The Sun.
London, England, 1832-08-07 00:00:00

REFORNI ACT.

Lord ALTIIORP moved for leave to bring in a Bill to
extend the time limited by the Reform Actf,r the pay-
ment of rates, from the 20th of July to the 20th August.
The Bill would also provide that a tender of rates should
be equivalent to payment—much difficulty having arisen
in some instances from the overseers refusing to receive
the rates.—Leave granted.

The other orders of the day were then disposed or, and
the House adjourned at Two o'clock.

The general expectation is, that Parliament
will rise on this day week, but we think that the business
of the two Houses will hardly be finished so early.—Times.
We regret to perceive that the LORD CHIEF
BARON has found it necessary to enter same of the Assize
towns on the Welch Circuit in a private manner—the re-
sult, we fear, of the judicial character being allowed to mix
in the angry turmoil of political warfare.—Alor. Ilerald,

DON PEDRO.

:From the Chronica Consjitncional of the 28th July,
No. 11.)

OFFICIAL DESTATCH OF THE LIBERATING ARMV.

" Poivro, JULY 25.—Since the 20th instant his Impe-
rial Majesty has been acquainted with the intentions of
the rebel army stationed between the rivers Vouga and

Douro to cross them, and thus to threaten the liberating

army on their left. On the following day these advices
were confirmed, and it became known that they had taken
a position in the wood of Pen,fiel, and that their ad-
vanced guards even reached Vallonga. His Imperial Ma
jesty immediately ordered Count Villa Flor to reconnoitre
the force and the int-ntions of the enemy.

" For this purpose, on the morning of the 22d, a batta-
lion of Cacadores, No. 5, the volunteers of Donna Maria
11., the marine battalion, and the regiment of infantry,
No. 18, and a detachment of cavalry, with four pieces
artillery, under the command of Colonel Ilenrique da Silva
da Fonseca, marched upon Vallonga. The Quarter-
Master-General Bald= d'Almeida Pementel, directed
the column, accompanied by the Conde de Ficalho, Aide-
de-Camp of his Imperial Majesty, and Antonio de Melho,
Aide-de-Camp to Count Villa Flor.
" At the entrance of Vallonga our advanced guard fell
in with the enemy's videttes, and intrepidly charging a
corps of cavalry which advanced for their protection, not-
withstanding a great inequality of numbers, obliged them
to gallop off, leaving dead their Commanding Officer and
some soldiers.

" The sharpshooters of the enemy in great numbers oc-
cupied successively the small eminences and the woody
points which extend from the river at Ponte Ferrara to the
hill surrounding Baltar. The battalion of light troops,
No. 5, the advanced guard of the column, and which was
somewhat forward, with its wonted daring and impetu-
osity, attacked the sharpshooters, and worked prodigies of
valour in a most obstinate combat, taking and retaking,
step by step, every sinuosity of ground, which was bravely
disputed by the enemy. That battallion alone repulsed the
vigorous assaults of the enemy's sharpshooters and the
troops which supported them, until the volunteers of Donna
Maria 11. came up to support that battalion, augmenting
by their valour the glory which they have justly acquired
on other occasions. Captain Taborda, of the battalion 5,
at the head of his company, broke through at the point
of tke bayonet, and dispersed a battalion of volunteers
called Royalists, which surrounded him, and which hid
endeavoured to cut him off from the rest of his corps. By
this means he regained his own corps.
" The artillery, commanded by Major A. da Costa e
Silva, protected with effect our light troops, and our in-
fantry charging the enemy, obliged it finally to unmask
their fire, and to expose to us the positions tkat it had
chosen. The object of the reconnoissance having been
thus effected, the column tranquilly fell back before the
rebels, and occupied, in their rear, the strong pasition of
Rio Tinto, situate between Vallonga and Oporto.
" The loss of the enemy in this action was very consi•
derable. In the number of the few who were wounded
on our side are to be mentioned Lieutenant-Gilonel L. P.
de Mendonca Arraes, commanding the volunteers of Donna
Maria the Second, and Major• F. Xavier de Silva Pereira,
who continued to command the battalion as long as lie
was able, notwithstanding his wound. The young Lieu-
tenant N. de Sa Nogueira, au officer of great valour, was
killed charging at the head of his company.
" As soon as his Imperial Majesty was assured of what
had taken place, he desired Count Villa Flor to march on
the Vallonga road with a division of infantry to support
the retreating troops should such be necessary and receiving
advice of the final result of that reconnoisance while he
was on the road with his staff to visit the advance posts
on the south of the Douro, immediately changed his route,
and took the road to Rio Tinto, which he reached at the

same moment that the retiring column from Vallonga, and
the troops marching from Oporto to its support, took up

that position. His Majesty, being there informed of the
number and intention of the enemy, resolved to attack
them the following day, and for this purpose he directed
the march from Oporto upon Rio Tinto of other troops of
the light division. He ordered the advanced posts on the
road of the Vouga (the south side) to repass the Douro
and remove the bridge over that river; and having by this
measure concentrated all his forces in the city which he de-
stined for its defence, he directed the Count de Villa nor
to march against the enemy on the 23d.
" In consequence of the orders of his Imperial Majesty,

the General divided his forces into three columns. - The
right, commanded by Colonel A. P. de Brito, was ordered
to advance by the road of St. Cosme ; the centre, com-
manded by flenrique de Silva da Fonseca, was to move
by the high road of Vallonga; whilst the left, under Lieut.
Colonel Hodges, moved upon the road of Fortniga, for
the purpose of turning the right of the enemy.
" On the 23d, at eleven o'clock in the morning, the
columns defiled on the field of battle, and scarcely had the
light division, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Schwalback,
which was at the head of the centre column, reached the
ascent of the first hills, when the cnerny's sharpshooters
opened a fire on them, which was sustained with great
bravery and military discipline by that division, thus giving
time to the column of the left to enter into the battle.
Whilst the enemy, threatened by the march of that column,
and fearful of being turned on the crest of the mountain,
detached a party of infantry, covered by numerous caca-
dores, to its right flank, and attempted to repeat the attack.
Our troops, by these movements, were moved to an open
piece of ground, when they were there suddenly charged
by a squadron of the enemy; but taking shelter in a wood,
they repelled the charge, and put the cavalry to flight, with
the loss of a great number of men and horses. The Ge-
neral Count Villa Flor observing his left wing thus en-
gaged, and the enemy in great strength on that flank, did
rected it to be reinforced, and at the same time he ordered
the centre to advance,which gave fresh vigour to the combat.
" During this time his Imperial Majesty observed, from
a position which commanded the field of battle, all the
movements. and despatched the necessary orders to the

Generals.
" The action thus commenced became general in the
centre and left of our line, and the right and centre of the
enemy's. Our light troops, dislodging from point to
point the enemy's troops, performed prodigies of valour.
Captain Pereira, of the 3d Cacadores, at the head of a
few men of his company, bad the boldness to intimate to
the rebel regiment of infantry, No. 12, that they should
surrender and lay down their arms, and, immediately
firing upon them, made prisoners of some of the men
without any loss on his side. The infantry, with incredi-
ble bravery, sustained on every side our light troops,
victoriously repelling the repeated attempts made by the
enemy to break our centre. Our artillery, directed with
the greatest skill, drove from possition to position the
enemy's lines, and spread such terror among them that
they could scarcely re-form. The enemy thus forced in
flank on their right, and vigorously attacked on the centre,
was successively dislodged from the groves and the emi-
nences, which they obstinately defended, and at length,
having lost all hopes of being ab!e to resist on that side,
they threw their whole force into their left.
" Then one column of the right, which having occupied
during the time of the action an advantageous position,
held in check the enemy's left wing, and a body of cavalry
began to move. It was dusk, and the enemy seeing itself
beaten at all points, gained the crests of the mountains
which were in their rear, and as soon as the night favoured
their movements, they retired, or rather fled in disorder, by
the high road leading from Baltar to Penafiel, leaving all
the positions which they had attempted to defend covered
with monuments of their defeat.
" His Imperial Majesty, with General Count Villa Flor,
with the officers of their staff, bivouacked on the field of
battle, and after having, on the morning of the 24th, made
a reconnoissance, and verified the retreat of the enemy,
directed our troops on Oporto, which he entered on the
evening of the same day, at the head of a column, amid-t
the acclamations, the joy, and the blessings of all the in-
habitants.
"In this manner terminated, after an action of seven
hours, a day so glorious for the arms of Queen Donna Maria
11., when the General Count Villa Flor, the officers and
soldiers of her Most Faithful Majesty, displayed all those
military qualities and virtues worthy of men fighting for
their independence and the liberty of their country. Our
loss in killed, wounded, and missing, in the two actions of
the 22d and 23d, does not much exceed 300, whilst that
of the enemy, according to every account, is more than
1,200.
"One hundred and seventy carts with the wounded
were on the Penafiel road alone, without reckoning the
ia
~G•ot payste,rt
ei individualsenjoy,
at obfetnvuel which hewr
tircile-i
(spleri
isoiptt ee
themselves
ht leet evreerinsyti
restored
rdt
enables them once more to enjoy their homes and their

fam lice.
" As soon as the accounts are received from the different
corps, the names of those officers and soldiers who have
so nobly died for their country, or who have distinguished
themselves on these two memorable days in its service, will
be published."
(From the Chrontca Constitucional de Porto, July 27.)
" DEVARTMENT OF THE ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
JULY 26.

Hi. Excellency Count de Villa Flor, Commander-
in-Chief of the Liberating Army, kis directed the pall--
cation of the following order, for the information of the
army. (Signed) " MENDEZ (Major.)
" Illustrious and Excellent Sir—His Imperial Majesty
the Duke of Braganza, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces,

by sea and land, of her Most Faithful Majesty Donna
Maria IL, desires that your Excellency should thank, in
his Imperial name, the battalion of Cacadores, No. 5, and
the battalion of volunteers, as well as the corps of
Guides, for the courage and bravery with which they
rivalled each other in their reconnoissance of Valonga on
the 22d. His Majesty is highly gratified in having the
opportunity 44f praising such noble ardour ; and it is very
glorious for them to deserve the honourable recommenda-
tion, more in this case for the cause in which that ardour
was used, than even for the great measureof bravery which
they displayed.
" The 23d afforded an additional opportunity to those
corps of reaping further glory, and satisfying the ambi-
tion of those whose impatient ardour anxiously longed to
measure their strength with the enemy. Oa this glorious
day the light division fully justified the high reputation his
Imperial Majesty had formed of it. In the left column,
the battalion of Officers, the first battalion of the lSrb
regiment, the battalion of artillery, of the marine, and of
sharps:looters, conducted themselves with the most decided
intrepidity and courage. In the centre, the battalions
No. 3 and No. 10, by thp impetuosity and good direction
of their attack, greatly contributed to the retreat of the
enemy. His Imperial Majesty sensibly feels that the
important position which the right column occupied did
not permit them to enter into the battle. It is, however,
certain, that the importance of their position, keeping, as
it did, a portion of the enemy in check, and thereby pre-
venting them from joining in the battle, contributed greatly
to the final result. The brigades of artillery in every part
completely seconded the noble efforts of their companions
in arms.

" His Imperial Majesty, who bad the satisfaction to
witness the glories of the day, considers it his sacred duty
to acknowledge his public thanks to your Excellency in
particular, and to all the Officers of your Staff, as well as
the Staffs of the divisions, and to all the Commanding Of-
ficers of the corps who distinguished themselves, as well
as to the Officers aad all other individuals who composed
the columns of attack.

" The battle of Ponte-Ferreira, at which your Et-
cellency commanded under the immediate directions and
order of his Imperial Majesty, is for your Excellency an-
other title to military glory, worthy to be united to so
many others acquirid by you in the service of your
country, in the defence of the rights of her most Faithful
Majesty Donna Maria the Second, and in the re-estaltlish-
meat of the Constitutional Charter ; and for all those men
who exposed their lives in that battle it will be a monu-
ment of valour and patriotism worthy of the gratitude of
the nation and of the blessings of posterity.

" Imperial Head-quarters, Oporto, 25th July, 1832.
(Signed) " CANDIDO JOSE XAVIER,
" Aide-de-Camp to hiv Imperial Majeity.
" To Count de Villa Flor."
" IMPORTANT NEWS.

" A part of the light troops, commanded by Lieutenant-
Colonel Schalback, under the immediate orders of his Im-
perial Majesty, marched this morning upon the Carvalhos
and Grijo. Scarcely had the enemy's pickets seen them,
when they fled, which alto caused the flight of the enemy's
cavalry stationed at Grijo, which our soldiers took posses"
sion of, making prisoners of some of the cavalry and their
horses.

" The enemies of the just cause are frightened out of
their senses ; on every side disorder and fear reign. They
are equally in want of the materiel of war and provisiongt
and they only rob and harass the country people. Vic-
tory marches in the front of our gallant troops, and their
very appearance is, of itself, sufficient to determine the
flight of the rebels.
" The partisans of usurpation are in such a state of de-
moralization as to be unable to maintain themselves for any

length of time. The deludel are beginning to see their
error, and may yet have rec.iurse to the paternal clemency
of his Imperial Majesty.
" Heaven protects the justice of our cause. Patriotgt
second the dispositions of Providence—our country will
be saved !"

(From the Chronica Constitncional do Porto, July 30.)
" According to the last accounts of the enemy it ar
pears that his present force consists of the remains of the
regiments 11, 12, 19, 22, and a part of the 24th, one
hundred and fifty to two hundred cavalry, and five piece;
of artillery. As to the volunteers, militia, and guerilla"
since the battle of the 23d they have been disbanded i°
such a manner that there is not now united a sixth part
of the former force ; and the enemy is now so weak than
he has sent for the guerillas of the Villa Real to reinforce,
him. These troops are in Amarante, having a species
vanguard at Penafiel, to which it has drawn its advance°
from Paredes, where it has a post of ordnance.
" The rout on the 23,1 was terrible, and has struck ti)6
enemy with terror ; many of the dismounted cavalry carri
their saddles on their backs, and many of the infantry see
without shoes. As they pay for nothing, and the
bitants abandon their homes, the soldiers are in great ws°;
of provisions. The depression of the army is general, an
the men complain sadly of their officers, who, they OP
led them to battle without knowing how to three,
them when there. The soldiers were inviting each other
to fly, and it was said they would pass the Douro hi
Caroveiro and Avintes. There was general dissatisfar
tion at the non-arrival of succours from Lisbon, under, br
good General, and all said they would not fight with the'
present officers, to whom they give the name of rotor
cobardes (cowards and vagabonds) ; that, in fact, charare lost, now that they know that Don Pedro is near
them. • ci
" It is known that the wounded, who were evil
away in carts, amounted to 800, and that a large force
with 200 carts of baggage, &c., of the army, to guard I
The troops complain that from the nature of the means
transport they lost their baggage. The remainder of t"i
baggage and the wounded proceeded to the other side °
the Tatnega.
" From these accounts, and all others, since the 23d iv°
we know of what importance has been the victory over tbe
rebels at Ponte-Ferreira. The diminution of the eneitqf
force by his loss in the battle, the dispersion of the grel!teii
part of those who remained, occasioned by the terror Oh,
which they were filled—famine, the infallible result of t"
violence which they had been guilty of in the country
want of confidence in their Generals, and the convieWo
now felt by the people and the troops that they had heere,
deluded—a conviction rendered more certain by the P 4
sence of his Imperial Majesty and the Constitutional aro,
—such are the immediate results of this glorious 2ef
which cannot fail to prepare other incalculable advaottr
in favour of the noble cause in which all honourable
tuguese are engaged with Senor Don Pedro."
"PROCLAMATION. 10
" PORTUGUESE !-Two divisions of the rebel ariroo
5
the amount of more than 10,000, having dared t°
proach this city, and to pass Douro, in order to menace
o 0
on the side of Vallonga. As soon as I received inforrnati",l
of this movement, I marched at the head of the braire °to
most loyal liberating army, which I have the glol
command in chief, and, after a battle which lasted o'o-,
hours, I had the inexplicable pleasure of gaining a c°„,t
plete victory, dislodging the enemy from his strop i 4
positions, and defeating his deluded troops, who fled 00
confusion, thus freeing the country which surrounds Y
from the horrors which were perpetrated by the follov/petk
of the usurper. Tranquillise yourselves, then, inhabit
of Oporto ! Unite with the liberating army, and take P,lO
with me in the salvation of your country. We shall
.e it
v
soon see annihilated the Government of the usurpe:i
which has oppressed you, and which, w the mi,fortuo
Portugal, continues in that part of the country which ,
you—have no fear !
dominates to commit all sorts
a atrocities. lam ouoris
"DON PEDRO, Duke of Braganse'