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Out of 51,000,000f. value sent by us into Belgium, 45,000,000f. consisted of the products of our soil and our manufacturing industry; being the same amount as that of 1838, and 6,000,000f. more than that of 1839. Spain has afforded to our special exportation commerce a market for 79,000,000f. There has been for several years past a firm increase in our exports to that country. Those to Algiers are also increasing; they have risen to 22,000,000f., treble the amount to which they reached in 1835. Among the other countries mentioned, those with which our exportation commerce has sustained the greatest increase are-the Sardinian States, Germany, Brazil, Russia, Chili, and Mexico. A decrease equally considerable may be observed, on the contrary, in the export of our produce into Egypt, Turkey, India, the coasts of Africa, and Switzerland."

From an enumeration of some of the chief articles of import and export, we select those which will most interest the English reader

"Cotton-wools are reckoned at 151,000,000f. (fourteen per cent.) in the total value of the goods imported; and out of these, 151,000,000f., 94,000,000f. were entered for internal consumption. In comparison with 1835, these sums show a surplus difference of sixty-seven and thirty-two per cent. There has been a decrease in the arrival of sugars from our colonies, but an increase in the amount cleared; the surplus difference is nine per cent. From 1835 to 1838, the value of the foreign grain entered for home consumption did not exceed on the average

VOL. LXXXIII.

4,000,000f. a year; it rose in 1839 to 25,000,000f., and in 1840 to 47,000,000f. Wools in general, the importation of which gave way in 1839, have sustained a further decrease as regards the special commerce. The amount of the

imports of spun-yarn and hemp, which scarcely reached 10,000,000f. in 1835, has risen from year to year to nearly 28,000,000f. No sensible variation has taken place in the importations of bar-iron and rough cast-iron; there appears in the amounts relating to the latter article a tendency to decrease. Those of coal have progressively increased since 1835. The year 1840 presents the largest amount of the whole period (18,000,000f.); that of 1835 was only 12,000,000f. The value of the cattle imported, which increased from 7,000,000f. in 1835 to 9,000,000f. in 1839, was only 8,000,000f. in 1840.

"Our exports of cotton and woollen webs are progressing, but the former in a larger proportion than the latter. On comparing, in this particular, the two extreme years of the period between 1835 and 1840, there will be found in favour of the last year, an increase of seventy-four per cent. in favour of the cotton, and sixty-one percent. in favour of the woollen webs.

"The export of our wines has been more considerable than in 1839, and less so than in 1838. It has varied but little during the last six years. The same with brandies; which show, in comparison with 1839, and with the mean year, an increase of thirtyone and eight per cent. in favour of the exportations of the year 1840."

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CHAPTER XI.

SPAIN. Quarrel between Spain and Portugal relative to the Navigation of the Douro--Convention made in 1835 for the free Navigation of that River-Preparations for War in the two Countries-Settlement of the Question-Expulsion of the Papal Nuncio from Spain-Sitting of the Cortes-Espartero proclaimed sole Regent of Spain-New Cabinet formed by him-Speech of the President of the Council, and Policy of the Government-Question of the Guardianship of the Queen-Senor Arguelles appointed Guardian-Manifesto of the Queen-Mother, and reply of the Spanish Government-Insurrection in behalf of the Queen-Mother at Pampeluna and Vittoria-Procla mation issued by Don Manuel Montes de Oca-Desperate attempt to seize the person of the Queen at night in the Palace at MadridTrial and Execution of Don Diego Leon-Energetic Measures of Espartero-Suppression of the Insurrection-Question of participation of the Queen-Mother in the affair-Correspondence in Paris between her and Senor Olozaga on the subject-Suspension of the payment of her Pension by Espartero-Suppression of the fueros.PORTUGAL.-Change of Ministry, and List of the New Appoint

ments.

mentioned in our pre

A short account of the origin and

WE ment volume, that to- nature of this dispute we now

wards the end of last year a quarrel had arisen between Spain and Portugal, with respect to the question of the free navigation of the Douro.

CONVENTION FOR the free NavigatION
OF THE DOURO.

Their Majesties the Most Faithful Queen Donna Maria Segunda and the Queen Regent of Spain, during the minority of her daughter Donna Isabel Segunda, desiring to give all possible extension to the reciprocal commerce between the two states by the free navigation of the rivers common to both, and recognizing that this advantageous principle is applicable to the Rio Douro, have determined to conclude a convention for the regulation of that important object, and have appointed as plenipo

give. In the year 1835 a Convention (a translation of which, at length, we subjoin in a note,*) was concluded between Spain and

tentiaries, &c. &c. &c.; which plenipotentiaries, after conferring together, and exchanging their full powers, have agreed upon the following articles :

"Article 1. The navigation of the river Douro is declared free to the subjects of both Crowns, without any restriction or special condition more favourable to the one than the other, throughout the whole extent in which it may now be navigable, or may hereafter be navigable.

"2. The two high contracting parties engage by the present article to keep the navigation of the Douro uninter

Portugal, the object of which was to apply to the river Douro the principle which establishes the free navigation of rivers traversing different states. At that time the constitutional charter was the political code of Portugal, in virtue of which the Government was authorized to make treaties with out the acquiescence of the Legislature; the execution, however, of that Convention by one of its articles remained subject to the regulations to be settled by a mixed commission of Portuguese and Spanish members. That commission not having concluded those regulations, another commission was appointed, which, in fact, brought them to a conclusion. These regulations containing a certain tariff, and some penalties

rupted, and in the state in which it now is, each in the respective part of its territory; and they moreover promise to endeavour efficaciously to improve, in every possible manner, the said naviga

tion.

3. The duties for the navigation and its system of police shall be determined by means of a tariff and regulation, the terms of which shall be uniform and perfectly equal with respect to the subjects of both Crowns, in conformity with the practice established between nations enjoying the use of the waters of the same river.

4. To form the tariff and regulation mentioned in the preceding article there will be created a mixed commission composed of four commissioners, two of whom must be Portuguese and two Spaniards, appointed by their respective Governments.

"5. The said mixed commission will assemble within the term of one month at the latest after exchange of the ratifications of the present Convention, in that point of the territory of her Most Faithful Majesty or of her Catholic Majesty, which in the judgment of the two Governments may appear most convenient for facilitating their labours.

6. Neither of the respective Goveraments can augment the navigation

against those who should contravene its dispositions, were, according to the constitution, to be subjected to the approval of the Legislature, whose principal prerogative is the imposition of tributes, and whose principal occupation is to give penal sanction to the laws.

This tariff and the regulations annexed to it were submitted, in June last year, by the mixed commission to the Portuguese Cortes, in a note drawn up in the following terms:

"Senhores,-The Convention of the 31st of August, 1835, on the navigation of the river Douro, having been concluded and ratified, a mixed commission of Portuguese and Spaniards was appointed to frame, in conformity with what is

duties fixed by the tariffs of the mixed commission, except by common accord, on the same being judged convenient; nor can either impose, under any other denomination whatsoever, any new duty to be borne by the navigators.

"7. The two high contracting parties engage by the present article not to concede any exclusive privilege for conveyance by the Douro of merchandise or persons, and to leave the same always open to competition.

8. Her Most Faithful Majesty engages to take the necessary measures to establish in the city of Oporto a place of deposit for all the produce and merchandise brought from Spain and destined for foreign trade, or for being introduced into the coast of the Spanish peninsula. The merchandise thus deposited shall pay to the Government of her Most Faithful Majesty only the same low duty of deposit which is now payable in the free ports of Lisbon and Oporto. Nevertheless, if it should be for the convenience of the commerce to introduce into Portugal any of the said deposited articles of merchandise, the admission and sale of which may be lawful, the same shall pay the custom-house duties payable by the most favoured nation, and in this case the deposit duty will not be exacted.

stipulated in article 4 of the said Convention, the regulation necessary for the execution thereof. The regulation then framed being disapproved by the Government of her Majesty, it was necessary to accede to the urgent applications of the Spanish Government to proceed to the framing of a new regulation, which was on the part of the Portuguese Government committed to the charge of Portuguese commissioners of acknowledged capacity and patriotism.

"These commissioners concurred with the Spanish commissioners in the regulation which I have the honour to present to this Chamber. Important alterations from the first have been made in it, and the introduction of Spanish produce is restricted for the purpose of pro

"9. Her Catholic Majesty engages, by the present article, to declare port of admission or port of shipment that port which will now have to be provided in the environs of Fregenoda; and the articles of lawful commerce introduced into that port from Portugal shall be subject to the same duties as are paid in the other ports of Spain.

19. As to what concerns the custom duties, the mode of collection, the administrative and security regulations for preventing frauds against the fiscal laws, each of the two respective Governments will proceed with regard to the said points in conformity with their natural independence, according to the method and form best suited to their interests.

11. The tariff and regulation to which articles 3 and 4 refer shall, as soon as they may be approved by both contracting parties, be understood to form an integral part of the present Convention.

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tecting our industry and our wine trade.

"But as this regulation contains provisions which, in virtue of the constitution of the monarchy, require the approbation of the Cortes, it is my duty to submit the following proposition to the Chamber :The Government is authorized to carry into execution the articles comprehended in titles 5 and 7, and in the respective tables of the regulation of the 28th of May, 1840, which is to form part of the Convention signed on the 31st of August, 1835, with the Spanish Government, for the free navigation of the Douro.

"RODRIGO DA FONSECA MAGALHAES.

'Office of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, June 30, 1840.” *

Plenipotentiaries sign and seal the same with the seal of their arms, in Lisbon, August 31, 1835.

"DUKE OF PALMELLA.

"EVARISTO PERES DE CASTRO,"

RATIFICATION.

"Donna Maria," &c. (Here follows the preamble as before, and a copy of the treaty.)

"The said Convention, the tenour of which is as above recited, being presented to me, and all therein contained having been well reviewed, considered, and examined by me, after having heard the Council of State, I ratify and confirm it in all its parts, and by these presents give it for firm and valid, in order that it may yield and produce its due effect, promising on faith and Royal word to observe the same, to execute and cause it to be executed and oh. served in every possible manner. In testimony and confirmation of the aforesaid, I cause to pass the present deed as by me signed, passed with the appended seal of the Royal arms, and reported by the undersigned Counsellor of State, Minister and Secretary of State.

"Given in the Palace of the Necessidades, Sept. 20, 1835.

"THE QUEEN.

"MARQUESS De Saldanha.”

The agricultural interest, however, in Portugal, was strongly opposed to these regulations, as injurious to the country; and the Ministry not daring to offend so powerful a body, debated the matter amongst themselves for three weeks, until it became impossible to hold assembled, for a longer period, the Cortes, which had already been sitting for six months previously. The Government, therefore, was compelled to prorogue the Chambers, and promised to occupy them with the question of the navigation of the Douro, in the following session-that of the present year.

This procrastination, however, gave umbrage to the Spanish Government; and in the month of December a courier extraordinary arrived at Lisbon from Madrid, with despatches from the Marquess de Saldanha, Portuguese Plenipotentiary at the latter court, stating that the Spanish Regency had intimated to him its determination to enforce the protracted treaty for the free navigation of the river Douro vi et armis, if the same were not fully and unconditionally complied with within twenty-five days, to effect which an army of 12,000 men was in readiness to march on Badajoz and the southern frontier. A Cabinet Council was immediately assembled, when it came to the resolution to claim the interference of England, upon the grounds of the casus fæderis, and the Espoir brig of war was privately ordered off to England by Lord Howard de Walden with the result on the following day.

For some time it appeared likely that open hostilities would commence, and active preparations for the invasion of Portugal were made by the Spanish Government.

Happily, however, evil results were prevented by the assembling of the Portuguese Cortes in the beginning of the present year; which, after an ineffectual resistance on the part of the Opposition members, who absented themselves at last from the Chamber of Deputies, approved of finally the several articles of the Convention, and passed a measure necessary to give effect to the regulations on the 16th of January, thus satisfying the wishes of Spain with regard to the navigation of the Douro.

Early this year, Espartero gave a proof of the little estimation in which he held the priesthood in Spain, by expelling from that country the Papal Nuncio, S. Perez de Arellano, who, though never formally accredited in that capacity, had been recognised by the Queen's Government. On the 29th of December last year, the Duke of Victory addressed an order for his expulsion to M. Ferrer, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and thereby revoked the powers which had been granted to S. Arellano by a Royal Act, ordered the closing of the Nuncio's office, the suppression of the Tribunal de la Rota, and the sequestration of its papers, archives, and effects, and of the ecclesiastical revenues and allowances granted to S. Arellano by the State; but required that his private property should be respected.

The Cortes held a sitting in April, of which M. Arguelles was President. The Minister for Foreign Affairs (as Minister of Finance ad interim) presented the budget for the present year. The expenses of the country were estimated at 1,106,324,302 reals, and the revenue at 885,126,551 reals, leaving a deficiency of 221,197,751

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