The Sun.
London, England, 1821-10-24 00:00:00

PORTUGUESE CORTES.

Llsnort, OCT. s.—ln the Sitting of the 29th
of September the order of the day was the de-
cree respecting the duties to be imposed on the
importation of brandy, which gave'rise to a long
and warm debate. The Deputies of the islands
of Madeira declared that it was necessary that
Portuguese brandy should be allowed to be im-
ported into their island without duty, and the
duty on foreign brandy diminished, that pro-
posed being too heavy, because brandy is neces-
sary to mix with the wine intended for the Lon-
don and American markets.

Some Deputies on the other hand affirmed,
that formerly brandy was not imported into the
islands of Madeira to mix with the wines, which
were then of excellent quality, and celebrated
all over the world ; that it was only in the time
of a certain Governor that it had been- allowed,
but that it was an abuse, and contrary to express
laws. The debate on this subject was adjourned.
In the same Sitting the measures taken by the
Government to repress the banditti, who openly
brave the laws in various parts of the kingdom,
were communicated to the Assembly. A very
long circular of the Government has been pub-
lished, inviting the Provincial Authorities strictly
to examine the passports of all persons with the
greatest care ; to impress on the people the neces-
sity of associating and going in bodies in quest
of the robbers, to apprehend them, and to deliver
them to the nearest Magistrate, with the booty
they have made, and with all the proofs that can
be collected of their crimes. The,Magistrates are
to make the people comprehend, that by thus
acting for their own defence and security, they
will imitate the most polished nations in Europe,
who consider it as one of their first duties not to
permit such criminals to harbour among them,
but to denounce them to the Magistrates, and
assist the latter, when necessary, that the crimi-
nals may suffer the penalties of the law.

In the Sitting of the 2d of October, M. Fer-
nandez Thomas made two proposals, which were
approved :-
1. That the nation being very ill served by foreigners acting
as Consuls, they should be removed, and Portuguese appoint-
ed in their stead.

2. That it being indubitable that there were Portuguese so
degenerate that they sought, by public speeches and pri-
vate conversation, to disturb the new order of things,
and to sow distrust among the people, he proposed that the
Committee should draw up and lay before the Cortes a project
of Criminal Law; to punish, as treason to the nntion (keeping
in view the ordinance of the kingdom on this subject), all those
who shall in this manner disturb public order and tranquillity.
The decrees respecting the organization of the
Provinces of Brazil are now published officially,
as well as that on the Constitution and Powers
of the Council of State.

In the Sitting of the COrtes on the 3d, M
Rloniz Tavarez brought forward two motions,
which were reserved for a second reading :-
1. On the large grants of lands made in Brazil, which were
an injury to the poor ; and he wished to have the grants re—
stricted to what is sufficient for a man and his family, &c.
The 2d was in favour of the unhappy aborigines of Prazil,
who ought to be trcatsd with mildness, and preserved in the
inviolable poss;:ssion of all the land which they now have, as
the conduct of "Wm. Penn towards the Indians s,,ould be taken
as a model.