to com-
municate from different points of the fortifications, so that
in a minute the centre will know what is taking place at
the extremities. Having the confidence of the inhabit-
ants, who also place the strictest reliance in our chiefs,
we fear nothing, and Bourmont may come when he likes."