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PORTUGAL: State of the public Mind-Revolution at Oporto-Progress of Sepulveda-Measures of the Regency-Revolution at Lisbon-Tranquillity of the Capital-Union of the JuntasArrival of Lord Beresford in the Port of Lisbon-He is not allowed to land- His Departure-Dissensions in the Junta Military Interference-The Adoption of the Spanish ConstitutionThe moderate Party recover the Ascendancy-NAPLES: A representative Constitution desired-Concerted Movements in the Provinces-Conduct of Pepe-The Revolution breaks out at NolaIts Progress-Th Measures of the Court-The Duke of Calabria appointed Vicar-General; and the Spanish Constitution accepted, and sworn to by him and the King-Foreign Relations of Naples-Conferences at Troppan-The King goes to Laybach -Sicilian Insurrection-Palermo reduced-Disturbances at PonteCorvo, Benevento, and Civita Vecchia-Conspiracy at Rome.

NOTHING was more likely than that Portugal should follow the example which Spain had set. Portugal, besides suffering the numerous evils which always flow from an ill-organised government, had, for many years, been reduced to the situation of a mere dependency on the Brazils. The nobility, unattracted by the pleasures of a court, and deprived of the consideration derived from participating in the civilities or friendship of their monarch, naturally sought a compensation for the loss, in the acquisition of political influence. The senti ment of loyalty, weak enough in modern times, even under the circumstances most favourable to its growth, could not be strong in the minds of a people, who saw themselves abandoned by their royal family. Neither could

any dependence be placed on the army, who could not feel themselves bound by any peculiar tie to a monarch, separated from them by the whole breadth of the Atlantic. They had, besides, one peculiar grievance, which could not fail to be very galling to their commanders. Marshal Beresford had been continued in the supreme command, with which he had been invested during the exigencies of the war; and about a hundred British officers still retained their commissions. These were considered as interlopers, and their removal would open the path of promotion to the natives.

The greatest obstacle to the accomplishment of a revolution would have been the presence of Beresford. Unconnected with the factions of the country, and hav

ing nothing either to hope or fear from them, he would have acted with promptitude and firmness; the royalists would have rallied round him with confidence; and the recollection of his past services, his military reputation, his high station, and the credit accruing from his supposed connexion with the English government, would have rendered him a formidable opponent. He, however, had embarked for Rio Janeiro, in the month of April; and there was no person in the council of regency, whose influence or talents the popular leaders had any reason to dread.

Under these circumstances, the revolution broke out at Oporto. In consequence of plans which had been concerted there by both the civil and military authorities, at the quarters of a young noble of the name of Don Bernardo Correa de Castro e Sepulveda, who commanded the 18th regiment, an address was, on the morning of the 24th of August, read to the regiments there stationed, inviting them to serve their king and country, by establishing a constitutional government. The troops answered the address by approving acclamations; and, in the presence of the bishop, the governor, and the magistrates of the city, a provisional junta of sixteen members was appointed, and charged with the government of the country till the meeting of the Cortes. The first act of the Junta was, to publish a manifesto, in which they set forth their grievances, and the necessity for restoring a representative government; professing, at the same time, the greatest reverence for the rights of the church, and of all the

authorities, both civil and ecclesiastical, as well as the most devoted attachment to the monarchy and to the House of Braganza. An intimation was also given to the English officers, that the privileges and emoluments of their present rank should be continued to them, till the meeting of the Cortes; but they were warned not to interfere in the passing events. Though it was thought prudent to put some of them under arrest, they were all treated with the utmost respect.

On the 28th of August, Sepulveda left Oporto, to oppose count Amarante, the commander of the province of Tras os Montes, and whose brother was president of the Provisional Junta. The count, deserted by his troops, fled into Gallicia. Every where the cause of the constitution prevailed; and even the clergy, where they did not take an active share in promoting it, at least abstained from offering any opposition. Sepulveda, having reached Coimbra without opposition, prosecuted his march towards Lisbon, and was followed by the Provisional Junta.

The regency had, on the 29th of August, published a proclamation at Lisbon, condemning the transactions at Oporto as a nefarious conspiracy, and declaring that the king alone, could convoke the Cortes. The defection of the troops in every province taught them the necessity of yielding; and, on the first of September, they issued the following proclamation for assembling the Cortes, which forms a strange contrast to the proclamation of the 29th:

"Portuguese-The governors of the kingdom, persuaded of

the imminent danger which the nation and the monarchy incur if the crisis produced by the insurrection of Oporto be prolonged, and employing the extraordinary powers which have been conferred upon them by their instructions in urgent cases, after hearing the opinion of a great number of persons included in the council of his majesty, and conspicuous among the different classes of the nation, have resolved, in the name of the king, our lord, to convoke the Cortes, nominating immediately a commission, for the purpose of proceeding with the arrangements necessary for the prompt assembling of the same. The governors of the kingdom hope that a measure which so decidedly proves their determination to attend to the complaints and listen to the wishes of the nation will immediately unite in a legitimate and common centre the whole people, and that all classes of which it is composed will acknowledge the necessity of such an union, to avoid the threatening evils of anarchy, of civil war, and perhaps a dissolution of the monarchy. Lisbon, Palace of the Government, Sept. 1. (Signed)

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"CARDINAL PATRIARCH, "MARQUEZ de Borba, "CONDE DE PENICHE, "CONDE DA FEIRA, "ANTONIO GOMEZ RIBERIO." Other conciliatory measures were adopted; but the insurgents continued their march, and the gency found their authority becoming every moment more in

secure.

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The 15th of September was usually celebrated with much military pomp, as the anniversary

of the deliverance of Portugal from a foreign yoke. Apprehension of the effects of the popular agitation induced the regency to omit the customary reviews and ceremonies; and orders were given, that the troops should remain all day in their quarters. About three in the afternoon, however, the 16th regiment began to form themselves, and to prepare for effecting an instant charge. Count Resende was actually at the moment with them on the part of the regency, endeavouring to soothe them and keep them quiet; but their resolution was formed, and much against his will, they obliged the count to head them, and to lead them down to the Rocio (the principal square of Lisbon) to proclaim the constitution. They reached the square about four, and in a quarter of an hour they were joined by the tenth regiment from the castle; then came the 4th, from Campo d'Ourique, then the artillery from the Caes dos Salvados, the cavalry from Alcantara; and, in short, before sunset both the Rocio and the Praca were filled with troops, headed by their officers, and in full marching order. No resistance of any sort was made, and nothing was to be heard but the repeated vivas of the soldiers and the people. The regency halls were opened, and a new set of governors were named. The troops waited on the ground till between ten and eleven at night, when they received their orders, which they instantly obeyed, retiring to their several quarters in the most perfect regularity and peace; so that this great change was brought about without rio or disturbance. Not an angry o

insulting word was heard; and the streets were filled with welldressed parties of both sexes, walking about with the greatest freedom, and enjoying the sight of the illumination, unapprehensive of the slightest danger. The volunteers of every description, and the militia all mustered, and showed the same mind; the police guards, horse and foot, joined spontaneously in the common cause. A guard of fifty men was sent to the houses of each of the late governors, for the purpose, it was said, of protecting them from insult or violence; perhaps, also, to prevent them from making their escape.

The supreme government consisted of Dean Freyre, count St. Payo, count Resende, count Pennafiel, Matthias Axedo, and Hermanno Braam. They immediately notified their appointment to the Oporto Supreme Junta, who were then at Coimbra, and requested their co-operation in the establishment of a constitution. On the following day, they received the submission of the whole royal army stationed in the neighbour hood of the capital, which was formally notified by their general Barbacessa. Orders were issued that no vessel should leave the bay without special permission.

On the afternoon of Sunday the 17th, the whole of the troops in the city and district passed in review before the new governors, who appeared at the balcony of the regency-hall windows; the oath of allegiance was taken by the several officers, and a feu de joie given by the castle and troops in honour of the occasion. The crowd was immense, and the enthusiasm of the people and soldiery great beyond description,

Some of the officers were carried on the shoulders of the men round their regiments; others had their caps raised on the top of the serjeants' halberts, in honourable distinction; and, in short, every demonstration of the most heart-felt joy was exhibited - general illuminations every night; the theatres crowded; the performers called on to sing the national hymn and constitutional odes composed for the occasion; between the acts patriotic verses read from the pit and boxes; then the national hymn sung again by the ladies in the boxes.

On the first of October, the Oporto junta entered the capital. Soon afterwards the armies of the north and of the south arrived. The two juntas were blended into one; and their aggregate mass was divided into two sectionsone charged with the ordinary administration the other, with taking proper steps for assembling the Cortes.

On the tenth of October an event occurred, which, had it happened three or four weeks earlier, might have changed the course of events. On that day, lord Beresford arrived from Rio Janeiro, and anchored in the port, in the British line-of-battle ship the Vengeur. A communication was instantly made by general Campbell to the secretary of war, that lord Beresford had arrived from Rio Janeiro, somewhat indisposed; that he had only learnt the occurrences which had taken place in Portugal from a fisherman; and that he requested, as a simple individual and an Englishman, permission to land, as he had various affairs to settle in Portugal, which required his personal attention.

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