opinion that his Majesty’s Government, to use their own vulgar expression, would “see the British flag righted.”
Between Nov. 29th and Dec. 2d, several hundred shells were thrown into the town, with a view, as the Miguelites gave out, of practising their artillery and ascertaining the range, preparatory to a regular bombardment and assault. A convent was burnt down to the ground, and some houses on the river side suffered considerably; but singular to say, there were not above three or four persons killed, and about as many wounded.
On the 3d Dec, the Visconde de Santa Martha wrote to Commander Glascock, complaining that the British flag had been worn by a large Portuguese boat in which was a Caçadore officer. In reply, his Excellency was acquainted that the boat alluded to had been retained for the use of His Britannic Majesty’s squadron, as the boats of the men-of-war were not at all times calculated to cross the dangerous bar of Oporto; and that the “Caçadore officer” was no other than the second lieutenant of the AEtna. On this occasion, the Visconde conveyed to Commander Glascock “a flattering expression of the sentiments he entertained of the British naval service, and the confidence he reposed in him with respect to the continued observance of a strict and honorable neutrality.”
On the 5th and during the night of the 7th Dec, Oporto was severely bombarded. Dissensions still continued; and the non-payment of the troops in Don Pedro’s service, particularly the British battalion, gave rise to much dissatisfaction and disorder. On the night of the 5th, two of Sartorious’s brigs left the Douro; the batteries opened upon them, but they escaped unhurt. On the latter day a most disgraceful deception was practised by a steam-vessel belonging to Mr. George Brown, of the Baltic Coffee House, London, as will be seen by the following extract of an official letter from Commander Glascock to Captain Markland, of H.M.S. Briton, the senior officer without the bar, dated Dec. 8th, 1832:–
