The Sun.
London, England, 1832-10-09 00:00:00

ATTACK ON OPoRTO.

(From the Times )
We have received the following official account
of the battle fought at Oporto on the 29th ult.
Being written in haste by the Marquis de Palmella
at the close of the action, it supplies no details ; but
what he does state is most important, as it proves
the resul7 to have been mere f ivourable to the con-
stitutional cause than the private accounts warranted
us in supposing it to be. We apprehend the friends
of Dan Miguel will be disappointed in their expect-
ation of a renewal of the attack and the destruction
of the English and French battalions :
" Yesterday, when I forwarded to you intelligence
from this city, I did not expect that I should so soon
after have occasion to announce the glorious action,
the successful result of which I have now the satis-
faction of communicating. It is true, that some
time ago the rebels boasted that they would attack
Oporto on Sr. Michael's-day, which they regarded
as a period auspicious for their cause; but they have
kept their promise mote faithfully than it was sup-
posed they would. However, they cannot congra-
white themselves on the manner of the perform-
ance; for, on the contrary, they have only added
one more day of glory to those already numbered by
the loyal defenders of the Queen's cause.

" The attack commenced at 7 in the morning, by
discharges of musket►y from the pickets upon the
greater part of our hoe ; but it was soon evident
that the enemy's real intention was to force our
riet, which rested on the Douro, in order to cut
us off completely from the Convent of the Serra, and
to penetrate along the river into the city. Between
10 and 11 considerable masses of infantry debouched
upon that point, supported by their field artillery,
and followed by some squadrons of cavalry. It hap-
pened that our right was at this time somewhat
weakened, and its reserves thinned, by the detach-
ments of troops which had been draughted for a
landing at• Aveiro. This circumstance, and the
death of some officers of the corps which occupied
the intrenchments in that quarter, favoured the at-
tack of the rebels, and, in fact., they penetrated to
the last palisade of our works, and obtained a tem-
porary success. But the opportune arrival of rein-
forcements, which were, on our part, directed to this
quarter, et4tbbd us not only to recover the positions
which had been abandoned, but also to drive the
enemy from those which he had taken up in front of
our line, dislodging him and routing him so corn-
pkely, that he left in our possession all the field ar-
tillery he had brought to that paint, which were two
pieces of cannon and one howitzer; we also took a
great number of prisoners.

While we were thus engaged on our right, the
enemy made at the same time an attack, but with
less success, on our centre. He was repulsed, and
we took some prisoners. Finally, about 4 o'clock
in the evening, two sorties were effected, one from
the right, and the other from the centre of our line,
by which the enemy was thrown into complete con-
fusion, and his retreat determined.
" As I write this letter to you just at the con-
clusion of the action, no reports have yet been re-
ceived from ihe Generals. Neither the number of
prisoners we have made, nor of the brave men we
have lost, is yet known. I may merely say, as an
approximate calculation, that the enemy has lost
more than fifteen hundred in killed and wounded,
about two hundred prisoners, and a great number of
deserter=.

" Such was the result of the attack of St. Mi-
chael's•day, in which the enemy employed the whole
of his force, and yet was repulsed, notwithstanding
tachmeni of our troops;. 'the consequence of whicl
expedition will he most important, if reinforcements
arrive in sufficient time to enable us to assume the
offensive in our operations.
" During the action his Imperial Majesty the
Duke of Braganza, according to his custom, took
his station in a central point of the line, whence he
could conveniently give the necessary orders to the
Count de Villa Flor, who was always at the ad-
vanced points, and where the danger was greatest.
" Our loss is considerable, not so much in killed
as in wounded, because our officers, superior in this
respect as in every other to the enemy's, always
headed their corps, and are eager to shed their blood
for the cause they support. The Conde da Bem-
posts, the Emperor's aide-de-camp, and the com-
mander of the French battalion, are wounded se-
verely. Adjutant-General Valdez, General Pul-
harez, and many others whose names I do not yet
know, are also among the wounded. Neither pri-
soners nor stragglers are to be numbered in our
loss, and as for deserters we have not to reckon a
single one.

" We have this day received accounts from Ad-
miral Sartorius, who has now his squadron united,
and is making every effort to come up with the
er emy and bring him to action.
" The immediate departure of the packet obliges
me to write in haste, that I may not lose the oppor-
tunity of giving you the first account of so important
an event. " Marquez de PAL MELLA.
" Palace, Oporto, Sept. 29, 10 at night.
" To Senhor Luiz Antonio de Abreu e Lima."

The brave defence of Oporto on the 29th
ult. has carried mourning into many a family in this coun-
try. As the cause of Don PEDRO has been espoused by
the friends of liberty here and elsewhere, while the warmth
with which the cause of Mtn trim i: espoused by the priests,
were there no other proof of his tyranny, stamps the cha-
racter of his Government as hostile to the best interests of
mankind, the people of England are called on to go all the
lengths in support of the former which are compatible
with the law. Though we cannot do all that may be
wished, in furtherance of the cause of Don PEDRO by open
assistance, from the observinces required by international
law, we are under no such restraint in the case of the
widows and children of the brave men who have fallen at
Oporto. Why not open a subscription for them ? We
trust a hint of this kind is only necessary to awaken the
generosity of our countrymen. The intelligence of such a
manifestation of feeling would have the best effects; and
the most scrupulous individual in the country could not
object to it. .

We understand that when AdmiralSAßToßms
first anchored near the British fleet in the Tagus, Admiral
PARKER declined returning the salute of the flag of Donna
MARIA. SARTORIUS went to sea for about three weeks,
and upon his return he again saluted the British Admiral.
The Asia (Admiral PARKER'S ship) return• d the salute of
21 guns, but instead of a solitary gun at the list, he fired
a whole broadside. There is every reason to believe
that Admiral PARKER declined saluting the flag of Donna
MARIA until he'had received instructions to that tffect
from the Admiralty. There was plenty of time for the
reference between the first and second salute.
The apprehensions we were led to entertain
with respect to the cause of Don PEDRO, from the ac-
counts received of the affair of the 29,:h, have been in some
measure removed by the assurances we have received that
abundant supplies of in: n and materiel had been dis-
patched from this c,ointry almost in time to allow of their
arrival immediately after the assault. So enthusiastic
are the young men of this country in the cause of Don
PEotto, that recruits can be obtained in any number,
whilst the East India Company's recruiting officers are
baldly able to obtain a man. Upwards of 3,000 men
are now ready for embaikation in the Sister Kingdom.__
Morning Chronicle.
On Tuesday last, about noon, a most distres-
sing event happened at Mudeferd House, near Christ-
church, the seat of Sir GEORGE SHE; Bart., whose lady
was found in the fish-pond quite dead. It is generally
supposed the departed lady fell into the pond in a fit ; her
loss will be long and deeply deplored. Sir GEORGE'S feel-
ings, on the melancholy event, can be better conceived
than described.—Hanipshire
.Telegraph.
The recent alterations in the game laws have
not tended to diminish the number of poachers. The
House of Correction, near Dev;zes, is fast filling with this
description of offenders. No less than 12 have been com-
mitted during last wick.---Devizes Gazette.

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