Star.
London, England, 1829-10-29 00:00:00

BIOGRAPHY OF DON MIGUEL.

The literary portion of the Portuguese patriots resi-
dent in London, actuated by a laudable desire to illustrate the de-
grading condition to which their country has been reduced by the
usurper, have established no less than three weekly publications.
The whole of these are conducted with a degree of energy and
talent which do honour to the contributors, and prove the poli-
tical writers of Portugal to be fully equal to their contemporaries
In the rest of Europe.-0 Padre Asmara, the hrst of these publica-

Lions, appeared some thine ago, and is replete with a great variety of
important facts and arguments connected with the origin and pro-
gress of the usurpation. An Appendix to the XVI Ith Number has
just appeared, containing a luminous account of the expedition to
Terceira, together with an able commentary on the probable re-
sults of the glorious victory achieved by the Patriot Army under
_ _

Count VILLA bcoa 0 Chapeco, though of more recent establish-
ment, continues to support the cause of legitimacy and justice with
equal spirit. The object of the present notice is, however, to avail
ourselves of some information contained in the Poquete de Portugal,
of which the ninth number has just made its appearance. One of

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the most important features of this work, is a series of letters ad-
-

dressed to His Serene Highness the usurper, in which the whole of
the events connected with his guilty career, are traced by a writer
who was attached to his suite during a great part of the time to
which his facts and observations relate. Although the picture he

gives of Don Mom. Is quite appalling, yet the interests of the
nation, cursed by his sway, and those of truth, require that they
should be freely disseminated. We regret that our limits only
admit of a abort abridgement.

The author of these admirable letters, following his hero from
infancy to the moment of his consummating the final crime, has
disclosed a scene of moral turpitude, and personal iniquity, which
cannot be too widely circulated—gince they prove more than vo-
lumes of abstract reasoning, the cruelty and injustice of that policy
which could have for one moment induced the Ministers of this
country to tolerate such a monster.
From the statements of the writer, it appears that, like the News
and CALIOULMI of antiquity, the cruel and sanguinary predilections
of Mama. commenced with his earliest years; and were rapidly
developed as he advanced towards maturity. Even the pastimes
of childhood were characterised by a ferocity and recklessness which
were destined to mark the whole of his subsequent progress through
life. To him, the wanton sacrifice of human life and indulgence
of the most degrading debaucheries, were quite familiar. As an
illustration of the first-mentioned propensity, be is said to have
killed an unoffending negro, named Porr4, during his stay at Rio
Janeiro, when he must have still been a mere stripling.

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Raving quitted the Brazils in 1821, to accompany the Royal

Family On Its return to Portugal, his conduct during the passage
was so shameful and abandoned, that the writer, out of regard to
public manners, is induced to pass over it in silence. No sooner
had he landed at Lisbon, than he sought the society of such persons
as he had associated with at Rio. The most degraded profligates,
assassins by profession, and bravos, now became his only com-
panions. His great delight was to frequent brothels, bull baiting,
and all those other scenes of unbridled riot peculiar to the capital.
He was even frequently known to take the greatest pleasure in
slaying the animals which had survived the terrors of the arena.—
It was in vain that his father Joins VI. who saw the baneful ten-
dencies of his son, with sorrow, appointed muter. to check his
propensities and instil better principles—the character of Moon
baffled all their efforts, and he continued to gratify every evil
passion with unabated pertinacity.
Notwithstanding all these proofs of a perverted heart and de-

prayed nature, Mom. became an object of high interest to those
who had determined to destroy the system of government adopted
by the Cortes of 1820. They required a member of the Royal
Family in order to dazzle the multitude; and Don Monist was
the fittest instrument, since he willingly lent himself to any coun-
sels which were given, without once reflecting on the consequences
that might follow. His first act, as a willing tool of the faction,
was to sign an order addressed to the Colonels of some regiments,
to revolt against the Government ; these orders were, however,
not obeyed. The notorious Owns. then Count D'Asnaasere, an
infuriated bigot, equally destitute of talents or courage,
aided by a hired band of assassins and banditti, having
raised the standard of rebellion in 1823, contrived to gain
over a small body of regular troops : but these were soon after
routed, and forced to take refuge in Spain, where they joined
the French army, which had just been sent by the Bourbons to
destroy the constitution of that country. It is almost needless to
repeat the well-known fact that owing to the influence of bribery
and the machinations of priesthood on one hand, and the defection
of some corrupt leaders on the other, the efforts of the patriots
were overcome; and the band of CHAIMS which had served as a
species of vanguard to a French column, being thus enabled to re-
appear on the Portuguese frontier, a counter revolutionary move-
ment was effected at Lisbon, but in which it should be
remarked, the people took no pan. It was now that the ene-
mies of the new institutions again cast their eyes towards Don
Moon., and advised him to quit the capital for a distant Pro.
vine where he could either rain the standard of revolt himself,
or join the fanatical band of Cuevas.
A number of individuals who had sworn fealty to the Consti-
tution, having betrayed their trust, a few corps followed the Royal
traitor, whom the Queen Mother urged in the strongest manner
to dethrone the old King, then sincerely attached to the established
order of things. So palpable was the ignorance displayed by the
prevailing parties in Cortes at this crisis, that they required
John VI. to change his Ministers, thus at once rendering it impos-
sible to adopt any prompt or vigorous measures for opposing the
coming storm. Although alarmed at the idea of any outward
influence in the exercise of an authority which he had not sufficient
firmness to maintain, be was the last to abandon a cause which
the natural generosity of his character did not allow him to betray.
Having sought Munn in order to frustrate his criminal pro-
ject, the latter thought himself discovered, and wished to escape
into Spain. Some of his companions, who were not opposed to the
Constitution. urged him, however, to obey the summons of his
father, who feigned to be ignorant of his designs, and after having
eulogized the Prince, who bad made a cowardly retreat until his
partizans could proclaim him King, returned to Lisbon in triumph,
as if he had gained a brilliant victory, after an absence of seven drys.
The biographer of Don Mmoat. paints in lively colours the fury
of his hero, who wished above all things, to enter Lisbon sword in
hand, .nd resort to a general massacre of the inhabitants, in order
that he might thus merit the honours of a successful campaign.—
Finding no one to second his sanguinary wishes, this design was
abandoned. A few days after, the King gave him the command of
all the troops. But being unable to go the lengths he wished
—that is to say, avail himself of this army to aid him in
usurping the Crown, he endeavoured to get rid of those
who surrounded the King and opposed an insurmountable obstacle
to his designs. With this view, he caused the Marquis de Loins to
be assassinated at the Palace of Salesian, almost under the eyes
of the Monarch. A similar attempt was made on several others,
till at length be excited the troops to revolt, and poisoned the King,
his father ! This took place en the night of the 30th of April,lB24.
—The double crime of parricide and rebellion was on the point of
succeeding. Join VI. only owed his life and crown to the excel.
knee of his physicians, and the efforts of the foreign Ministers—
among whom Mr. Taminvon and M. Hum on Meaux were the
most conspicuous actors. This terrific episode in Micion's his-
tory, forms the subject of the fourth letter. The author has de.
tic:Used the scene of horror with great animation, and given a
reality to the dramatis permit which has all the appearance of being
most true to Nature. Having described the passions which moved
the actors, and depicted the crimes of that day in vivid colours, this
part of the narrative terminates with the departure of the rebel
priuee for his henessrable exile, and the reader is again enabled to
breathe on witnessing the departure from Lisbon of the monster,
who. not content with attempting to tear the crown from the bead

of his lather, also endeavoured to deprive him of life ; and, had
be succeeded, there can be no doubt that the whole kingdom
would have been deluged with blood.
In the following letters, the writer accompanies Minuet to
France, where the gross and savage qualities of his nature soon
drew down the contempt both of the Court and Capital. Sur-
rounding himself with the refuse of society, his time was passed in
debauchery and riot. Among other congenial amusements, dog-
fighting, killing eats and other domestic animals, were his greatest
sources of delight. His last feat in the French capital was an at-
tempt to assassinate the Portuguese Ambassador, merely because the
latter refused to grant him a passktort for Madrid, where he wished
to preside, in open defiance of the King's orders—as well as for not
advancing him large sums of money, to gratify hi, notorious pro-
pensity for every vile and low pursuit.
From Pad., our hero proceeded to Vienna, where hr also soon
became an object of uni I contempt, until the death of John VI.
It was then that he again became a person of some public interest.
The Apostolicals would not, however, connect themselves
with him, before ascertaining the views of the new King, Don
PIM°. For if the latter would only consent to govern despoti-
cally, and cede the crown to his daughter, without making any
change in the old system, they were fully agreed on the question
of legitimacy ; or rather, nobody ever dreamt of contesting that
Don Panso was not the legitimate heir of the King his father.
But the Charter arrived, and henceforth, Dun Pena° was no
longer the eldest son of Jon); VI. and all the rights of succes.
don were as readily transferred to the head of uon Nicest.
The result is known—be opened an immediate communication
with the Spanish spostelicals—kept up a regular correspondence
with them, deceived the Sovereigns of England, Auwria,
and France, as well as the Pi incess Regent, the whole nation,
and all Europe, with a degree of perfidy and effrontery of which
history affords no example.
Finally, the author of these letters demonstrates in a manner
the most clear, and supported by well authenticated facts, the
treasons, perjuries, and atrocities of the usurper, so minutely and
plainly, that he has left nothing to desire on the part of
those who would know the real character of Minuet., and the
true bearings of the whole question.
As the Author intends to continue his highly interesting narra-
tiVe, through aU the events which occurred from Mwuv.'s arrival
in this country, and usurpation of the Government,down to the
present moment, we shall return to the subject when his labours
are terminated. In the meantime, we strongly recommend that a
faithful translation of the whole be printed, both in English and
French, and that they may be circulated throughout Europe, for
the reciprocal benefit and instruction of Kings and People.