The Lisbon mail which arr...
The Times, 1824-09-06T00:00:00

The Lishion mail whichl arrived on Saturtlay, it was ex- pectel would hive brought the decision, or at least the disposition of Portuial, with regar d to the great subject ot Brazilian iudlepend(I ice, wlhich has been for some time untler negotiation here. Elngland and Austrialhave lent, it Is understood, their friendly offiLes towards the settlement of this national question. The CommiMsioners of the two Ftates more directly interested have made such considerable progress in their task, that the preiininary co-nferences were terminated above three weeks ago, and a basis for the recognition of the inidepeinlence of Brazil, being agreed upon by these negotiators, was about that time transmitted to Lisbon for the Ki,IN's approval. The project thus framed is said to have been accompaiiild by the strongest tcstimonies of Mr. CANNTN\-S approbationi, andl by others no less unequivocal frolm Prince E3TERHAZY OR the part of the Austrian Governrnenit. Those who pretend to be well informed, but whose authority, frotn the deep interest they feel in the question, may possibly render their judgment of so much the less weight, appear to fhatter themselves that King JoaN will accept the proposals sub- nmitted to him ; and a collateral fact of some (though not very definite) importance is, that the contract for addi- tional transparts, to aid, as was supposed, the expedlition to Brazil, has been abandone(d by the Court of Lisbon. It is also known, which is a fact of much greater importance, that the Portuguese Government, at the distinct request of the Brazilian Commissioners, has consented to set at liberty about I SO Brazilian prisoners, who were confined1 in the castle of St. Julian. Tbe recognition of Brazil by Portugal seems, however, to be a mneasure, not merely in itself, but in the prospects which grow out of it, a good deal more eomplicated wben the result of a vo- luntary bargain, than of an unsuccessful war for the sub- jugation of the former country. In5 the case of war, and the defeat of Portugal, the acknowledgment of indepen- dence would probably be similar to that of' England in fa- vour of the United States-pure and unclogged by any contlitions: but if brought about by diploinacy, it be- cotmes a question of terms; and in all human pru- dence, each party ought to be g3verned as to the cal- culation of how far it would be wise to abate from their extreme pretensions, by asking thpmselvesq 1st, the chance of maintaining those pretensions by arms; anl 2d, the price which mtist be paid for even a victorious contest. The first of these inquiries, if calmly and maafully conducted, must end, we are sure, in a persuasion on the part of Portugal that she has little or no meant of reducing Brazil by force. So, if the Brazilian Government reasons dispassionately, it will conclude with- out much labour, that a war with the parcnt state, how- ever likely to be suctessful, mnust entail upon the inhabitants of Brazil such cutnbersome preparations an.l such oppressive bur(lens, while it defers the period, or perhaps destroys the ultimate probability, of return- ing concord, and hazards the very existence of the infant Government under its actual fornis, that an exemption from these evils would be cheaply boight by (he offer of liberal advantages to the PortugUete nation in exchange for its surrender of the old supremacy, and as a groundwork of mutual favours, goodwill, and fraternity hereafter. In fact, there is on the side of PortugtAl, theiimpossibility of securing the maim end of a conflict; and on that of Brazil, the risk of buyingvictorythrough battle, atadearerrate than shecan en- joy.it,5withoutfiring a sinzlegLgn. Thusa peaceful adjust- roent offerr benefits to both nations; and any but a peacefitl one, only diffierent degrees of evil; If, morever, there should1 be accornplibed a voluntary sacrifice of power, and a kindly retura of Indemnification, between a parent state and a colany, jJust at the tnotent when nature herself has point- e,, out thle fitness of such a change, it will be an honour- a':;e a*aipple vthbout prece(ent in the history of mankind, and may go far towardls the diteountenancing that fierce andI vindictivc spiritwhich arrays itself in other countries against the adnmission of remson, justice, or humnanity,into questions which spring fiom the unequal growth and irreconcileable attitudes of old and inifant tiations. With regard to the policy pursutedl by Eiiglauid on this differcnce be- tween Brazil andl Portugal, we inAy venntire to say that it is lier unidoubte(d business to reconcile tlhen, if prac- ticable, oi conliditions of advaantige to both. Besides thiat, shle has an interest hi the continuance of peace in every quarter of the civilizoil w,;orld. It is her immediate anl peculiar conicern tha t Portugal and Brazil shouldl cnjoy tran- quillity foreignand domoestic. They are both her cuitomets, bioth destined byposition,and one by habitas vell as interest, to look uptoh<erasaprot(c rss adtl a frie-nd. If8razil should tendier some plreference to the Portuguese merchantinen over thost of other countries, it will be 'but encouraging a carriter of British manufactures, not a rival ef our national industry. It is for the gooil of England that Portugal shou 1t prosper aud lwithout souie tirect support to her shipping iDtarest, a beginnitng of her prosperity cannst well be made; for of manufacturing power she is wholly dlestitute, and her poplulationl is whhdificulty fed from her scanty soil. A benefit of this k;indi is probably what she would ask front Brazil, &nd wvhat might be easily grantedI: but it is at all evenits the dluy of England to promote the coneord( ofthtese two frtiedly sta-.cs.