By the Courier, arrived a...
The Times, 1824-04-29T00:00:00

'By the Courier, arrived -at-Jersey, letters were received yesterday from Rio de Janeiro, dated the 26th of February. The judicious meagure of publishing the project of a new constitLution has, it appears, restored tranquillity to nearly the whole of the Brazilian provinees. 1Vhen first promul. gated, it will be recollectcd that the Camara or Municipa-: lity of Rio deJaneiro presented a petition to the EmiErroia, soliciting that the -new constitution should *be at- once adopted as a law-of th empire, without the intervention oi a Legislative Asseiibly. The EsfF seoat assured them of the satisfaction lie felt at rece*vin' such an address, but de- clined compliance with the prayer contained in it until he should.be acquainted with the wishes of the other pro- vinces. Since that time similar petitions had been 'pre- sen ted from the whole of the provinces south of Per- *nambucoj' and the same spirit was conceived to actuate those to the northward; bnt a suffilient time.had not elapsed to ootaiu communications fromr them. lYhen those were received, ihe ublicdecaration of the- adoption ef the new constitution asalaw, was looked for asatestof the Ex5.rEnoa's sincerity in preparing it;, Me~iutime no hilt was given of the future convocation of a LegislativeAssembly', and the ekctions of depiftles, :which had commenced, had been siUspen(ded. Independeiutly of these causes, circumstances were occurring under the observation of the English mer. chants residing. at Rio. de Janeiro, ten(ding to revive the suspicions before excited, that a secret understanrling ex- isted between.the EBmrPItoR anl1 the -Courts of Portugal, France, and Austria, but which had been suspended, if not removed, by the ptiblication of the new con- stitution. The principal ground of distrust was the presence of a French squadron, consisting of six ships DC' war, in the harbour of Rio de Janeiro ; and it was understood, that within a month their number would be increased to fifteen sail; and- tkat the entire squadron would consist of three ships of the line, seven frigates, three corvettes, and twvo brigs. An intimation had bee. eonveyed tothe EMIPEROR from th6 French Consul-General, that the King bis master had ordered this squadron to be placed at his disposal, as Regent af Brazil. The Magicienne frigate had brought out a diplomatic character, nitder the title of Secretary of Legation; but he was conisi- lered by the merchants as an Emissary of the Holy Alli- ince, whose objectit was, by crushitig the little influence and respect enjoyed by the English in Brazil, to pave the way for the ulterior riews of his employers. Upon the correctness of these facts, which are extremely important, the whole questioli depends. If true, they afford just mua.se at least for suspicion. We cannot of course hold ,urselves responsible for them, but can only state that Lhe letters in which they are contained now lie .before us, tnd that they are derived from a most respectable quarter. A.s the intrigue for the subversion of Brazil,should it really Drove what the suspicions of the mercliants represent, mrst be fully participated in by the French Government, it is hoped that 'the mercantile houses now on the point of en- ;aging in a contract foraloan to the Brazilian Governmenat, 'II1 useexertions to obtain explicit information on this point before comproiltising their ownt characters and risking a large anount of English capital in such a transaction. We tr ust there may be nothing real in the danger apprehend- ed; but we were bound at least to place the evidence for it fairly before them. Alen so deeply interested for them- selves and others can hardly fail with the reqcuisite caution to arrive at a right conclusion.