138 
nine afterwards, at different epochs, 
among whom were Sepulveda andMello 
de Castro, two distinguished officers; to 
the first of whom the honour was con- 
fided of raising the glorious standard 
of liberty. 
Their oath was simple and solemn: 
—*‘*To save their country, or to sacri- 
fice to it their life, amidst the ruins of 
the magnificent edifice they proposed 
to build.” They raised the projected 
edifice. Determined courage, acting 
upon general discontent, could not but 
produce the anticipated explosion ; and 
they who prepared it, directed it so as 
to bring about the greatest sum of hap- 
piness, and to produce the smallest 
portion of misery. 
The city of Oporto was in the 
hands of two venal and suspectible 
tyrants,—Rebeiro di Souza and Arango 
Correa de Lacerda; yet it was amidst 
their busy agents that the plan of re- 
demption was carried forward. A 
change of family, and an union with 
Spain, were among the earliest sub- 
jects discussed; and both schemes 
were abandoned: the former as 100 
violent and unnecessary an attack 
upon national prejudices, and the se- 
cond as inconsistent with national ho- 
nour. 
In 1819 the opinion of the north of 
Portugal could not be mistaken. 
Even the English newspapers spoke 
of the universal disaffection: but, as 
little was known of the feelings of the 
capital and the southern provinces, 
Carvalho and Menezes were sent to 
ascertain them. Their report was 
gloomy and discouraging: it may be 
comprised in three words; inert, ti- 
mid, servile. It was long before the 
patriots of Lisbon co-operated ; and, 
when they did, one opinion was con- 
stantly expressed, that the flag of 
freedom could not be first unfurled in 
Lisbon. Meanwhile, the progress of 
the Spanish patriots gave new hopes 
and encouragement; and a considera- 
ble effervescence was manifest in the 
army. 
The regents of the kingdom had 
not perceived the signs of the times, 
and contented themselves with decree- 
ing that no mention should be made 
in the newspapers of the events which 
had taken place in Spain, and that not 
a word should be said of the trial of 
the Queen of England, which was 
then going on. Many reflexions and 
associations cannot but present them- 
selves here, when it is considered 
Biography of Eminent Persons. 
[Sept. 1, 
what was then the situation of Portu- 
gal as respects this country. Mar- 
shal Beresford was hourly expected ; 
other plots were agitated; and the 
associated patriots applied to Fernan- 
dez Thomaz (then absent at the baths 
of Caldas,) for his advice and counsel. 
He returned to Oporto, though much 
indisposed, and insisted on the imme- 
diate necessity of again seeking the 
co-operation of the Lisbon patriots. 
He offered himself for the underta- 
king ; and, when its terrible risks were 
represented, the impossibility of con- 
cealing his journey, the perils to the 
cause of freedom by the even tempo- 
rary absence of its head, he replied in 
these memorable words :—“ If I am 
arrested in Lisbon,—if any one of you 
is in danger here, be that the signal : 
there must be no more delay.” He vi- 
sited the capital: his efforts there were 
ineffectual. He found himself closely 
besieged by spies, and returned to 
Oporto at the beginning of August, to 
recommend the earliest measures for 
the overthrow of the intolerable des- 
potism. The junta had been joined 
by many patriots from the provinces ; 
and, as the news reached Oporto that 
Pamplona, with the title of Marshal, 
and with considerable military powers, 
was ordered to proceed to Oporto, the 
regenerators of Portugal met at the 
house of Fernandez Thomaz, on the 
evening of the 21st of August, 1820. 
They again ratified their oaths, and 
made all the detailed arrangements 
for the heroic and glorious declaration 
which was to take place on the memo- 
rable 24th. 
At nine o'clock ‘of the evening of 
the 23d, the military council met at 
the house of Sepulveda. ‘The rest is 
known. It was a triumph unstained 
with reproach; unpolluted by blood. 
The resistance was ephemeral and 
shadowy. Majestic and imposing was 
the forward march of freedom. A 
constitution was proclaimed: the na- 
tional representatives were gathered 
together. The sympathising and ap- 
proving voice of Europe has borne 
testimony to the prudence, the dig- 
nity, the wisdom, of their measures. 
Among them Fernandez Thomaz oc- 
cupies that station to which he is so 
eminently entitled. His report on the 
state of the nation has added greatly 
to his reputation; and his conduct on 
the unfortunate discussions with the 
Brazils, has served to endear him 
more closely to the friends of liberty. 
ORIGINAL 
