Star.
London, England, 1829-07-03 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

July 2, 1 829.
&s--A Correspondent of the Morning Journal, in an article of
his own peculiar pith, denies that private letters coming from or
going to France or England, are secretly opened for the convenient
information of Don Miguel's excellent police,—that immaculate Mo-
narch being, it appears, above such dishonourable practices—re-
specting opinions and persons too much to pry into secrets, which,
however disagreeable they might be to learn, can contain nothing
of power to injure so legitimate, so upright, so clement a Father of
his people, enthroned in their hearts, and propitiated with their
prayers. In support of his cause, the friend of the Morning journal
offers himself as example, and candid/y asserts that he has regularly
received letters in Portugal, * sealed with wax and with British
seals of a peculiar nature, which, if the letters had been opened,
must have been broken, and the impression could not have been
given ;" from which he concludes, as he expresses in one word,
that all complaints of Don Miguel's" formes acerb's" are a lie.
Now I should like to know whether it was owing to the ad-
dress on these letters, or to the peculiar wax and seals, that those
communications' made to the friend of the Morning Jaime, were
so peculiarly respected: for, notwithstanding his choleric advocacy
and summary conclusion, I am of opinion that it is to some very
peculiar circumstances indeed that the correspondence of this
mend of the Morning Journal has been so peculiarly privileged.
For. that private letters are subjected to the secret scrutiny of spies
attached for those very purposes to the General Post Mats of Por-
tugal, I positively maintain as incontrovertible. Who has resided
under any absolute Government in Europe, and is ignorant of the
little scruple with which sealed correspondence is violated? The
system is so little doubted, that throughout Austria, Italy, and
Spain, as well as Portugal, individuals rarely venture to express
their free political sentiments in letters consigned to the transport
of Government.

Lit to be supposed that Miguel, the philanthropist, neglects any
of the worthy precautionary measures that are employed by that
description of Royalty be has chosen to model himself on, and
infringe so imprudently on the maxims of his delicate preceptor.
Metternich, and his liberal apostolical coadjutors and guides, who
aid him with the assistance of the Morning Journal and °them, to
snake himself so popular? As to the unbroken appearance of a
seal being proof of its having been inviolate, I have only to com-
pliment the friend of the Morning Journal on the innocence of his
mind, and refer him to the disgraceful exposure in the French
Papers, not long ago, of the old secret Post•ofBce Police in France,
and their ingenious modes of opening any letters, watered or sealed,
without the least mark by which the moat attentive eye could
detect such atrocious violation.

Oh! it is sickening to behold a British Press in Constitutional
England supporting, in the nineteenth century, the cause of despo-
tism and oppression, advocating the conduct of a man who, if
reigning but one day over us, would provoke the avenging steel of
a thousand patriots. Who has marked the progress of the modern
Nero, and can suffer the sophistries of any apologist to persuade
him in contempt of facts?—to defend such a monster is a stain to
the times, and an insult to the minds of a British people.
Alas ! poor human nature. Robespierre bad kisadvocates._