324 FOREIGN POLITICS. [1806. 



Fox's manners were totally different from Pitt's; 

 always agreeable, gentle, kind, and good-natured ; 

 but not attractive for young people, inasmuch as he 

 never appeared to take any interest in them, but ra- 

 ther to bear with them than to like them. Such was 

 the clear impression he made upon young Napier ; 

 whereas Pitt's manners were joyous hilarity and de- 

 light at having the opportunity of unbending his 

 mind, and relieving himself from public cares, where 

 he could do it safely ; and this Napier declared was 

 very attractive. 



Between this time and the autumn of 1806, when 

 I accompanied Lord St Vincent and Lord Eosslyn to 

 Portugal, I have nothing of any interest to record. 

 I now proceed to give the history of that mission, 

 and the circumstances connected with it, much of 

 which will be explained by the correspondence and 

 despatches which follow. 



The intention of the French Government that is, 

 of Napoleon to invade Portugal, had for some time 

 been made manifest in various ways during the sum- 

 mer of 1806, and it appeared to the English Govern- 

 ment that the situation of that country was becoming 

 critical. It was felt that if France should succeed in 

 establishing a peace with the northern Powers, she 

 would probably attack the only remaining ally of 

 England upon the Continent, and might even succeed 

 in making herself mistress of the Portuguese domin- 

 ions. Portugal, from its long alliance with England, 

 was regarded by Bonaparte almost as a part of our 



