The Sun.
London, England, 1834-04-15 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.

( From the Times Correspondent.)
OPORTO, MARCH 31.—A division about 2,500
strong, under the command of General Torres,
marched out of the city on the evening of the 25th,
and reached St. Thyrso on the following morning,
near which place they destroyed the encampments of
the enemy, who immediately commenced a retreat,
in which they were covered by their cavalry, who en-
gaged ours, and the Miguelite commandant of the
squadron (a French Royalist) fell into our hands
badly wounded. Here they halted for the night, and
on the 27th they entered Guimaraens without further
opposition, where their reception was a good one, the
municipal chamber coming out to welcome them. At
this place they were likewise joined by the late mili-
tary governor of the town and about two or three score
deserters.

The chief part of the enemy's force had taken the
road towards Amarante, but others having retired upon
Braga, a column was detached from Guimaraens
against that city on Friday last, and entered it on the
same afternoon without resistance, the enemy having
previously retreated to Carvalho d'Este, on the road
to Chaves. Braga was found to have been abandoned
by a considerable number of its inhabitants ; in some
streets all the houses, with the exception of three or
four in each, were empty ; and of friars, who pre-
viously abounded there, only one remained in the town.
Brigadier Cardozo, whose head-quarters at Oliveira
d'A zemeis, to the south of the Douro, has crossed the
river to the northward, about five leagues above
Oporto, with a force of 700 men, and ere this has safely
reached Amarante.

The City of Edinburgh steamer arrived from Lisbon
on Good Friday, with a welcome reinforcement of
nearly 400 men of the 12th Battalion of Cacadores,
who were landed the same day, and the steamer re-
turned to Lisbon immediately afterwards to bring up
the remainder of the battalion, which are expected to
be accompanied by the Duke of Terceira and two
squadrons of Lancers. The Baron de Villa Ponca,
son of one of Miguel's commanders-in-chief, came into
the city on the same evening, having succeeded in
making his escape from the enemy, although himself
and several others had been arrested on suspicion of
having an intention to change sides.
Admiral Napier, after leaving a sufficient garrison
at Caminha, marched on to Viana, which he entered
without firing a shot, and where he was joined by the
colonel in command of the place, and about 150 of its
militia.

A person arrived from Viana yesterday morning
with a letter to a mercantile firm here, communicating
that Napier had already quitted Viana for Valenca, a
fortified place on the Minho, from whence he had re-
ceived an invitation to proceed. The Lightning
steamer entered yesterday from Lisbon, bringing pas-
sengers Lord William Russell and family, and Colonel
Hare : this vessel will call at Vigo on her voyage home.
Since the departure of the troops from this city,
they have been joined altogether by 14 of the enemy's
officers of militia and the line, and the Queen's Go-
vernment has been spontaneously proclaimed in the
towns of Barcellos, Espozende, and Villa do Conde.
O.

(From the Lisbon Chrcrnica Constitucional.)

" LISBON, MARCH 25.
" OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE

AFFAIRS OF FINANCE.

" Senhor,—Your Imperial Majesty gave to the Portu-
guese nation the rich source of her prosperity when you gave
the constitutional charter. In it are the reeds of the ne-
cessary reforms for all the branches of the public adminis-
tration,—in it, too, are the rights and the privileges of
Portuguese citizens. But the august giver of the charter
has been destined by Providence to be also its restorer, in
order that, along with the glory of saving the nation at the
head of an army of heroes from the usurper's yoke, he
might likewise acquire that of being an enlightened legis-
lator, by the promulgation of decrees which, realizing our
fundamental institutions, form the completion of the
greatest benefit which ever issued from the hands of a
monarch.

" The Portuguese nation, Senhor, will be grateful for
the blessings bestowed by your Imperial Majesty, who,
in the midst of war, and of difficulties which could alone
be overcome by your great mind, evinces anxious care and
unwearied attention to all the objects on which the happi-
ness, present and future of a people whom you have deli-
vered depends,—and as your Majesty never thinks you have
done anything while there remains something for you to
do, and as you ardently desire that the nation should derive
the greatest possible advantages from the favourable situation
of this great capital, with its port, an abundant fountain of
wealth, which in times not very remote gave to it the com-
mand of the most varied and richest productions of the
globe ;—in order to carry into effect these profound views,
I have the honour to submit to your Majesty the draught
of a decree for establishing in Lisbon a free port for gene-
ral deposit.
" This measure cannot fail to produce important results.
By it the commerce of all nations mill be brought into
competition in the Tagus, it being invited to return to
its natural centre, by provisions calculated to remove the
embarrassment of navigation—to diminish the imposts and
exactions which oppress it—thus forming a great market
in Lisbon without injury to the national industry.
" Such is the basis of the provisions of this decree,which
ought to be made applicable to the trade of the heroic city
of Oporto, whose sacrifices for the cause of the Queen and
the country give it an incontestable claim to your Majes-
ty's protection. Treaties are not violated in the decree—
on
the contrary, their stipulations are maintained in full
vigour.
" For the better fulfilling your Imperial 3lajesty's in-
tentions, in the establishing a general deposit of merchan-
dise in this capital, it becomes, at the same time, neces-
sary
to diminish the duties on re-exportation, in order that
the burden may not fall too heavily on the articles sub-
ject thereto.
" Narrowmindedness, the want of right principles, and
the instigations of self-interest, have excited against mea-
sures of this kind clamours founded on supposed losses to be
sustained in the customs, and in the exaggeration of other
inconveniences, which either will not exist, or if they should
occur, will be nothing in comparison with the immense and
real advantages which such a change must produce. Those
advantages are evident to your Majesty, the enlightened
part of the nation is not ignorant of them, and the less in-
formed must learn to know them by experience, the only
means by which prejudice in such matters can be com-
pletely removed.
" All these considerations have induced me to do myself
the honour of presenting to your Imperial Majesty a de-
cree which in its provisions differs little from a similar
measure which received the approbation of the Chamber of
Deputies, but which, notwithstanding, was not converted
into a law.

" JOSE DA SILVA CARVALHO.
" Palace of the Necessidades, March 22."

" Taking into consideration the memorial of the Minister
and Secretary of State for the Affairs of Finance, after
hearing the Council of State, 16 have thought fit, in the
name of the Queen, to decree as follows :

" Article 1. The port of Lisbon is free to all merchant
vessels of every country not at war with Portugal, and
every kind of merchandise and articles of commerce will
be admitted into it for deposit, wheresoever produced, or
under whatsoever flag imported.
" 2. Even in case of war the merchandise deposited
shall not be liable to embargo or confiscation. On thw
contrary, all private property which may be lying in the
said port, or shall afterwards be introduced under a friendly
or neutral flag, shall be religiously respected.
" 3. The merchandise thus admitted for deposit shall be
allowed to be freely re-exported, subject only to the pay-
ment of a duty of one per cent., and of the charge for
warehouse, labourers, and port-watch up to the time of
its being re-shipped.
" 4. Whenever merchandise is not introduced for the
purpose of being warehoused, but of being transferred
from one vessel to another, it shall be subject to the pay-
ment of a duty of two per cent., and of the expenses of
the port-watch, regulated according to a reasonable pro-
portion.
" 5. The duty on the trans-shipment or re-exportation
of the merchandise shall be levied according to the cus-
tom-house value of the articles, or, where no custom-
house value exists, according to the invoice price ; and,
in the absence of both these rules, it shall be levied ad
valorem.
" 6. No merchandise shall pay warehouse-room for the first
year, but at the conclusion of that period it shall pay a
monthly rent, for such time as it may be left in the ware-
houses.

-g
From this rule all merchandise is excepted which,
on account of its inflammable nature, cannot be deposited
in the custom-house. In this case it must be placed in
private warehouses, at the cost of the parties.
" Art. 7. All the duties pressing on Portuguese navi-
gation shall be reduced, in order to render it less expensive,
and to enable it to compete with foreign navigation.
,6 8. All merchandise and articles of commerce in the
head custom-house at Lisbon, or in the warehouses under
its inspection, shall be considered as in deposit, for the pur-
pose of enjoying all benefits of this decree ; just the same
as if they had been subsequently introduced.
"9. All the provisions of the present decree shall be ex-
tended to the city of Oporto, as soon as the measures ne-
cessary to facilitate its execution shall be taken.

lb. All licenses are abolished, except in case of ex-
treme urgency. The clearance for consumption will con-
tinue according to the present system, until the proper
alterations shall, after due consideration, be determined by
law.

" 11. All laws and provisions contrary to the preaen t
decree are revoked.
" The Minister for the Affairs of Finance will take
notice hereof, and see to its execution.
" DON PEDRO, Duke of Braganza.
" Palace of the Necessidades, March 22.
" Jose da Silva Carvalho."

" DEPOSITION OF THE SPANISH 2D SERGEANT WHO

CAME OVER YESTERDAY FROM THE REBEL ARMY.
" Antonio Francisco, 2d Sergeant of the battalion of Castro
Caldellas, in the service of Don Carlos of Spain, fled
from the Hospital de Salvaterra, where he was a patient.
" He states that in Don Miguel's army there are three
Spanish battalions—one raised in Leon, another in Castro
Caldella (which has ten companies), and the other in As-
torg. All these have Spanish commanders and officers.
" They entered Portugal in the service of Don Carlos,
but they are now incorporated with Don Miguel's army.
In review, with the Portuguese troops, they form on the
left, but on occasion of attack they form on the right.
" He states that the battalion of Castro Caldellas, in
which he served as sergeant, was engaged in the action of
Alcacer ; that the other battalions were engaged in the
action of the 18th of February at Almaster, and that at
present the three battalions are at Sotto-Redondo.
" The soldiers receive 2i reals, and other allowances in
proportion ; and he says that they are well paid, which is
not the case with the Portuguese troops.
" They use the insignia of the Spanish nation, as well
in their cockades as in . their flags
. _

"They are furnished with food from the magazines of
Don Miguel's commissariat.
" When the battalion of Castro Caldellas was engaged
in the action of Alcacer, it was commanded by a Portu-
guese brigadier, who from the description given appears to
be Galvao Mexia.
" The sick and wounded are taken care of in the military
hospitals of Don Miguel.
" These troops had performed no service in Spain, for
they were no sooner recruited than they were marched
into Portugal, which they entered near Braganza. They
have been in this kingdom for the last six months.
" March 24. " VALDEZ."

(From the Lisbon Chronica of the 26th.)
" Most Illustrious and Excellent Senhor,—l entered
this place to-day with part of the force under my com-
mand. The joy of the inhabitants is indescribable. Num-
bers of them hastei► to enlist under our banners. Bour-
mont has the command of the province in the absence of
Lemos. He marched yesterday for Serpa with about 600
men, whom he drew from Evora, and to which were to be
united a portion of the garrison of Moura, which I under-
stand consists of 700 men of all denominations. I had
intended to remain here some days, but in consequence of
Bourmont's movement I march to-morrow upon the
Guadiana, the Serpa side.
" God preserve your Excellency.
" Beja, March 23. " BARDO DE SA."
" To the most illustrious and excellent Senhor

Agostinho Jose Freire."

" FROM THE CORREGIDOR OF THE ALGARVE TO THE
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ECCLESIASTICAL AND JU-
DICIAL AFFAIRS.

" FARO, MARCH 17.

" The Baron de Sada Bandeira continues in pursuit of
the rebels, though nothing is positively known of the lo-
cality he occupies. In the mean time, it appears that he
is proceeding in the direction of Almodovar, regulating his
movements according to the flight of the malignants. Here
the best order prevails, the greatest enthusiasm developing
itself, and individuals daily arrive who have deserted the
rebel party.

" OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE NAVY

AND THE COLONIES.
" Most Illustrious and Excellent Senhor,—l have the
honour to communicate to your Excellency, for the infor-
mation of his Imperial Majesty, that this morning we took
by surprise the town of Caminha, and made all the garrison
prisoners, without losing a single man. The Governor was
killed by a musket shot while in the act of calling the troops
to arms. The marines and sailors disembarked at mid-
might. I had two rafts launched, with near 300 men, un-
der the command of Brigadier-Major Carvalho. The
sailors were placed under the orders of Captain Liot, and
the British marines under those of Captain Bart. The rest
remained awaiting the return of the rafts. I directed the
first portion either to take up a position until the arrival of
the force, or to march forward according as the circum-
stances might be. They adopted the last alternative, and,
making the sentinels prisoners, surprised the garrison, which
was asleep. The surprise was complete.
" I have ordered the marines of the blockade squadron
away, and I have collected a garrison sufficient to maintain
this point, which is strong and important.
"We have made from 600 to 700 prisoners. The civil
and military authorities fled without allowing themselves
time to put on their clothes.
" I beg of you to recommend to his Imperial Majesty's
consideration Major Carvalho, Captain Liot of the navy,
and Captain Bart of the British marines. All the officers,
and my men generally, conducted themselves much to my
satisfaction.
" I have the honour to remain your Excellency's most
obedient and humble servant,

" Viscount CAPE ST. VINCENT.
" To the most illustrious and excellent Senhor Francisco
Shafts Alargiochd."
_ _ _

"P. S. I found here the Sc-orpion, and took possession
of her. I have sent word to the commandant of the fort on
the island, informing him that if he does not surrender, the
castle will be taken by storm and the garrison put to the
sword. He begged that the lives and liberty of himself
and soldiers might be secured. I have agreed to do so.
" Viscounts a
ST. VINCENT."

- -
" On the same identical day, viz., 23d instant, the Baron
de Sada Bandeira entered Beja, and Viscount Cape St.
Vincent Caminha. What a strange coincidence is the
taking of two points so distant in situation, by two men
who so much resemble each other ! Our readers will pe-
ruse with pleasure the despatches of both, and will find
some difficulty in distinguishing the difference of their
style. All is rapid and decisive.
" Those who complain of the slowness of our operations
may see from this how much they are mistaken when they
accuse the Government and the persons in high employ-
ments. Our enemies have certainly reason to think dif-
ferently when they see places in the power of the Queen's
troops which they imagined were quite out of our reach.
The edifice of usurpation is crumbling to pieces in every
quarter."