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

NEWS FROM PORTUGAL.

(From the Morning Herald private correspondent.)
FALMOUTH, SUNDAY NOON.
His Majesty's steamer African, Lieuten mnt Hawey, is
just arrived from Portugal ; sailed from Lisbon on the
15th at three p.m., and from Oporto 17th, half-past ten
p.m. She brings information of Don Miguel's fleet again
having left the Tagus, and of the loss of one of his steam-
boats on the Ilth ; it foundered whilst in the act of tow-
ing a brig dismasted ; at the time she was heavily
laden with artillery for the squadron. She had
on board at the time, including artillerymen, about 190
men, all of whom perished. Sartorius witnessed the
accident, and sent boats to assist. The African, after
leaving Lisbon on the 15th, fell in with part of Sarto-
rius's squadron, and reported to them that Sartorius had
followed Aligner.; squadron off Cape St. Vincent, whither
they had proceeded after leaving the Tagus. No action
had taken place, but there was no doubt but that Don
Pedro's squadron would endeavour to make an ad-
vantageous attack. On the departure of the steamer
from Oporto a great quantity of shells was observed being
thrown into the town by the Miguelitee. Miguel's party
on the 16th is stated to have been surprised by strong par-
ties of Constitutionalists, and were sadly cut up by them,
and lost several pieces of ordnance, and the number of
killed and wounded are stated to be great. The English
vessels, as usual, were cruising off the bars of Lisbon and
Oporto.

Oronro, SEPT. 9.—At length hostilities have com-
menced in earnest, and I am enabled, by personal obser-
vation, to form an opinion of the merits of the respective
combatants. For some days an idea generally prevailed
that an attack was likely to be made, and reports were
spread, on the authority of Lisbon letters, that Don Mi-
guel had ordered the town to be assaulted at all hazards. It
was evident, from the variety of movements made on every
side, that something of importance was contemplated, and
the advanced posts of Don Pedro were kept constantly on
the alert by demonstrations on the Braga and Vollonga
roads. We were also informed that additional troops had
arrived at the head-quarters to the south of the Douro,
and a general impression was made on the inhabitants that
as soon as the artillery of their enemy was brought up, the
question would be determined whether Oporto was in a
state to resist a resolute attack or not. On Wednesday
night the rain poured down in torrents, and it was sup-
posed that the weather had broken up. Several deserters
came in the next day, announcing that the militia were
going to their homes, and that, if the rain continued, the
army would be totally disorganized. On Friday the wea-
ther again became fine, and the Generals, I suppose, made
up their minds that the attack should no longer be delayed;
and the following day, being the nativity of the Blessed
Virgin, a close holyday in Portugal, was appointed for
the purpose. Information of this determination was im-
mediately conveyed to Don Pedro, and the Emperor, with
the activity which has distinguished all his proceedings
since the landing, made his preparation to receive it.
Early on Saturday morning, about 8 o'clock, a column
of the enemy was seen crossing the hill of the Santo Ovi-
dio, on the south of the Douro, and marching upon Villa
Nova, which lies immediately beneath it. The picquets
of Don Pedro were called in, as it was determined to aban-
don the streets of Villa Nova, and confine the defence to
the Serra convent, where entrenchments have lately been
made, and excellent batteries erected. This convent is
seated on the summit of a high rock which rises almost
out of the bed of the river, and it is only to be approached
by a winding and difficult road, easily defended. The
convent and its gardens cover a good extent of ground,
and the whole is enclosed by a substantial stone wall,
through which loop-holes for musketry have been made,
and along which a platform has been erected, leaving
three feet of the wall as a breastwork, from whence the
country and the roads up the rock are commanded. This
convent surveys the entire of Villa Nova ; batteries in
correspondence with it were placed at Vittoria, in one of
the streets of Oporto opposite to time Serra, and at the
Torre de Marco, by which on the left and on the right
the whole of the ground about to be occupied by the
enemy was swept. 300 of the 6th Cacadores and 300 of
the Villa Nova volunteers formed the garrison of the con-
vent, and to them the honour of the day was left, troops
being always at hand to assist them, if required. The
bridge of boats was withdrawn to the Oporto side of the
river, and all the small craft were likewise recalled and
held in readiness to perform such reinforcement as might
be demanded. Thus prepared, the garrison of the Serra
waited to receive the attack which was to determine their
fate, and perhaps that of the city of Oporto.
The enemy quickly made himself master of the streets
of Villa Nova, the houses of which he occupied to the
water's edge, and having planted three twelve-pounders
against the convent, spread his light troops in the pine
groves, and under every wall or spot where shelter was
afforded. It was said that his force amounted to 3,000
men ; but making every allowance for the extent of
ground he occupied, I cannot think it exceeded 1,500 or
2,000 men. The whole of these dispositions were visi-
ble to every one in Oporto, as the streets are much more
elevated than those of Villa Nova. We could also see
Colonel Peixoto, who commanded the enemy in the ab-
sence of General D'Abreu, with a circle of officers about
him, on the hills of Santo Ovidio. We could judge al-
most of the execution of every shot, and of the individual
valour of the men ; and I may be pardoned for say-
ing that, with a conciousness of security at our side of
the river, it was an interesting and animating sight to
behold the combat on the opposite shore, with the same
precision that one witnesses a dramatic representation.
About 10 o'clock the attack on the Serra convent began,
but the first discharge was a bad omen to Don Pedro, as it
wounded severely Don Bernardo de Sa, the Governor of
Oporto, whose arm has been since amputated, and Captain
Marcella, who was engaged with him in reconnoitring. The
command was then taken by Colonel Bravo, of the pro.
visional battalion, under whose guidance every attack
of the Miguelite troops was repulsed. Indeed, it was
no very difficult affair to manage, as his men were
amply defended by time walls surrounding the convent,
while the enemy, if they wished to make any impression,
were compelled to expose themselves. The assault was made
on the several poiuts at once, but the principal one was