Daily National Intelligencer

FROM PERNAMBUCO.

Extract from the journal of an American gentleman, arrived at New-York from Pernambuco.

"The late revolution ended, and the subsequent conduct of thousands of those who abetted it is better than a volume of theoretical reasoning to enable us to judge of their competency to establish their independence. They were, at the commencement of it, no doubt, pleased with the idea of liberty, not because they knew the worth of it, but for the same reason that a child is, for a while, pleased with a rattle—because it was a novelty. Their efforts to possess it continued therefore, so long as they were attended with little difficulty and no danger; but when a small squadron, that could not land a thousand men, appeared before the town, their patriotism evaporated. Indeed the panic was so general, that, before a gun was fired, a party of 40 or 50 Portuguese sailors (whose vessels had been embargoed in the port from the commencement of the revolution) landed and took possession of the first fort the Patriots took from the Royalists, the day on which the revolution broke out. A few hours after, one Lobo, with some of his officers, landed from the squadron without opposition, and the people received him with every manifestation of joy. The day before this transaction took place in Pernambuco, the government received information, that a body of the Royalists, consisting of about 300, who had marched by land from St. Salvador, together with as many more Indians, who had joined them on their march, were advancing upon the rear of the town, then about 20 miles distant from it. Martins, though not a military man, took command of about six hundred men; and advanced to give them battle. He encamped the first night of his march a short distance from the enemy, and at day-light the next morning found that half of his men had deserted. He was soon attacked; a slight skirmish ensued, in which he was wounded; his troops fled in every direction, but principally to the enemy. He made his escape in disguise, but was shortly after betrayed by an old woman, in whose house he had sought concealment. The victorious troops marched into the city, and the king's authority was immediately re-established. Paraiba, Rio Grande, & some other small towns to the north & in the interior, followed in quick succession the example of Pernambuco. Of those who had espoused the cause of the revolution more than 99 of 100 were not only loudest in their huzzas to welcome the return of the king's authority, but were also loudest in their denunciations of the residue of those with whom they had acted; hence, prisoners were daily marched into the city from almost every part of the province, and confiscations and executions were daily taking place. Their treatment of the lifeless bodies of those prisoners, is worthy of savages. After the prisoner is put to death (which is done by hanging) his head and hands are cut off, and his body made fast to a horse and dragged through the filth and dirt of the principal streets of the city. This ceremony has followed every execution that has taken place, and is strikingly characteristic of the present state of refinement in that country, or rather it indicates how nearly the people and their rulers are assimilated in their passions & manners to a state of barbarism. After sufficiently gratifying themselves with this horrid spectacle, their heads or hands were either erected on poles, or some conspicuous place, where they remain to frighten the souls of fearful adversaries, or are sent to some other town in the province for a like exhibition. Indeed there is scarce a much frequented spot, or public square in the city, but exhibits some parts of the mangled bodies of these unfortunate adventurers. Some were sent in irons to St. Salvador and Rio Janeiro, thence to be executed: others banished to Africa, and about 300 now remain in the prisons of Pernambuco and Paraiba, who are doomed, no doubt, soon to experience the 'tender mercies' of this merciful government."