The Sun.
London, England, 1834-01-20 00:00:00

PORTUGAL

LISBON, JAN. 12.—Although the Government did not
agree to the terms proposed by the Duke of Terceira, in
order to his going to assume the command at Oporto, they
have come to an amicable understanding, the result of
which is that he left Lisbon for the army before Santarem,
on the 10th inst., at 8 o'clock in the morning, with the
Marquis Bandeira, another Peer, not to supersede Sal-
danba, but to act in concert with him; and this event
seems to be hailed with satisfaction by all classes here, ac,
well on account of the Duke's well deserved popularity
with the army, as because it is a measure which tends to
do away partly the discontent prevailing amongst the
Peers, which might perhaps be further diminished by the
Government giving up all idea of noticing the Conde de
Taipa's conduct.

According to the accounts received from the enemy's
quarters, it appeals that the prevailing; disease in their
army is frightfully on the increase, proceeding, no doubt,
from the sufferings and privations of every description to
which it is subject, and which are increased by its want of
discipline. According to many, the number of sick already
amounts to 300 at Abrantes, 2,000 at Santarem, from
whence they have commenced to remove them to Abrantes
by water, in about 15 boats, which they employ for the
purpose, 300 at Chanusca, and 150 at Punhete.,
But even according to the most moderate estimate here,
the number of sick at Santarem alone exceeds 1,600, and
the deaths are very numerous. The daily accounts bring
intelligence of the gradual increase of the disease, and are
received with joy by the people, although many have
relations and even brothers in the enemy's camp, thereby
showing that civil war will even extinguish the best feel-
ings of our nature.
It has often been stated that the majority of the people
are for Don Miguel, and the fact of such towns as Coimbra,
Braga, Evora, Castello Branco, Estremos, Vizeu, Valeriza
do Minho, Elves, Salvatierra, Montemor Nuevo, Campo
Mayor, &c., not rising against him, has been instanced in
support of such assertions. Having directed my attention
to this very important point, I have ascertained that
nothing but dread of Don Miguel's vengeance prevents them
from doing so ; but there is hardly a town which has not sent
secret emissaries to this Government, promising to rise the
moment that the troops shall make the first move on the
advance; and as far as Coimbra is concerned, I have seen
written communications from highly respectable people to
the above effect.

It appears that Don Miguel has not more than 5,000
effective men at Santarem, but he is very strongly forti•
fled ; be has 70 pieces of cannon, 30 of them being field
pieces; he occupies fourteen convents, which are converted
into as many forts; and one circumstance, which strongly
indicates that he is not in a situation to assume the ag-
gre-sor is, that since the defeat of the detachment which
he sent against Brigadier Pinto, at Marvao, he has not
attempted to disturb them any more, althou2b the Briga-
dier's forces do not exceed 400 men ; it being, however,
well known that Marvao is a strong place.
The Government measures respecting the Church are
generally approved of by the thinking part of the
people ; and although there are some few who consider
that they are premature, yet many think that this was the
time for commencing the reform.
There seems to exist a coldness, or rather a
kind of jealous feeling, on Don Pedro's part towards the
Duke of Palmella, and various causes are assigned for the
same ; one of them being, that Don Pedro thinks that
the Duke would rather see Donna Maria in Portugal,
with, ut either Don Pedro or Don Miguel; and it is be-
lieved by many that Don Pedro would not be much
inclined to the Duke's forming part of any Ministry. The
proceedings against the Conde de Taipa has mostly been
disapproved of, people thinking that it would have been
more advisable not to have taken any notice of his letters.
The general opinion respecting the Duke of Terceira is,
that he is a brave soldier, very fortunate in his undertak-
ings, a most gentlemanlike and honourable man, very
much beloved by the troops, but not possessing any very
great talents. .
Of Saldanha it is said that he is also a brave soldier,
very active, and possessing perhaps more military talents
than any one else in the Portuguese army ; very upright,
an instance of the same is his being so faithful to Donna
Maria's cause, notwithstanding that his four sisters are all
married to noblemen who are with Don Miguel. There
has been no want of gratitude evinced by Don Pedro or
his Ministers to those two Generals, both as respects
honours and pecuniary considerations.
It having been mentioned to me that Admiral Napier
complained that neither himself, his fleet, nor the workmen
at the dockyard, had received any pay for the last four or
five months, and that in consequence thereof they were all
anxious to leave the service, I thought that this was a case
wherein the Government evinced great ingratitude, and a
want of every good feeling ; and I at once determined to
apply to the proper quarter for information respecting the
same, and I have been promised for next mail an official
statement, showing that the report in question is not cor-
rect, and that Admiral Napier and his fleet have received
upwards of 150,0001.
I next called on the gallant Admiral, and he, without
hesitation, authorized me to say that the report in question
was utterly false, and that he had never stated such a thing
to any living individual, thus proving that every thing
we hear should not be given credit to, without first
endeavouring to come to the facts. In the course of
conversation the Admiral stated that he did not wish the
present Ministers to be turned out of office, and that his
fleet was getting ready for sea, which, by the bye, I have
seen myself; of course you are aware that a part of his
squadron is cruising out. Admiral Napier told me also
that Donna Maria's army was well-appointed, well-paid,
and in a high state of discipline. _ _

By the Chronica of this day, you will observe that some
guerillas have sprung up in the interior in favour of Donna
Maria, and at the moment that 1 am finishing this letter I
am assured that Brigadier Pinto's force at Marvao has been
increased, and thus he has been able to send a part of his
men forward to molest Miguel's quarters.
Captain Charles Napier. and another officer, are, I am
told, going to inspect the Portuguese ships of war detained
in France, and which the French Government offers to give
up on the payment of 200,000 francs due to them thereon,
Lucent, JAN. 13.—The Pantaloon being still in
harbour, I have to inform you that the Duke of Terceira
reached head-quarters on the evening of the llth, and that
it is asserted that General Saldanha left yesterday at nine
o'clock e.m., with 5,000 men, the neighbourhood of
Srntarern, and commenced a movement on the advance.
Whether this is the case I cannot venture to say, but I can
assure you that the information comes from people who
ought to know what is going on. There does not seem
to be any truth in the report respecting Don Miguel's
being ill, although it is believed by many that his sister,
the Infanta Donna Maria, is dead.
The Chronica of this day will not appear in time to go
by this conveyance. We are anxiously looking for the
next arrivals from England.