Star.
London, England, 1817-05-19 00:00:00

SPAIN AND POItTILIGAL.

All the accounts horn the Continent, confirm the
fact, that the existing dispute .between Spain AnJ
rortugal approachis to a crisis t and it also daily be-
comes More clear, that the misunderstanding first
originated in the non-performance of that article of
the Vienna Congrets, by Which the restitution of
Olivenza was ordained. That this stipulation was
then obtained chiefly through British influence, little
'doubt is entertained, and indeed on just grounds; but
the present question is, in what way will the Cabinet
of saint James now act, to ealorce a compliance on
the part of Spain, or prevent a war likely to entan.
gle other parties, when affairs are so far adianced,
and so much embroiled

As the violence of republican France had, by the
Treaty of Badajot in ISOI,-wrested away ()livens.,'
the key of Portugal, and transferred it to Spain, at I
that time subservient to French intrigues; and since
this was no other than a preliminary step to the poll.
:iced extinction of Lusitania, it became an act of
justice and of aec'ssity to restore it to its lawful
owner, and thereby insure the present and future in-
dependence ut the steadiest ally of Great Britain,
whose absolute destruction had often been resolved
upon, for sheltering our fleets, even w1...n the empire 1
ot the sea was still divided. The cause of the refusal
on the part of Spain to accede to the above stipula-
tion, is said to be the neglect of her claims in Italy,
and interests in South America, whence that Treaty
which occupied the attention and labours of Eu-
ropean statesmen, assembled in a general Congress,
is yet unratified and unfulfilled, by one of the Powers
therein duly represented. .
Portugal, who perceives in the retention of Oli-
venza, a future resolve to subjugate her European
' dominions, and also remembers well the Treaty of
Tripartition which paved the way to the invasion of
the Peninsula, has taken seasonable alarm, and made
1 reprisals on the contiguous Spanish territory in Arne.
I lie:, in order to hold the same as an indemnity, or
hereafter use it as a basis to her aggrandizing pin-
jects in the New World.
If report speaks true, such are the grounds of a
dispute wl.:cl. new absorbs the attention of Europe,
anti again threaters to involve her in fresh scenes of
warfare. Hence then does the strongest possible
collision of interests exist, though it would puzzle
even diplomatic sophistry 'to make out Portugal to
be the aggressor in this quartet, or to.pertuade,the
enlightened part of mankind that the whole evil does
not arise cot a a deep-laid plan On the one side. to
sound a new Einpire, and, on the other's, to seize on
a part cf a kingdom; to which nature seemed to have
afFsed it. . .

As tar as Sp tin' is herself concerned, die ecnduct
of Portugal cannot be deemed aggressive by those.
Powers, who stipulated the restitution of Olivenza ;
but in the event of no arrangements of a satistactcry
nature being made at Paris, they will be critically
situated, as Portugal will be justified in deManding
that the guarantee Of the Contracting l'avetsbe made
good, and she may-in particular ca-ll upon England
.to adhere faithfclly to the solemn engagements con-
tained in that Treaty of Alliance which has bound
her to us during centuries. If, on the other hand,
they seek to entorce the stipulations allude'd to, Spain
may alledge that she is not bound to observe a gua-
rantee to which she never acceded, and may further
s!ernarttf, that the Duthics of Parma, rlaeeittia, aft&

Cuastalla, be restored, and her clairtic
attended to, but these circumstances bring
rect contact with the °tiler Powers of Europe,
fully prove the defective name t the Vienna
into the assembly of whose negociators the invidir-,!./
Gothh•ss of Discord seems to have thrown an apo!e
with the name of ()Hyena inscribed upon if..
On the other h:.nd, Spain stands espo•ed to r!-.w
same predicament in which the desig,s of Cardir,al
ALBERONT once placed her, since, if it rhcuid 1;r1
out to be her intention to nonce Por.ugal thc do.
minions of the Spanish hionarcl,y, and tf,erehy dd
the t:ia:lem of that muntry to the tri,:e ei .• n of
Castile, A rragon. and N.ivarre, it is nec.tless t^ r.ert
that it is the policy of Great Britain to oppc,:e
measure, notwithstanding the repri-,1:-. rtra•f«
Brazil Cabinet are- in circa hostility to T.ir f• •-e
commercial views. But still our vigil-rose •.•
tend to another quarter. The Court of
awes Spain i.r tile New Would, and may easi:‘ 'Ty
away to the shores of Lima and Volpar..i,
understanding should be established Wu:: • . c..
Hence then is it a curious qoesiion r r • •:.i,
Government will act in this double •
Spain undertakes the conquest for %hie •
paring, her armies will march in two cm.
from Esitemadirra on Lisbon, and the other from
Leon towards Oporto. Under this aspect of affa',ts,
are we to wait till these two important places at:
taken before our line of conduct is resolved upon
Or are we to abandon Portugal, our old and tir.a
ally, to her own fate ?

Yoterday Divine Service WAS perfe.rmed e. Carl.
con Hous:!, by the Rev. Dr. St AxlEtt CLARE.r..
DIV:11C tier vice was pettortned yesterday
PRICE. at the Queen's Pal Ice.
Yesterday the Earl ot Lavratront. had an audi•nte
of tie l'itp.sce Rat.cr.NT tt CAIEOII Hope.

•
Iler I.I.AJLsTy, accompanied by the Ptincess T!;
ZABEI U, attended by Viscountess MeLytt.t.e. u•. !:
airing on Satut day in an open carriage on the liwg's
ltteid, and returned to the Palace through Hyde
Pat k. Afterwards Princess ELIZADETH, attendedh
Viscountess Islect-tu.s, went to ♦isit the Duchess of
GLOUrEsTail.

On Vrid.ty evening. been six and seven o'el.ock,
the Princes C)I RLOT and Pt ince LeOP CO A rriorl
atCamefford House Item CLirement to di int t.
turday they received a visit from t.tte Duke of Yotirt.
In the afternoon they went in Oleic new elegant suet
cArt.ige to visit the Queers.
1111 ANT dined with the Qrßelt mi
Princess ELIZAPETII • R Saturday.
Yettersiay her 111AJEvrY and the Princess Er.,:n•
ZETII, ittteßtitd by I.otcly Canotorty, took an .01,3
in a coach ki.d fotr, and attetwarJe Baited the Die
chess of GcercEsrEn.

Yesterday tie Deke of Yore paid a visit tl t`..t
QUEEN at her Palace.
Last night, about eight o'cl,,ck, the Plin:ers A
GUSTA arrived at the Queen's PALIICC.
Yesterday the Duke of•Yortst and the Lour) CY
CICLLOR had audiences of the PRINCE REGENT.

Yesterday the Princess etraat.nrra and Prints
LIMPOLD visited ti .e PRINCE REGENT.

YesterdAy the Duchess of GLOCCESTER visited the
Princess CHARLOTTE and Prince LEOPOLD at Cane!.
ford House.

The C,,urt custom of the Qutes's Attendants
paying, upon different occasions, in the name ~f het
MAJESTY, visits of condolence, congratulation, Su.
to the Nobility and persons of distinction in a royal
carriage.and with livery servants, which was dicclr-
tinned from tho commencement of the KING'S
position, has bten lately revived.
Lady CASTLI:REAGH entertained a large pally cf
Fashionables atter the Opera, t.n Saturday, at tat
house in St. James's-square.
The Earl of Cassmus eutertained the Amba,... -
dor of the King of the Net.ierlands and a immtroa
party, yesterday, at his house in Privy Gardena.
The Count and Countess Lieved enterte.ine,l
large party of Fashionatles yesterday at their
in Harley-streets
' Lady HANIPDEN had a select Fashionable Pet?
yesterday evening, at her house in Green-street,'3-..
venor-svare.
Yesterday Sir HIMPIIREY and Lady Davr gavl a
grand dinner to the 11/41..rquis and March!, nesse! Bel
and a select party, at their house in Lower Gratve-
nor-street.

LADY HALFORD'S BALL.--One of the most AWE-
able parties which has distinguished the gay tearl.
was held at the beantlitil residence of her I.adys:
in Curzon-street, May Fair, on Friday evec.ini.
interior possessed peculiar attractions; for, indivr-
dently of a profusion of flowering shrubs wearier.-
ing the staircase and the hall, the disposition of tle
lights and eraperies added to thereto Dancirr
commenced at halt-past ten o'clock on the gioutd
fi'or, the great dining-rciom being appropti-Ited hr
that purpose. Quadrilles took the lead t
succeeded by waltzes. These was no iegair
!rer, but every suitable refreshment was proviJi.
The party broke up at four o'clock in the mcruici•
There were present the following Fashio:latil-s:
Their Royal Highnesses the Dotes of Clarence and Olouce• tfi
Bart sad Countess of Shaftesbury, Earl of Wlnchilsca
Misses Finch, Sir John and Lady Throckmorton, Lady and
Petri., Lady and the three Misses Nichol!, Lady bleats-. I. 4'4
Plusuer, Lady Healey, Lady Willoughby, Lady Crot;,
and MUs Fludyer, lady Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Lancrox, the Eri
of Oxford, the Ladies %Val:tole, Lord Chetwynd, lady IL •
ville, Earl of Weymouth, Countess of Harcourt, Lady itosiOi
Lady Hampden, Mrs. Beaumont, Lady Finch I lattc,:t.
The Dowager Countess of Este had a C ird ratty
on the same night in Curzon-street, Nlay-tau, :c1
was attended by tbe.Matc!tioness of
ST. HELEN?S, Eatl of STAtit, Earl of LDNUFOS:,/,
'thirty other diatinenished personages.
MRS. DORIEN MAOCN's BALL.—ThiS !kg tEt L 1,17
opened her house in Gloucester-place on Friday
to a select circle. The house is extremely Well c•--
culated to entertain a large party. AU the agar[['
meats were judiciously disposed: The dancii g ct---
Menced at eleven o'clock, and kept up Fririt
three o'clock.
• HYDE PARK.—The seasonable and refte%.ir.!
'shovers of yesterday afternoon put most of tile
shionablcs to (I.IC saute. ilic L'...k was vcry •
attuidcd.