25 DECEMBER 1869, Page 2

The Government of Portugal seems to be in a rather

shaky condition just now. The Duke de Saldanha, a general very popular with the Army, but nearly ninety years of age, is attack- ing the Ministry so violently that it is feared he will head a military insurrection. He denies this warmly, but remarks that if the Ministry continues in power " it will very soon overthrow the Throne and the nation," which, if not a menace, is very like one. It is believed that if he gave the signal the Army would rise, and he is accused of conspiring with Spanish statesmen for the Iberian union. This also he warmly denies, but it seems pretty clear that he has some project in his head, for the sake of which he has resigned his embassy to Paris, and that the Government is afraid of him.