The Sun.
London, England, 1827-01-23 00:00:00

it with that steadiness and that consideration which so important
a business requires, and with the perfect concord of the two
Chambers with each other, and with the Throne, a concord in
which the perfection of Governrsents, where the • powers are di-
iided, consists.
From the most remote periods, and even from the origin of
our monarchy, the Portuguese•have shown that they are endowed
with , a quick and solid judgment, and noble and courageous
hearts. From these qualities have flowed an exalted love of
country, and an intimate union of greatness in plans, prudence
in council, and courage in execution.
" The 15th century, and the middle of the 17th, are, for the
Portuguese, glorious and memorable epochs, which the nations
that now have most right to boast of their progress, cannot fail to
adMire with astonishment ; and we may say to them, that these
two epochs have not their equals in history.

" The Portuguese nation, always few in number, has never-
theless performed great things by its courage, the wisdom of its
councils, and its union ; and if it be true that it now is in num-
ber nearly as considerable as heretofore, it may, by its courage,
its wise councils, and its union, renew its ancient high deeds.
" It would be useless to try to re-animate Portuguese courage,
for history presents no epoch in which it was lost or decayed ;
and after a long peace, and from the bosom of tranquil habits of
security—even of negligence, we have seen arise amongst us col-
diers, who wanted only to be disciplined to stand immediately on
a level with those of the most warlike nations.

" It is not, however, useless to speak of the want of union.
Without the union of, citizen', political society ceases.to exist; as
without the harmony of powers, the good government of the state
is impossible.
" A truth so essential and so evident cannot be unknown to
the. Chambers, who, in their pure love of country, will not lose a
moment to put it in practice. The seal and prudence which you
have already shown, leave no doubt, and afford complete assu-
rance, that you will proceed united in the difficult path of a le-
gislation wise and durable, and calculated to meet the hopes of
the nation.

"The disunion which has been manifested amongst us had its
origin in the perversity of some seditious men, and in the errors
of inconsiderate persons. It is approaching its term; and her
Royal Highness the Princess Regent hopes that the moment is
not far distant when there will be but one opinion among true
Portuguese, Viand that the false- brethren of this family will be
obliged to leave it in tranquillity and peace.
" Great Britain, with the good faith and promptitude which
distinguish her, has declared her resolution to aid us in the csse
of foreign aggression, and she hastens with generous rapidity
to our support. The other nations of Europe recognize the in-
stitutions sinanated from legitimate authority, and applaud our,
efforts ; and if any one among them has shown indecision, wiser
counsels have at length removed its doubts, and it has recog-
nized that it was fitting for it to embrace and follow the com-
mon opinion.

" Worthy Peers of the kingdom, continue with emulation
the work of your ancestors, who, in the field and in council,
were excellent instruments in the hands of our wise and great
Kings. You have a favourable opportunity for imitating snub
noble examples.
" Deputies of the Portuguese nation—Your ancestors, in their
love of country, and in their ambition for glory, answered to
the wise and magnanimous hope of our Monarchs, and to the
generosity of our Nobility. Follow, then, the path traced out to
you by your ancestors.
" Continue all in the path of virtue and honour; it is diffieult,
but it is also glorious. Enter once more upon the exercise of
the important functions of your mission. Enter thereon with
moderation, but without discouragement—with weal for liberty,
but without any of the excesses which lead to licentiousness. Be
circumspect in your propositions--be wise and judicious in your
deliberations. Emancipate yourselves from passions and from
private considerations ; for it is only by thus acting that you will
secure the magnanimous concession made to us by our King and
Lord, Don Pedro IV., as well es the liberties and happiness of
the kingdom.

" You owe to his Majesty, and you owe to yourselves, the ac-
complishment of this great work, which her Royal Highness
is confident yeu will complete with honour. You will, besides,
show to this kingdom, to Europe, and to the world, which ob-
serves us, by your respect for the, religion which we profess, for
the fundamental law and the rights it assigns to the King and
to the Chambers, that the Catholic religion will always be ours,
and that far from wishing to destroy, you only. endeavour to re-
vive, to ameliorate, and to consolidate, the ancient institutions
of our country. In fine, you will prove that the Portuguese
nation is still, as in the best days of its glory, as brave in under-
taking high deeds as judicious and steady in securing what it
undertakes.

" Having concluded the speech, the Bishop said, ' the Prin-
cess Regent has commanded me to declare that the Session for
1827 is now open."

In the official reports published by the War Department, we
find the following:—

" General Azeredo announced, that the Lieutenadt-Colonel
Gama had attacked the rebels in the Duo, that he had pursued
them to the marshes of Mondego, and that, attacking them with
a squadron of the 3d Chasseurs, he had made three-and-twenty
prisoner., of which eight were wounded, and that all these pri-
soners belonged to the militia. and the 12th regiment of infantry.
The Lieutenant-Colonel of the militia of Vizeu, was among
these prisoners. General Azeredo was in communication with
the Count of Villa Flor, who was at Folbadosa, and who wrote
to him on the 29th, that he had disconcerted the plan of the
rebels, which was to place him between the forces of the Mar-
quis Of Chaves and of Mageasi. The former of these rebel; was
in full retreat on Celorico, and he was accompanied by two
Spanish General-officers. Count Villa Flor was preparing to
pursue him.

The Marquis of Angeja writes from his head-quarters at Braga,
that he had ordered General Mello to make some reconnois-
sauces on the roads leading to different points of the rebel line at
Tamega.
He afterwards states, that having re-passed the Douro, with
the militia of Tras-os-Montes, and the enemy's sharp-shooters
being extremely numerous, the movements of General Mello had
not been so rapid as they ought to have been ; in consequence of
which the Spanish Colonel Pereira had approached Raga-Sece
with the Guerilla which he commands. Some Spanish forces
cavalryt
i‘c ilia,ristates,gu a iodfe
.dt
ihffaetet Whenlniet
had advanced towards the frontiers of the province of Tras-os-
ifdiriao:mFuln%°"irite'sedliintboaynaothilleolet:loadsdisopo;
Montes. i
retiringniitra.
this General wished to enter Guarda, on the 24th, the militia of
corps, wished to oppose his passage, but he beat them with a
rebels General
Lamegow er enCi uA
battalion of the Ist infantry, and a detachment of the 6th Horse
Chasseurs.

General Count de Villa Flor adds—" I have learnt to-day, that
the fortress of Almeida has fallen into the hands of the mal-
contents, a disgrace which was owing to the illness of General
Pego, but more particularly to the disloyal conduct of Colonel
Eleziario, of the 10th regiment of cavalry. Aragessi is now at
Almeida, and Colonel Jerdoa at Ansur. The town of Guardia
remains almost deserted, the rebels having forced the, inhabitants
of it to withdraw."
Nothing is known exactly respecting the position of the troops
of, the Marquis de Chaves in Beira.

•
The Receipts for " Catholic rent" have lately much
fallen off in Ireland—according to Dr. Doyle, the Priests are
getting tired of seeing their parishioners drained of money to fill
the exchequer of the barristers and attornies belonging to the
Association."

A LISBON FRIAR.--The }ldalgo rode away, after
bowing to a friar, the first of that class I had seen here; and
whose portrait will answer you for every one of the same profes-
sion. The father wore a black three-corner hat, a great gown or
cloak of coarse black stuff, wrapped in ample folds round his body,
and one end thrown, like that of a mantle, on the left shoulder,
where it opened into a wide border of red stripes. He also wore
great strong shoes and white cotton stockings—giving, in contrast
with the black gown, a vulgarity to the under part of the figure, not
at all in keeping with the reflective character of the head. This friar
passed along, neither noticing nor being noticed by the people. Ile
belonged, I believed, either_ to the English or the Irish convent, of
altogether not more
iclovnhfotiind afterwards, on coming
half oamininagre preparing for the
stwehrhavinci :les
oxhfteyrt
he
epai
errie.
sco twous:rc
(i
)linnae
at
,f
to know one of this body, that they have very little intercourse
with the Portuguese, either ecclesiastics or laymen. They appear
to dislike the country and its customs, and I believe, with a few
exceptions, they do not even know the language. Their revenues
are supplied by houses and lands, to which they have, as you call it
in Loudon, a prescriptive right, which they imagine they can never
he deprived of without a sufficient compensation. One establish-
ment, I believe the College of Instruction, has the additional re-
venue arising from a lottery. How the professors of piety can
sanction public gaming is rather extraordinary, but I take it to be
one good sign of the times, and of the influence of public opinion
or public scandal, that the College is about to relinquish its right
to this discreditable levy. The number of friars in Lisbon and its
immediate vicinity is, as I am tohl,:about six thousand, of all sorts,
nations, and milers,