of Parliament-A report had been in circulation that it was the intention of the government to send troops to Portugal to support the Queen from any menaced attack on the side of Spain-but the report, at the last dates, was becoming discredited.

FRANCE-The French Chambers were closed toward the end of the month of June. Considerable anxiety was felt lest the factions hostile to the government should take advantage of the publick festivities, during the anniversary of the three great days, to promote disturbance, and if possible to subvert the government, or at least to compel the existing ministry to resign. Ample preparations were made to resist such attempts, but nothing of the kind that was any way formidable, appeared. The Chambers, at their last sittings past a number of laws, not unimportant to France, but of little interest elsewhere. It is conjectured that the Chambers will be dissolved, and a new election take place in the coming October, but this is uncertain, and we think improbable. France, for the present, is tranquil as a nation; but the Liberal party think its tranquillity cannot be permanent.

PORTUGAL.-Authentick information has been received within the last month of the brilliant success of Don Pedro's arms, in contending for the right of his daughter, Donna Maria, to the crown of Portugal, in opposition to Don Miguel, the possessor of that crown de facto. It would seem that the conflict must be nearly, if not quite terminated, and that the pretensions of the young Queen will soon be formally recognised, both by Britain and France. The recent events are interesting, not merely to Portugal, but to the whole of Europe. The friends of absolute rule will mourn over them, and the friends of free governments will rejoice, and be encouraged to contend against their oppressors. Spain and Russia, we doubt not, would long since have interfered in favour of Don Miguel, if they had not been restrained by the fear of Britain and France, and will see, in his defeat, a new danger of insurrections in favour of liberty in their own dominions. The German Diet, too, will anticipate, as well as they may, new difficulties, in the execution of their plans for coercing the spirit of liberalism, which has already given them no small trouble and alarm. We shall note in order the late important events which have led to the result we have indicated.

It is stated that three propositions were discussed in Don Pedro's council, viz. 1st. That an army of 4000 men, commanded by the Regent in person, should make a descent on Lisbon-2d. That an army under the command of a General, should proceed to the Algarves, in the hope of being joined by a numerous body of Spanish malcontents and deserters, and thence proceed to Lisbon, while Don Pedro awaited the result at Oporto-and 3d. That the whole army should make a sortie from Oporto against the besieging forces, and if successful march on to Lisbon.

The 2d of these propositions was adopted. On the 21st of June, between three and four thousand Constitutional troops embarked on board steam vessels, accompanied by the ships of war under the command of Admiral Napier, and proceeding down the coast, passed by Lisbon, and effected a landing at Lagos in the province of Algarves, the most southernly part of Portugal. The troops were commanded by Count de Villa Flor, the Duke of Terceira; and they effected their landing without any opposition, the people generally being well affected toward the Constitutional cause. It was foreseen that by this operation the attention of Don Miguel and his generals would be distracted, between two objects widely separated from each other-the distance from Oporto to Lagos being about 250 miles. If a part of Miguel's army should be withdrawn from Oporto, the residue would probably be insufficient to carry on the siege; and if it should not be withdrawn, the probable adhesions to Don Pedro's cause in the Algarves, would make it wear a more formidable aspect. This manœuvre appears to have succeeded even more happily than was anticipated. It drew out the fleet of Don Miguel from the port of Lisbon, in hopes of destroying the vessels that carried and accompanied the troops, and thus brought on a naval action with Don Pedro's fleet, under the command of a British officer possessing both the skill and courage of the far-famed Nelson. In the mean time, Marshal Bourmont, the able commander of the French army that captured Algiers, arrived to take the command of the forces of Miguel; and hoping no doubt that the detachment sent to the Algarves had so weakened the Constitutional army which remained at Oporto, that its defences might be carried by an assault, he determined on that bold and decisive measure. A desperate assault was made, and thrice repeated; but although his troops fought to desperation, and were several times masters of some of the fortified points; yet they were ultimately repulsed and driven back with a great slaughter.

Admiral Napier's official account of his engagement with the fleet of Don Miguel, commences thus-" My Lord-It has pleased God to grant to the squadron of H. M. F. Majesty, a great and glorious victory over the enemy, whom I fell in with on the morning of the 21st inst. [July] off Cape St. Vincent, my squadron having left Lagos Bay the evening before. Theirs consisted of two line of battle ships, two frigates, three corvettes, two brigs, and one xebec; mine of three frigates, one corvette, one brig, and one small schooner." We cannot pretend to give all the details of the action

-Napier's squadron was for a while becalmed, and his gun-boats refused to tow him up to the adverse fleet-Shortly, however, a breeze sprung up, giving him the weather gage of his enemy. His plan was to board the hostile ships, and he effected his purpose fully. He was not disconcerted by a tremendous fire from all the opposing fleet, but ranged his vessel alongside the largest ship, and carried her in five minutes, himself leading his men. He immediately put the captured ship in order under his own officers, and gave chase to the next largest vessel of the enemy which was endeavouring to escape, and soon made her a prize. He speaks in the highest terms of praise of the officers and men of his whole squadron, except those of the steam-boats. The captured vessels were the following-The Rainha, 80 guns and 850 men; Don John, 74 guns, 850 men; Princess Real, 56 guns, 640 men; Faritas, or store ship, 48 guns, 580 men; and Princess Corvette, 24 guns, 320 men. These vessels, with those that captured them, came safely to anchor, the day after the action, in Lagos Bay. The list of the killed and wounded was not made out at the date of the last accounts, but the loss was considerable on both sides. The authorities and populace of the town of Lagos received Admiral Napier with the most enthusiastic joy, and the ladies placed a crown of laurel on his head. He has since been appointed by the Emperor Don Pedro, Vice Admiral of the Portuguese Armada, and created Viscount St. Vincent. The sequel of this victory, and of the expedition under the Duke of Terceira, is thus given in a London paper. The statement is headed, "The following are the official details."

August 2d." Despatches have been received from Lisbon, dated the 25th ult., containing the important intelligence of the establishment of the authority of the Queen Douna Maria II. in that capital, where she was proclaimed on the morning of the 24th ult., by the Portuguese themselves, without the aid or interference of a single foreign soldier.

"On the 23d the Duke of Terceira, advancing from St. Ubes, had met and totally routed the force sent from Lisbon against him, under the command of the notorious Telles Jordao, who is said to have been killed in the action. Upon this intelligence in Lisbon, the Duke of Cardoval, and the rest of Don Miguel's ministers, decided on withdrawing from the capital, which they did in the course of the same night, taking with them about 4000 troops and retreating to the north.-The towns people on the following morning (the 24th) finding their oppressors gone, with one consent hoisted the standard of Donna Maria, and proclaimed her Majesty in due form, with every appearance of enthusiasm. Their first step was to open the prisons and liberate the numerous victims of Miguel's tyranny-About the same time the colours of Villa Flor's army appeared on the opposite heights, and in the afternoon he himself crossed the Tagus, in the midst of salutes and rejoicings, and issued a proclamation in the name of the Queen.

"On the 25th, when the letters were despatched, Lisbon was perfectly tranquil again, and but few excesses had been committed, considering the excitement which must naturally have attended such a crisis, and the wrongs to which so many of the inhabitants had been so long subjected. Napier's fleet, with the Duke of Palmella on board, was then entering the Tagus.

"The news of these events having reached Oporto on the 26th, Don Pedro embarked that night from the Foz, on board a steam boat for Lisbon, leaving to Saldanha the supreme command, both civil and military. Up to the 27th, Marshal Bourmont had not renewed his attack on the town, and, as troops were observed to be passing over to the south bank of the Douro, it was supposed that he was about to raise the siege."

It may be proper to add, that the whole country from Lagos to Lisbon, with the exception of only a few places, readily submitted to the Duke of Terceira, so that his march for the capital was but little interrupted, and such a number of the Miguelite troops joined him, that when he arrived opposite to Lisbon, his army consisted of about 10,000 men. Miguel himself, it is said, was gone to the north.-He will no doubt retire into Spain. It is stated that 5000 prisoners, whom he had incarcerated in Lisbon for political offences, most of them on suspicion, were liberated by the citizens and English residents, as soon as his troops left the city.

If the Miguelite troops who have withdrawn to the North, probably to join those under Marshal Bourmont, shall not, after the junction, continue to resist, it would seem that the war must be terminated. Be that as it may, there is every probability that the tyranny and cruelty of the wretched Usurper is at an end in Portugal; and in this we think every friend of humanity must rejoice. Alas, how much misery and bloodshed has his perjury and wicked ambition occasioned! Of events so important as those we have here narrated, we thought an account, somewhat particular, ought to be left on record in our pages. Other occurrences, less important, we must defer, for want of

room, till our next number.

ERRATUM in our last No.

Page 361, at the bottom of the 2d col. in a note, for the concluding words are contained in the last pages," read, " is contained in the lost pages."

THE

CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.

OCTOBER, 1833.

Keligious Communications.

tunity, and a call to repentance. It is said justly, as well as beautifully, by Dr. Watts

was.

"Our life is forfeited by sin,
To God's avenging law;
We own thy grace, immortal King,
In every gasp we draw."

"Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God, said Moses to the children of Israel; for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth;" and this injunction is as important and as applicable now as it ever Keep it in constant remembrance, my dear youth, that neither talents nor industry will insure you success in acquiring worldly possessions of whatever kind, unless you are blessed and prospered of God; nor will such possessions when obtained render you happy, but rather increase your discontent and misery, if they are not accompanied by those outward circumstances, and that inward state of mind, which God alone can order and bestow.

ever obtained, riches always bring with them a weighty and fearful responsibility for their proper use and employment: so that, as a matter of choice, the prayer of Agar should be ours-"Give me neither poverty nor riches-feed me with food convenient for me." This is in perfect accordance with the petition before us-“Give us this day our daily bread." "Bread, says Scott, in commenting on these words-Bread is one principal part of the things which are needful for the body, and is often put for the whole: by the use of this word we are taught to ask only things that are necessary, without craving superfluities; and to refer it to our heavenly Father to determine what things are necessary, according to our station in life, our families, and various other circumstances. All Christians, whether rich or poor, are taught to ask this provision from God; for all depend upon him for it, should receive it as his gift, give him thanks for it, and use it to his glory; whether it come from their estates, commerce, husbandry, professions, labour, or skill, or from the liberality of other men. We are taught to ask it for the day (perhaps with reference to the manna which Israel received fresh every day) and this instructs us to beware of covetousness, to be moderate and contented with a slender provision, and to trust God from day to day"

We ought to be willing to leave it with our heavenly Father, to whom our prayer is addressed, to determine for us what is "a competent portion of the good things of this life." "They that will be rich," says the apostle; that is, they who are bent at all hazards on accumulating wealth, and will never rest unless they obtain it, "fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hateful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." Consi--And thus the poet, dering how much is said in the New Testament of the danger to which wealth exposes the immortal soul of its possessor, we may well wonder at the general eagerness with which it is pursued. Persevering industry and constant economy are duties; and if in the use of these, riches, without an over anxiety for attaining them, come into our possession, we may hope that by the grace of God we may be preserved from abusing them to our own destruction. Yet how

"This day be bread and peace my lot;

All else beneath the sun,
Thou know'st if best bestowed or not,
And let thy will be done."

*

Pope's universal prayer-a composition framed on the infidel notion that the "Great First Cause," may be worshipped with equal acceptance by Jews, under the appellation of "Jehovah;" by heathen, under that of "Jove," or Jupiter;" and by Christians, under that of "Lord." Yet this monstrous absurdity does not prevent other moral writings of this eminent poet, this composition from containing, like the many just thoughts, expressed with unrivalled propriety and beauty.