82 EUROPE.

LONDON. AUG vsr 21. 1832.

The rinci al article of foreign news brought b the renc journals consists of a resolution ofthe Helvetian Fedral Diet, agreed to on the 16th Instant, declaratory of the pleasure with which that body had received the ofﬁcial com- munication by which the Austrian Government

. announced that the military preparations made by the latter power, in the neighbourhood of the Swiss frontier, had for their object the maintenance, and not the overthrow, of the in- de ndence ofSwitzerland.

mm the Courier —By the Lisbon packet Columbia, we have received accounts from Oporto, ofthe 19th, and from Lisbon ofthe 17th. As usual the private letters from Lisbon do not contain much news of a politicalnature. It appears by the following extract of one with which we have been favoured that the commu- nication between Oporto and Lisbon is very limited, and that some degree of suspicion, which we hope will prove unfounded, is attach- to the Admiral stationed there :-—

Extract from a letter datedLisbon,August 17 1832.

“ We are a good deal dispirited here by the little progress Don Pedro has been able to make, and at the present moment are very fear- ful of an unfavourable result. Our communica- tion with Oporto is very limited, which we think is in a great measure owing to the disin- clination of our Admiral to facilitate news from thence. We do not know what his instructions maybe, but we cannot help thinking that he has neither maintained the honour nor interest of his country. The ﬁring on the Viper, vu'th the tardy satisfaction (if it can be so called) given, would hardly have been tamely submit- ted to in former times; and the admission of vessels under the Brazillian and Aus'rian ﬂags to the exclusion ofours, is prejudicial in the extreme to British commerce. You will by this conveyance have the latest neWs from 0- porto—the reports here are so various and con. ﬂicting, that we can give credit to nothing. It appears very doubtful, however, if the good cause can succeed, without foreign interfer- ence, as the inﬂuence of the rascally clergy over the lower orders is very great, and the liberal party show such apathy, neither coming forward with money nor men, that I fear the task is above the power of so small a force as Don Pedro at present posesses. Should he be defeated, it is dreadful to look forward to the consequences—but we must hope for the best. The squadron of Miguel is said to be off, but we believethat none of them are yet (eleven p.m.) inside the ban—The accounts from Oporto are not so discouraging as we were at ﬁrst led to suppose, but we are still anxious to learn the issue of the threatened attacks.”

By the accounts from Oporto, we learn that Don Miguel’s ﬂeet, had returned to the Tagus on the 18th, and some do ree ofdisappointment is felt there, that Admira Sartorius should not have succeeded in capturing some of his vessels.

The fact, however, of the enemy’s ﬂeet leav- ing is considered as a favourable tendency, as it leaves the coast clear for landing stores, provisions, &c. _

At Paris Don Pedro”; agents, with or without the connivance of the French government, are organizing an expedition of 10 000 men, the obyeet of which is to make a landing in the southern coast of Portugal and effect a diver-

men.

It is said that Ferdinand persists in his charge ﬁvioldasn of neutrality agreed upon, and will adraitae distinction between foreigners enlisted

THE BRITISH AMERICAN

under Don Pedro’s banner, and a foreign corps of troops acting on his behalf. A Cabinet Council was held at Madrid, soon after the arrival at an express from St. Petershurgh, in which the fact of the violation was proved to the entire satisfaction of its members; and it is said to have been resolved, that instructions should be immediately transmitted to the Spanish Ambassadors in Paris and London, to intimate to the French and English govern— ments, that circumstances justify an immedi- ate interference on the part of Spain in favour of Miguel.

According to an order of the Government of Donna Maria, foreign grain is allowed to be imported at Oporto.

Extract from a merchant’s letter, Oporto, Aug. 18:—The state of affairs in Villa Nova will, for the present, entirely prevent our shipping wine, as we are in momentary expec- tation of that place being occupied by Miguel’s troops, and it will be impossible to attend to business under such circumstances, and we do not attempt to take freight for anything for England at present. All the smaller strug- gling houses, who have but limited capital and credit here, and depend upon the regularity of their returns to meet their engagements, are daily stopping payment, and they must unfor- tunately be ruined : it is deplorable, for many are very industrious, honest, and iiSeful members ofthe commercial community. At this moment we are surrounded by 24,000 of Miguel’s troops, every moment expecting an attack. ()ur force, however, here being strong and the city well disposed, and well fortified, we expect they will be repulsed by our gallant little band. The retreat of Migucl’s ﬂeet to Lisbon, has given the Constitutionalists great spirits.”

Extract ofa letter from a seamen on board the Reinha da Portugal, dated at sea, off Opor- to Bar, August 14 :—The ﬁrst engagement we had with the cnem was upon the 3d of this month. about lloclock at night. We only ﬁred three broadsides ; our only force being the Donna Maria, 36, and our own ship, the Reinha da Portugal, 42. The second was fought on the 10th, from eleven to one at night. The Admiral turned the hands up, and told us that he was determined to give the Don Juan, 74,a warming. We answered him with three British cheers. We made all sail, and stood for the centre of their line, when the whole of their force—consisting of one 74, one 50-gun frigate, three corvetts, and two brigs, opened ﬁre upon us. We kept all fast till We got within pistol range, and then the word was passed ‘ Are you ready!‘ ‘ All ready.’ ‘ Fire.’ And we kept it up for one hour and ﬁfteen mi- nutes, (after breaking their line,) ourselves and the Donna Maria. the small craft being ordered by the Admiral to keep to windward. We received many shots about the hull, masts, sails. and rigging. The next morning about ten o'clock we were about four miles to wind- ward of the enemy, trying to ﬁnd out what damage we had done them, when the Don Juan’s maintop-mast went over the side. We gave three cheers, and stood down to them. Unfortunately for us, it fell a calm, or else we would assuredly have had her in tow. We are now off Oporto, two steamers and a cutter have come out to us; the latter of which brings this letter. The Admiral has told us to day, that :the moment.,we can collect tour force togetb r, be will again shew ﬁght. WIVth don’t they d it i—seven to two! Don iguel’s ﬂeet is now standing for Lisbon. We are in chase—onl two! We have heard from the Leveret, B'ritish man-of-war, that the enemy sustained great damage.”

At the time of their exchanging shots, and

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in which the Don John had her main top mm shot away, Sartorius had tWo men killed, and eight wounded; whilst the loss of their power. ful opponent was stated to be upwards of 100 killed and 50 Wounded. The Constitutional ﬂeet were oﬂ the bar of Lisbon ; it consisted of two frigates, two brigs, two schooners, and two steamers; there were two corvettes and several schooners getting ready.

Madrid, Aug. 13.-—An interview of a some. what stormy nature lately took place between the British Plenipotentiary, resident here. and our Foreign minister. The latter threatened to send a Spanish Army into Portugal in case ofa particular state of circumstances arising, Upon this the British Minister emphatically told him that Great Britain would never, under any possible conditions, or on any pretence What. ever, permit the Spanish government to inter. fere in the domestic affairs of Portugal, and that the government of France had agreed to assist hen—A letter from Oporto states that Don Miguel had received 6,000 muskets from England, 40,000 pair of shoes, and 40,0001. profoundest silence is uniformly observed by our government respecting the affairs of Por- tngal; they simply allow their Gazette to speak in the most favourable manner ofthe resources of Don Miguel, but no explanation whatever is given of the late actions in that kingdom. Re. ports are abroad that a negociation has taken place, whereby Don Pedro is to enter Lisbon and Don Miguel to retire to Rome. This news, 1 am assured, has been carried both to the go verment and to the British Minister. How- ever this may be, it is certain that a large sum onOney has been lately placed at the disposalo Don Miguel by Spain; and this must certainly be the last pecuniary gift which it is possible for the Spanish treasury to supply. Such, indeed, has been the embarrassed state ofour finances. that it has become necessary to lay vrolen hands on the Rayal Volunteer’s funds: thi will not go far, and now the troops and clerk are unpaid.

The army ofthe Pacha ofﬂgypt continuesits successful march in Syria. 'I‘thedonins are or the point of submitting to him. intelligence 0: an engagement between his ﬂeet and that o the Portc, was hourly expected at Alexandria. The Egyptian force was numerically inferiort that opposed to it, but is represented as superi or in equipments and discipline.

Accounts from the frontiers of Poland, 0 July 20, state that no fewer than 20,000 Polisl women will be very shortly expatriated. The} will consist, 1st, ofall women married to Rue sians—and Russian officers are encomaged t take Polish wives by grants of rewards; 20d of the wives of all Polish ofﬁcers who hav been taken prisoners, and who are to join tlici husbands in Russia ; 3rdly, the wives ofall Po lish ofﬁcers who were killed during the revqu tion; 4thly, the wives of all Polish soldier who were killed ; and 5thly, all the public no men.

The Prussian army is said to consist of 291 000, and the Dutch ofl32,000 men. This, wi the Austrian and Russian force. would be formidable armament to oppose to the French even it aided by “Ice brave Belgcs.” The form er too—especially the Prussians—are in hit!he discipline and condition than the French,whic Charles X. left in a state of disorganization, which the exertions of Soultr—great and un ceasin as they have been, can hardly ha sufﬁce to applya sufﬁcient remedy. Prep.a rations for war are making on all sides. 3"lt zerland has decided on a general armamen that she may not be the only defenceless stat in the present threatening posture of aﬂ‘ai Her force will be 100,000 men.

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