Star.
London, England, 1826-12-28 00:00:00

THURSDAY EVTANING., DECEMBER 28, 1826.

FRENCH PAPERS,
RECEIVED LAST NIGHT BY EXPRESS.

/11041 ?HI JOURNAL DES Dt1•11 Or SOVIDAT.

We have taken occasion to remark how much it is to
be regretted that, under the important circumstances
in which we are placed, the speeches delivered in the
Chamber of Peers should not be printed. Hence the
different interpretations which persons more or less well
informed give to those speeches.
What particulnly distinguishes M. de Chateaubri-
and's politics in the Tribune, is a mixture of constitu-
tional and chivalresque ideas, which have a particular
sympathy with the national character, but which, when
separated one from the other, are liable to objection,
and do not completely exhibit the character ot the
speaker. Thus. for example, in the very same speech
in which the Noble Peer seemed to doubt that the cases
flock* had occurred for Ragland, we think we may be
confident that there is to be found a passage in the
Portuguese charter, conceited in nearly the following
terms :•••II I shall never admit the right of soldiers to
make and unmake political institutions—to proclaim
and dethrone Kings. Perhaps lam more friendly
to the gprtuguese Constitution than are the English
Ministers themselves, who speak of it almost with
derision, and who thought that Sir Charles Stuart
ought to be recalled from his mission• for having
been the bearer of that constitution to Lisbon. I

am of opinion that independence supports inde-
pendence—that one free nation is a guarantee for an-
other. I am convinced that a liberal Constitution
cannot be overthrown in any part of the globe without
inflicting an injury on the whole human race."
It is Impossible for any declaration to be more frank and more
noble than this.
It appears that the Address in reply to the Speech
from the Throne has already occasioned some warm
debates i• the bureaux of the Chamber of Deputies.—
The speech of Count Alexander Noailles is much talked
of. We are also informed that observations of the same
kind were submitted to one of the bureaux by the Mar-
quis Hyde de Neuville, and that they have been re-
(erred to the committee on the Address. It is said that
they are chiefly pointed against Mr. Canning's speech,
and the declaration imposed upon the Baron de Damns.
It would, in fact, be difficult to separate the one from
the other 1 __ _ _

The Committee appointed on Friday in the bureaux,
for drawing up the Address, met on Saturday in the
saloon of M. de Ravez, President of the Chamber of
Deputies. It is believed that the Secret Committee of
the Chamber, in which the Report is to be made, will
take place on Tuesday.
11015 1111 .10111DIMIS1 OW nombar, asa. 25.
PARIS, Die. t 4.

• - - _
. Nobody.siny. longer doubts of the importance bf the
events in Portugal. The same Journals which pretended
that the enterprise of the Marquis de Chaves was only
an intrigue, begin to perceive how ridiculous this ex-
pression is. We now see them obliged to confess the
extraordinary progress of the Portuguese Royalists, and
the no less rapid defection of the English party at Lisbon.
Every day, every moment, brings us nearer to the
denouement of a drama, which is less surprising, on ac-
count of the scenes which it has presented, than for the

immensity of its results.
We said yesterday, after the letters of our Cones-
pondents, that the Royalist division of the Province of
Travos-Montes, after the taking of Braga, had resolved
to leave Oporto, in order to advance more rapidly against
Coimbra. What may have given rise to this account,
which we have repeated, is the occupation (now very
certain) of Coimbra, which took place on the 11th or
12th of December ; but letters written on the 15th, on
the frontiers of Portugal, affirm that, at the same time,
the Marquis of Chaves had entered Oporto, the inha-
bitants of which came out to meet him after the embark-
ation of the English who were in the city.
According to these letters, the occupation of Oporto
had taken place without bloodshed, all parties being
agreed to prevent the arrival of the British troops, and
to hinder them from taking posseslion of the forts.—
However, it is affirmed that the populace had plunder-
ed several houses formerly inhabited by the English,
who have fled.
Since Oporto and Coimbra have, at the same time,
acknowledged the authority of the Infant Don Miguel,
it is evident that it writ not the column of the Marquis
of Chaves which entered the latter city. It is probable
therefore, that it is the column of the Marquis de Mon-
taleagre, coming by way of Lamego, or that of Briga
dier Magessi, coming from Abrantes, which has taken
possession of Coimbra, unless that city, as letters from
Madrid of the 18th affirm, had, of its own accord, de-
clared for the Royalists before their arrival. The same
letters from Madrid say, that the Queen Mother was
expected at Coimbra, where the new Regency and the
Junta of Government will be provisionally established.
Thus, on the 12th of December, Coimbra and
Oporto, the two most important cities in Portugal,
after Lisbon, no longer recognise the authority of the
Regency, and the latter had no army to reduce them
to obedience ; nay, more, the Regency itself was me-
naced in Lisbon, where the exasperation of the people,
and • the anxiety of the Government, were at their
height. It is, therefore, not impossible, that at the time
the English expedition sailed from Portsmouth, that is
to say on the 20th of December, the capital of Por-
tugal had thrown off the yoke of England and effected,
the ottertchrow of the Constitution. In this case the
English expedition would not be able to land either at
Oporto or Lisbon..

Besides, this armada, on which the Cabinet of

James's depends so much, to retain Portugal under its
domination, has sailed in the most unfavourable season.
of the year. The nights are long, and the days ob-
scured by fogs. The vessels will be obliged frequently
to bring up, which will protract the voyage: there
' is, besides, every appearance that the wind is not
favourable. Who knows if the expedition will not be
.obliged to put into vme port on the way ? Mr. Can-
ning having compared himself to the god of the winds,
it would not be surprising if the true'Eolus, jealous of
this kind of usurpation, should open his bags to disperse
the English vessels, were it only to display his power,
and cause his legitimacy to be recognised.