2 MAY 1846, Page 2

• More disturbances in the Peninsula. Portugal is now help-

ing Spain to keep up a tumult. Whether the new movement was deliberately intended to cooperate with an abortive con- spiracy that has just failed in the neighbouring kingdom, or arose in the sources of disorder more usual with Portugal, the accounts do not satisfactorily explain. All parties attempt to give it a political air ; though it is more like a revolt against the tax- gatherer, such as might happen in Ireland ; and it is confined to one quarter. The Government has resorted to measures of coercion ; and many here are scandalized by the Portuguese Mi- nisters' professing to copy the Irish Coercion Bill put forth by our Ministers. The resemblance, indeed, is awkward for us. It might, however, bear a ready explanation,—that measures in- tended to control the contumacy of peoples resembling each other in being addicted to barbarous violences and contempt of law, have naturally a mutual resemblance in their provisions. Costa Cabral's Government is blamed for being arbitrary : perhaps a wiser policy might at times be adopted ; but obviously the Por- tuguese are a people that can be governed arbitrarily,—a condi- tion apt to invite, if it does not need, harsh control.