328 MISSION TO PORTUGAL. [1806. 



pectcd French invasion of Portugal by the army then 

 assembled at Bayonne. 



In executing this service, Lord St Vincent was 

 especially directed by Lord Howick to keep the fol- 

 lowing in view : First, if he should find the Portu- 

 guese Government willing and resolved to make 

 effectual efforts for their own defence, either singly 

 or in co-operation with Spain, he might intimate that 

 England would be ready to afford substantial assist- 

 ance, the preliminary step to this being the presence 

 of an English squadron in the Tagus. Second, if 

 the Portuguese Government, believing resistance to 

 be impracticable, should resolve, as had been conjec- 

 tured, to remove their, ships, forces, stores, &c., to 

 the Brazils, then, that he should co-operate with them 

 for that purpose, by affording the aid of the British 

 fleet under his command. Third, if the Court of 

 Lisbon should appear too undecided to adopt either 

 of the above resolutions, that he should take such 

 steps as should prevent the accession of force, parti- 

 cularly of naval force, which the enemy would receive 

 were they allowed, without resistance, to possess 

 themselves of the port of Lisbon, and which must 

 at all events be prevented, and such means adopted 

 as might enable him to bring away the Portuguese 

 ships of war, Brazil and other ships, and also the 

 persons, ships, and property of the British factories, 

 and, above all, the Court itself. 



In the event of this last contingency arising, the 

 troops which were embarked had been ordered to 



