СНАР. Х. PORTUGAL New irruption of the Rebels into the Province of MinhoThey are defeated at Burca, and driven beyond the Frontier-They again enter the Province of Tras Os Montes: they are again driven into Spain, and are there disarmed-Position of the British Army— Opening of the Cortes-Differences between the Chambers regarding a Loan A Loan voted-Finances-Discussions on the Conduct to be pursued towards the Rebels-Motion for the Dismissal of the Ministry Prorogation of the Cortes-Proclamation against the Clergy An Amnesty is published-Decrees of the Emperor received from Brazil-They are not put into Execution-Mutiny in the Garrison of Elvas-Dissensions in the Cabinet-Illness of the Regent-Change of Ministry-Don Miguel announces his intention of returning to assume the Regency-Desertions from the Army-Saldanha dismissed from the Ministry of War-Disturbances in Lisbon. and at Oporto-Proceedings against their Instigators and against the Press-Changes of Ministry-The Emperor appoints Don Miguel Regent--Don Miguel visits England on his return to Portugal-The Bank of Lisbon stops Payment. T HE expectations were disappointed, which had been entertained, that the discomfiture of the Portuguese rebels in the engagement at Coruches, in the province of Beira, on the 9th January in this year, would put an end to their aggressions against the tranquillity of their country. On the 18th December, the Spanish government had given the most solemn assurances, that the orders for disarming the fugitive insurgents, and removing them from the frontier, would be promptly and rigorously executed; and, on the 11th of January, just two days after their defeat, a circular, in the same strain, had been addressed by the minister at war to the captains-general of the frontier provinces. So far were these assurances from being carried into execution with good faith, that the rebels were allowed again to compelled to fall back towards the the rebels, on learning their apDouro, destroying the bridges as proach, had commenced their rethey retired : a precaution, in tak- treat, having re-passed the Cavado, ing which they were sometimes after fortifying, however, and preresisted by the monks, who would paring to defend, the bridge across willingly have paved a way for the river. On the 5th, D’Angeja the rebels from the frontiers to ordered Villa Flor to attack the Lisbon. An officer and his party bridge; it was carried after a slight who had been ordered to blow up resistance; and the constitutional a bridge at Santo Thirso, were troops, having passed, continued surprised and made prisoners, and the pursuit, till the rebels endeathe bridge preserved, by the inter- voured to make another stand at ference and authority of a monas- the small town of Barca, on the tery of Benedictine friars in the river Lima. One of their regineighbourhood. On the 2nd of ments succeeded in defending the February, the rebels, having pass- town till night-fall, when it slowed the Cavado, made themselves ly retired beyond the river, still masters of Braga, within a short occupying the bridge. D'Angeja, distance of Oporto. In some of giving them no repose, resolved the small towns through which instantly to force the passage. A they passed, the activity of the brisk action now took place; the priests secured them a welcome bridge was attacked and defended from the populace, who received with great vigour, but was at them with shouts for the “ abso- length carried by the constitutionlute king,” meaning thereby don alists at the point of the bayonet, Miguel. Oporto itself, so nearly and the rebels, leaving behind menaced, was again thrown into them their artillery, which proved the greatest alarm; but the good to be of Spanish manufacture, and will of the inhabitants towards the two hundred and sixty prisoners, regency, the fidelity of the troops, besides killed and wounded, fled in and, above all, the spirit and reso- all directions towards Gallicia. lution of the governor-general D'Angeja pursued them with such Stubbs, prevented any disturbance rapidity as gave them no time to of the public tranquillity, and fur- rally,* and, on the 8th, he entered nished the means, and gave the promise, of an obstinate defence. During the pursuit, the baggage of The generals of the regency, on the rebel leader Montealegre was capreceiving intelligence of this new tured, and its contents supplied deci.. sive evidence of the share which the and unexpected inroad, immediately hastened northward from attacks on Portugal. In it was found Spanish government had borne in these Beira. The marquis d’Angeja, the original of a despatch from Mongovernor of the invaded province, tealegre to the queen-mother, dated count Villa Flor, and general only a few days before the battle of Mello, who commanded in Tras os Coruches, and giving an account of the proceedings of the faction, down to Montes, effected their junction at that period, which proved, that the Lixia, not far from Braga, on the nomination of the leaders of the rebels 2nd of February, the same day had proceeded from Ferdinand himself. on which the rebels entered the Montealegre there informed her ma jesty, that, at Madrid, he had been latter town. They advanced next presented to her brother, his Catholic day to attack them in Braga; but majesty, who "required him to take the . the frontier town of Melgaço. He To counteract both designs, immediately applied to the Spanish the army of the regency moved authorities to disarm the fugitives; against them in two divisions. but these applications were refused While one corps, under general or evaded, till the rebels recruited Mello, moved right upon Chaves themselves, and marched to ano- from the westward, Villa Flor, ther quarter, when the authorities at the head of another, retraced declared that there were no insur- his steps along the Tamega, to gents within their jurisdiction. secure the important pass at the ' The cavalry were, indeed, in some bridge of Amarante, and, by throwinstances, deprived of their sabres, ing himself between the rebels and but they were allowed to retain the Douro, to prevent them from their horses, and could find no taking their route towards Beira. difficulty in procuring arms, either Unless they were strong and active from the samearsenals that had sup- enough to defeat these corps in plied them with their artillery, or detail , they could advance only in Braganza, Chaves, and the other by crossing the Tamega between towns in the north of Portugal, Chaves and Amarante. In that where the influence of their lead- event, the junction of Mello and ers chiefly prevailed. According. Villa Flor behind them, would , ly, the rebels had scarcely been have cut off their retreat, while chased from the province of Minho, Oporto was in front, with a strong when they again appeared in arms garrison, and a skilful and resolute on the left bank of the Tamega, commander, and the head-quarters in Tras os Montes, and, on the of the British army had been ad18th February, united their forces vanced to the banks of the Mon. at Chaves, ready to take the dego. Retreat, therefore, seemed road which they had followed in the only safe course for the insura their first invasion, and either gents, and it was hastened by march southward into Beira, their internal dissensions. While whence the constitutional troops they lingered inactively at Chaves, , had been withdrawn into the north some of their regiments mutinied, to defend Minho, or to force the and demanded the heads of their passage of the Tamega, and ad- commanders, Magessi and Texeira, vanee against Oporto. whose fidelity they doubted. The approach of Mello's division, on command as second, and to consider his the 22nd of February, added nephew, the marquis de Chaves, as panic to insubordination: they imgeneral in chief, that being the sovereign will of his Catholic“majesty,;" mediately quitted Chaves, and comthat he had the great glory of obtain- menced a disorderly retreat towards ing, in the month of November, the the frontiers in the direction of necessary permission for the departure Valladolid. Mello pressed closely of the troops to Portugal, and that he himself, and the whole of his division, upon them from behind, and his were indebted to his majesty's royal van-guard had a smart skirmish munificence for the most signal bene. with their rear at Quintella on fits.” There were copies likewise of the 3rd of March. Villa Flor several letters from a Spanish agent, was advancing with great rapidity accompanying the insurgents, addressed from to Spanish authorities, and detailing the the South-west, and the proceedings of the confederates, for the rebels, finding themselves pressed information of the Spanish government into a corner, concentrated their a were troops at Vimoso, between Bra- had been received in Lisbon with ganza and Miranda, on the 6th of acclamations of welcome; and a March, as if inclined to hazard an decree was issued for their special engagement. Mello and Villa benefit, strictly prohibiting all perFlor united their forces at Pinelo sons with whom they might have on the 8th, and resolved to attack to deal, to take advantage of their them on the following day. But ignorance for the purpose of cheatthe rebels broke up during the ing them. In the middle of Janunight, and, in three divisions, ary, leaving garrisons in the forts sought refuge in Spain. on the Tagus, which it had been Thus a last opportunity was af- agreed they should occupy during forded to Spain of redeeming her their stay, they marched northhonour, and fortunately for herself ward to the Mondego, and, on she seemed at length, though with the 5th of February, the headno good grace, to be in earnest. The quarters established at insurgent divisions of Montealegre Coimbra, thus covering the apand Magessi, were not allowed to proach to the capital, even if the pass the frontier till they had laid constitutional troops had proved down their arms on the Portuguese unable to check the progress of territory; that of Telleo Jordao the rebels in Minho and Tras os was disarmed, after it had entered Montes. After these provinces Spain. The fugitives, to the num- had been cleared of the insurgents, ber of three thousand men, were the head.quarters were carried back marched into the interior, to a to Leyria, a garrison being left in dépôt assigned for them, on the Coimbra ; and the line occupied frontiers of Arragon and Castile; by the troops extended from Leyria their arms were ordered to be de- to Santarem, on the Tagus, an livered up to the Portuguese author- advanced guard being stationed at ities; their leaders, Chaves and Thomar. This position, stretchCanellas, were not permitted to ing between the® Tagus and the remain in Spain, and took their Mondego, joined to the possession departure for France. Through- of the fortresses at the mouth of out these operations, the generals the Tagus, and the command of of the regency manifested great the river secured by the presence activity, and the troops did not, of the fleet, sufficiently protecton any occasion, display symptomsed the constitutional government of wavering fidelity. against any sudden aggression. The British troops, which had ar- While these military operations rived at Lisbon in the end of were going on in the north, the December, and the beginning of Cortes were proceeding with their January, took no part in the events legislative labours in Lisbon. At of the campaign; but their pre- the opening of the session, in the sence was of the highest utility, beginning of January, the bishop not only in securing the tran- of Viseu, in place of the infanta quillity of the capital, but in regent, who was confined by inforcing on the rebels the convic- disposition, addressed to them a tion, that, whatever might be their speech which was more distinpartial successes at first, there was guished for uselessly eulogizing a point beyond which they would what the nation had formerly not be allowed to advance. They done, than for practical political wis dom in pointing out what it ought she had lent her aid to Portugal, to do now. He told them, that, and spoke with much moderation “ from the earliest periods, the even of the provoking conduct of Portuguese had shown themselves Spain. “ The other nations of . to be endowed with penetrating Europe," it was said, “recognize and judicious heads, and noble and our institutions emanating from courageous hearts ;” and he refer- legitimate authority, and applaud red them to the fifteenth century, our efforts. If one among them and the middle of the seventeenth, has shown indecision, wiser counas epochs of Portuguese glory cils have at length removed its which “had not their equals in doubts, and it has found that it history." “ Continue,” was his was fitting for it to embrace and advice to them, “in the path of follow the common opinion.” The virtue and honour; it is difficult, bishop did not know, that, in less but it is also glorious. Enter than a month, a new invasion was upon the exercise of your import- to be organized under the proant functions with moderation, but tection of that very power. without timidity, with zeal for The finances first occupied the liberty, but without any of the attention of the Cortes, and occuexcesses that lead to licentiousness. pied it unfortunately as a subject Be circumspect in your propo- of dissension between the two sitions ; be wise and judicious in chambers. In the extraordinary your deliberations. Show to the session held in the end of the prekingdom, to Europe, and to the ceding year, the chamber of Depuworld, by your respect for the re- ties had authorized a loan, and ligion which we profess, for the had voted certain additional taxes fundamental law, and the rights for payment of the interest. The which it assigns to the king and chamber of Peers did not deny the to the chambers, that the Catholic necessity which existed for raising religion will always be ours, and the money ; they did not object to that, far from wishing to destroy, the amount of the loan, or the you only endeavour to revive, rate of interest ; but they could ameliorate, and consolidate, the not be brought to agree to the ancient institutions of our coun- new imposts, and, their committee try.” This was all very good ad- having made a report unfavourable vice; but it made sorry amends to the measure, the loan bad failed. for the absence of business-habits. The charter had provided for such and business-like language. Criti- a difference of opinion between the cal as the state of affairs was, no two houses, by directing that the one measure was proposed or re- matter on which they disagreed commended, or even noticed by the should be remitted to a mixed comgovernment. The government mission consisting of an equal seemed to have been doing and number of members of each champlanning nothing, and that too in ber—an arrangement which seems circumstances in which a prudent to have been suggested by the conand active government would al- ferences between the British Lords ways wish to take the initiative. and Commons. Such a commisThe speech expressed a fitting de- sion, containing fourteen peers and gree of gratitude towards Britain as many deputies, was now named, for the promptitude with which to consider the loan-bill., But |