Star.
London, England, 1808-09-26 00:00:00

PORTUGAL.

We announced on Saturday the arrival of two Mes-
sengers with dispatches for the Portuguese Ambassa-
dors and Deputies. They are understood to contain
strong remonstrances from the Regency of Portugal
and the General commanding the army of that na-
tion, against the Convention concluded on the 30th
ult. The contents of these dispatches were commu-
nicated to his Majesty's Ministers soon after they were
received.

If we are rightly informed, the Convention has ex-
cited among the Portuguese people a greater degree
of disgust than it has even done in this country ; and,
what is much to be lamented, a great degree of
dryness towards the British. The following is given
as the substance of their complaints against our
Commanders :

" The usual ceremonies had scarcely been exchanged
after the landing of Sir ARTHUR WELLESLEY on the•
banks of the Douro, when the Bishop of OPORTO, in
his political character, demanded of the British Officer
the arms with which he was provided for the natives
who had been inrolled for the defence of their country.
This application was ineffectual. His Excellency was
told, that they w.:re not to be so disposed of ; and
thus the only means which he considered necessary
for the salvation of Portugal was withheld ; and the
venerable Prelate was forced to retire from this first
interview with his allies, indignant and disappointed.
He knew that French perfidy and rapacity had de.
prived his intrepid countrymen of the means indispen
Bible to give effect to the r courage; and he was ap
prised, that under the orders of the British Ministr,
arms had been provided for at least 15,000 men, fat
the purposes of this expedition. With such facts be
fore him, he had the mortification to see, that his
brave compatriots were to be prevented from par-
taking in the glory of the approaching conflict. The
total number prepared to eater the field amounted to
40,000 ; but for want of arms only 5000 were assem.
bled, under the orders of General FREIRE, and they
were very indifferently wovided.
" The Portuguese also complain, that in conformity
to the contracted system of the British Generals, they
were not brought into action in either ef the engage-
ments which preceded the ultimate arrangement ; that
in one case a native body, of the strength of 1500, was
constrained to give place to a corps of British, in the
moment when their courage could have been advan-
tageously displayed ; and that in the other, (Fp I:is- the
battle of Vimiera, nearly their whole force, under
their gallant General, was removed to the distance of
more than two leagues from the scene of action.
"They object, that not only these general opportuni-
ties of distinguishing the valour of the Portuguese on
their own territory were neglected, but that the exam-
pies of individual talent or success have been passed
over in silence ; and further, that merit has been at-
tributed to the British soldiery, due exclusively to
themselves. In support of this pretension, they cite
the anecdote of the English grenadier, who is said to
have taken General BERNIER prisoner, and to have
refused the pecuniary offers of that Frenchman for his
manumission. The Portuguese account of the same
transaction is given in a Gazette of Coimbra, where
it is expressly stated, that a serjeant and cadet, both
of that nation, took General BERNIER prisoner.
The Portuguese, we understand, are anxious to
bestow all due praise upon British valour; but they
say, that the number of troops in the French anniet
have been exaggerated, in order to acquire that, glory
which the transactions could not maintain. They
contend, that for 18,000 English to have vanquished
12,000 French was no subject of boast to British cha-
racter ; and they do not admit, that even with this
inequality of force, under the recent Convention, any
conquest was atchieved.
" Their objections to the conduct of the British Com-
manders do not terminate here. Prior to the last en-
gagement, the Portuguese had consumed the whole
of their bread; and in these circumstances Genera
FREIRE applied to Sir ARTHUR WELLESLEY for a
supply of provisions for a single day, the British at
the same time having abundance, both in their train
and, with the shipping stationed on the coast. This

request was denied ; on hearing which, the Portuguese
Commander- is reported to have made this short ob.
nervation, Then we will fight without bread."
,6 The most serious complaint yet remains. Neither
the Military nor the Civil Authorities of the natives
were at any time corisulted, either respecting the mi.
litary operations, the Armistice, or the ultimate din.
graceNl Convention ; and had the proper respect been
paid to their discretion or patriotism, it is highly pro.
bable, that the manifest impolicy of this arrangement
would have been exposed ; so that even those who
assented to it would have been convinced of their
own precipitation and folly.
46 As soon as the termsof that Convention had placed
the forts and capital of our faithful and august Ally
under the protection of our troops, the British flag
was elevated, as if the Portuguese had not recovered
their liberty, but had been consigned over to new
masters. When this emblem of their degradation was
discovered, it excited such general expressions of in.
dignation, that the imprudence which raised the ban.
ncr was alarmed, and it was almost instantly lowered;
but not without producing those sensations of disgust,
the impression of which it will be extremely difficult
to efface."

Ulibr the strong impulses of sensibility occasioned
by these serious grievances, it will not be surprising if
w Anal. of commotions in Portugal, in which the Eng.
lish, sent as friends and deliverers, have to endure
some portion of the general indignation, and in con.
sequence of the French troops gradually diminishing
in number, by the transport of their brethren to
France, will be exposed to immediate danger. It is
n truth im possible, that, laden with the plunder of
that injured country, the latter can withdraw, unless
they are removed to a place of security, guarded
from the rage of the nativesby the intervention of the
British forces.

The most convincing proof of the disgust and de.
testation produced among the inhabitants of Portu.
gal, is the circumstance, that in none of the public
papers, the Government of that country has thought
it to insert the conditions of the final Convention.
Such are the details which letters from Lisbon to
the 10th, and from Oporto to the 12th instant, have
enabled us to supply ; and it is a singular fact, that
although three days had expired subsequent to the time
ippointed for the embarkation of the Ist division of
he French troops, not one soldier had quitted the siora of
i'o; tugal.
To these observations we now add a copy of the
Protest made by Genet a' Bernadin Freire, against the
shameful Convention of Cin:ra and Ramallial.
Such is the universal indignation in this cour.try
at the infamous proceedings in Portugal, that pro-
bably our readers viii not find the General's Protest
spirited enough for the occasion ; but they must re.
collect that this document is a formality to insure the
rights of his Prince and his country, not a proclama.
ion intended to rouse the indignation of his country.
men, or even to manifest his own perional feelings.
What seems to us very singular is, that the Ge.
neral should make no mention of the stipulation that
allows the French to carry off their plunder; it was
surely a good ground for a protest. Does he think
that in the execution of the Convention that plunder
will not be considered as private property
PROTEST

,MADE BY BERNARDIN FREIRE DE ANDRADE, GENERAL
OF THE PORTUGUESE TROOPS, AGAINST THE A RTICLDI
OF THE CONVENTION AGREED ON BETWEEN TIIE ENG..
LISH AND FRENCH ARMIES, FOR THE EVACUATION_QP
PORTUGAL.

" I protest, in general, on account of this*Yreaty*
being totally void of that deference due to his Royal
Highness the Prince Regent, or the Government that
represents him ; on account of what may be hostile in
it to the Sovereign authority and indepencknce of this
Government, and for all that may be against the
honour, safety, and interests of the nation : and, in
particular, I protest against what is stipulated in the
following articles :
AnTICL Es I. IV. and Because these Articles
determine the surrender of Portuguese fortified places,
stores, and ships, to the English forces, without so-
lemnly declaring that this surrender is momentary,
and that it is intended they should be immediately
restored to the Prince Regent of Portugal, or the
Government that may represent him, to whom they
belong, and in whose aid the English forces came as
auxiliaries !
ART. XVI.,-•" Because it permits the residence in
Portugal of the individuals mentioned in it.
ART. XVII.—" Because it attempts to tie down
the Government of this kingdom, not to bring to ins-
tice and condign punishment those persons who have
been notoriously and scandalously disloyal to their
Prince and their country, by joining and serving the
French party : and, even if the pronctien of the Eng-
lish army should be allowed to screen them from
the punishment they have deserved, still it should not
prevent their expulsion, whereby this country would
no longer have to fear being again betrayed by the
same men.
First of the additional Articles.—" This Article can
by no means bind the Government of this kingdom,
as no reciprocal conditions are stipulated.
" I protest finally, on account of the want of at.
tension to the safety of the inhabitants of the capital
and its environs, nothing having been stipulated in
their favour to insure their not being still v x J td
oppressed by the French during their stay—not even
an equivalent for what is established by Aar. XVI