The Sun.
London, England, 1832-10-26 00:00:00

MEETING OF THE MAGISTRATES OF

THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX.

Yesterday being the county-day, as well as that fixed
on for the election of a Chairman of Sessions, in the room
of Francis Const, Esq., resigned, the atteniance of Magi-
strates at the Sessions-house, Clerkenv% ell, was much
fuller than on any former occasion for a long period.
On the motion of Sir GEORGE HANIPSON, Colonel
CLITHEROW was called to the Chair for the day.
The minutes of the last meeting having been read and
confirmed,
The report of the Committee for Accounts and for
General Purposes was also read and c.nfirined.
Tie report of the Cominittee appointed on tie 23d of
February last on the subjects of the duties and salary of
the Chairman of Sessions was then read.

The CHAIRMAN having announced that the hour had
now arrived (2 o'clock) which had been fixed for the
election of a Chairman of the Sessions, in the room of
Francis Const, resigned,
Sir JOHN GIBBON proposed G. W. Marriot, as
a fit and proper person to fill the office of Chairman of
Sessions.
Sir J. WILLIAMS seconded the nomination.

Mr. AIINVILLiam was at a loss to find au; one qualifi-
cation that gentlemen had for sitting in the chair, further
tha❑ that he was a lawyer ; and if so, he (Mr. M•William)
thought that his law was confined to his ow•n library.
lie had observed that in summing up a case to the Jury,
Mr. Marriot, instead of presenting to them the " diamond"
of tLe case, gave them a mass of words, which tended to
confuse them.

After a few words from Mr. Mills and Mr. Orme, and
no other gentleman having been put in nomination,
The CHAIRMAN put the question, when Mr. Marriot
was declared duly elected.

Colonel Wooo', M.P., moved a vote of thanks to Francis
Const., Esq., the late Chairman.

Several Magistrates rose to second the motion, which
was carried unanimously.
Mr. MARRIOT was, then introduced by his friends,
and took the chair amidst lond applause. The Bon.
Gentleman, who evidently laboured under strong feelings
of excitement, returned thank, in appropriate terms.
The other business was then disposed of, and the Court
i.djourned.

LONDON and GREENWICH RAIL-ROAD.

Yesterday a meeting of persons interested in the Lon-
don and Greenwich Rail-road took place at the City of
London Tavern, Robert Johnston, Esq. in the chair.
Mr. HUTCHISON (solicitor to the company) said that
the meeting was called together upon this most important
project, in order that the proprietors of land or premises
in the line of road might have an opportunity of stating
what proportion of shares they might wish for. It was
also an object to ascertain whether there was any opposi-
tion to the Bill which it was the intention to move for in
Parliament in the ensuing session. The consent of 160
proprietors on the line of road had been already obtained,
and that of from 160 to 200 more was expected. In fact
there. hitherto had not been a single objection to the plan;
ad if any gentleman in this assembly was opposed to it,
l an
is objections would be attended to most respectfully._
(Hear, hear.)
The following is an abstract of the Report, detailing
the advantages likely to result front carrying the plan
into execution.—The Rail-road is intended to be con-
structed on arches, and in such a manner that pas-
sengers and carriages may pass along the streets which
tile line will cross without being in any way obstructed.
The road will commence at or near the south end of Lon-
don Bridge and terminate at or near the north side of
London street, Greenwich. The comfort of travelling
in coaches will be increased by the commodious form
of the vehicle, and its total freedom from the ordinary ac-
cidents, intrusions, and delays to which other modes of tra-
velling are liable. The time of performing the journey
will be about twelve minutes, and there will be neither
noise nor vibration, whilst the passengers will be free from
dust, and completely protected front the weather. The
seats in the coaches will be so constructed, that ladies will
be secured against those annoyances of which they have
hitherto had so much reason to complain. The man of
business will save eight hours of his time per week, and
from 151. to 301. Fer annum of his travelling expenses.
Many respectable families will be induced to reside at
Deptford and Greenwich, and their vicinity, from the eco-
nomy and facility of conveyance ; whilst the employment
of numerous workmen, and the expenditure of so large a
sum of money, will nece,sarily tend to reduce the poor
rates. The rail-road will most likely even cause steam
vessels to be restricte4 from navigating the Thames above
Deptford, anti thus prevent numerous accidents, as well as
much expense to the proprietors, both in cotnpensation for
the damage and in navigation. The number of passengers
to and from London by the steam-boats last year exceeded
400,000. A great improvement in the value of house
anti landed property, not only at Deptford and Greenwich,
but along the whole line, will take place; and the two
Hospitals of St. Thomas and Guy will experience much
benefit by the removal of several obnoxious streets and alleys
in their vicinity, and generating the most unwholesome at-
mosphere. The probable increasing returns to be derived
will he ample to the shareholders. The average number
of passengers, by stage coaches, between Manchester and
Liverpool, was, before the construction of the rail-road,
450 per day; and since that period, the average number
for twenty-one months has been about 1,200 per
clay. The value of landed property adjacent to the
rail-roads has been augmented at least one-fifth ; anti
although the trustees of roads running parrallel to rail-
roads at first entertained serious alarm for their interests,

A meeting of the creditors under the fiat issued against
Mr. John Maberley, M. P. and banker, was held to-day
before Mr. Commissioner FoNBLANQuE, for the purpose
of auditing the accounts, proving dibts, and declaring a
dividend.

Mr. FRESUFIELD appeared as the solicitor of Mr. Smith,
to enter proof for a claim of 15,000/. arising out of some
of the extensive transactions of the bankrupt.

Mr. GORDON, the solicitor for the creditors, contended
that as the parties seeking to make the claim held certain
securities, the entry of the proof could not be allowed on.
til those securities were given up.
The COMMISSIONER having been informed that certain
proceedings were going on relative to the securities, or.
dered the claim to be admitted.

Mr. WOOD appeared on behalf of Mr. Grove, of Edin-
burgh, to enter a claim for 4501. under extraordinary
circumstances. His client had paid the auto stated into
the hands of Mr. Maberly's agent in Edinburgh, to be
transmitted to London to take up a bill, hie client pay-
ing the usual commission. The money was lodged with
the ;quit (Mr. Blyth), the day after the failure of Mr.
Maberley in London, and the money was upon its road to
London before news could be received of the event. No
account was kept by his client with the firm of Maherley,
either in London or Scotland; and the question was, could
this money be considered the property of the assignees on
behalf of the creditors. He (Mr. Wood ) contended that
his client had a right to have the sum so paid over for a
specific purpose repaid out of the general fund in the hands
of the assignees. If this could not be done iu that Court
he should have the claim investigated before another Court;
and he wished to put it to the assignees, whether they
ought to declare a dividend when such a case as this was
undecided.

The COMMISSIONER said the Court was not the proper
tribunal to investigate the right set up. He could not
allow the claim to he inserted without prejudice to the
parties opposed to it. The money might have been stopped
in transilu.

Mr. Woon should try the question, and the claim was
entered generally, as was understood.

A proof was made for 8281. by a Mr. Smith, being the
amount of an award in part payment of the cost of the
Bazaar held by the bankrupt.
Application was made to prove for 6,0001. on behalf of
Mr. Pratt.

Mr. GonnoN thought the claim had been abandoned,
not having been followed up.
The COMMISSIONER. appointed a private meeting to
consider the claim.

UTILITY OF OFFICIAL ASSIGNEES.

Mr. GORDON wished to make a few observations rela-

tive to the commission charged by the official assignee.
He wished to offer no disrespect to that officer, but he
considered it his duty to the creditors, and in an estate of
such magnitude as the present, when too so email an
amount would be paid to the claimants, to call the atten-
tion of the Court to the expenses of the official assig-
nee. He considered that this estate could have been
managed without the appointment of any official assig-
nee. The per-centage, he thought, ought to be charged,
on the net, and not on the gross receipts. By the ac-
counts before him, commission was charged on 12,5411.,
forming the gross Bazaar receipts, which with the farm and
general receipts, made a total of 22,2411. On the whole
gross sum commission had been charged without deduct-
ing the expenses. He wished to take the opinion of the
Court upon this subject.
The COMMISSIONEA said the pi incipal part of the ob-
jections of the Learned Gentleman was answered by the
provisions of the Satute. He (the Gunmissioner) was at
one time opposed to the system of appointing official as-
signees, but had totally changed his opinion on this subject.
He had seen great good resulting from the appointing of
official assignees, especially where the assignees chosen by
the creditors were not claimants. In the present case he
considered the appointment of the official assignee of the
greate-t importance to the creditors, as (the assignees not
being creditors) the bankrupt's estate had been folly in-
vestigated. With respect to the commission of 21- per
cent. charged, he considered it extremely moderate ; but
if a cheaper, and as efficient a mode of working the estate
could be found, he would adopt it.
Mr. BELCHER (the official assignee) had worked the
Bazaar for seven months, and had so far improved the re-
turns that it had returned 10,000/. He should have to
write to 1,086 creditors, on the payment of dividends,
without one farthing.
The total amount of proofs made, including those of to-
day, was nearly 100,000/. The dividend, it was agreed,
should be adjourned, to give time to parties to make claims.
The Court then adjourned.

A most dreadful murder was committed about
noon on Tuesday, at Ninfield, seven miles distant from
St. Leonard's. A quantity of smuggled goods was cap-
tured on the morning of the day in Pevensey Level, and
more being suspected to he concealed, three of the Preven-
tive Service men went in search, but being tired and un-
successful, they repaired to a beer-shop and drank too
freely. One inflamed with liquor, and disagreeing with

his younger mate, instantly shot him dead. The sufferer
was an inoffensive young nun,
much respected, and has
left a young widow and child. The wretched murderer
regrets not, now he is sober, the act he committed, and is
only concerned for the fate of his wife and two own chil-
dren, who must soon also be orphans. We cannot refrain
from deprecting the increased number of beer-shops,
which are now in every direction proving nurseries for
crime, and the resort of the vicious. We hope the early
attention of the new Parliament will be turned to this sub-
ject ; and if trade in beer is to be free—and free it ou2,ht
to be—we still trust that drinking on the premises will be
no longer allowed...-lirighton Gazette.

" OPORTO, THURSDAY, OCT. 18.
" The irregularity and non-arrival of the packets has
caused a corresponding lapse in my communications, and
will render my present letter much shorter than those I
have hitherto sent. Although the inconvenience arising
from the irregularity of the port has been touch felt here,
you have no cause to regret it, as no event worth the
slightest record occurred here until within the last week,
but since its commencement we have had stirring work
indeed. I had letters written, in which I gave more de-
tailed accounts of the battle of the 29th, but as you have
had already a correct outline of that event, and snore par-
ticularly as I understand that descriptions from officers
high in rank here have been sent to England, I shall not
occupy your space with statements which have been super-
seded in interest, at all events here, by later occurrences.
" I must, however, though thus late, perform an act
of justice, which circumstances, when I last wrote, did not
leave in my power; I mean, that I feel it my duty expli
citly to declare that the result of the battle of the 29th was
ci glorious victory for the forces of Dun Pedro. The re-
pulse of an attack so formidable ought, in any case, to he
considered a victory, and so I thought I had described it,
but I find that many of the English newspaper, have
arievously misrepresented the accounts from hence, and
drawn conclusions front them which they by no means
warranted. It is true that when I wrote I was not aware
of the extent of the victory that was gained, but this igno-
rance I shared in common with every officer on the field,
for it was not until the morning that the result of the
combat could be fully ascertained. On the Sunday morn-
ing, however, the violence of the attack, and the efficiency
of the defence, were too visible to be mistaken. Along the
whole of the line, front the extreme right to the centre, but
especially upon the right, the fields were covered with the
dead bodies of the Miguelites, and in the course of that day,
by the aid of the peasantry and gallegos, no less than 600
of them were consigned to the grave. Between prisoners
and deserters near 500 more remained in the hands of
Don Pedro's army, and including all, upon the most mo
derate calculation, there could not be less than 2,500 of
the Miguelites put hors dc combat. The actual loss to
their army was mush greater, as upon muster on the third
day after the battle their returns showed a deficiency of
3,871, in killed, wounded, and missing—the latter of
course including numbers of the militia, who retired to
their homes disappointed of the expected plunder of
Oporto. Their columns were led on by volunteers, a
kind of forlorn hope, and these consisted chiefly of the
Oporto police and Aliguelite volunteers from this town,
who knew every by-road and pass, and thus brought the
troops through inclosures so secretly and quietly that,
favoured as they were by the night's rain and the morn-
Mg's mist, they were enabled to fall upon the French
without a moment's notice. 1 send you the Gazet e ac-
count of the battle, and, in order to your perfect under
sanding of it, beg to mention, that the English corps is
called Batalhaon Marina, and the French, Atsradores Por.
tugueses,—no mention either of French or English as such
being visible in this document. Of the forlorn hope not
one returned to the enemy's camp, and but very few were
fortunate enough to be wounded and taken prisoners ; the
rest were all slaughtered. The British went into the field,
as I understand, about 220 strong, and their loss was 95
hors de combat-32 killed, 63 wounded. The French
about 350. lost 120-36 killed, 84 wounded. When the
enemy got possession of the English barracks they muti-
lated the corpses of the slain, and Colonel Burrell's body
was treated in a manner too shameful and brutal to be
described. The French and English buried their dead
early on the Sunday morning, but the corpses of Miguel'.
soldiers lay until a later hour, and having been stripped by
the women of the surrounding neighbourhood, presented a
most horrible and ghastly sight, lying as they did naked
and disfigured by dreadful wounds. The wounded who
were carried off must have suffered dreadfully, the roads
being very bad, and the hurry consequent upon defeat
not allowing the requisite attention to he paid. Those
who fell into Don Pedro's power have been the most
fortunate, as they are treated with equal care and atten-
tion as his own wounded. I visited them in the Kelaaaon,
where there are about 80 confined, and they were doing
very well. Some of the militia-men declared that they
were unwilling to fight, and wished to stay at home, but
the watch kept upon them by the monks and Capitans-
Mor would not allow them to escape. I may, indeed, say
generally that the wounded are doing very well ; the air
here is good, and wounds, unless bad ones, are speedily
cured. The British officer, are recovering- rapidly, and
several of them will be able to resume their stations in a
few days. Captain' Chinnock, who received a serious
wound in the head, having been previously struck by a
baU on the left arm, is now almost recovered, so is Air.
Wooldridge ; but the case of Lieutenant Walsh, of the
Grenadiers, a gallant young officer, who distingui►hed
himself greatly, is one which will, I fear, take more time.
lie was struck on the right shoulder, and the bone having
been injured, will make his cure the more tedious, but at
the same time I am happy to say there can be no doubt of
his perfect recovery. Major Shaw, although he received
three wounds, never left the field, and is now doing
active duty as usual. I shall leave this pact of the sub-
ject, recommending to your perusal Gaspar Teixeira's de-
spatch, with the account of the battle, in which he calls
his attack a reconnoissance in force; but you will see by
his order of the day, issued on the 17th of September,
soil which only appeared here yesterday, that the attack
was long planned, and every precaution taken. He also
forgets to say that the artillery he brought in was left
behind. I translated his order of the day of the 27th,
which can only be looked upon as a wholesale invitation
to slaughter, as well as a former proclamation of hie in
1820, and I send them both, leaving it to you to make
what use you please of them.
" Two days subsequent to the 29th the British and
French were relieved front their position on the right of
the line, which they bad so long and so gallantly main-
tained, and have been succeeded by the light division under
the command of Colonel Schwalbach, a veteran of ap-
proved valour and experience. While the British and
French held these lines, although they were tolerably
strong, yet there was not that minute attention to defences
and fortifications which has been shown since Colonel
Schwalhach occupied the position. Although trenches
and barricades were made along and across the main roads,
yet small lanes running parallel with them were left un-
guarded. Inclosures, too, were respected, and houses which
stood as impediments were allowed to remain. All this
is now altered, and Schwalbach, with a ruthless hand, has
levelled (pintas, cut down orange groves, and ecared away
every object which could serve as a cover for an advancing
army. It is said that this was also the wish of the former

officer in command on the point, but that the Emperor
objected to the destruction of property which must ensue.
The result of experience has, however, shown the neces-
sity of the sacrifice, and that part of it which I wit-
nessed with most pleasure was the burnt offering of the
British barrack, which was placed in advance of the bat-
teries, and upon which the enemy fell with tremendous
fury, and having attacked it on both flanks and in front,
the retreat through gardens and terraces to the battery
above was rendered extremely difficult. Nothing but a
Sparta❑ contempt of walls could have induced such a
choice of quarters, and I am now happy that Colonel
Schwalbach'e good sense has destroyed this trap,—not for
enemies but friends. Several additional guns have been
also mounted, amongst them two 42-pounders, one at the
church of Boni Fin, and another at the yellow house over
.tbe late British barracks. These command the heights
of Antas, and the main roads from Valongo and St. Cosme
—so that no enemy can now venture to show himself with
impunity. The Lornbas battery, too, which was taken
and spiked by the enemy on the 29th, has been greatly
strengthened ; and not only on these points, but along
the whole line, the defences have been strengthened so, that
if, according to Gaspar Teixeira's account, they were on
that occasion impassable, they may now fairly be consi-
dered impregnable. A few days after the battle, the lose
of the British was nearly made up by the arrival of the
Eddystone, with 89 men and stores,—a most seasonable
relief, and one warmly welcomed. En passant, I may
give you a trait characteristic of the two nations, French
and English. The latter buried their dead, and left them
without any d;stinguishing mark; not so the French.
Upon entering the right t of their lines, the first object that
struck the eye was a grave where several had been buried,
decorated with lilies, and surrounded with bays and lau-
rels, a tricolour waved at their heads, and a post fixed in
the ground bore an inscription—' respect—aux Francais
morte pour la liberte Portugaise.' Further on was ano-
ther grave, also decorated with flowers, but rendered
grotesque by two mutilated statues, each about two feet high
—the one a Neptune, without an arm, and the other the
jolly god Bacchus, with his grapes and his bowl, both ap-

_ fixed in contemplation on a crucifix arectedin the
centre, the arms of which were hung with sundry paltry
engravings of saints and crucifixions, no doubt washed
sway by the heavy rains we have had since. All these
emblems, Pagan and Christian, were supplied from the
Bishop's quint' close by. The French are now on the
left of the line, and the British are at their old barracks,
the Convent of St. Lazaro, and are to form part of the re-
serve, instead of being, as hitherto, always cure to be the
first in the fire. This is a judicieue alteration, as their
presence upon any doubtful occasion will, I have no
doubt, turn the scale. Colonel Schwalbach's first occupa-
tion of his new position was accompanied with some
circumstances not at all grateful to his feelings—the de-
sertion of a few of his men. He in ceusequence called his
brigade together, harangued them in the manner hest
suited to take with eoldiers—telling them he wished no
false friends, and that all who wished to leave him might
do so at twice, and he would himself be their escort and
safe conduct to the enemy's lines. His own old soldiers
wept with shame at being called upon to listen to a dis-
course to them so needless, and all to a man replied by
and promises of fidelity to the cause of Donna
Maria. In all armies there will be desertions, even
from mere restlessness; but most certainly there is no
reason to complain at present upon this side, as the
numbers that come over from Don Miguel very far
outweigh those who leave Don Ped o, and have gone
far to till up the chasm that the casualties of war must
have necessarily have occasioned in the Emperor's ranks.
This being without any doubt the case, every one wonders
that the Emperor should have, on the 11th, published a
proclamation addressed to the army on the subject of de-
sertions, thus giving reason to suppose that they prevail
to a much greater extent than the fact warrants ; and the
lefence urged is, that they wish to do everything openly
Ind aboveboard, and that they have no need of concea'-
meat. In my opinion, however, Colonel Schwalbach's
plan was much better, aid infinitely more efficient.
" The enemy seems to be the best-natured people in
the world towards Don Pedro, for not only have they al-
lowed him to fortify the town, to keep the entrance to the
harbour free, but not even to molest him where they
[night with the greatest ease, and that now all his measures
ire taken, their hostility will of course be the less juju, ions
to him. They have been projecting batteries low down
towards the mouth of the river, and hal they erected
them, neither horses nor stores could be landed. The ar-
'coal, too, they might have commanded, but the artisans
there were left undisturbed, and now tin attack upon it
would be useless, as all the stores are removed into town,
and the Peace Nova forms a depot for shot, &c., which
are piled up there in thousands, whereas not a bullock
need have been allowed to pass if the enemy were so
minded. The contrary has, however, been the case, and
long trains of carte have been moving for weeks with
,very species of warlike munition without even the shadow
if an interruption.
Part of the week after the battle of the 29.11 was
extremely wet; you would have thought that the fountains
,if the great deep were broken up, and that we were
about to have another deluge. The weather has, however,
s'uce cleared up, and is now not merely fine, but extremely
hot, with every prospect of its continuing so, at haat until
the end of this moon. In the middle of the day the heat
is absolutely oppressive, but the mornings and evenings
are dreadfully cold, with a cutting easterly wind, and the
sudden variations of temperature are both disagreeable and
unwholesome. So long a period of fine weather has not
been recollected here for many seasons—a circumstance
highly favourable to Don Miguel, althouelt as vet he has
not profited much by it, all his efforts la, ving proved
unsuccessful. In order not to lead to confusion, l shall,
in the news of this week, wl,ich have been eventful,
mention all that relates to the same subject in one pare-
eraph ; but before I commence allow me to draw your
attention to one point, connected with the mercantile
entolition of this city, and one which has with justice
caused considerable irritation here. A paragraph, or
extract of a letter, has gone the round of the London
papers, stating, that in consegnence of the embarrassments
to trade here, several of the minor houses of business have
stopped or must stop payment. Now I can assure you
that the reverse of this is the tttle, and I am informed,
upon the most respectable authority in this city, that for
more than three months there has not been a failure save
one, that of a Mr. Patrick fleshy. The credit of the
commercial interest is at stake, and I know full well that
you will take care to give my statement, which is the
correct one, that publicity which justice demands.
" The first subject to which I shall allmie, as coming
within the occurrences of the last week, is Otte also of con-
sequence to the mercantile body, as involving both the
safety of their persons and the disposal of their property.
It was considered that an application from the Consul and
the Admiral should be made to Gaspar Teixeira to obtain
nit consent, (Don Pedro having previously given his,) in
the first place, that there should be a place set apart as
neutral ground, ia which the English and other foreigners
here might reside, and certain limit+ assigned, within
which neither of the hostile parties should come, and the
village of St. Joao de Fos, at the mouth of the harbour,
was named as being most desirable, both from its being
out of the sphere of the armies, and from its coutie,uity to
the city, still giving merchants who chose to run the haz-
ard, the facility of attending to their concerns and watching
over that part of their property which it would be im-
possible to remove. In the next place, it was proposed
that Don Miguel's General should give permission to such
English merchants as desired it, to remove their wines
from Villa Nova, they agreeing to pay the duty to Don
Miguel upon such wines as they should take away,
Lieutenant IVl'Donald, of the Childers, accompanied by
Mr. Loudon, the purser of the l'alarera, interpre-
ter, went out to the lines on the north, bearing the
Admiral's communication with these two propositions.
This occurred on Friday. They were received with the
utmost courtesy and even kindness by the officers at
the outposts, who entered very freely into conversation
with them, particularly with Mr. ril‘Donald, who bad
known several of their families at Lisbon. They spoke
without disguise of the b ttlte of the 29th, said it was an ill-
advised attack, to be attributed to the impatience of Sir
John Campbell, who had impressed it upon Don Miguel as
advisable, and who had gone to Lisbon in bail odour
from the ill success of his counsels. They admitted their
loss to have been very severe, but said they need no lon-
ger fear the British, as they were destroyed. In the
course of thek conversation they talked of the desertions
that took place, staying that such occurrences were com-
mon in all armies, but stoutly contended that those Irma
Don Pedro's camp were as numerous as their own. They
also said it was hopeless for the Duke of Braganza to con-
tinue his present attempt, that no doubt he might bold out
fur a month or two, but even though he could do se longer,
the result would be the same—failure for hint, and ruin to
those who supported him ; that the country was opposed
to him, and that he would do well to leave it in quiet.
They seemed to be in perfect possession of all that was
doing in Oporto, and said they always had the Chronica
wet from the press. They then made many inquiries for
efficers in the English army, spoke of Sir Manly Power
and other Generals under whom they had served, and one
of them with great feeling expressed the regret he felt at
leading on his sneu on the 29th against the red uniform,
beside which he had fought so long. There might be a
tittle acting in this, but the conduct of all the tinkers
they met was certainly that of gentlemen. Orders still
continued against allowing any one to pass the lines, ;tad
:as the hour was bite, they suggested to Mr. M'Danald the
prudence of returning to town, and that they would
have an answer for him the Beet clay at two
o'clock. He returned accordingly with an escort,
and went out on Saturday, when he WAS received in
the saute courteous manner. The answer returned
was, I understand, to the effect that although the Gene-
ral understood English enough, as lie believed, to compre-
hend the Admiral's object, yet he should feel obliged to
him to communicate his wishes in Portateuese, as being
responsible to his Government for any answer he might
give, he should desire so perfectly to understand what was

proposed that there could be no misapprehension upon his
part. This, of course, was to gain time, and site what
change might be wrought by the attack of the next day
on the Serra, of which I shall speak by and by. To con-
tinue : Mr. M'Donald and Mr. Loudon went out on
Tuesday with a Portuguese version of the Admiral's lett,r,
end yesterday got an answer, the tenour of which, I ao
informed, is this—that with respect to neutral ground., thr,
General would be happy to afford any convenience in his
power; but that the Fox, or any portion of the banks of
the river, were out of the question, as one of the greatelli
Ajects necessarily is as their possession ; that if Villa dc,
Conde would Nuit the English residents, they could gu
there and be out of all danger. With regard tn the pro-
position about the wines at Villa Nova, lie could give no
inlwer, but would transmit the Admiral's letter to his
Government. Thus has ended this negotiation, Which,
though ineffectual, was at all everys carried on in a gcod
and friendly spirit. The officers whom 11Ir. M‘Donald

met were on all occasions cou;tei;u .. ; but they cid7o;
Teak on Tuesday and Wednesday vet:lithe saint freidom
a./ !it) the Serra that they bail shown relative to the 29th
—a proof that it was a very sore subject totlietn. 'ro talk
of Villa do Conde, a place J 5 miles away, was ridiculous,
And I auppthe llatozinhos and L-ca, within a league, they
will want for themselves, as they will soon have to look
tor winter quarters, there being hut a sle;ader chance of
their coming in here. Slion;,l any occurrence again
',quire interouncios, 1 d., not think a better selection

etmid he made that; that of Mr. M‘Dona'd. He ii the

beau ideal of an open frank-hearted sailor, gentlemanly in
manner, prepossessing in appearance, at the same time
with all the caution which is necessary to be observed in
managing diplomatic concerts.
" And now let me speak on another subject--that of
the fleet. The Briton having been chased by the Don
Joao off Viana, 30 miles to the north of this, no doubt
in mistake for Admiral Sartorius, was the first to com-
municate any certain intelligence of the motions of Miguel',
Admiral. A transport coming subsequently brought
news cf their going into Vigo, upon which Admiral Sar-
torius assembled his squadron and followed them, an-
chering inside the Bajona Islands, at the mouth of the
Bay, while Miguel's squadron was four or five miles fur-
ther up, and nearly opposite the town. I need not tell
you that we were all here in expectation that as they were
now fairly caught we should have a good account of them.
The Spanish Governor offered Sartorius every refresh-
ment he might want, provided he would not commit hos-
tilities in the harbour, and thus matters remained for
some days. In the interim we were led to imagine here
that sonic negotiation was going on between the hostile
Admira's, and sanguine hopes were entertained here that
Felix would come out under the blue and white flag. That
some negotiation was on f. of I have no doubt, and I have
been told that during the subsequent action it was the
Don juio's great object to keep some of her small vessel,
away from the neighbourhood of S.artoi jos, through a
doubt of their fidelity, and certainty it would appear the
Admiral had some reason to expect a demonstration in his
favour, as he, according to previous concert I am told,
hoisted a flag with thehieroglyphics X. Y. Z., and kept it
flying for several hours while in the Bay of Vigo. We
were here engaged in considering whether, according to
the law of nations, Sartorius could not engage them in the
harbour if the Spanish Governor did not order tl em out
upon notice to that t ffect, but Admiral Felix cut the knot
by taking advantage of the land breeze during Wednesday
night, and getting out, and I believe for some time unper-
ceived. Sartorius very soon weighed anchor and followed
them, but the wind being light and baffling, he was obliged to
be towed out by the steamers, and almost the whole brunt
of the action fell upon the Donna Maria, into which be has
shifted his flag, having been for an hour and 40 minutes
exposed to the fire both of the line-of-battle-ship and the
frigate on his larboard side. The I?ainha da Portugal
gave him goad assistance, but some of his guns having
been rendered unserviceable, and his bulwarks on that
side stove in while in the act of wearinet to engage with
his varboard guns, the Don Joao crowded all sail, and
made for the south. The action altogether la,ted four
hours and a half, and was very severe. The Admiral was
himself wounded, and 10 killed and 27 wounded on hoard
his frigate. The Bainha da Portugal had 3 killed,
and the Twenty-third-of July and the Portuense also
suffered. I send you his despatch in the Chrbnica of
the 12th, and it will explain all better than I can. One
thing is admitted, that the Portuguese Admiral fought right
well, not a shot being thrown away, and it is highly credi-
table To Admiral Sartorius that, deprived as he was of the
assistance of his smaller vessels, be was enabled, against such
a superior and disproportioned force, to bold his ground
good. His rigging was so cut that he was obliged to have
a new set of sails before he could pursue. and then it was
too late. He has had three shots in his mainmast and SI
;n his bull, and is now busily occupied off this port in re-
pairing his damages. The -Rainha da Portugal threw
a Congreve rocket into the Don Joao, which, atter bounc-
ing from the deck to the rigging and back again, exploded
without settir:g her on fire, or doing any particular damage.
'The fleet came if here on Saturday, apparently in the best
order, but of necessity there has been much to do on hoard
ever since. No certain intelligence has reached us of Mi-
guel's squadron further than this, that they have not landed
any stores to the southward, at Aveiro or Figueiras, and it
being understood that Don Miguel's people intended to
creep alone shore from Lisbon for the latter port, light
vessels have been detached to intercept any' boats that may
}aye ventured out with this intention.

" Let me now leave this subject and come to another, in
which I have not to speak of a drawn battle or a doubt-
ful victory, but of a combat the sharpest I ever witnessed,
and of a repulse as c. mple:e as was ever given. I allude
to an attack made upon the Serra on Sunday last; but
before I come to this let me remark, that from the 29th
up to Thursday last, this day week, so completely were
the enemy beaten that they never, I may say, fired a shot,
or attempted a hostile movement. On Thursday evening
they recommenced throwing shells, and continued the whole
of Friday, the Emperor's birth-day, with a copious al-
lowance of cannon-shot. High Miss and Te Deum
were sung at the cathedral, and Count Villa Flor, with
all his staff, and the beads of departments attended. The
cortege was very splendid, awl suited well with
the gi-rgeoua richness of the old Gothic cathedral. The
service was well and orderly performed, notwithstanding
the bombardment of the enemy, who, aware of what was
going forward, sent several shells upon and close to the
church, the vaulted roof of which resisted their force, and
those within only knew of the kindness intended them by
the bra ow thump-thump of the shot above them. A
}eves was afterwards held, which was numerously attended,
lions of the officers of the English navy, however, making
their appearance, nor did the British ships fire a salute,
although the Marquis of Palmella• sent to know whether
they intended to do so, but their reply was, they had no
oraiers. At night there was a general and most brilliant
illumination ; the town looked beautifully, ant the people
were all as happy and as joyous as if all were peace around
them. The enemy endeavoured to mar this demonstation,
but in vain: they constantly threw shells, but, as if
in spite, more than half burst before they were 40 yards
from the mouth of the mortar, and certainly not more than
a fourth of them fell into the town. The people gave all
their souls up to enjoyment, and the pale shadow of fear
was not visible on any countenance; on the contrary,
they laughed at the bombs, and returned them with
crackers and rockets. At daybreak on Saturday morning
a cannonade, the most intense heard from the commence-
ment of hostilities here, began from four batteries of guns
and one of mortars and howitzers. In the first six
hours, timing the discharges, the number of shot
and shells thrown in was 1,360. They continued
nearly at this rate throughout that day and night, the
fire being principally directed on the Serra, every ball or
wh ell missed that coming over to the town, exclu-
;dye of those sent for our special edification. Sunday
morning the same close and continued fire was kept up,
until about 3 o'clock, when a partial cessation took place.
The object of this soon became visible, for it was resumed
r'n about a quarter of an hour ; and such a fire as I never
}te4,Ll was kept up for about 10 minutes from 23
pieces. It was like an uninterrupteal succession of salvoes ;
just as the smoke of which was dispersing, the whole of
the enemy's troops on the south side of the river were dis-
covered close to the Serra, and volleys of musketry, closer
Alai more rapid than any language can convey an idea of,
conti.o.ned without remission for the next half hour. The
pfficers of the Aliguelites were to he distinguished, leading
5.:14 cheering on their men, and some of them chose the
most poospieuous positions on the tops of rocks and other
eminenzes, and their gesoculations were full of ardour.
They came on in three columns, one from the Villa Nova
side, which was that chiefly under my observation, another
against the wall ;al front of the Cerra, or round church of
ib# aonvent, and a third on the left, towards the Evia, or
ihraahiog-floor, the scene of the decisive repulse of the
firar. attack ofi the Bth of list month. No men could
carne on with greater boldness and bravery than they did,
neithe could men ba more bravely or coolly repelled ; in
wiment the walls of the Serra were manned, and a tire
deadly and unremitting was poured upon the assailants.
They we; so close that scarcely a shut could miss, and
after about half an hour the efforts of D,in Miguel's
officers were no longer attended to, and in spite of re-
p °aches, and Iteining the men on with their swords, the
instinct of self-pro rvation became too strong, and (town
they ail hurried precipitately—not all, for twiny, very
'wetly, remained, all sense and motion at an end. This,
however, was far from ending the contest. On the other
sides it was still kept up, and six times were ti,e troops
brought up, only, however, to be as often repelled. he
artillery from this side of the river did fearful execution,
anti the heavy shots actually made lanes through the close
and serried columns of the enemy. *For the space of
full three hours did this continue, and it was nut until
fell that the final retreat took place. Then you
e-truld ,;.:,ear the loud Vivas' of the garrison re-echoed by
iltele Iron; the town, giving the certain sssurance of the
irrecoverable ,diseomiiture of their opponents. Accident,
or rather 04e eyerie of the fight, Aso contributed to
make its close morP grand and awful. Some of Don
a),ligael's troops hal possessed themselves of houses on the
road leading up from Villa Nova to the convent, one of
which had in days of peace belonged to the establishment.
Toe artillery from the Victoria Battery and the Bishop's
Palace, a most excellent station, played upon these
buildings : a 441 b. shot passed through one of them,
and shortly afterwards some Miguelites again entered,
thinking the danger past, and one of them in bravado
fired his musket through the hole made by the ball. Like
many foolish persons, his boasting was his ruin, for an-
other shot was put through the same hole, and the entire
.party bolted most rapidly. Shells were also thrown over,
and I presume from them the houses were set on fire.
There was no possibility of arresting its progress, and
they continued just at dark to Maze in the most magnifi-
cent style, and shed a lurid glare, tearful, though beauti-
ful, on the whole scene around. It is impassible for me
to describe in a few sentences the busy woik of hours.- I
shall therefore content myself with referring you to the

Gazette account, which is as faithful as it is modest and
unpresuming. As you may imagine, I felt a natural de-
sire to go across the river, and see the condition of the
Serra, and the arrangements of its gallant defenders. I
accordingly went on Tuesday and introduced myself to
Major Bravo (well so called), the second in command, who
introduced me to General Torres, the governor, an old
weather-beaten soldier, going round every thing, preparing
new defences, and no parade whatever about him, his
paraphernalia consisting of a gray flannel dressing gown.
I was shown around the whole fortress, inside and out,
and most indubitably the artillery of Don Miguel has left
convincing proofs that they did not shoot in vain. The
greater portion of the left of the convent, which is enor-
mously long, is shattered tremendously—the whole floors
are fallen in from the explosion of shells, but the end near
Villa Nova has remained uninjured. Not that it does not
bear shot and shell marks in abundance, but the wails being
of immense thickness, and the dome being vaulted,
scarcely any mischief has been done. A great portion
of one of the walls in front of the convent, towards the
left, was knocked down ; but you can calculate the cool-
ness of the besieged, when you hear that they built it up,
and stronger than it was originally, under the fire of the
enemy's batteries. It was but a single stone wall ;it has
now a facing of stone at each side, with three feet of clay
between the facings. Strange to say, also, although the
wall and part of the convent were knocked down, the
outer stockades and trenches were not injured, so that the
enemy were thus mistaken in their views. The ground
is broken into short hills, which must have concealed this
from their view ; hut that which thus misled them also
served as a protection in their advance and retreat, other-
wise their loss could not but be much greater than is
stated. The killed and wounded of the enemy are stated
at no more than GOO, while that of the besieged is very
trifling indeed. During the whole of the cannonade the
greater portion were snin:ly ensconced under a wall, while
shells and bullets flew over them without injury. The
loss during the three days has been but 13 killed and 40
wounded ; the latter, however, may, for the most part,
be looked upon as hopeless cases, all the wounds being in
the lead and neck. On the side of the enemy, the
loss in officers has bee❑ great, the Commander-in-chief
on that side of the river, Nicolas D'Abreu, being
badly wounded, and Colonel Peixoto, the second in
command, dead, both his thighs In.v.ng been broken.—
While in the Serra, the other day, I witnessed some scenes
of a curious description. The Emperor had just issued a
proclamation very spirited to the Miguelites, and the ques-
tion was bow to circulate them. A number of dogs, of
which there is no lack any where in Portugal, were soon
paraded, bundles of proclamations tied round their necks,
and they were then scourged out of the fortress. Balls oh
hem were also made up and rolled by the nut piquets down
the sides of the hills, where they would soon be found by
the enemy.
" I had forgotten to observe that an accident of rather
a serious description was near occurring yesterday on Mr.
MhDonald and Mr. Loudon's return from their embassy to
Gaspar Teixeira's linen. A shot was fired at them from
the lines here. It whizzed closo by them and showed
good practice. An apology was of course made, having
been mistaken for Miguelite officers. This would have
been poor amends if the shot had struck.
" The army on the north side have changed their quar-
ters; they are now more over towards our left, and bear-
ing on the sea. Telles Jordao has again arrived, and is
now at Matt xinlras and Legs, with 5,000 men. He has
inad.., some demonstrations towards Foz, which have

frightened some people, but I apprehend nothing imme-
diately from that quarter. The 26th, we' are told, Don
Miguel's birth-day, we are to have another attack. It
will he as fruitless as the last. Reinforcements have come
up from Lisbon, and more are on the road : their coup
d'essui OR Sunday, at the Serra, will not serve to give them
much encouragement. It has been stated, that on Tues-
day night, 60 rounds a man were distributed, and orders
for an advance en the Serra given. The men
refused to advance, and they were ordered to give up their
ammunition, which one regiment did, but the Bth Caca•
dores refused. Don Miguel is said to he coming : if he
does not, nothing will he done; and if he does, I think I
can promise him a good thrashing. The spirit of the
troops and the people here is admirable, even the doubtful
are now fixed, by the repeated repulses of the enemy. and
the bravery shown by their own flesh and blood. While

was at the Serra an old woman came to look for her son,

one of the volunteers cf Villa Nova, who would not give
up their post of hor.our, having held it from the first.
She met Major Bravo, and told her object. He said, I
know your son, he is a brave boy. She said, I come
here to give him my blessing, and you, Sir, and the bless-
ings of all the mothers of Villa Nova go with their chil-
dren This will show you the spirit here ; and indeed,
generally speaking, the whole Portuguese people have risen
50 per cent, in my estimation. 1 speak of both sides.
As to the ultimate cucce•s of Don Prdro's expedition, I am
no prophet. I know that Henry the Fourth of France,
and others, were driven to far greater extremities, and suc-
ceeded after all. I sec then no c ause to despair ; on the
contrary, if I can see no certain expectation, there is much
hope; and only let Miguel come up and he will he beaten,
as I am sure he will, another day may soon arrive, and
one of better prospects for all. Money, however, is the
grand point. A great general, Montecuculli I believe, said
there were three things necessary to carry on war—the
first, second, and third of which were money." "G. D."
" The Conji,tnce has arrived with Sir John D.,yle, and
proceeds to the Mediterranean. The Talavera is, it is
said, ordered home—we presume for the Scheldt. Up-
wards of 600 round shot have been picked up in the Serra,
and will of course be sent back to the original owners.
Telles Jordon, it is now said, ordered the attack on his ar-
rival from Lisbon, at 10 o'clock on Sunday. I don't
believe this, as what did they batter during three days for,
if not for an assault ?

" Yesterday there was a review in the Campo St. Ovidio
of Rat of the brigade of reserve, consisting of the 6th in-
fantry, the Fiench and British corps, altogether about
700 men. This I think was to let the enemy know that
the foreign brigade is net all extinct. The men looked
web, but the English were shabby in their clothing, no
half dtzen pair of pantaloons being alike, the fact is the
poor fellows lost all their trap, as they call them, when the
enemy took their barracks on the 29th. Two ships, the
Ebenezer and the Valeria, arrived with 112 men and
eight t fficers the.night b,fore last. The enemy have awoke
,gain, and thrown in shot and shells yesterday, and to-day
also some tocken4, hut very little mischief has ensued.
They have now, I understand, got 22 pieces of cannon on
the northern lines, exclusive of those at Villa Nova. We
have heard nothing from th quarter yet. Miguel, it is
said, will not come here without his sisters. His staff have
sit off, and it is said that the C tide de Barbacena is at
Gaspar Teixeira's head quarters."

" OPORTO, OCT. 13.— FRIDAY
" The packet not having yet arrived, I write a few
lines merely to bring up my account to the latest moment,
not that there is anything of consequence to be added to rn,
former despatch. The Emperor held a court to-day, which
was numerously attended. The enemy have thrown in
shot and shell, not however very constantly, but some
mischief has been to the houses in the lower part of the
town. A new battery is in progress of erection here, at
the hack of the Quintal, in the Banderiuha, and the ene-
my's file has in consequence been attracted in that direc-
tion, to the annoyance of the houses along that line.
Another message has been sent to day to Gaspar Taixeira
from the Admiral, anti this has given rise to great speed:-
14tion ; the sanguine a-serting that it conveys a determina-
tion to land marines for the protection of British property
in Villa Nova. I believe it however only to be a formal
acknowledgment of the general's answer.
" Various speculations are also afloat as to the lines to
he ty. copied by Miguel's troops when they retire for the
winter, but it will be time enough to calculate on dais
When the weather exhibits symptoms of breaking up.
Matazinbas and Lega are not occupied, as I was yesterday
led to believe, by any additional troops, although Miguel's
forces are concentrated in that directiou. An attack is
anticipated, perhaps to-morrow, and almost with cer-
tainty on the 26th. As we are obliged to speak, by
the card here, and as conclusions unfavourable might
be drawn from what I have said as to the injury done
to the Serra, I beg you distinctly to understrnd, that as a
defensive position, it is stronger now than even before the
attack. The volunteers who defend it are called Polacos
(Poles), front their gallant bearing, arid neither they nor
the Pules need be ashamed of the soubriquet. The num-
ber of soldiers who come over continues great, and the
spirits of all are high, notwithstanding the rumoured ap-
proach of Don Miguel. Admiral Sartorius has nearly re-
pair,d all his damages, and the fleet will soon sail. No
certain accounts of Dm Miguel's squadron. Rockets were
thrown in I st night, and are coining over while I write,
and there is also a trifling fusillade, what they call here a
" pequeno tiroteio" from the Serra. Neither, however,
are of the slightest consequence. The Villa Nova gentry
kept up a smart fire to-day across the river, and wounded
some women and children along the wall. Toe shells also
did some mischief of a similar description, but nothing of
any moment. No one has been allowed into town from
the north side to-day, which leads us to suppose they me-
ditate an immediate attack.
" Saturday morning.—All remains quiet."

" PROCLAMATION OF GASPAR TEIXEIRA.
" Soldiers! The rebels, dreading your valour 4nd
your discipline, have hidden themselves behind walls, not

daring to show themselves in the open field. Routed at
Ponto Ferreira, obliged to fly precipitately at Souto Re-
dondo, and driven from Villa Nova, they tremble at our
arms.

" Soldiers ! It is from Oporto, their last and vain re-
fuge, that we must dislodge them ; and it is on their own
ground, in which they endeavour to hide their crimes, that
it behoves us to chastise them.

" Soldiers? Let the day of attack be that of our vic-
tory ; but mark, that victory will not be complete so long
as a single revolutionist remains in existence. Swear,
then, that you will not lay down your arms, and that you
will never take repose, until you shall have entirely exter-
ininated the rebels.

" The King and the nation expect this great deed from
you ; their hopes will not be disappointed.
" Soldiers! In the day of your greatest glory, one which
you so anxiously and luadably expect, unite to your great
courage and unshaken fidelity the most exact obedience
to the orders of your superiors; because one negligence,
one extravagance, even one incautious excess of valour,
may be injurious to the brave themselves. The God of
Armies protects a cause so just; it is that of Portuguese
lovers of their legitimate king and of their country.
" Soldiers! Let us to battle ; let us put an end lo re-
volution, and in the midst of our transports let our cry
ever be, Live the Holy Religion of Jesus Christ, Live our
King Don Miguel 01,2 First. Victory and happiness to
the Portuguese.

" Head Quarters at Agoas Sanctas, 27th Sept. 1832.
" The Visconde do PEZO da REGOA,
Commandant of the Corps of the Army of Operation."

" Gaspar Teixeira de Magalhaes e Lac?rdo, Commander
of the Order of Christ, Major-General, Military Go-
vernor of the Province of Minho, and Commandant of
the National Army of the North.
" Men of Tras 03 Montes (Transmontanos) ! My
army enters your province as certain of being well re-
ceived as I am of your pacific intentions.
" Some have endeavoured to persuade you that
it is treason to the King to obey the new Government
established in Oporto ; but this Government has sworn
to maintain religion, the dynasty of the august House of
Braganza, and the throne of our adored Monarch Don
John VI., and can there he one found amongst you who
will hesitate to take the same oath ? The Cortes and

the Constitution are no novelty in these kingdoms ; they
are our rights, and have been those of our fathers.
Without this means the monarchy is at an end, and being
so ended, ca❑ a throne continue to exist? How then
can he deserve the name of unfaithful who obeys a Go-
vernment which alone is able to support this throne? And
without a throne what is a king?
"My friends, undeceive yourselves. I have been born
atriong,t you, and like you lam sincere. I have sworn
to support and defend the G ivernment of Oporto, and the
Cortes which it is going to convoke, because 1 am a good
Portuguese, and a true Transmontane ; and every one
who will not do what I have done is unworthy of names
so glorious. Comrades—brave officers of the valiant army
of Tros os Montes! I have led you always in the path of
honour, and you who know me can have no fear that I
shall now depart from it. Haven then to me, come with
the brave men of Minha to avoid the misfortune of our
well-disposed countrymen, whom the spirit of deception
seeks to precipitate into the horrors of civil war. Tell
the soldiers that this cause is their own, tell them that
all those whom I have the honour to command are fully
paid, and that they will coatinue to be so whilst they
follow my banners.

" I know that it never was necessary to speak of self
interest to induce a Transmontane soldier to do his duty ;
but I also know that I am the organ of a Government
which owes to the army the tribute of its purest grati-
tude, and that on this account it is fitting they should
acknowledge the full extent of their obligation.
" Transmontmos, the cause you are to embrace requires
these measures, and all the evils which may result are to
be imputed to those who endeavour to delude you.
" Every officer and soldier who does not join me, and
take the oa•h to the King, to the Cortes, and to the
Supreme Government established in Oporto, shall be tried
and punished as traitor to the King, the country, and the
nation.

" Every district or town in which the same oath is not
taken will lose its rights and privileges, and its
inhahi-
:ants will be tried and punished as traitors to the King,
the country, and the nation.

"GASPAR. TEIXEIRA DE INIAGALHAES
E LACERDA.
" Head-quarters, Braga, Sept. 5, 1832."

OFFICIAL BULLETIN OF THE OPERATIONS
OF THE LIBERATING ARMY.
OPORTO, OCT. 1[ 5.

" The rebels, who since the rout they sustained on the
29th of last month, had dared to attempt nothing, either
on the right or the left bank of the Douro, began again
on the I 1 th and 12th of the present month to throw
bombs on the city, and at six o'clock on the morning of
the 13th opened a fire from four batteries of cannon and
one of howitzers and mortars upon the fortifications of the
Serra, with the manifest intentioa of facilitating the suc-
cessful attack in which they had been already six times
frustrated, but which they hoped on this seventh occasion
to realize.

" This cannonade (commenced, as has been said, on the
13tli, at 6 o'clock in the morning) lasted the whole of that
day, the succeeding night, and the whole of the 14th, until
some time past 2 o'clock in the afternoon, when the silence
of the enemy's batteries announced the march of his
messes upon the point of attack. During the 33 hours of
continued bombardment the rebels had fired more than
3,000 halls, grenades, or bombs, against the fortifications ;
but the undaunted General Torres and the heroic gar-
rison which lie commanded, having carefully repaired the
damage which the enemy's artillery necessarily produced,
tranquilly awaited, with resolution and coolness, and with-
out firing s single shot, the enemy's troops, who, under
the cover of the pines and the irregularities of the ground,
directed their march towards the fortifications.

" At a q uar ter after 3 in the afternoon the enemy made
his attack by a vigorous fire from his artillery in position,
and from field-piece, which he unmasked, in the inter-
mediate points of his batteries. Under the protection of
this fire, he unfolded a strong line of sharpshooters, sup-
ported by 5,000 infantry, in three columns. The column
on the right was directed on the point of the Eira. The
centre column had for its object the wall of the Cerca. The
left column directed its advance by the causeway of Villa
Nova. General Conde de Villa Flor, being aware of this
pl'in of attack, ordered a part of the first battalion of the
' 6th Infantry to form a reserve for our troops.
" The first shock being vigorously repelled, the enemy
reinforced his line with fresh troops, and charged suc—
cessively and in force on all the points of his attack. Six
times did he renew it, and six times was he driven back
by the fire of the gallant defenders of those points, and of
the batteries established along the right bank of the river.
At length, his reserves being exhausted, and the hopes
which he had so daringly conceived being frustrated, his
fire cea,ed, and he began a complete retreat after more
than three hours of obstinate combat, during which no
rebel with arms in his hands succeeded in placing his foot
within the sacred bulwark of honour, valour, and Royalty.
By 6 in the evening our pickets had again resumed their
former positions.
" Our loss is trifling. We cannot know that of the
enemy accurately. There is, however, no doubt that he
left 120 dead around our trenches, among whom are a Major
of the sth Infantry, and Captain Pinto, of the Grenadier
company of the 24th Regiment. We have also ascertained
that more than 100 of the enemy's wounded have died,
and that among them ace two superior officers. Forty
waggons of the wounded went off with the rear-guard.
There remain with us Captain Ferreira, having the rank of
Major of the 24th Reghneni, who canoe voluntarily over to
us, some prisoners, and more than 300 stand of arms.

" It is impossible to describe the enthusiasm displayed
by the brave garrison of the Serra in this glorious Gelence
which alone could be rivalled by that shown by the inha-
bitants of the city, who gallantly crossed the river to share
in the danger and the honour of the illustrious defenders of
the fortress.

" General Torres, wishing to avoid delay, transmitted
to General Conde de Villa nor, for the information of his
Imperial Majesty, the eventful circumstances of this glo-
rious action, reserving the details and the names of the
persons who most distinguished themselves for a future
opportunity.

" His Imperial Maji.sty, who was posted with the staff
on a point convenient for observation, witnessed the heroic
deeds which were performed. He orderad one of his
aide.de-camp to congratulate in his name General Torres
and his illustrious garrison on the valour they bad dis-
played, and to make known to the brave Governor that
ho had been graciously pleased to nominaie him an officer
of the Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Tower and
the Sword of Valour, Loyalty, and Merit. His Majesty's
was received at the Serra with the greatest
enthusiasm, and with the most cordial and joyous ' Vivas '
for the constitutional charter, Donna Maria Segunda, and
the Duke of Braginzt.