The Sun.
London, England, 1828-03-29 00:00:00

IPIRIT OF Vet pITELTe JOURNALS

In an article upon the state of affairs at Lisbon,
et late member of the Constiintionnet, from the mis-
apprehending, probably, the fundamental principle of
the British policy in relation to Portugal, asks,
" How can any one suppose that if Don 31i
is
pro-
claims himself ring of that country, it s without
c'''nsent of England? He scent to Portugal
direct from London—the British Ambassador ae-
oompanied him on his voyage ; and should the
Prince Regent attempt to put the Crown upon his
head, it would be in (teen defiance of rnen-of-
'war and troops which Englond. has at Lisbon. It
seams impossible for the Britisn Cabinet to escape
:from this dilemma; it has either been an accomplice
of the Apostolical party, or their dupe. Let Eng.
land make choice, therefore, between the imputation
of guilty conspiracy with the usurper, or of want of
fereeight, nay, absolute imbecility, of either of which
ohe stands convicted ;" (that is, if, the Govern-
ment of Pedro be actually overthrown.) "At
all events, the unfortunete Portuguese would be
indebted to Englami for the immeasurable evils
which they must in that case suffer," Now,
we do not deny that the Constitationnel has here
made out a sort of prinut fiecie case againet the; Bri-
tish Government, which it might regal: a little
more candour than can be expect :A from a French
editor in. speaking of this money to refrain from at
mice putting forward, and more reflection than he
night think it worth tohile to bestow on the analyeie
of any plausible charge against England, when the
result of the examination might be the discovery of
its falsehood. It is admitted that the Portuguese
Ptiove left the shores of Devoetshire direct for Lis-
bon ; but equally true that he had, for several years
before, been a resident of Austria, and under Prince
Mettentich's tuition. It is also understood that St.
.James's was not the only court which had been vi-
sited by Den Miguel on his journey home. He
niaie likexise, a sojourn in the Pavillon Mar-
ean, it is asserted ; and unless it be Fart
of the Regent's character that he should
follow implicitly the counsels oliered to hho
by the last individual to when he gives audience,
we know not why the seeepicion of cri ninal partner-
ship in the scheme of despotism ; ead usurpation
should fall upon the Government ate Ghoat Britain,
rather than on the Royal circle of toe Tuileries. If
the plot for violating a solemn oath,—for betraying
a ',tiered trust,—for dethroning a ewe:elector and a
trother,—for turning against that brother and So-
vereign the sword which he, Don Miguel, had
sworn in the face of man and Heaven to wield by
oirtue of his brother's authority, and to make tot
instrument for maintaining the Crown of i-'ortu-
gal on the head of Pedro,--if, with well a caul-
dron of treachery and villainy, be mistimed
that Miguel must have had foreign--we had
:almost said preternaturol—assistance in com-
pounding it, why verily we think that three weird
sister Courts might be found for the occasion else-
nhereovithout dragging-that of George IV. into the
spell-bound cavern of Hecate. If the plot for over-
turning the Charte cm:slit:1140;01e of Lisbon be an
apostoiical contrivance, the. apostolical spirit does
'not flout ish here;—if Jesuits have concocted it,
ehey are not in favour with the British Cot-mt or
'Cabinet ;—if it be engendered in the hate or fear of
liberty, look every where but to Englarol, for such a
mover of Jeenitical and tyrannical tevointion. But
England sent her ships and lice minister to attend
Don Micnel on his voyage. Allowed : it was Don
Megoet, the delegate and subject of Don Pedro,--
100:e king Miguel,—not the usurper and the traitor.
ft' Pedro, the friend of England, thought it safe to
teitrust his brother with the government of domi-
ntons from which he for the 'time was sepa-
rated, was this country to condemn before-
hand such a display of fraternal coutielotteet,
Or to resist such an 'exercise of lawfu: power
e her own ally ? If England h-a,l her doubts,
(we do not say duet she was froe from them), is
there aeingle state itt Et_ rope that would not have
exolzimed against such meddling and unbecoming
'tyranny, as even the slightest effort to restrain the
wishes of Don Pedro. But if the interests tot
known feelings of Great Britain be considered 'for a
:moment by the French editor, and compared with
,(not, indeed, the interests well understood, but) the
sentiments cherished and ostentatiously avowed be
some of the " august" among her neighbours, ere
euepect that the accusation of " complicite," will not
Sall exclusively on England. It may, perhaps, be
otherwise with the question of" Who is the dupe ?"
If England he so, she may take credit for a :time
olicity, very far from dishonourable to her wisdom,
in believing a Christian Prince, whoso numberless
other obligations to rectitude were reinforced by
fbe solemnity of religious ongagentents, and in
presuming that e, temporal ruler would not be
altogether blind to that policy on which depended
tto less the thvieus welfare of his Goveenment,
than the eventual safety of his term family and
persvA, If, however, England has been the dupe of
-2!ilipel, the Pavillon Marsan may be well assured
that the praise or blame of biting duped by any coo-
vtitutionsl promises from his Royal Highness oill
scot he shared by it, or its august inhabitants. If
the Portuguese Prince has been better understood
.et the French Court than here; our neighbours are
welcome to the triumph. Now-, for the conduct
to he pursued by the British Government towards
who may forcibly usurp the throne of Don
Pedro, it ought to be understood that England did
not send troops to Portugal to support any political
system or form of government, bet solely to defend
an ally from foreign invasion. The friendship ex-
isting between Great Britain and Portugal arises
less from the principle of the Government than
from the position of the weaker country, and front
the scheme which, for more than 100 years, has
kteen cherished between the Courts of Paris and
Madrid, to merge the Monarch of the House of Bra-
-ganza in that of the second branch of the Bourbons. If,
indeed, Don Miguel should now succeed in wresting
he Crown of Portugal from his lawful Sovereign, the
head of the House of Braganza,- and the ally of
England, he reverses the natural position of his
country and his own,—he becomes himself the tool
of the Spanish House of Bourbon, and makes the
kingdom her dependent; in which case we do not
say what course it might become the honour of the
British Government and the interest of the nation
to follow. In such a case, should Pedro require
front his Britannic Majesty, in virtue of their inti-
mate alliance, an effectual support of his sovereign
rights, against the traitor who had sold himself and
Portugal to a foreign enemy, that he might oppress
the Portuguese people with imptinity,—this at least
es clear enough, that the Court of the Tuileries,
which invaded Spain, to uphold a tyrant, in his war
against the national liberty, would have no pretext
for appealing to the reason or the sympathies of
m inkind, were Great Britain to employ her fleets
and armies for the defence of Portuguese liberty—
for the faith of treaties—for her own best interests—
and for a usurper's downfitl. The Con.ditutionnel,
however, need not fear that the laugh is yet against
Great Britain.—Times.

All doubt has been removed with regard to the
intentions of Russia, by the receipt of an Extraor-
dinary Supplement to the Journal of St. Petcrsburgh,
of March I I, which contains the Declaration of the
Russian Government, in answer to the Turkish Ma-
nifesto. We now know that Russia has avowed
her determination to seek without delay redress be
.
her arms for the wrongs of which she has to com-
plain on the part of Turkey. She rests her justi-
rication on the Turkish Manifesto itself, which
openly avows an intention to disregard all treaties,
and which, besides, contains appeals to the subjects
of Russia, of a hostile character; and she enume-
rates various acts en the part of the Porte of open
violation of subsisting treaties, and of every prin-
ciple of international law. For these wrong s?she
will demand a complete and prompt ceparatiolt ;
and while she pursues with her Allies the negocia-
tious necessary to give effect to the Treaty of Lon-
don, she will find means to obtain, with the aid (!I
God, this indispensible reparation. As it is of se
much importance to hare ti COTR:(4 understandipg