Star.
London, England, 1826-09-19 00:00:00

FRENCH PAPERS.

(RECSIVID LAST NIGHT.)
PORTUGAL.
LISBON, Ssniuusa 4.

PASTORAL LETTER OJ THE CARDINAL PATRIARCH

01 LISBON.

Since DIVINI PROVIDENCII constituted us Pastor of
the important flock whose safety it has committed to
us, my well beloved children, you cannot fail to be the
objects dearest to my heart, which is afflicted and torn
with a fear of seeing some of the sheep wandering from
the field of eternal felicity.
In the existing crisis of the new form, and of the new
political order, my fear increases, because illusion and
error can make a blessing be considered as an evil, a
benefit as a loss, and the improvement of our ancient
institutions as their overthrow, and entire abolition, by
rendering you besides distrustful of the safety of the
holy religion which we profess, and sowing among you
the seeds of discord, capable of bursting the bond* of
Christian society, and of producing monstrous and atro-
cious crimes. Yes, it is thus that turbulent spirits will
endeavour, by dextrous impostures, to indispose you
against the Constitutional Charter, wise, and well
framed, which our august Sovereign Pedro IV. casting
a benevolent regard upon the Portuguese nation, has
deigned to send us from the distant regions beyond the
Atlantic to constitute our happiness, and to consolidate
our greatest interests. It cannot but acknowledge the
powerful influence of uniformity, or, at least, at the
greatest resemblance between the two Governments, to
draw closer and closer the bonds of friendship between
two allied and independent nations—the Portuguese
and the Brazi.ian—and the better to establish between
them ancient relations, with reciprocal advantages,
greater and more favourable. It is thus that the King,
in his profound w;sdom, has thought and acted.
Bat the genius of evil and seduction, opposed to
troth and public tranquillity, is desirous of making you
believe that the illegal and proscribed Constitution of
1822 is going to be established in the Constitutional
Charter of this year, and that after having fallen, it is
'bout to be raised.

Can such an imposture, dearly beloved children, se-
duce you, and lead you to rebellion and disobedience
to your Sovereign ? Will you consent that they sport
with your reason ? It is very easy to discover by your-
selves the artful snare which has been laid for you.—
Compare the new Constitution with the new Charter
which his Majesty gives you, and you will acknowledge
at once that they are in perfect opposition in their prin.,
ciples, in their essence, and in their results.
The Constitution of 1822 was, as you know, the work
of a rebellious faction, which usurped the sovereign
power, and arrogated to itself the right of•dfsPosing of
the nation and its destinies. The C.,rtes convoked by
it without legitimate authority, could not receive that
authority from those who had it not to bestow. On the
contrary, the charter of April 19, descenis from the
height of the Throne. It is dictated by the spontaneous
will of our august Sovereign, who, in virtue of our an-
cient laws, possesses in himself the legislative power.
The Constitution, Iy the shock of the elements
which composed it, disorganized the monarchy to its
foundations, overthrew all its ancient institutions, and
annihilated the rights and privileges of the ranks and
hierarchies of society. It invaded the right of pro-
perty, which it had promised to defend, and debased
the ancient throne of our Kings, whom it had stripped
of their sovereignty, as far as the most revolutionary
reform could go. The new chatter, so far from in-
vading the rights of the nation, maintains and revives
its ancient institutions, preserves the rights, the privi-
leges, and the social hierarchies consecrated by them,
preserves likewise the dignity and splendour of the
throne, and separates from supreme power whatever
can render it odious, while it gives guarantees to the
citizens for their individual safety, and for their pro.
perties. It is in all its parts the work of a father who
desires the happiness and the well-being of his children.
The Constitution of 1822 has only created one na-
,tional representation, to which almost only would have
been called the Members of one of the three orders of
the State. From this it would naturally have resulted
that the interests of the two others would have been left
without defenders; but all the three orders were called
by the Charter of the National Representation, and
concurred to form two distinct Assemblies, which will
protect and encourage, by all the means in their
power, the interests of *ll classes, and the general wel.
fare. In fine, this Charter is nothing but the improve-
'
ment of the ancient political Constitution, and of the
fundamental laws which served as a basis to our Re-
presentative Government.
What, then, is wanting to it? At different epochs
long since passed, the Portuguese people besought their
Kings to assemble the Cones at certain fixed periods;
and even King John I. was supplicated to convoke them
every year; but the humble prayers of the nation did
not receive a favourable hearing, and it is Don Pedro
IV. who is the first of our Kings to satisfy the ancient,
prayers of the people, and.granting them, with a gene-
rous heart, what their ancient Monarchs had denied.—
The generosity of his Majesty even goes further—for
he even grants to the new Cones legislative powers,
whilst the ancient ones possessed only consultative
rights, without, however, prostituting in any way by this
glorious concession a supreme power of the rights of
the sovereignty.
Finally, a Monarch so Christian and so religions,
could not lose sight of the religion of our ancestors, of
which by our Ministry we are the first sentinel, and in
the very first articles of the Constitutional Charter we
find it declared the religion of the State' and place it
under the protection of the sovereign authority and of
the laws.

Is any thing farther necessary, my faithful jock, to
demonstrate to your satisfaction, and to convince your
hearts that the charter granted by his Majesty is alto-
gether different from the Constitution of the Cortes, and
that this work of the august wisdom of our paternal
Monarch perfects our ancient Constitution, and procures
new advantages to the Portuguese nation ? Let calumny
and imposture then be confounded—let timid minds be
re-assured—let us reply to the greatness of the benefit
by our obedience, by our loyalty, and by a fidelity
without limit.

The charter has opened to you the path of happiness,
follow it, be obedient and faithful, and experience will
demonstrate the advantages of the new political order.
Union and obedience, two precepts of the Divine laws,
are the basis of the social edifice, without which it falls
into ruins. On them depends the eternal and temporal
happiness of men. They form the doctrines of the
Gospel, and they are the greatest of all blessings, as
discord is the greatest of all evils. Nevertheless, this
union, which of a nation makes one family, and which
we recommend so earnestly, is impossible without a
prompt and faithful obedience to the sovereign autho-
rity, and our Saviour June Cnatsr preached and prac-
tised it, and his disciples taught it to the whole world,
as the first and most sacred of human duties. A society
without subordination, would be an assemblage of
monsters, always ready to devour each other. The fury
of ambition and of the other passions would extend
every wheie hatred and vengeance, and the pride of
dominion in oppressing veakaess without resistance,
would constrain the peaceable inhabitant to conceal
himself in the bosom of his family. In fine, we should,
see on all hands only calamities.
My well beloved children, regard with horror rebel-
lion, disobedience, and discord, so fatal to all nations I
and all Governments. Do not call down upon your
heads the sufferings of those who, revolting against their
King, and against supreme authority, become criminal
before Gon and before men. You can only collect the
fruits which will result from the new Constitutional
Charter by obeying it, and sheering yourselves grateful
towards him who has given it. Do not allow yourselves
to be misled by the shameful examples of some mad-
men. Pity them, and pray for them, that they may
return to the road of honour, and that they may enter
on the most sacred duty which religion imposes on
them. Goo grant that my pastoral exhortations may
find your hearts ready to receive them, that you may
spare me the sorrow of seeing frustrated my ardent
desire to lead you into the way of all good, and to turn
you from the path of all wickedness.
The peace of Goo be with you.

We enjoin on their personal responsibility the Palish Clergy to
lOWliCt their parishioners in the doctrine 01 Wb pastoral letter,

which after being read at mass, must be posted uF in the city, that
It may come to the knowledge of all.
Given at our Arcblescopal Palace of Junquerra, the SIM of
August, 1826.
(Signed) PATRICE CARDINAL PATRIARCH.
The Government has received, officially, the intelßgence that the
Constitution has been sworn to with great enthusiasm in the islands
of Madeira, Azores, San Miguel, and Fayal.

MADRID, Serrasaaxa S.
The Charge d'Affaires of Portugal in Spain, has refused to take
the oath to the Constitution. The Secretary of Legation super-
sedes him till the arrival •of an AtubassaJor, whose appointment
is announced.
General Silveira is still at Madrid. It k not supposed that be
will undertake any expedition against his eountry.