Star.
London, England, 1828-12-05 00:00:00

LISBON PAPERS.

LISBON.
The Gazettes from the 16th to the 22J el November,
both inclusive, Contain each a morning and an evening
bulletin respecting the state of his Majesty and the In-
tames. They an repe..t, neatly in the same words, that
Isis Majesty and the Infan:as are doing very well, and,
as they uniformly express it, without any change (rem
novidade).
Nov. 16.—Accounts have just been received by sea,
that the expedition which sailed from Madeira on the
17th abut arm* for the island of Terceira, arrived
on the Slst at the island cf St. Michael, not having yet
been able to communicate with the *lvor-, of account
of the weather. It seenss:hat the•Bratilian frigate had
left those seas. We hope that we shall soon be able to
give the agreeable intelligence that tbe loyal inhabitants
f Terceira are delivered from- the cabal, which bas•-ins,
famnnsly oppressed them, and for a lope dine than
OW* was season to expecr. _ •• •
Nov. 21.—0 n the 19th inst. her Mije tt the Pups eel
Queen removed to the itnyal Palace of Q*41412, 'whence
her Majecy pays frevent 'to the King and to
their Royal Highnesses the Int sates; her weak Malls
being thus less exposed- to the inclemencies of the season.
• ---,
BRUSSELS PAPERS.

bIIVSSELS, Drc. 1.
The Second Chamber of the St ices Gennal, in its
sittings on the 28 h ani 29th of Niovem'aer, and the Ist
of December, was almost wholly occupied with the dis-
.cussion of the motion l'f M. de Brouck-re, for the abro-
gationof the law of the 10.11 of April, 1815, a' the
decree of the 20th of April, 1815, and the law of the.
6th of March, 1818, but the debate was not concludes!.
M. de Brouckere, in a speech which to-It an hour iu
the delivery, made a profound impression on the nu-
merous assembly. " The laws in question," he said,
4! had produced monstrous persecutions. In 1815,
When a conqueror menaced our political existence, the
Sovereign nects arily had recourse to extraordotaty
measures, v. hich were justified by the circurostAnce..—
The press," said lie, g• is the only mean, of communica-
tion between the Govetnment and the nation. lc makes
4 way thr• ugh all ob,tacles. In a Constitution.'
State, the King can do no wrong ; he must •be in-
formed by the press, which is a check an•the arbitrary
acts of Monism,. The liberty of the Press may be
abused; but this is an inconvenience of trifling im-
ponance, compared with the Ali-chid which 'the Go-
vernment may do when that mi•chref does not exist:'
Ti,. Speaker enumerated the condemnations that have
taken place by virtue of the lox of 1815. " Our indivi-
dual liberty depends on the Procurators of tie King,
and their substitutes, and, at the bottom. on esingle
Minister. Since 1817, there hive been 56 persons a:.
cused by virtue of these laws, which ought to be erased
from our statute-book as a disgrace to us; for without
poblic discussion there is no public liberty." MM.
Fabre.Longpae de Stassort, de Gerlache, Van Busse,
Van Ysselt, de Laughe, S. de Vulsberghe, de Angiiis
Sunup, some of them speakers of great ability, at con-
siderable length supported the motion a M. de Brouc-
kere; few were against it, and most of those protested
ther attachment to the liberty of the press, and their
desire to see the laws in question altered ; but thought,
that as the King had promised that a mea-ure on the
subject should be laid before the Chamber in the course
of the Session, it would be best to wet for the 11, lid
proposition. In the %ruins! of the 2d, seven Members
spoke in favour of M. de Llronckere's motion, and three
against it. The list of the Members who had entered
their names was exhausted; the debate, however, con.
tinued ; the Minister of Justice spok-, and M. de Bronc-
hi. replied. The closing of the debate was called for,
but rejected by 54 votes to 51. The debate will be re
urruid to-morrow.
Oa this memorable occasion our representatives have
felt all the importance of the question. All except five,
who welt► absent from causes which they could not
contest, were at the post to which their duty called
them. Eighty attended the divcu.sioils in the sections,
105 have been present at the public debate. Even those
members who usually give a silent vote, have on this
occasion thought it due to public opinion to explain the,
motives for their conduct. The Chamber has alm is;
unanimously, and with the energy which conviction
gives, defended the liberty of the press. Whatever may
be the fate of M. de Brouckere 's motion, the debate has
had a most favourable influence on the public mind.
(The papers are almost 41Ied with the debate) on the
Second Chamber, and have ock news of affairs in the
East).

H. Woutcostae, El. moved a series of R-solutions
expressive of the most favourable opinion if the Por-
tuguese, and of their conduct since they became aesi-
dents at Plymouth, as als ► a wish, on beha'f of the in-
habitants, that they should still be suffered to remain
in the town, both on the ground of their sufferings in
the cause of Constirtrional Liberty, their nod con-
duct, and also on account of the benefits arising to the
town by theW presence. It had suldenly come to the
krviwlodge of the inhabitants of Plymouth that itw,s
intendkd to -disperse the Portuguese to other qtt sheer. of
the Viikdoni. He would 4! k why were they to be se-
parated. T.-why. dispersed? In time of war even, tie
prisoners taken from the enemy were suffered to remain
on parole in certain towns. arid •by should these Re-
fugees be parted ? They were driven from their oan
country for upholding . the C institutional Liberty so
much enjoyed in this country, aid as such demand our
sympathy and protection.
The Resolutions *etc seconded, and on the question
being pnts'the show of hands was orotnimuus in favour''
of their being carried. Other Res:ilurions were then
moved, and alter the Meeting had betin addressed by
J. BIRD, Esq. the Counsel, the Re+. Mr. Rows, Captain
Nat, R.N. J. H. Macaur.ze, Etq. it was unanimously
resolved that a Mennnoil, founded on the Resolutions,
shoolJ he presentesi by the Members for the Il..raugh
to the Secretary of S ate for the Home Department,'
after receiving the signatures of the inhabitants.
l'hanks were then voted to the C. airman. The
Meeting was afterwards aJdressed by roe of the Refu-
gees in the English language, wl:o returned thanks
for tle feelings evinced in behalf of his country.
men, and said that the sentiments :if ere speakers would
be retained in his mind long afer his return. 4 any
future les itid, to his country. fie should also take care
to communicate them to his fellow Refugees, who wlo:e
in England would conduct themselves in such a way
as he hoped would insure to them the future approba-
tion of the inhabitants of P.y mouth, and of this country
generally.

EGYPT.

EXTRACT PROM A MEMOIRR ON EGYPT &ND MAHOMET

Alit, BY AN AUSTRIAN p/iPIIICRII. •,
Very inaccurate; or at leait imperfect ideas, ate stae
entertained u.sioec ing Egypt, and the extra:is-din:ay
man who pesides over her destinies. - , •
PraORJ between two great and p.lO e. ful partsw( the
globe, and fronting Europe, les fertile, code ,d,• but
infiniteltsuperior in imputation an y, Egypt
pss!ssel, in Les pOotion, an cleat t.ge, which au acts
to hei shores the co,zimerce if the whole world, part—
cularly as she o'er., t e only -.ale port of any capacity
in that part of •the Levalt. .1 he caravans, which peie-
trite. to the interiol of the country, and TelUrii, bo h by
land And water, I. a.led with the produce of Africa,
destined ts be embark d upon tie Red Sea far Arabia,
and the most distant p issessions, :ender this
couotry t!.e entre. o: of the conimeice of :lie world.
The produce r f her soil and Uitary, which Egypt
send, to the markets of Alexandrii, would be sufficient
in itself to render that city one of the most important
and extensive places ef commerce; and the consent
Vicelity, Mehmed Ali, aware of that l•ct, has made it
his object to increase the trader f Alexandria ever since
he succeeded in ridding himself of the Alarnelouk Chi -fs
by encourag•ng agriculture, industry, and commerce,
and abase all, by improving the moral and intellectual
condition of the country he go v er *lnch he has els.'
fected in a sensible degree.
It is well-known that an immense difference exists
bet Arc: the present and the former state of Egypt, par
titularly berme the entiacce f the I:, ench towards the
end of the pieceding century. Many a.ticles &f ire
unknown to her comtlierCt are now cultivated there,
and civilisation conetamly progressing with its necessary
consequences—lusury introduces the use of machines,
and various products of European indu.try, the demand
for which daily increases, giving Rea, ity to the circula
tion, and causing also an increase of exp. rts. It she uld
be added, too, that a number of European families,
who have gone to Egypt to reside there, and enjoy re-
pose under the shade of an administration not less mild
than proticting, and contribute very much to this in-
crease of industry and commerce by their consumption
of produce, and still m ere by the immense foreign traffic
which they carry on.
All Vie vital resources of the country, neutralized a
short time back by a brutal and grasping despotism,
and by intestine dissentions, now gain consistence, and
reel a giaalual improvement under the case of a Govern-
ment actively employed in giving them relief.
Yet, witwitlistanding all these innovations, so ad-
vint.geous to Egypt, it must not be supposed that a
full and unrestricted freedom of trade obtains there.
The Pacha monopolizes foreign commerce as we:l as
alrfiost every ether branch of industry. His own ships
or vessels bought or liked of other nations, and receive
their cargo fr, m his agents, transport the merchandize,
provisions, acid produce of the soil nut only to Turkey,
t. ports of Italy, France, and Austria, but even to
E the
glind, Holland, and the very extremities of the notch.
This extraordinary man, whose merit is not, perhaps,
ufficient:y welt known, seems to possess qualities which
render him worthy to enjoy all kinds of monopolies.—
His genius, his u iben.ting firmness, have rooted out
all that was hurtful, all 'hat was barb irons even in the
public administration. Foreigners are permitted, as
well as the natives, to traverse without restraint the
whole extent r f the vast and intere•ting countries under,
his Government. He has thus cor.fi, tired the faudatnen
tal principle of commerce, while he encourages at the
same time the propagation of every usefui knowledge.
But it is asked, *ill this amelioration in the condition
of the people, and in the system of Govet nment, be al-
lowed to continue? Will the reforms i.itroduced by
Mehemet Ali be suffered to exist, when another Antra
hall be appointed to the vice-toy alty ? To thi, it may

Mehemet Ali, who allows no means to escape him:of
increasing his revenu-, applied himself to re-open an
old and rich mine of Egyptian comMerce—namely, the
trade with the Indie... Me. Briggs, the English Consul
at Alexandria, bad made a brilliant kitune in those
climates, and preserved there the most extensive
tela-
tions. The Viceroy was desirous of participatiasthf
this Gear.leaven's speenteitions, and devoted very cond.
derable slams to the execution of their enterprises. A
series of unfortunate circumstances hossever occurred,
It eh confounded their well.combined plans; and
among others, the war with the Wacchahites occasioned
great losses to the Viceroy. He los!, in t'.e traffic with
Indii, incakulable sums. But if fortune deserted hint
n that occasion, she always smiled on every eeeterpri.ee
he undertelt in Egypt. The manufactures which he
founded have attained the highest degree of prosperity.
The annals of Egypt represent to its a ce u.dry torn.
dining the greater pit cf modern time., by civil des.
sentions—the theatre of frightful deeds and terrific tta-
gedies. From the middle of the 18th century Egypt
groaned under the feroZious dominion of the -Marne.
lukes, her masters at that t me, who reduced tt.r.
to the last point of misery. Commerce, aid ever y thing
connected therewith; agricultute, and even the soil it.
'AL sank to such a st.te of degradation, that Egypt,
nexe so opulent as to supply with food, net oirty the
adjacent countries, but to be one of the granaries of
Rome, the mistress of the world—Egyi t yield with
difficulty support her population, twine- d to 2,500 000,
and was not able to pas the taxes with %Well her op-
pressors loaded her. This it was which rendered her
-always sajett to foreign influence. Mehemet Ali
could hear this no loose, ; and, incited by amhilkn, he
discovered, bylj,s poet's alone, the means of eel erring
again 'the source of ttlahappiness aod ancient stealth of
Egypt, and of rrinniplii g over e of-stacles *hick
oppo.ed his generous purpose. 4lr Is treasury soon be-
came tiled, hid he found hbriSeli ib a condition to carry
into execution his projects of conqiest in the interior of
Africa, - his match against t* e Wacchubites, and" his
pilgrimages to tte tomb en the Prophet. His ecoiecnny
ice put it in his pewee to organae that land and
naval force sehieh, tinder the command of his son Ina.
nim, has proved so formidable t r the Greeks.
Th.is Nleherriet.hal re cited a inceei- rite, which R •t
only assures to him the most marked .prepondtr:nce
over surrounding States, hut makes his...der entiance
on ele te, ept so far as tegiias walkers of tell,
ginn. merely nominal. It cannot therefore. be I.nia-
tere.titig to examine the present state of Egypt en lee
the government of Mehemet and to obarve the method
which he has adopted to raise her to that degree of
amelioration in which she now stands.

The capacity of the soil, the fundamental basis r F the
prosperity of Eypt, was the first object of serious at-
tention to the Government. The land, laid Mane by
c-ntinual wars, and neglected by e unfortunwe est&
vators, whose labours were ince.srntly interrupted. pro.
doted nothing beyond what was stricily neceismy fur
consumption. The preceding A d minibus! io knew not,
in fact, its extent, and were content to multirly the itc•
posts, without caring about their just r4nro. lion.
lhe fit st care of Mehemet was to induce yeorne:ers
to come from Europe for the purpose nf makine• surveys
of all tracks of land capable of producing food. Thus
agricultural registers were form d, in which ere de-
.cribed the extent of the approptiaced lands, the nature,
of the soil, and its boundaries.

The most considerable Sheiks, and skilful judges,.
being first sworn. were appointed vs pronounce upr n
these points, and to suggest in what manner eh- greatest
good could be produced under the circumstances ..f the
country. This purpose was accomplished in a very
short space of time.
The Viceroy then directed the cultivation of the land,
to sow in each part of their farm, the torn most fitted
to the nature of the soil. To second, as far as depended
on himself, these measures, he caused a email' ru•nber
of new canals ro be dug, and the old ones de,ticed to
lertilize Lower Egypt to the mouths of the Nile, to be
cleansed and repaired. In a short time the land pro.
duced a great deal, more that was ro ces.ary fir the
supply of the inhabitants, and front the moment that it
became possible to collect a surp'us, commerce was
roused from the lethargy in which it had so long lan-
guished, and a way was soon found to export vain.
This was not enouglt for the Pacha-,he was desirous
of effecting still farther good and with this view he
inv'ted some tribes of Bedouiqs from the Deserts of
Arabia. to whom he offered lanl upon the frontiers,
on conditions profitable to the State. The‘e invitations
were for the most part accepted, and a double advana
cage resters to the country from this measure ; for while
tracks of land hitherto lay fallow, became cultivated and
yielded a revenue, the Nomade hordes, which disturbed
the peaceable inhabitants, acid often pillaged them in
despite of the menaces of the G.ivernmen., are now
transformed into husbandmen, cultivating in tranquil-
lity the territory which they before dew ast wed, and ten.
,tiered henceforth its .natural defenders against similar
hostile aggressi. ni.
Formerly these hordes of robbers often extended their
irruptions to the very walls of Alexandria and Cairo,
trot they were in particular dreaded by v'llages along
die coast. Neon aliced to the country, these Bedouins
form an menet t stock of wattiots, t f which silvan.
sage has already been taken.
The soil of Egypt frequently varies, but with the ex-
ception of some marshy districts and uncultivated
lands bordering on the Desert, it is evtry where fer•
tile, and principally the De:ta, in Lower Egypt, and
.the countries of Trim and Fayem, in Upper and Mid. ‘ar
dle Egyi.t.

TH.

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