Star.
London, England, 1809-07-14 00:00:00

PORTUGaL.

I.l.'e!'.a.ve received a series of the 6' Diario dt Oporto,"
v:r..:.11 was published during the late and short occu-
p.i.:*e:: of that city by Frertch. The first .number
axe c t on the sth of A•?ril. It furnishes us with
ap^ligy for t.t.: horrible massacre of the
:n:iabitams of OpJrto, on the ‘29th of the preceding

The catastrophe which Oporto has just suffered
l-as been truly dreacrill, and should serve as a warn.
to all those who have the folly and temerity to un.
de-take great enterprizes, without calculating the
means, or looking forward to the results. But, amidst
the horror with which so severe an eximple must
arcs every fer;lin:?: heart, there is certainly abundant
matter of c7nsolation to minds capable of weighing
to the balance cf genuine philosophy, and justly ap-
porciatin:, pr ceedings which are the more to be ad.
:tired, the less they were to have been expected.—
At all times, and among all nations, even the most
tv,lite and civilized, a town entered by storm, and
carried by assault, has invariably been exposed to
the fury of the conquerors, and paid with its entire
Lstructien the penalty of its contumacy. All history
zbounds in facts of this description, and unfortunately
that of Portegal is not less fertile in such fatal and
larnenetble examples. What is termed the right of
tar,' puts into the hands of the conqueror every
thing belonging to a contumacious city. Life and
property—overy thing is placed at 'his disposal, and
depends entirely upon his pleasure ; and the termina-
tion of the assault is, in general, the commencement
of destruction. Conflagration, death, and ruin, im-
mediately follow in the train of victory. Such was
the melancholy fate which the unfortunate city of I
Cpinto had to apprehend from a conqueror, princi-
pally exasperated by the barbarity of some fanatics,
who, mi :taking ferocity for valour, and insubordinate
lion for patriotism, and throwing otf all respect for
Covernment, dared to imbrue their hands in the blood
fit um- cf the French Otlicers, sent in with a flag of
truce, in contempt of the law a nations, by which,
lmong every people, such persons are held sacred
and invielat,ie. But DiviNe. PROVIDENCE had de-
tkra-pa,....1 that all should not suffer for the crime
of a te, and, in the +ltlfilment of his profound and
inccria.,ble decrees, he permitted the French army
't,;• r,,rarnanded by a hero, in whose-heart valour
homanity contend for superiority. His Excel-
laty t:.e thike cr Dalmatia, previously known by
lu .411,(11i.tion Mar.,hal Sonic, was the hero al-
ladcd to, vslir.se soul always listens rather to the voice
of mercy, titan to the calls of the most justifiable
rca.ntrnent. T: ty; are the truly valiant, the genuine
her( te. bray: is b pale, harnana after victory. Such
::is I.w.i.liencv, and s:tch did he prove himself to
lue. Nu. nt.ly en!p;)wcred by the efforts of his brave
army, br.t anthr.rised also by the laws of war, to
c,.inllete the de:_traction of this ulforttmate city, and
I•1t to death its -....retched inhabitants, he was re-
strained by his natural disposition, and his known
of heart ; and the carnage ceased with the
..rd the %%ork of destruction was put a stop
t-, alma st before 1-esistance was at an end. The
1.:;e which might have continued many days, scarcely
ed aft w hours. Tranquillity succeeded to con-
n. The strictest orders were given to the soldiers
t 7; 7esFect persons and property ; and the soldiers,
t wel.-discipitneU titan brave, most punctually
t.,:,.cyeLl them."