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

Colonel Sorrell, the new English Consul, who it to re-
lieve M,. Crispin, arrived here to-day, having come over-
land from Corunna to Mattisinhoes, where he took a boat
tad put off for the Briton frigate, at the recommendation
of Jasper Teisara, who gave him an escort from Volonga
to the coast ; at the same time informing him of his inten-
tion to assault the city, and of the certainty which he en-
tertained of carrying it. The Childers gun-brig, that was
sent for Colonel Sorrell, returned yesterday from Corunna,
having arrived there the day after that gentleman had set
out to make his passage overland.

Wednesday Morning.
The Serra has been attacked twice since Sunday. Last
night, at 10 o'clock, the enemy came to the trenches on
the southern side, and made a desperate attempt to obtain
a lodgment, but be was repulsed with considerable loss.
At 3 o'clock after midnight he began again advancing
under the cover of a battery of three guns, and endea-
vouring to carry the position on that side where it is least
assisted by the batteries from this. The garrison received
him with great intrepidity, allowing scaling ladders to be
planted against the outer wall, and then opening so close a
discharge of musketry that theassailants were obliged to give
way with considerable loss. The night was beautifnl, anti
the moon shone in so much glory, that every thing was vi-
sible as at noonday. It was a grand but awful sight to wit-
ness thecannonading, and thesheet of flame spread by the con-
tinned volleys from the walls. Both parties are fighting
with the greatest gallantry. I did not think Don Mi-
guel's troops wuuld come up with so much courage; and
as to Don Pedro's, they must work like desperate men,
having no retreat from Oporto if beaten. The enemy also
made a sight attack at the Bon Successo side, on the
extreme left of the city, at 10 o'clock, but he was soon
expelled from the groves in which he made his approaches,
and the real brunt of the war is confined to the southern
side of the river, as he seems determined to get hold of the
Serra before he makes his grand assault on the town. He
has drawn 1,000 or 1,500 men across the river, and is
constructing batteries to play upon the Convent. He has
also posted a telegraph on the Santo Ovidio hill, and all
his preparations demonstrate that he is determined to take
advantage of the continuance of fine weatber to finish the
business if he can. The Serra is a strong building, with
walls six feet thick; the garrison has been reinforced, and
now consists of 900 men, and we are assured of a stout
resistance, should it be necessary to abandon it.
A steamer and cutter arrived yesterday from Falmouth
with 150 British soldiers and some Congteve rockets, both
very seasonable. It is to be hoped the latter will shake
the enemy in his positions at Villa Nova, and disconcert his
preparations for battering the town.

iday.
On Wednesday night the enemy threw a few shells into
the town from Villa Nova. They did very little injury,
nor did they excite as much alarm as might be expected.
About half-a-dozen exploded iu the square of the Corderio,
near to the place from whence the powder had only the
day be ore been removed. You can easily judge of the
sensation of those who lived immediately near the maga •
zine, while the powder remained there on the floors, not in
vaults, with those ugly messengers of destruction dropping
about. Some persons believed that the shells were di-
rected to that quarter, while others fancied that they were
thrown towards the palace, which is not very far distant
from the Corderio, as, in the course of the night, seven or
eight lights were hung out on a line with that building by
supposed spies of the Miguelite party. The inhabitants of
Oporto are loud iu their exclamations against this violation
of the rules of war, as the fire should be directed against
the lines where their opponents in arms are, and not
gamut an . open town, which has, according to Don
Miguel's own account, not taken any part in the contest.
I suppose the object of the Generals was to frighten
more than hurt the city, as the number of shells thrown
eas not exceeded 30. One of those that burst in the
Corderio shattered a window opposite to the hotel where
Colonel Hare and Colonel Sorrell, the new Consul,
are residing. The enemy also fired a few shots on the
Serra on Wednesday night, but since then he has been
perfectly quiet, and we have been allowed two days' :sea
curity to speculate on his future plans. The communica-
tion with Villa Nova has been partially renewed by means
of women and servants, and the British merchants have
been able to obtain some information about their property.
The extent of damage done to the wine stores has not
been considerable—mischief, no doubt, has taken place,
and from one store the wine has been seen flowing in a
small stream ; but under all the circumstances of cannonade
from this side, and the occupation of the place by guerillas
and militia, less injury has occurred than we could
have anticipated. The British merchatits are, however,
taking up the subject, and a memorial drawn up by the
Consul in their behalf is about to be sent to Jasper Teix-
era's headquarters. lam told that the houses of Villa
Nova have been all pillaged, and that a fair was held there
of the furniture, and of the stolen oil and wine, till Jos
Cardoza interfered, and issued general orders against
,plunder. The condition of the inhabitants of Villa Nova
is pitiable, particularly that of a convent of nuns, many of
them of good fatnily, being under a double fire for
several days. One of these ladies was shot as she came
!o a window, when she heard the bells of the Serra rung.
We ate at a loss to know what Dan Miguel's Generals mean
I,y their inactivity for the last two days, some asserting that
they have been obliged to fall back for the want of provi-
sions ; others that the army is in a state of disorganize-
t on, and refuse to attack the Serra again ; while many
believe they are waiting for heavier cannon, which is on
the road from Coimbra, and with which they are deter-
mined to batter the Convent down. The army here is in
high spirits, and I bare no doubt the men will do their
luty whenever the attack takes place. The defences of
the Serra have been strengthened, and there are now 900
men with ten pieces of artillery in it. It will cost the
enemy time and trouble to reduce it, and while it holds
out Oporto appears to me to be safe. If the Serra fall
we shall be in an ugly position, though there are bold
spirits among the military here, who disregard the Serra,
and contend the city is safe without it, as the batteries
I.can this city command it. I have entered into particus. lars, as I wish to give you a clear idea of our position, ae,a
aelieve the subject has the greatest interest in England, I
do not state the loss of either side, because I have iao res. turn, but I know that it has been small at this, because
the men fought under cover, while the enemy must have
suffered dreadfully in their attacks on tbe Serra, in which,
he was compelled to expose himself.
Two English captains of ships, who strayed into the
enemy's lines at Villa Nova last night, report that they
sound Sir John Campbell in joint command there, and that
the number of troops in position could not be less than
5,000 men.

nThe:Lr twos remooffin
terr whom
as
ncehave C
jaupsttai n A
re
,ufranrkedl.a n sent w
They
were th e
.
ceived at the head-quarters by Cardoza and Sir John
atumbell in the most courteous manner, and, in answer
to the memorial, they were informed that the Generals had
given every protection iu their power to British property,
and would continue to do so.
In conclusion, I wish you to understand that the position
if Oporto and the enterprise of Don Pedro are in no way
iltered for the worse by the operations of this week. On
the contrary, I think they are improved by the proofs his
roops have given of their ability to stand tire. The town
it present enjoys the greatest confidence, and receives its
supplies as usual front the country. Nothing like terror
or public alarm is exhibitod. With regard to the probe.

The attack nn the not renewed this morning,
but the Amelia contin her fire on the streets of Villa
Nova, for the purpose of dislodging the guerillas, who
harboured in the houses. I understand that this cannon-
ade has already damaged some of the wine-stores, but I
do not mention the owners' names until I have them on
good authority. There was a sally made from the Serra,
at three o'clock, by about 50 men, who descended with
great spirit to clear the streets in its vicinity of the enemy,
who were closing on it. The position was attacked and
defended with vigour, being taken and re-taken several
times; but it terminated in favour of Don Pedro's men,
who returned to the convent cheered by the people who
witnessed their exertions from this. This sally was as-
sisted by a dozen British sailors from the Amelia, who had
the hardihood to push a small boat across to Villa Nova.
Two of them were wounded for their temerity, and a
brave black fellow, servant to the officer, was killed. It
is a sad sight to see this poor man's body still lying on the
strand—his own party not being able to carry it away, in
consequence of the large force that came down against
them, and the other party being afraid to expose them-
selves in removing it. About the same time another attack
was made on the southern side of the Serra, but the enemy
was compelled to give way, after a sharp struggle for an
hour, in which he must have sustained a severe los.,
being compelled to expose himself to a fire deliberately
poured from a sheltered position upon him.
I am sorry to say that the English physician,Dr. Burn-
ley, has been cruelly treated by some of the guerillas who
follow the army of Don Miguel. This gentleman hail
placed his family for security at a small quinta on the left
of the Douro, near the bar, but yesterday it was attacked
by two parties in succession, who robbed it of all the
money and plate, and beat Dr. Rumsey in a dreadful nisi CI
tier on the arms and chest, one ruffian knocking him dowli
with the butt-end of a gun, which the other fired at him
as he lay on the ground. The shot did not take effect, and
the Doctor was soon after enabled to cross the river with
his family, but the manner in which the guerillas cried out
for the Mal/iado (Englishman), enables me to judge of the
treatment the British may expect to receive if the town be
carried by assault.