326 FOREIGN POLITICS. [1806. 



than to oppose any obstacle to its destruction. Since 

 the peace of Presburg, Bonaparte had nothing to 

 occupy his attention, nor had anything occurred to 

 postpone the project of subduing the ally of England 

 and winning the last stake England had to lose on 

 the continent of Europe. 



Early in August 1806, the English Government 

 had received intelligence of the intention of France 

 to invade Portugal with an army of 30,000 men then 

 assembled at Bayonne. From perfectly reliable in- 

 formation, it was believed that it was the object and 

 intention of Bonaparte to dethrone the royal family, 

 and to partition Portugal, allotting one part to Spain 

 and the other to the Prince of the Peace or to the 

 Queen of Etruria. 



The ministers thereupon resolved to send an army 

 to the Tagus, to be there met by a competent naval 

 force, the whole to be intrusted to the command of 

 Lord St Vincent and Lieutenant - General Simcoe, 

 with full powers, conjointly with Lord Eosslyn, to 

 negotiate with the Court of Lisbon. 



I received from the Foreign Office the following 

 letter : 



"DOWNING STREET, August 12, 1806. 



" SIR, I am directed by Mr Secretary Fox to inform 

 you that his Majesty having been pleased to appoint 

 the Earl of Eosslyn, the Earl of St Vincent, and Lieu- 

 tenant-General Simcoe to proceed on a special mission 

 to the Court of Lisbon, you have been selected to 



