The Sun.
London, England, 1842-07-13 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.

Liszt) t•t, J u Lti 4. —The Slave-trade and Commercial Treaties
:save at length been signed, and will be sent to Englatal for
,-atification by this packet. A conference was held yestesday
at the Portuguese Foreign-office, when the two Plenipoten-
tiaries -affixed their signatures to both treaties. 'I he 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 traffia is declared piracy, and the Go-
vernment will issue a dem ee bared on the one of tXcember,
1836, but declaring the traffic suppressed by. that decree to
ba 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 ratification; have
b .en exchanged, the tariff eiuestion will have been satisfactorily
settled. The Portuguese Certes meet on Sunday next, and
the conclusion of the treaties with England will of course
form a prominerit feature of the Queen's Speech. The tree •
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 underahe charter.
'the Charter confers on the Crown the powers necessary to
conclude all treaties with foreign Powers ; unless involving a
ceision of territory they become law without the interposnit.la
of the Legislature.
The Mioistry remains unchanged at present. Offers have
been male both to the Duke of Palnictla and Senhor It. F.
Magalhaes, but neither will accept the office. The Duke is,
no doubt, wise in doing so; he is President of the a.hambet of
Peers, and would always be consulted, and have more power,
pedlar, out of office than he would in (libel'. As to Scutum.
R. F. Magalhaes, lie 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
Mozambique, 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 happetied, as the case would
then have been taird by a mixed British and Portugu, se com-
mission, from whom decision there is no appeal.
There was an./meteor bull fight on Thursday, at which near
4,0e:0 persons were present. 'the Conde de Vitnioso, and D.
Jose de Louie, were the two cavaliers. The whole was very
gay, and went off without accident.
The Queen conies from Citora in a few days. There is a
levee on the 6th—the anniversary of the landing at Mindello ;
and her Majesty will open the Cortes in person in tlie 10th.
The Braganza steamer, which takes this letter, was ;AL into
quarantitte on its arrival here on Saturday night, owing t ; 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.