The Sun.
London, England, 1833-11-20 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.

Limps, Nov. 9.—The copies of official documents
which I transmit herewith will put you in complete pos-
session of the particulars of the affair of the 2d instant, at
Alcacer do Sal. The prompt arrival of the Admiral, with
a reinforcement of recruits, set every thing to rights, and
the enemy took no advantage of their success, but remained
satisfied with the possession of Alcacer, from whence, no
doubt, they will again be shortly driven. Had Lemos
pushed on in a spirited way upon St. Übes, be would have
taken the town, and perhaps have made the Admiral him-
self a prisoner, but the opportunity passed by, and uo
advantage was taken of it. I'ugitives belonging to the
scattered volunteer corps drop into Lisbon daily, who
have made their way across the country to the different
villages on the banks of the Tagus opposite the city.
The Admiral proceeded to Sines, embarked the garrison
of that place (about 200 men) on board the Superb, and
lanclui them at St. Übes. The remainder of the stowage
in the steamer and five Mates were placed at the disposal
bt the inhabitants who might wish to abandon the place.
About 800 men, women, and children, immediately sought
refuge on board the different vessels, embarking all their
furniture and moveables; some emigrating to St. Übe.,
others to Lisbon.

I am ,orry to confess that it has been shown that the
Lisbon volunteers are not exactly like those of Oporto ;
perhaps one cause of the difference is, that the latter are
commanded by rfficers of the line, in whom the men have
confidence when in the field, whereas the officers of the
former ate generally substantial tradesmen, with wives
and families (a class of men naturally averse to fighting),
picked out for the honour of wearing a sash on account
of their wealth.

The Admiral again leaves this evening for St. Übes in
the Superb steamer, which will afterwards proceed to
Faro and Lagos with provisions for the garrisons of those
cider.

The Bucc/euch entered the day before yesterday with
11'7 British recruits for Donna Maria's service.

The convent of St. Apollonia and the monastery of
Benedictine monks of our Lady of Estrella have both been
suppressed and abolished by sentences published in the
Chronica. The whole of the property and effects belong-
ing to these establishments has been confiscated, and incor-
porated with the national property ; and one of the late
sacred buildings is already placed at the disposal of the
administrator of the customs for the reception of mer-
chandise. Nineteen expelled nuns are to be quartered
for life in the convent •f St. Anna, on a pension of
12 "interns (1411.) per day, and two expelled monks
are to provide for themselves upon an allowance of 24
vintems daily.
The army around Santarem has again been reviewed
by Don Pedro, who returned from thence last evening.
It has not transpired what operations are determined upon.
We have likewise heard nothing of General Bento da
Franca, and his small division. One English, one Danish,
and one Portuguese vessel, were brought in as prizes yes-
terday ; they were all laden with fruit from Villa Nova
de Portimao, in Algarve. It is said that an English
vessel is now in the Guadiana, bartering anal selling am-
munition to the guerillas and Miguelites. The Govern-
rntnt has granted permissio❑ by a decree for Douro
wines to be exported from Oporto to Great Britain,
without bThetes from the Royal Wine Company, for the
space of four months, upon payment of an additional
outy of 18 milres per pipe, at the exchange of 5] 3,
3/. 17s. 3d. sterling. This measure is very satisfactory to
the merchants.

OPORTO, Nov. 3.—On the 31st ult., at 2 o'clock in
the morning, the whole of the troops here of the line,
moveables, and about 150 of the fired volunteers, marched
to the other side of the river in three columns; one went
to Arnellas, whence they brought away some pipes of
wine, the second took the road along the coast, and the
third and centre column, consisting of four companies of
the 18th, four of the 10th, and four of Donna Maria's
Volunteers, with about 40 horse, one field-piece, and one
howitzer, took the high Lisbon road, and proceeded as far
as Grijo, where General Stubbs left them, giving orders
to Colonel Pacheco to rest the men, and then to return to
Oporto. Whilst they were resting themselves they were sud-
denly attacked by from 5,000 to 6,000 Miguelites, and as
the arms were all piled and the men scattered, being taken
by surprise, at first some confusion ensued ; however, they
rallied immediately, and, notwithstanding the immense
dispirity of force, Pacheco made a beautiful retreat, dis-
puting every inch of ground as far as Carvalbos, where
our guns having an opportunity to bear upon the enemy,
they gave up the pursuit. Pacheco took up five hours
in retreating over one league of ground, keeping the Mi-
guelites constantly at bay, and having his troops formed,
and marching in the face of so superior an enemy, as if
they were on parade. We lost about 30 in killed and
wounded.

NOVIMB/CR, 7.—On the sth instant the enemy came in
force to St. Mamede da Infests, and some of their Lancers
as far as Paranhos., General Stubbs ordered out the
Battalion de Alinho, of Donna Maria Segunda, aLd the
10th Infant!), there was a good deal of skirmishing
until dusk, when the enemy fell back, and our troops re-
entered the lines. The Miguelites are said to be at
Alfana, Carneiro, and Barca de Trofa ; they suffered some
loss, as they embargoed a good many carts for the wounded.

LETTER FROM CAPTAIN BIRT TO ADMIRAL NAPIER.
‘. St. Übes, Nov. 3.

" My Lord,—l beg to inform you that the enemy
attacked our position at Alcacer on the morning of the
2d inst., in three columns, consisting of infantry and
cavalry, to the number of 1,500, under the command of
General Lemos. The English and Portuguese marines
under my command were stationed in front of the Consti-
tutional troops as skirmishers, and kept the enemy at bay
till the cavalry charged them in three squadrons, when we
immediately formed into squares, and twice repulsed them
with great loss. We then prepared to charge a column of
infantry who were advancing, but the Portuguese Vo-
lunteers and 9th Infantry, who were stationed in our rear,
seeing the determined manner in which we were attacked,
betook themselves to rapid flight without firing a shot,
leaving my men with some of the Portuguese marines to
do the best we could, when, finding ourselves overpowered
by numbers, we commenced our retreat, keeping the
enemy at bay, and covering the flight of the Portuguese.
I tried to persuade the Colonel commanding our troops
(who asked my opinion) to retire to a convent, a strong
position on our right, at which place we might have made
a good stand ; instead of doing this, he led to the marshes
beside the river, and here the scene was beyond descrip-
tion; the whole country was strewed with arms and ac-
coutarritnts, which the volunteers threw away in their
flight, and the enemy's cavalry closing on them, hewed them
down in all directions. I kept my men together, and
wade good my retreat to the side of the river, with the
loss of only three men ; but on coming to the river, for
want of boats (the Portuguese troops having taken all)
the men were obliged to throw away their arms and ac-
coutrements, and swim across under a heavy tire of mus-
ketry from the enemy, who lined the north bank in this
place. lam sorry to say my loss was great, in conse-
quence, I fear, of some of the officers and men breaking off
to the right, and attempting to pass the river lower down.
They were all cut off. My loss consists of Mr. Ebsworth,
taken prisoner ; Mr. Fitzpatrick, drowned in crossing the
river; (cur non-commissioned officers and thirty men
killed and taken prisoners. I assure your Excellency I
cannot speak too highly of the gallant conduct of my
officers and men.

The Colonel commanding lost all self•command, and
gave himself up to the ememy, and a great number of the
Volunteers, when they found themselves surrounded,
passed over to the enemy, crying Viva Don Miguel.'
The loss of the Portuguese in killed, wounded, and taken
prisoners could not be lets than 800 men.

" The remainder of my men and officers are now on
board the DonnalMaria, where I wait your Excellency's
orders.

" I have the honour to be your Excellency's most
obedient humble servant,
" BIRT, Captain of Marines."
" St. Übes, Nov. 4.
" My dear Sir,—There has been nothing but the
greatest mismanagement displayed here, as you will see by
the report of Captain Birt, which I send you.
" It appears that the Queen's forces took possession of
Alcacer do Sal on the 25th of October, the enemy flying
from the place.
" Colonel Florencio advanced at four in the morning of
the 2d about three miles, and took up a position ; the
enemy made a movement on his left, which brought his
troops into a plain, with a wood on each side of him.
The regular troops were drawn up across this plain, with
the English marines and, Portuguese marine brigade in
front as skirmishers. The enemy advanced three squa-
drons of cavalry at a
.gallop, but Captain Birt threw the
marines into a rallying square, and repulsed them with
great lose. The cavalry formed.. again, and were again
ls d with severe loss, retiring on the rear of their repo e
in-
fantry. Captain Birt then formedin and advanced
against a column of infantry which was vancing to at-
tack bin]. At this moment the whole of the. Portuguese.
troops turned round, fired a volley in the
.air, and fairly
113 consequence
ran away as fast as they could. He was
obliged to retire and cover their flight to the town, where
the volunteers threw away their accoutrements and ammu-
nition. Captain Birt begged Colonel Florencio to rally but
regiment at a castle on this side of the town; bat bit self.

•
. .
possession was so entirely gone that nixing was done,
and away they all went, helter•skelte, through the
marshes, towards the river. The cavalry took a road to
the right, and cut them up in all directions ; some
escaped in boats, others swam across, many were drowned,
and the rest surrendered. Captain Birt pursued his re-
treat in good order to the river, where he found all the
boats gone down with those who had saved themselves.
There were boats on the opposite side of the river, which
were brought over by some of his men wbo could swim;
those who could not went in the boats on board a hiate,
the others swam off. A party of fifty, with several offi-
cers, went lower down the river, where they were charged
by the cavalry. Those who could swim took to the water,
the rest were either killed or taken. Lieutenant Fitz.
patrick, I believe, was drowned. Mr. Ebsworth was
taken. Our loss is fifty. four marines and non, commis-
sioned officers, killed, drowned, or taken. As for the rest
of the troops, God knows where they are. I hear 200
are at Palmella, and there may be about 100 here. I
have ordered the men from Palmella, and am rallying
the rest as fast as I can.

" The Belgians are landed, and are good troops. The
marines are here without arms and clothing, and I beg
you will send immediately 300 stand of arms, accoutre-
ments, and clothing, and we shall then muster between
400 and 500 men.

" This is a tnost important place, and must not be
given up on any account. They have committed the folly
of taking the guns out of Fort St. Philip, which protects
the harbour, and with two or three field pieces would drive
the ships from their anchorage. I shall put fifty men into
it, and I recommend you to immediately send half a dozen
guns to defend it against the land side. You ought to
send the rest of the Belgians here; and with that force,
and a good comminder, we could advance. . .

" If the enemy get this place, they will find the import-
ance of it—they will be able to receive supplies of all sorts
from England, and I shall not be able to prevent it.
General Lemos commands in the southward, and we in-
tercepted a letter from him to the commanding officer at
—, to make a dash at St. Übes.
" I am going to Sines to see if I can withdraw the
garrison from thence; and I have ordered the Don Pedro
to come here also, to assist in defending the place. I
foresee this war will be protracted, and they must not
be allowed to get the coast. Bernardo da Sa should
take Figueira in preference to any thing, and we could
then push our vessels of war into the Mondego.
" It is useless making any comments on what has
passed : bad common courage and common management
been displayed, notwithstanding their cavalry, the enemy
would have been beaten. I forgot to say that our cavalry,
instead of charging theirs, after Captain Birt had thrown
them into confusion, stood still, and then fled with the in-
fantry, never even attempting to cover their retreat.
" I have the honour to be, &c.,
" CAPE ST. VINCENT.
" To the Minister of Marine."

PRICES OF IRISH STOCKS, DUBLIN, NOT. 16.

Bank Stock 2144,, St. Patrick Insur.(perShare
Consols, 3 ner cent
Gov. Stock, 33,', per cent. 95 National Ditto... —
Ditto, New
4 per Cent —' Hibernian Bank
Gov. Deb. 354 percent.... 87% Provincial Ditto
Royal Canal Stock
Grand Canal Stock 2444 lmperial Mine
City Deb. 4 per cent, 74N Mining Co of Ireland
Ballast Office Deb. 4n. c. Commercial Buildings

elements made use of by the men who pursue that re-
actionary system which has done so much injury in the
present day. When saying ' thus far and no further,
the spirit of reaction, following the example of the Minis-
ters of Charles X., attempts to arrest the march of time,
hut the spirit of reaction produces, as a natural conse-
quence, the spirit of revolution. Such a system cannot
he advantageous to the Princes of Germany, but will be
beneficial only to the jealous rivals of their power, which
civilisation and increasing freedom will alone consolidate.
In order that Germany may be happy, truth, justice, anti
good faith must be respected, and their legitimate progress
must be directed by her. This is the only safe path
either for people or sovereigns. It is only by this means that
it will be possible to resist effectually the two extremes of
re-action and revolution. To contend with success against
the dangers we have pointed out, the people should be
armed, good faith on contracts observed, justice admini-
stered, the liberty of the press allowed, and a general
confidence created, by acts which cannot admit of doubt.
The four means which we propose are closely united, and
support each other. The people have done their duty ;
they have been calumniated, they have repelled the ca-
lumny, and we who are their representatives will endea-
vour, in co-operation with your Royal Highness, to render
our country happy, by cementing the bonds of union
between the subjects and the sovereign."
The following are the quotations of the Austrian Funds
at Vienna, on the 9th inst. :—Metalliques, 93; Ditto
Four per Cent., Hi ; Bank Shares, 1,193.