The Peninsula has added its quota to the general embroilment
The question of the navigation of the Douro has furnished Spain with an occasion of quarrel oith Portugal; which she has seized with avidity, and with little regard to the ordinary courtesies ob- served in such cases. This is the point in dispute. A convention for the navigation of the Douro through Portugal by Spanish vessels was executed in 18;3.; : thnt treaty stipulated that certain Commissioners, consisting of Sp nniards and Portugue.:e, siemld fix a on 'of of duties and regulations to b.. :01 -ivy,. .1 : the arein:ements
nrst tottessl to by the S'onnuissionLTS iv, m'v , ctcll by the Portu- onc,,i! t ivt`rtintellt. : the matter w:ts end terms were tinally settled: a septet was pre-motl to the Portuguese Cortes lest sessim, but no COnC1USI011 wag arrival at : the Queen, in clos-ing the session, stated that the question would be tine of the lisst brought forward shell the Curt::: reassembled, which will be ' on the 2tI day of next month. The S;smi,h Regency, however, though the tpuetiee had been time pen Eng mire than five years, now, when the Portuguese Government Islies manifested their inten- tion to bring it to a conclusion, insist to ee. immediate settlement,
be Core it can be submitted to the tes, os in default threaten to
employ force. The Spanish manifesto declares that unless the convention agreed to by the Commissioners be carried into effect within twenty- five days, an army of 50,000 Spaniards shall imme- diately enter Portugal. The ultimatum was also accompanied by expressions insulting to the Portuguese nation ; and the Spanish Chargi; d'Aflitires has been recalled. In this abrupt mode of settling a long-disputed question, ESPARTERO scents to be acting altogether in opposition to his usual procrastinating tactics. Por- tugal is preparing for the worst ; and both powers have appealed to England. Our interference may theretbre be promptly required in the Peninsula to arbitrate or mediate between our two allies. Lord PALMERSTON had enough on his hands before : this addition to his duties must be as unwished-for as it was unexpected.
