to the constitutional charter, and had also
engaged on oath to deliver up the crown to Donna Maria II., as soon as
that princess should become of age. After his appointment to the regency
Don Miguel paid a visit to England, where he was treated by the nobility
in general with high respect. He was twice entertained at the admiralty
by the Duke of Clarence, and after visiting the king at Windsor he
returned to Portugal. Before he set sail he addressed a letter to
the king, declaring that, if, on his return to Portugal, he attempted
anything against his brother or niece, or against the constitution, he
should be an usurper, and prove a perjured wretch. Yet Don Miguel had
scarcely drawn this character of himself before he assumed it. On his
arrival at Lisbon his mother resumed her ill-fated influence over him;
and after a series of atrocities the courts were dismissed, the charter
abolished, and Don Miguel proclaimed king. All the dungeons in the realm
were filled with victims, and thousands perished in them, or on the
scaffold; whilst thousands more were banished to the desert coasts of
Africa, or voluntarily abandoned their country, to endure the sorrows
of unmerited exile. It was these circumstances that gave rise to the
withdrawal of his majesty's representatives from Lisbon, as intimated in
the speech at the close of parliament. On hearing of these events, Don
Pedro, by his ministers at Vienna and London, entered solemn protests
against the violation of his hereditary rights, and those of his
daughter. He had sent his daughter to Europe, and her destination was
Vienna; but on touching at Gibraltar, and learning the events which had
occurred in Portugal, she took counsel with the principal officers of
her suite, and by their advice she sailed to England, where she was
received with royal honours, and entertained with great hospitality and
magnificence.

DISTURBANCES IN IRELAND.

During the two previous administrations, those of Mr. Canning and Lord
Goderich, Irish agitation had been partially suppressed. The reason of
this was that the Catholics had some hopes that government would grant
their claims. When, however, the Duke of Wellington assumed the reins
of government, hope fled, and Irish agitation instantly revived in full
force. The cry of war was raised by its leaders, and they proceeded,
aided by the Popish priesthood, to re-organize the Catholic Association.
The first display of this united power was exhi