The Sun. — 1841-08-09 (London, England)

PORTUGAL. LISBON, AUG. 2.—The Bill of Foracs, or land-property, has been but slowly progressing, owing to M. Soure, an opposition deputy, having declared that such a law would be but a panacea, bring no eventual good to the country, and prose only the means of creating endless litigation. On Wednesday a project for lessening the postage on newspapers which circulate through the kingdom was adjourned sine die, Ministing having objected to it. Their opponents, who seem to have had the superiority in argument, were obliged to succumb to Ministerial numbers, and after some bitter reflections against the press, which fell from the Foreign Secretary, M. Rodrigo da Fonseca Magelehaes, a division Was called for, which decided its adjournment. The vital question of the stoppage of payment or bankruptcy bya capitalization of the floating debt up to the end of June last, as proposed by the Palmella Committee, is given as the order of today. On this question the variance which exists between his Grace and the Ministry, particularly- AI. Avila, of the Finance Department, is well known ; the latter, in a meeting lately held, said he would resign office if his colleagues intended to give their support to the measures ; his Grace answered him in rather an angry tone, and observed, that arguments ad terrorent were but a poor mode of discussion, concluding, that if the present Ministers were to go out, the country would not, in consequence, be lost. Notwithstanding this divergency of opinion,, the continuation of the finance s-.:heme in statu quo will, in all probability, be carried. From the aspect in which affairs now are, and are likely to assume, it is conjectured that, soon after the 15th of the present month, Ministers will call for a vote of confidence, and then prorogue the Cortes to next January. I learn, from good authority, that M. Aguilar, the Spanish Envoy at this Court, has written in the most energetic terms to the Government upon the recognition of the late Miguelite Bishops, and their appointment to the two dioceses on the Portuguese frontiers, Braganza and Elves. Spain looks with a jealous eye upon these recognitions and on the negotiations carried on with the Pope, and seems to discover a plan for undermining the Spanish revolution, and establishing a propaganda in Portugal. Saturday, the twenty-ninth anniversary of the birthday of her Imperial Majesty the Duchess of Braganza, was feted as a grand gala, and the usual domonstrations were shown by firing Royal salutes from the Portuguese forts and ships of war in the Tagus. A,Royal dinner was given at the Palace at Cintra to her ImpefialMajesty—on the occasion; amongst the.gueSt's Were the gallant Duke de Terceira, the Marquis de Saldanha, and the Bishop of Braptiza. The invitation of this Prelate, who five years ago in a printed address advocated, the cause of Don Miguel in opposition to her Majesty the Queen and the Pedroites, has afforded much matter for animadversion. Her Serene Highness the Infanta, Donna Isabel Maria, the once Regent of Portugal, has left her Palace at Bemfica for that of Ramalhao, near Cintra, to pass the summer. The revenue of the Lisbon Custom-house, and Exciseoffice and Custom-house of Oporto for the month of June last, paid in debentures, ex-paper money, and coin, amounts conjointly to 329,058,050 revs, equal tn. 73,402/. 2s. Bd. sterling, showing an increase on the preceding month of May of 7,9541. Bs. 3d. sterling. The accounts from the Algarves are of a most lamentable nature, scarcely anything but murders, assassinations, and robberies of the worst description are to be heard of ; the churches of Santa Marinha do Zezere, Trisouras, Loivos da Ribeira, and San Nicolas, have been recently broken into and stripped of everything of value. Yesterday, at mid-day, a calamitous and extensive fire broke out in the premises of a Swiss cabinetmaker at the Thesouro Velho, near to the English hotel of Madame de ' Belem, which, being increased_ by a very strong north wind, threatened, for upwards of two hours, destruction to the whole of the neighbouring districts. Happily, however, through the well-directed exertions of the firemen, assisted by many private individuals and the officers and seamen from the Portuguese ships of war, the French corvette Coquette, and the British brig Espoir, the flames were got under ; and by five o'clock all apprehension for the safety of the adjoining dwellings had subsided. Much property has been destroyed, but no lives lost. Captain Franca, who it may be recollected after the revolution of September, 1836, was Inspector of the Naval Arsenal and Colonel of that battalion, and implicated in the attempts at revolution in August last, after having saved the whole of the family of the house where he resided, by conducting them at the risk of his life along a parapet, _returned to secure some papers and valuables, but unfortunately losing his equilibrium, owing to the violence of the wind and raging of the fire, fell from a height of nearly two stories, and is now lying severely injured at the house of a relative. Three suicides, by persons moving in a respectable sphere of life, brought about by gambling,, and other pecuniary embarrassments, have taken place here during the past week. The Brandywine United States frigate left on Thursday last for her station in the Mediterranean, touching at Cadiz. Exchange upon London at 30 days' sight, 54d. per milrei.  TO