PORTUGUESE WAR: REVIVAL OF CLASSICAL HEROISM.
A erne war in Portugal is not unlike an English suit in Chancery. In both cases, the great object is to avoid a decision as long as possible. In fighting shy, the warriors of Portugal equal the most adroit practitioners in our courts, however they may fall short of their own profession in other countries in any other kind of fighting. Baron DE LEIRIA and Counts FONTE NOVA and VINHABS have taken a month to concentrate upon Almeida—a task upon which any but Portuguese commanders would have found it difficult to spin out a week. Having at last exhausted all pretexts for delay, they are obliged to appear in front of the fortress ; but discover that they have only brought four field-pieces with them. So, battering-cannon are sent for to Lisbon ; and as they must be dragged along Portuguese roads and over Portuguese mountains, there is another clear month gained, at the least. It would be folly in the gallant commanders to put themselves to any trouble before their tools come to hand ; so, free scope is left to the rebel garrison to scour the country and bring in provisions. Count BOMFIM is not to be outdone by his gallant antagonists. He and his men are indefatigable in stocking larder and cellar; but they take no concern about the only four pieces of artillery in the place, which are lying spiked and dismounted. It will be time enough to think of putting them in trim when the besiegers set to work in earnest. Meanwhile, the hostile leaders correspond in the most edifying strain. General FONTE NOVA intimates to Count BOMFIM his reluctance to shed blood; and his fear that if he be too long in catching the Count and his associates, the Judges may not be so lenient. Count BONED& responds with similar protestations of humanity, and suggests (most unnecessarily) that General Fortes NOVA had better keep at a safe distance from the walls.
Some critics have thought the long speeches delivered by Hector,
Achilles, and their compeers, before proceeding to blows, unna- tural ; and some fire-eaters have expressed doubts as to the pro- tracted defence of Troy. But the colloquies of our Portuguese heroes obviate the former cavil; and, at the rate of Baron LEIRIA'S ad- vances hitherto, Almeida may hold out for any given time. The siege of Almeida will to all appearance deserve a Homer, as far as the eloquence of the warriors and the length of time consumed in their operations are concerned. There is something extremely interesting in this renewal of classical customs. It is curious, too, as vindicating the humanity of the ancients. How much better this care for each other's lives, than the headlong wholesale butchery of our NAPOLEONS and WELIJNGTONS
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