The letters and newspapers received in the course of the
week, put us in .possession of a considerable amount of small, but not uninteresting particulars, respecting the state of the contest between Don PEDRO and Don MIGUEL. Oporto continues to exhibit a degree of tranquillity which is not very consis- tent with any serious apprehensions of danger from the at- tacking party. The shops are open, the markets well supplied and busy ; every thing in abundance, even to the flour that is daily brought from the mills at Vallongo 'and Avinta. It may seem strange, as these-two placei are in the possession of the blockading force, that the communication between them and Oporto should be so regularly kept up ; and that the munition de la bouche, which forms so important a part of the munition de la guerre, should be freelypermitted to pass. The Times corre- spondent, we suspect, furnishes the true key to this disregard of military rule. The roads as well as the mills are, it seems, in the bands of a Miguelite Guerilla ; and these worthies deem it more profitable to levy a handsome toll on the supplies of the town, than to intercept them. Bread* is said to he dear, chiefly from the effect of a combination among the bakers ; which, how- ever, cannot be of much avail while the sea remains •pen. A considerable quantity of biscuit has been imported from England; and on the 4th instant, to which date the letters come down, a cargo of eight hundred barrels of flour was hourly expected. It is perhaps a more certain indication of the security of Oporto, than the open shops and markets, that the merchants who hold stocks of wines do not display any readiness to get rid of them unless at remunerating prices, although the quantity in the cellars is calculated at not less than three years' consumption. The defences of the city are nearly complete ; and, according to all accmints, they are exceedingly well planned and strong. To readers acquainted with the localities, the following account of them, from the corre- spondent of the Times, will be interesting- " The town has been fortified as well as the nature of the ground would admit ; and all the small eminences around, from the Torre de Maria, on the side of the sea, to the Seminario, higher up on the right bank of the Douro, are planted with cannon. They arc now also erecting sonic mortar batteries ; and I saw one last night, just completed, at the 3lirante. The Seminario, it will be re- collected, was the first point gained by our troops under General Paget and Lord Hill, on the celebrated surprise of Oporto by the Duke of Wellington, the 12th of May 1809. About fifty pieces of artillery are thus disposed ; beside which, there is a light train in the town, ready to move from a centre, in a few minutes, upon any point ; and barricades are erected at the entrance of every leading street, each of which is defended by a trench externally, with a platform for a gun on the inner side, and a breastwork fur infantry. Care has been taken to confine the line of defence within as narrow a circuit as the nature of the ground would admit ; and if well defended, the fortifications now thrown up would offer the most serious impediment to any army, and are considered here quite impreg- nable by Doll Miguel's troops. The conduct of his Generals seems unaccount- able in permitting, without even the shadow of an interruption, the erection of these works. Every day Don Pedro continues to strengthen them, and all the gallegos arc put in requisition for this labour. At the other side of the river, works have also been constructed. The convent of Serra is not abandoned, as has been stated in some of the London papers ; on the contrary, it has been put in a good state of defence, and guns are mounted there. Videttes are also thrown out to St. Ovidio: beyond it is a very high hill, which commands an extensive prospect over the road leading to Santo Redondo and Over."
The same authority thus notices the troops and their daily and nightly exercises- " Some of the regiments of the Line are fine-looking bodies of men. fwas present at the parade of the 5th Cacadores, on Sunday evening, and I never saw a more soldierly appearance than they presented. The piquette extends from the town patrol to about the distance of two miles, and beyond these are to be seen the fires of the 3liguelites at different points in the valleys. Nothing can be more beautiful than the view from the Convent of Born Fin, one of the largest fortified points.on the Vallongo road. It commands an extensive sweep of the most varied scenery; and in the evening, when the watch-fires are begun to be lighted, the sensation produced by the prospect would make war delightful even to a lady,—particularly as it is of so peaceable a description, that her nerves would not be shocked half as much as those of English females frequently are by their friends returning from the slaughter of partridges. Some firing there is every day ; and yesterday [the fhl] there was a skirmish in the Carvalhito road, between Agua Ardente and Jirelada, about half a league from the town. Three companies of Clutsseurs, belonging to Don Miguel's force, attacked one of the outposts which was defended by about fifty of the f2d Cacadores and piquette of Volun- teers. The Miguelites were, as usual, accompanied with a considerable Gue- rilla; but were repulsed, with the loss of four killed and some wounded. There iiire two wounded on this side. The report yesterday was, that we were to expeO.asiAtta4c positively on Saturday nest; to-day it is, that one was medi- tated this mornilg, which has, however, passed over very quietly. Perhaps a shower that fell opportunely.this morning may have damped the ardour of the assailants. The cry is still they come;' and come they must soon, or else the rains that usually set in about a fortnight from this time will leave them most uncomfortably settled indeed."
The meditated attack is described, in another communication of the same date, as contingent on a reinforcement of 5,000 men which is daily expected by MIGUEL'S Generals. The forces of the latter are estimated at 0,000; of which, however, only 6,700 are of the Line. The remainder are made up of twelve battalions of Volunteers, twelve regiments of Militia, and a Guerilla of 5,000 men. The troops under PEDRO amount to between 14,000 and 15,000; of which 6,000 are old soldiers, reliable men; the re- mainder have been carefully trained since his landing, but have as yet seen no service. Of MIGUEL'S troops, about 16,000 are on the left, and the remainder on the right bank of the Douro. The former are under the command of the well-known GASPAR TEXE IRA, or, as he is .called now, Visconde DE PEZO DA RAGO A ; the latter are commanded by an officer named ABREU. POVOAS has been allowed to retire on the plea of bad health. The artillery of the besiegers is of small amount ; it is said not to amount to more than six pieces (twenty-four pounders) and a couple of mortars. PEnuo's artillery is numerous and effective. Of the extreme activity of PEDRO himself, all accounts, public and private, friendly and hos- tile, speak highly. Of hostile accounts, accident has furnished us with a curious specimen. ft • seems that the Spanish Vice-Consul of Oporto had for some time been strongly suspected of maintaining a treache- ! The Herald correspondent, on the good old rule that seeing is believing, has trans- mitted to the Editor aid. loaf, that he may judge for himself of the state of the market. We regret that•our contemporary has not exhibited its form and size by a diagram. Perhaps he intends it as a present to some of the laborious Weeklies. An authentic portrait of the last Don Pedro roll, to be given gratis with the — Ninnber oft- h e— would be something new. rous correspondence with the Miguelite party : aletter has been at length intercepted, addressed by him to Don NAZARIO DE EGUI A, Captain-General of Gallicia, which sets the matter at rest. It was taken from under the false sole of the wooden shoe of a peasant who was intrusted with its delivery. The Vice-Consul has been dismissed, of course. We give the letter as corroborating in all points the intelligence already detailed.
" Don Pedro remains in Oporto ; his land forces are encamped within the lines which are being formed for their defence. He carries on the fortifications of the city with admirable activity, labouring at them by day and night. Don Pedro shows himself on every point. It may be said, indeed, that his followers here owe their safety to his presence. They continue to enrol and arm peo- ple. Hitherto they have experienced no want of provisions, nor will they while they command the entrance of the port. Some resources have been found in Oporto which give impulse to their enterprise. The magazines of wine belong- ing to the Company of the Upper Douro, which are very considerable, over and Wove what may be required for the use of the troops and the naval forces, and for the consumption of the city, may produce them 50,000 xx's per day. They have already shipped 800 pipes for England, which are worth 120,000 dollars. The Customhouse also produces them much ; because, by blockading, as they say, all the ports of Portugal with their ships, all merchantmen are obliged to come to Oporto to discharge their cargoes. " The Royalist forces have advanced as near the city as it is possible to come; and there they have remained for some days, in sight of the lines which the Con- stitutionalists are constructing. " Notwithstanding the moderation which the Government wishes to observe, the armed rabble and some of the soldiers commit aggressions, chiefly on Spa-. Maids, natives of Gallicia, whom they compel to labour constantly at the forti- fications. I have been atrociously insulted for endeavouring to protect them. Only yesterday two soldiers threatened my life. The soldiers who served in 1828 retain an inveterate hatred of the Spaniards. The English merchants established in this city make common cause with the Revolutionists, in foment- ing rancour against the Spanish Government and the Spaniards. Not a day passes but I meet with some mortifying occurrence. I tremble when I am obliged to go out of doors.
" The English Consul, a prurient man, who has for many years held that ap- pointment here, is removed, with a very disproportionate salary, to Cortmna, and the Consul of that town conies here. Such is now the power of the Con- sul's Revolutionary countrymen in Oporto. " It is said here. that Den Miguel's squadron is to sail again to-day from Lis- bon, to fight Doa Pedro's ; and they do not like this news in Oporto. I send you a list which I have obtained of Don Pedro's ships.
" A Spanish emigrant, named Senor Juyo, has just arrived here from Eng- land. 1 am told he is the brother of a physician rn Orense. I am watching • him, and trying to discover the object of his visit."
The remainder relates to a letter he had received from Don NA- Z.ARIO; and to a report of his having taken down the arms of Spain from his hotel, which he contradicts. The list of Don PE- DRO'S squadron had already appeared, with the exception of a few of the smaller vessels. The notice of the English Consul as " a prudent man," is characteristic. There was another letter found at the same time, addressed to the Superintendent of Viana, and written in Portuguese; it bore- no signature. It runs thus- " Most Illustrious Senhor—Anxious as I am to be able to send your Excel- lency some agreeable news, unfortunately the wished-for opportunity has not yet occurred. • The Royalist forces have approached as close to this city as pos- sible; but there has been no fighting, except in some partial reconnoissances. The Royalist squadron, as we are assured, is to sail again to-day from Lisbon, under the command of Rosas, to bring Don Pedro's squadron to action. It ap- pears that they pretend to blockade all the ports of Portugal. They continue to. make trenches and fortify Oporto; and also, with a shocking despotism, to oblige every person to take up arms. As vet, they have experienced no want of provi- sions, only bread is very dear. They will not leave their trenches unless they are resolved to fight. The delay in attacking Oporto becomes every day more prejudicial to the cause of Don Miguel. As soon as I shall have any news which may be interesting, I shall communicate it to your Excellency, at the same time that I forward it to my own Government."
Both letters are dated 30th August. SARTORIUS continues to hover off Lisbon ; which is again de- clared in a state of blockade, unless for neutral vessels, not carry ing warlike stores. He has under his command two frigates, two corvettes, two brigs, two schooners, and two steamers. Don FELIX, MIGUEL'S Admiral, boasts, that, now he has refitted and got rid of his heavy sailers, he will infallibly capture or destroy his opponents : but he had not on the 4th left the river in order to fulfil his promise, although, as a preparatory step, he had dropped down to Caxias Bay. Marquis P:ALMELLA left town on Wednesday for Falmouth. Considerable anxiety is expressed in some of the letters respecting his mission. The writers say the Pedroites very much fear a shower of protocols. It is said that the Spanish Government intend to send a couple of vessels to the coast of Portugal, with a view to obtain satisfac- tion for certain alleged wrongs inflicted by Admiral SARTORIUS on Spanish commerce. Such a strong proceeding could be viewed in one light only. There is also a report of FERDINAND'S intention to move forward the Army of Observation from Salamanca to Ciit; dad Rodrigo. We have always thought, that the moment the contest turned, or seemed to turn decidedly against Don MIGUEL, FERDINAND would throw off his constrained neutrality. The little King is too much a man after his own heart to be voluntarily given up.
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