Star.
London, England, 1821-03-06 00:00:00

LISBON, FEBRUARY 24.

• The principal subject in which the Cortes have been
employed, for some days past, is the discussion of the
bases of the Constitution, which have been in general
adopted with few alterßtions, and not much opposi-
tion. On the 14th Article being proposed, M. Fait.
RAO took occasion to introduce the Project of a Decree,
in the preamble to which he represented the evils that
had accrued to Portugal, both in its riches and po-
pulation, from the expulsion of the Jews; and he pro.
posed his Decree in three Articles, viz. that all the

privileges granted by the King of Portugal to that
nation, be put in vigour; and that riot only the de-
scendants of the Portuguese Jews who were expelled,
but all those who should think fit, might return to
this country, certain of meeting with protection from
the Portuguese Government,
After some discussion, the Article passed, as laid
down in the bases, it being decided that this was now
the only point in debate.
In discussing the 16th Article, M. BRAANCAMP
thought the word 4, Constitution" too indefinite, and
proposed to substitute the words, limited Monarchy,
( Monarquia temperada), as designating the form of
Government; but the Article was agreed to without
alteration.

• In the Sitting of the 20th February, two Protests
were presented,. which gave rise to considerable de-
bate: one was on an alteration made in the 15th Ar-
ticle, the Protest desiring that the word only should
be introduced before " Religion ;" the other related
to the Liberty of the Press in religious matters.—lt
was urged, that such Protests might lead to unplea-
sant consequences, and excite an idea in the Nation
that there were divisions in the Assembly, and sow
the seeds of distrust and division between the Cortes
and the People, the terms in which the first Protest
were conceived being calculated to excite a notion
that the 'majority of the Assembly tended to deter-
mine that the Portuguese might profess solely some
other religion than the .Catholic Apostolic and Roman.
M. FEENANDEz THOMAS absolutely opposed the
Protests; he said there was no division in the Assem-
bly, nor ought there to be any; that the Nation was
ONE; that the Deputies of the Provinces were their
Deputies till they entered the Assembly, and then they
were the Deputies of the Nation ; that two men should
not he ashamed to give way to ten, or ten to fifty;
that whoever wished to address the Nation might
speak in the Assembly, where his discourse was taken
down by the short-hand writers, and published to the
whole Nation ; and that it never could be pretended
that the self-love of a few should prevail over the
majority ; arid, finally, he acceded to tlx proposal of
M. Castel Branco, who moved tl.at either the Protest
should not be received, of that those who made it
should be obliged to draw it up in another form.—lt
was observed, that the not adopting the word only
before 66 Religion," was merely because it was in-
tended to make some exceptions in favour of fo-
reigners, and that the discussion of the subject was
left to the Constiticion.

It was decided, that in future no Protest should be
received in the Acts, but in the form of declarations.
The one in question was accdrdingly put into a new
form, and approved, and ordered to be mentioned as
a declaration in the Acts of the Assembly.
In the Sitting of the 22d, a very important ques-
tion, or rather two questions, arose, which are nor yet.
decided, viz. Whether the King shall possess a Veto,
and whethi:r there shall be two Chambers? The pro-
positiOn tor two. Chambers was introduced by M.
PINUEIRO AZEVEDO, who thought there should be an
intermediate power between the Legislative and the.
Executive, which he proposed, he said, that the Cortes
might adopt it in the Constitution, if they judged pro-
per, and give it such a form and attributes as they
should think suitable, and that the Spaniards them-
selves now wished for such a power. Cleat opposi-
tion was made to this proposal. The general opinion
seemed to be against the introduction of any interme-
diate power, such as another Chamber; but several
Members thought that such an object might be at-
tained by giving the King an absolute Veto, which
could occasion no evil, the initiative of the laws being
with the Cortes.

M. TRIGASO, rendering just homage to his Ma-
jesty, and weighing his duties as a Deputy of the Na-
tion, said, that the power of she king was extremely
limited by the Article in question, since it gave him
neither the initiative of the laws nor the Veto, and
that therefore he thought it necessary to admit either
an absolute Veto or intermediate power.
Same Members were for enforcing a limited Pito.
The debate was adjourned till this day, when the
questions of the second Chamber, or otl.er equivalent
intermediate power, and of the Veto, arc ex ected to
be decided.
In the Sitting of the 17th, a Deptation fiorn the
Island of Madeira was received, who gave an account
Of the Revolution in that Island, which was listened
to with great pleasure by the Assembly.
An Aninesty has been decreed and published, for
all Portugliese whn, since 1807, have left their coon-
try on account of their political opinions and con-
duct, whether they were prosecuted, or feared to be
so, arid whether any process had been instituted
against them or not. •
Another Decree abolishes all Pat ks or Preserves
for game (Coutadas Abertas), as detrimental to agri-
culture, to the right of property ()fele environs, and
ito their tranquillity and security; all offices and em.
ploymentsrelative to the guarding and management
of such parks or inclosures are abolished; the officers
to receive their pay till another Decree shall decide
on their future destination. The walled parks are not
• comprehended in this Decree.