who was wounded on board the Orestes still survives, and though the ball has not been extracted from his chest, some hopes are entertained of his recovery.”
On the same day that this report was made to Rear-Admiral Parker, the senior officer in the Douro addressed the Visconde de Santa Martha as follows:–
“Excellent Sir,– I regret that I am again compelled to complain of the misconduct of some Of your piquets in the vicinity of the convent of St. Antonio.
“Hardly had the fresh beef for the British squadron been brought down to the beach yesterday, by the contractor on the southern side, before some of your soldiers fired at the boat which had been purposely sent to bring it on board the Orestes. On some days your troops appear to conduct themselves with the greatest propriety; on others quite the reverse, taking every opportunity to fire from under cover of rocks and trees at boats passing in the direction of H.B.M. ships. On Saturday last, your Excellency’s piquets conducted themselves in a manner becoming a steady soldiery; but yesterday afternoon, and this morning, they appeared as if desirous to provoke a fire upon themselves, for the piquets at these periods were not firing at their enemies. The continuation of these provocations is not, I am persuaded, sanctioned by your Excellency; but I must again impress upon your mind, that a recurrence of such outrages will be met by measures (and I say it advisedly) little calculated to benefit your Government. In conclusion, I have only to remark, that the tone of your Excellency’s last letter has in no way influenced my determination to continue the same undeviating observance of a strict and honorable neutrality; and it shall not be my fault, should the reciprocal relations subsisting between our respective Governments be in any way disturbed. With the highest consideration and respect, I have the honor to be, &c.
On the 30th Dec. at 8 p.m., Don Miguel’s batteries in the vicinity of Villa Nova commenced a heavy bombardment. Upwards of 130 shells were thrown into the town of Oporto by half-past ten o’clock. The custom-house was set on fire, and British property estimated at £12,000 sterling destroyed. Fortunately the conflagration was only of a partial nature: had the whole building been burnt, British property to the amount of £150,000 must have been inevitably destroyed. Several houses sustained considerable damage. A few days previous to this event, the “City of Edinburgh,” steamer,
