The Sun.
London, England, 1842-07-11 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.

. _
Lis sow, JULY 4.—The Slave-trade and Commercial Treaties 1
have at length been signed, and will be sent to England for
ratification by this packet. A conference was held yestesday
at the Portuguese Foreign-office, when the two Plenipoten-
tiaries affixed their signatures to both treaties. The term pre-
scribed for ratification is two months, or sooner if possible. I
believe the Slave-trade Treaty, as now agreed to by Portugal,
is very complete. The traffic is declared piracy, and the Go-
vernment will issue a decree based on the one of December,
1836, but declaring the traffic suppressed by that decree to
be piracy, and affixing severe secondary punishments to its
commission. As regards the Commercial Treaty, it is compara-
tively of small importance to us, until the alterations in the
tariff are agreed upon ; but another Report is expected to be
presented to-day by the Portuguese Commissioners, and there
seems reason to think that, by the time the ratifications have
been exchanged. the tariff question will have been satisfactorily
settled. The Portuguese Cortes meet on Sunday next, and
the conclusion of the treaties with England will of course
form a prominent feature of the Queen's Speech. The trea •
ties themselves will become law here when ratified, and the
same with respect to any reduction of duties which the Govern-
ment here may effect by decree under the charter.
The Charter confers on the Crown the powers necessary to
conclude all treaties with foreign Powers ; unless involving a
cession of territory they become law without the interposition
of the Legislature. -
The Ministry remains unchanged at present. Offers have
been made both to the Duke of Palmella and Senhor R. F.
Magalhaes, but neither will accept the office. The Duke is,
no doubt, wise in doing so - he is President of the C hamber of
Peers, and would always be consulted, and have more power,
perha?s, out of office than he would in office. As to Senhor
11. F. Magalhacs, he is said to intend holding quite aloof at
present.
The Portuguese Government has come to the conclusion of
giving up the Spanish slaver captured by the Portuguese at
Moz,mbique, under Portuguese colours, two years ago, and
sent here under the name of General Marinho, having been
condemned by the authorities at Mozambique. Had our treaty
been concluded this would not have happened, as the case would
then have been ti ied by a mixed British and Portuguese com-
mission, from whose decision there is no appeal.
There was an amateur bull fight on Thursday, at which near
4;0.0 persons were present. The Conde de Vimioso, and D.
Jose de Louie, were the two cavaliers. The whole was very
gay, and went off without accident.
The Queen comes from Cintra in a few days. There is a
levee on the Bth—the anniversary of the landing at Mindello ;
and her Majesty will open the Cortes in person en the 10th.
The Braganza steamer, which takes this letter, was put into
quarantine on its arrival here on Saturday night, owing to a
passenger (a master in the navy) who had embarked at Gib-
raltar, having died on board. The body was buried yesterday
in the quarantine ground, with all due solemnities, the Marines
from the Lynx having attended the funeral, and the steamer
was allowed to come up to her station yesterday afternoon.