The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-07-13
The late British Outrage upon Portugal.

To THE Error OF THE HERALD .
SR,l take pleasure In sending you translation OF
the protest Of the patriotic Count das Auas Tor pub
cation in the Herald justly celebrated throughout
the world fearless advocate of those liberal prnci
Piles Of which America has been the ploueer. and OF
which the truly American press must needs be the or
pathise with every liberal movement In the old well
as In the new world; for, without the example OF
America much Of the blood which has been
shed in defence of liberal principles would have been
spared and many Of the glorious triumpbs of human
melioration would have been unknown To America
therefore, belongs the responsibility well the glory
OF being the exempar Of nations and the leader In that
great physical moral and religious revolution which has
Tor It's end the total determination Of kind OF ty
ranny over the mind Of man. To fulfil the ennobling
destiny Of America, the American government is not
valor too feeble for this gigantic struggle But
American opinion, and the truly American press.
working out this stupendous plan Of universal redemp
ton. In this enviable class the friends Of liberty In
Italy in Portugal in Poland and especially in France
the prominent co-workers. Far above the cob web
Of sect or superior
political considerations Is this holy - and those
who engage In 1t must forever abandon the miserable
harness in which many well meaning but short sighted
philosophers crcumscribe their action Those there
fore, who have watched with any interest the popular
movement in Portugal, have been panied to see the
American press publishing unconradicted the British
version OF the late British outrage upon the Portuguese
people
The popular movement in Portugal had made such
progress as not only to enjoy the free and undputed
possession Of the northern provinces of which Oporo Is
the capital but to confne the despotic government
Is Kept almost as prisoner Of State. in the pos
session Of her treacherous ministers At this crisis,
Colonel Wild, an aid-de-camp to Prince Albert and a
well known Ariel Of court intrgues presented himself
to the Junta of Orerto commissioner for peacea-
bic between the Portuguese people and the
court The propositions offered by him decent and
fair, but no guarantee offered for their faithful
cuton. The Junta replied with dignity and circum-
spection, proposing some minor amendments to the
tices, and asking guarantee for their execution At
this uncture another British emssary appeared to
pose suspension of hostes between the two contend
fused having good reason to know that this
rnse to obtain time for Spanish army to enter the Por
tuguese territory The British ministry had often de-
clared both within and out OF Parliament that there
should be no armed intervention-ther mission being
only Of peace-to reconcile the Portuguese nation with
their Queen.
Under these circumstances the Count das Autas
barked with his division the 30th of May and the
following day England let fall the mask and the British
Admiral summoned das Autas to surrender. Eight
hours after this outrage the declaration of armed inter
ference WAS communicated to the Junta, and simuta
neousy appeared the following
The undersigned p.i rRoTa = H. povo0, snnsms
Government Of Portugal during of coercion her
Do .s@ay before Ged aud Se
fore al the sivzsd nations of the world the name and be-
yoaed made without any previous deelton wlthou,
soramsnt which all the provinces the kingdom recognize
majority OF me Portuguese nation render the homage OF allie
his uajusiab attack was effected in the very
that The ST division Of the national army under my I'M
s. Ho s 9s the as saa he s
OF our sovereign in a state OF coercion.
1t the 3lst of May, 8i7 at six o'clock in the
morning. that three corvette and four
ports, having ABOVE named division board sud
denly aud unexpectedly suounde and taken by the British
squadron, under the command of SIR +. Maitland and
afterwards occupied by British troops aud the matt 1nal
colors struck. The Portuguese soldiers ,ummoned to
ons,der prisone of aud the British took pos
csession of all the and
such fragrant infringement Of law and of the
ependence of people the it'll al and the Oldest ally
vi England shall not fail trust 70 excite among all ciyzei
nations the profound Indignation The enlght-
ened and honest Of the English people wall certainly
such unparalleled and the shameful conduct
OF the which
hereby do most solemny protest
Dated on boa,d OF the steamer Mindeo, off the Bar of
Oporto, 3lst Of May, l8i7.
(Sgned) COUNT DAS AUTAS.
Four days afterwards, Spanish army entered the
Portuguese territory, fell upon advanced posts Of
the popular forces, and, after wantonly Strengthening
about two hundred persons, again retired into Spain.