The Sun.
London, England, 1832-08-21 00:00:00

DON PEDRO'S EXPEDITION.

The Ann Paley, Captain Rolston, arrived at Liver-
pool on Sunday afternoon, after a quick passage of seven
days, from the Tagus, bringing accounts from Lisbon a
week later than those received by the Hermes, noticed in
our last. No decisive event, either on land or at sea, had
transpired, both the belligerents seeming to entertain a
salutary fear of each other, which makes them observe
great prudence in the movements of their fleets and armies.
The following statement, for which we are indebted to
Captain Rolitone, contains an abstract of the accounts
which he has brought from Portugal :
" The Ann Paley sailed from Cascaes Bay, near Lisbon,
o❑ the I 1 th August, 1832. Lisbon was still declared in a
state ofsiege ; no vessels would be admitted while their ene-
my remained on the coast of Portugal. Left at anchor in
Cascaes, his Majesty's ships Asia, Caledonia, Briton.
Britannia, and Falcon yacht. The Revenge and Le-
veret, were cruizing in the offing. The Romney had
been out with water from Lisbon, for the squadron, and
returned on the 9th.
The following merchants' vessels were at anchor at
Cascaes Bay, viz.:—Schooner's Desire, from London;
Queen, Jane, Concord, Bally, and Janet, from Fal-
mouth.—Brigs—Sy/ph, from Aberdeen ; Mary, from
Plymouth.—Sloop- Express, from Bristol.—The Goose,
of London, from Newfoundland, sailed for Cadiz on the
9th. His Majesty's brig Royalist, sailed with despatches
for Plymouth on the 11th, was to touch off Oporto.
" On the ith the Leveret left the hostile squadrons,
N.W. by N. from the Rock of Lisbon, distant 60 lodes.
Admiral Sartorius had the weather gage, distant four
miles. His corvette Amelia, being a dull sailer, was sent
off to leeward. His fleet consisted of the Reina de Por-
tugal and Donna Maria, frigates; Count of Villa Flor,
brig; and Fayal, schooner. The Miguelite squadron, of
the Don John, of '74; Derodores frigate, 48 ; three
corvettes, of 28 ; two brigs, of 20 guns each. Admiral
Sartorius fired two broadsides into the Don John on the
night of the sth, And received a few straggling shots in
return.
" The last accounts from Oporto, by the Falcon, of
the sth, state, that Don Pedro had not advanced, for want
of cavalry, and was not likely to move soon.
" Admiral telegraphed, on August 6th, No alteration
at Oporto on the sth. Constitutionalists not likely to move
soon.'
" By Captain Markland's note, which be received on
the 6th, from Admiral's secretary, There were 12,000
guerillas surrounding Oporto, got up by the priests. Only
one cavalry officer and one soldier had deserted to Don
Pedro lately. A farmer, who had supplied Don Pedro
with two oxen, bad all his property destroyed and com-
pletely beggared by the guerillas.'
The following is extracted from a letter, dated Lisbon,
August 10 :--" As for news, I have none to give. Great
dissatisfaction, owing to vessels not being allowed to come
in, is expressed by every one ; and up to the present there
is not the least chance of a change. The Tagus will
leave this for your port to-morrow. Don Miguel is gone
to breakfast on board the United States American frigate."
The following notice had been issued for the informa-
tion of the merchants :
" Asia, off Cape Roca, Auc. 5.
" Sir,--You will make known to the masters of British
vessels in Cascaes Bay, or other parties concerned therein,
that I yesterday received a letter from Mr. Hoppner (British
Consul), acquainting me that the Portuguese Government
have refused admission into the Tagus of all foreign ships
and passengers, so long as their enemy remains on the coast
of Portugal.

" WM. PARKER, Rear-Admiral.
" To Captain Markland, H. M. S. Briton."

Jamaica Papers to the 14th ult. have arrived.
The Island was quiet, with the appearance of returning
tranquillity. The weather was very wet. There is no
news in these Papers. Colonial Union Societies were
forming all over the Island, for the purpose of not employ-
ing on their estates any person who attended the meetings
a the Sectaries.
CROSSES OF HONOUR.—By a calculation
lately made, it appears that 32,231 Crosses of Honour have
been distributed in France wee the Restoration. By
Louts XVIII., in the six months in 1814, 1,761 ; by
the 100 days, 114; by Louis XVIII., on his
return, 4,266 ; by CHARLES X., 11,524 ; by Louis
Puturrx, up to the 20th ,luly, 1832, 14,566,—Le
Circle,

" ELY V'e?
%Vie

LONDON,
TUESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 21, 1832.

The accounts from Poland are distressing in
the extreme. We have not words to express
our utter abhorrence of the damning perfidy with
which the Emperor NICHOLAS acts towards
that unhappy country. The march of depopu-
lation proceeds with the most savage barba-
rity. It is not enough to tear the in-
fant children from their widowed abodes, but a
lady in the Russiainterest—Oh, shame to
Polish patriotism !—a Countess BRANITZKA,
has presented twelve thousand young girls to
the EMPEROR, to people the colonies !
After such outrageous mockery of all that is
decent or charitable, may we ask, in the name of
humanity, what does Lord DURHAM do at the
Court of Russia? Is it not an insult to Eng-
land that her majesty should be re-
presented at a Court where such damned
deeds as these are perpetrated—and that, too,
in direct violation of the faith of treaties.
But what despot ever respected treaties when
they interfered with his anilgtion ? Verily this
country and France have much to answer for.
The cry of Polish mourning ascends to Heaven
for retribution. ‘Ve pray that it may be instant.

We have news from Lisbon to the llth inst.,
but none from Oporto later than the sth. No
movement of any consequence had taken place
on shore, nor was any account received from the
rival squadrons. The force of SARTORIUS
was too small to venture a formal battle with
the fleet of MitiuEL, but much was expected
from his superior management and the dexterity
of his men. The last accounts left both parties
about SO miles to the westward of Lisbon—
SARToRtus keeping the weather guage. By
to-morrow, perhaps, we may hear of something
decisive between the squadrons.

The report of Almeida having declared for
Don PEDRO is still persisted in, but we cannot
learn with what correctness. It is clear that if
PEDRO be able to maintain his ground yet a
little longer, there will be many opportunities
for those favourably disposed to the constitu-
tional cause to declare themselves. Their chief
difficulty at present is to evade the vigilance of
the Priests who swarm everywhere, and who are
sworn to uphold the Usurper's power, rightly
apprehending that with its fall their own domi-
nion must totter also.

There is another phalanx of strength upon
whose assistance Don MIGuEr, must place great
reliance, and that is, the Spanish army on the
frontiers, whose presence must produce a mortal fear
on the Portuguese along the borders. Though
Spain has formally declared her neutrality during,
the struggle, we well know to which side her inclina-
tion leans, and that whatever indirect countenance
and protection her troops can give to MiGUEL
will be liberally afforded. It is not enough that
Spain protests her non-interference—her inte-
rest is too deeply concerned in the result,—
not to use all her influence by foul or by
fair means in support of the Usurper.
Since writing the above, we learn that two
vessels have arrived at Gravesend from Oporto,
which they left on the 7th, at which time Mt-
' GUEL'S troops were attacking that place ; but
without any probability of success. The fact of
their daring to take such a step implies a confi-
dence in their own strength. A good defeat
might settle the bussiness either way—but we
fear that DON PEDRO is limited in his means.

Lord ALTHORP most truly stated, a day or
two before the breaking up of the House, that
the provisions of the Reform Act, requiring pay-
ment of taxes in borough voters, did not apply
to scot and lot voters ; and yet we find by letters
we have received from more than one intelligent
correspondent, that the matter is still to many
involved in obscurity, and that they cannot re-
concile the clauses of the Act with the CHAN-
CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER'S declaration.
The origin of the mistake is the not properly
marking the distinction between rates and taxes.
By the twenty-seventh section, which confers

N

the. tfght‘' of voting upon 101. householders,
besides the other conditions to which they are
subject, they are required, in order to be re-
gistered, to have paid, "on or before the
twentieth day of July in such year, all the poor's
rates and assessed taxes which shall have become
payable from them in respect of such premises,
previously to the sixth day of April then next
preceding." So much for the 101. household-
ers : they must have paid both rates and taxes,
to entitle them to be registered. The twenty-
third section saves to a scot and lot voter
(amongst several other classes of persons) his
right of voting so long as he shall be qualified
as an elector, according to the usages of the
place where 'he claims to exercise his right, and
according to any law now in force, if duly regis-
tered. The scot and lot voter, so far, therefore,
remains precisely in the condition he was before.
The clause goes on to provide for his residence
within a certain distance of the borough for a
given time, to abolish his right if he suffer him-
self to be omitted from the register for two suc-
cessive years, except in certain cases, and to re-
quire him to qualify himself by the last day of
July, as if that were the day of election.
These then are the ort/y alterations made in the
condition of the scot and lot voter. Nothing is
said about either rates or taxes, but
he is simply thrown back upon the
qualification required in the borough wherein
he may happen to claim his franchise, except
that his rates must be paid by the last day of
July. In no borough that we are aware of is
the payment of taxes included in the qualifica-
tions required, by custom or law, of a scot and
lot voter. We do not think we can do better
than quote, upon this subject, the words of
CIIARLES F. F. WORDSWORTH, Esq., of the
Inner Temple, in his very excellent work on
the " Law and Practice of Elections (for Eng-
land and Wales), as altered by the Reform Act,
Bze." In page 65 he says, " Persons paying
scot and lot are understood to be those parish-
ioners who pay poor rates. It has, therefore,
been the practice to refer to the poor-rate as a
kind of register of the scot and lot voters. This
rule, however, is not the only criterion, for it
has been held that a church-rate would he ad-
missible to show who was an inhabitant paying
scot and lot, if there were no poor-rate.*

" It was resolved, in the Alilborn Port case±,
that persons rateable, and having paid the
rate, though that rate be made by officers illegal
or doubtful, have a right to vote as inhabitants
paying scot and lot.' It is not always necessary
that there should be actual assessment and con-
tribution. If a person having rateable property
is omitted, and uses due diligence to be put
upon the rate, he will be entitled to vote. The
question of due diligence is one depending upon
the facts of each particular case.t Due dili•
gence is a seasonable application to a tribunal
competent by its determination to place the
voter in that relation with the borough or town
out of which relation the right of voting arises."
We have given the last two paragraphs be-
cause it may, perchance, happen that the 30th
section, entitling occupiers to demand to be
rated, may be held to apply only to the new
classes of voters created by the three preced
ing clauses.

* Fowey, C. and D. 135. t 1 Douglas 129.
C and D 125.

We find the following in the Parisian corres-
pondence of this morning's Chronicle The
conduct of the Emperor NICHOLAS to Lord
DURHAM and to the crew of the Talavera at-
tracts a great deal of attention in this country,
and gives rise to many unpleasant suspicions
and fears. The Emperor,. forsooth, is all Eng-
lish—heart, manners, and nearly language ! The
Empress never knew the Emperor speak so
much English in his life as he did to Captain
BROWN ! The Captain is ravished with the
condescension of the CZAR and the Em-
press ! The Sovereign of an Aristocracy,
which reckons more Princes than France
has Barons, proceeds to the Talavera in
a boat which he steers himself !—shakes
Captain BROWN by the hand !—drinks a glass
of grog in the midst of the crew, to the health
of King WILLIAM and his people ! all the sai-
lors are received at St. Petersburg with the most
flattering distinctions—they are shown grand
military manoeuvres, and the exercises of Circas-
sian cavalry. In the presence of ail the Am-
bassadors and Courtiers, the English uniform is
preferred above all others. The CZA R studies
to flatter the national pride of the officers—de-
clares himself to be the best friend of WILLIAM
—and terminates in announcing to them, that he
prays to God each night for the King of ENG..
LAND."

It is astonishing what a world of magic lies
in that one little word—Royalty ! Every thing a
KING does, is sure to tell. His very common-
places are oracles of wisdom with the majority.
If he smiles, it is with the most irresistible
suavity ; if he bows, it is with the most fault-
less grace ; if he cracks a joke, it is sure to split
all sides ; if he utter an aphorism, it is sure to
be the most profound ever uttered. A KING,
even in these days, is one•third mortal, and two-
thirds divine. He occupies a midway station
between man and the Deity. Read, for instance,
the above paragraph. Here we see a King
merely speaking a little bad English ; shaking a
British officer by the hand—sure never was Cap-
taiß's hand so honoured ! drinking a glass of grog
with his men ; treating them to a grand military
review, and behold ! as a necessary consequence,
we have a whole ship's crew in extacies ! This
strong instinctive propensity to idolize Royalty ;
to consider whatever it says or does as " wisest,
virtuousest, discreetest, best," is unfortunately
not confined to the middle and lower walks of
life, but pervades all classes equally. The taint
osuendmind it exerts
he must be
seemsin more
re
oinherentthan
a ni n
moaunr
onv ae tru
whose
eh,
no influence. We look, therefore, with exceeding
anxiety to the result of Lord DuJHAM's mission.
He is, we know, a bold, high-minded, clear-head-
ed man, but is he, even with these qualifications,
wholly free from the bewildering witchcraft of
royalty ? We hope SO. For great indeed

would be the scorn and ridicule attached to the
character of British statesmen, were truth to be
bartered for a smile, and justice for a snuff-box.
Yet there is no denying the fact, that it is a
most trying position in which his Lordship is
just now placed. Temptation besets him at every
step, flattery stands ready with her hellebore to
pour into his ear, whenever she can catch him
sleeping. hlis judgment, therefore, must be
continually awake ; his energy ever at its post.
Otherwise he will surely fail. But, indeed, in
every instance, unless political opinions are
adopted more from principle than impulse,—
more from conviction than feeling, they are sure
to fall victims to the first temptation that besets
them.

In these emigrating times the case of BECKETT
and others against LENS, in another part of
our Paper, will be read with interest. The
Learned Judge seems to have been much
shocked by the description that was given of the
close manner in which the passengers, their pro-
visions and luggage, were stowed, and is re-
ported to have said, that " as a man of humanity,
he could not help regretting that such a law as
the Passengers' Act had ever been sanctioned by the
legislature." The fact is, that the law was passed
with the most humane intentions ; and any one
who recollects the shocking scenes which Ame-
rican passage ships used to present before its
passing, will admit that it has produced a change
decidedly for the better. Three persons to every
four tons is not, especially for a short voyage,
an excessive number for a vessel to carry ; and the
crowding, &c. complained of in the case of the
Sir George Murray, which induced Mr.
Baron BOLLAND to regret the passing of the
Act of Parliament, arose from the violation
of that Act. It is curious, by the way, that
although it appears to be clear, by the direction
of the Judge and the finding of the Jury, that
the plaintiff was in the right, the last obtains
only 40s. damages, notwithstanding that he
proves actual loss, occasioned by the conduct of
the defendant, to a much larger amount.

Our readers will find in another column, an
account, which we have every reason to believe
rests on good authority, of premature interment
in cholera. The subjects of this horrid catas-
trophe were—a mother and her son ! The
former fortunately recovered just in sufficient
time to prevent her being screwed down ;
but the latter was literally coffined alive
This is an awful subject for reflection, and
we hope will operate as a warning upon me-
dical men and parochial authorities. Every
symptom attending cholera being as yet partially
unknown, and even, as it should seem, the
exact moment when it produces dissolution, its
last stages being merely a sort of life in death ;
too much elution cannot possibly be exercised
to prevent premature interment. We trust
this dreadful circumstance will be fully in-
quired into, otherwise it will do incalculable
mischief. The public mind is but too easily
worked upon with regard to this bewildering
pestilence. It lays hold of the imagination like a
spell.