The Sun.
London, England, 1832-09-25 00:00:00

bility of Oporto falling br not, I can only say that, in my
opinion, it is safe at present, unless heavier artillery, and.
a much more determined army than has yet appeared, are
brought against it.
Our correspondent concludes by saying. am well and
safe, though the shells are falling about me.
Saturday, Sept. 15,12 o'clock.
Col. Sorrell, having allowed, with due consideration for
the mercantile interests of Oporto, a supplementary mail
bag to be made up, I take advantage of it to add a few
words to my letter of yesterday. I am sorry to Fay that
Don Miguel's Generals are now actually showing their
teeth ; and we had a quantity of shells thrown into the
streets in the course of last night. The damage done is
inconsiderable ; but if they increase the number of these
missiles the peaceable inhabitants must be great sufferers.
They have also erected a battery of three guns on the
height above Villa Nova, with which they are trying to
silence the battery of the Vittoria; ao that it will be evident
tl at the houses of Oporto must feel the effects of the war,
whilst the persons engaged in it are in comparative safety._
The increase of the fire compels me to go on board a vessel,
which I do as well out of prudential reasons, as for the
purpose of keeping my communication with you open.
I understand that Santa Martha was at the head of the
group of officers who received the messengers sent yes.
terday with the Consul's memorial. He was NO
in his threats against Oporto, and declared that it was
the determination of his Government, if it continued to
harbour Don Pedro, to burn it to the ground, and to can-
nonade it until not one stone was left upon another. He
also said he would lave destroyed all the shipping in the
river if he was not afraid of injuring British property.
In other respects Santa Martha and his officers were very
civil, made the gentlemen dine with him, and assured them
ii. would do everything in his power to protect their goods.
Ile denied that any wine had been sold, and asserted that
more damage had been done by the cannonade- from this
Bide than by hie troops, anti added that he was often de-
*lions of sending down officers to the wine-stores for the
purpose of-seeing them respected, but that our people fired
a cannon shot not only at every person who-appeared in
the streets of Villa Nova, but even at:any head looking out
of a window.
I repeat it, that all this injury and annoyance done to
that part of Oporto which borders on the river has no
effect on the spirit or the means of Don Pedro's expedi-
tion. lie and his troops are, as it were, out of the fire.
I think, however, he is confining himself ton much to
the defensive, and that he might, by throwing a thousand
men across the river near the bar, come on the rear of
the enemy by surpri.e, and, with a well-directed silly
from the Serra, break up his camp above Villa Nova, de-
stroying their batteries and fortresses, and relieve that
side of the river altogether of his presence. Some of the
British officers recommend this, but Don Pedro's coun-
cils are governed by prudence at present, having com-
mitted himself immediately after landing by two rash ex-
cursions.

Monday Morning, Sept. 17, 8 o'clock.
As the packet is only now coming off the bar from Lis-
bon, I hasten to send one line to say that the town is
quiet, though they are firing away at both sides. The
b itteries from this are of heavier metal than Don
Miguel's, and they dismounted three of his guns on
Saturday. There is no alarm in the town, though se-
veral persons, for safety, have gone on board ships in
the river.
There was a sharp struggle last night along the cen-
tre of the line, but nothing important was the result.
SEPT. S.
The greatest degree of anxiety prevails here for the re-
stilt of the grand attack on Oporto, from which place
nothing has been heard for some days.
Every soldier that could be spared, or they could find
the means to send, has been marched from all quarters,
and, but for the active and masterly movements of Admi-
ral Sartorius, a considerable body of troops from the south
side of the Tagus would, ere this, have been fer on their
way to Oporto.
The Admiral, who has regularly blockaded this port
ever since tl:e return of Don Miguel's squadron, some
days ago went to St. Übe's with his squadron. A steamer
approached the forts, and demanded possession of them in
the name of Donna Maria. This and the appearance of
the squadron threw the whole neighbourhood into a vio-
lent state of alarm, and the troops which were to hive been
sent to Oporto received counter orders. These troops
consisted of a battalion of the sth Foot, one ditto of the
Bth, one ditto of the Royalists of Montaraz, two field-
pieces, &c. under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel
Pantalizo, ordered to march on Torres Vedras.
The Bth landed at Belem at 3 o'clock in the morning,
and the sth at the Praco do Commercio at 8, when they
were suddenly ordered to return in the sameboits, owing
to the alarm created by the judicious movements of the
Admiral at St. Übe's.
The same sort of alarm has been kept up afPeniche, at
Figniera, and all the other ports, which effectually pre-
yenta the troops frem leaving these different stations to
join in the grand attack on Oporto.
All is hurry and bustle.at the arsenal to get the squa-
dron ready for sea. Yesterday. the 7th, the steamer went
down to Cachies. The Don John VI. has a large supply
of coals on board for her, and also some large pieces of
artillery for the attack on Oporto. The squadron is ready
at Cachies, and expected to go out next tide.
Admiral Sartorius has received a considerable rein-
forcement of nearly twenty vessels, a list of which I hope
to get in time for this letter ; and, if he has any luck, must
take or destroy some of them, notwithstanding the pre.
sence of the seventy-four. Don Miguel has only eight
besides the steamer. It is now beyond a doubt that Ge-
neral Sir John Campbell is with Don Miguel's army near
Oporto, for one of his Aides-de-Camp wrote to his friend
in Lisbon, a few days ago, to this effect :—" We are now
preparing for a grand attack on Oporto. My next letter
will, I hope, be dated from that city."—What presumption !
Don Miguel is evidently labouring under great depres.
aloe( of spirits; he sometimes appears on the water, but
without hoisting the Royal Standard. He is always at-
tended by the notorious Variseimo, who sleeps in an ante-
chamber adjoining that of the King. He has always been
in fear of poison or assassination. There is no more talk
of his going to the army of the North.
When Admiral Sartorius made his appearance to re-
sume the blockade so quickly after the return of Don
Al;guel's squadron, the old Minister, Conde de Basto,
went to the arsenal and asked the superintendent, sneer-
ingly, where Don Pedro's Arsenal was, they being so soon
refitted ? It was found thfficult to give an answer to such
A question from so terrible a man.
The measures of Reform already projected by Don
Pedro (viz., throwing open the monopoly of the Wine
Company at Oporto, and the tobacco contract, taking off
the weighty and disgraceful imposts on agricultural pro-
duce, and the heavy and vexatious tax of one-tenth of all
fish caught, taken in kind, besides the hindrance of their
sales by the pompons and insolent way in which it was
levied, frtquently keeping the poor venders waiting in the
mornings, and thereby obliging them to sell it in the h eat
of the (lay) have given great satisfaction here; and no
doubt, should the Almighty permit him to be the instru-
ment of his bounty in liberating this fine country from its
present oppressive Government, many other blessings and
comforts will follow. It is really dreadful to see the gee
of poverty and distress into which thousands of poor fisher-
men are thrown by not being allowed to follow their avo-
cation., fearing they may take the friends of Don Pedro's
cause to Sirtorius's squadron, or bring in the real state of
affairs at Oporto. They have waited on Don Miguel in
large bodies, but got no redress, except a few pence each
man, not sufficient for one dinner.

Tuesday, 11th.
This morning, at seven o'clock, Don Miguel's squadron
sailed. At the time of their departure none of Sartorius's
squadron were in sight, but, as they had been seen daily,
they could not be far off.
On hoard the Princesa Real they took ten thirty-two-
pound guns, to be placed on the heights of Villa Nova.
Perhaps they may find some difficulty in landing them.
Letters continue to arrive from the at my near Oporto,
and give a deplorable picture of their situation. The
nights are cold for sleeping in the open air. They get
little pay, the country is exhausted of provisions, and the
poor villagers are in fear of starving ; a. the winter ap-
proaches robberies take place of everything eatable, for
many leagues round, and the poor people areeafraid to
complain.
There is again some stir making with Spain. Couriers
re frequently going from the Spanish Ambassador.
We have had telegraphic accounts of fighting at Oporto
since Sunday, the 9th, and of course various accounts of
successes and reverses, but no exultation here. All is
quiet, and Donna Maria's party, though full of confidence,
are restrained by prudence, until a fair and reasonable
opportunity offers for their liberation.
Many robberies have lately taken place in Lisbon, to a
large amount. This is attributed to what are called the
Royalist corps, which contain all the worst people in Lis-
bon, liberated from the prisons for this service. All pro-
cesses for crimes and debts being suspended by Royal ordi-
nance during the time they remain in these corps, they have
au opportunity of knowing where property is deposited,
and it would be useless for a Portuguese to complain.
Yesterday (13th) reports reached the city that the two
squadrons were in sight of each other, and expected an
action. At one o'clock a steamer from Sartorius arrived
in sight, and sent a boat on board the British A linirars
ship. To-day nothing has been heard.
squadron the poor fi,Leririen
Since the departure of.tte,