JET. 28.] MISSION TO PORTUGAL. 329 



follow him with the least delay possible. But he 

 was especially cautioned to be most careful not to 

 give any information, before they actually arrived, 

 that they were expected by him, and above all to do 

 nothing that might alarm the French minister at 

 Lisbon, or give the smallest hint to the French party 

 there, that might lead to any measures being taken 

 to counteract or defeat whatever steps he might ulti- 

 mately be compelled to take. 



Thus it will be seen that the object of our mission 

 was to provide with the Portuguese Government for 

 the defence of the country ; to show them that an 

 invasion was intended, of which we had abundant 

 proof from the diplomatic intercourse with Paris, as 

 well as from the preparations actually in progress on 

 the Spanish frontier; to require adequate prepara- 

 tions on their part, with the co-operation of our naval 

 and military forces, and whatever aid in subsidy might 

 be required; and if it should be found that either 

 they would make no effort in self-defence, or that 

 their means with all the help we could afford them 

 were wholly inadequate, then our object was to urge 

 the transfer of the Government to the Brazils, assist- 

 ing by every means in our power this important 

 operation, which implied the removal of the royal 

 family, the ministers, and the principal nobles, as well 

 as the substitution of the metropolitan for the pro- 

 visional or colonial system. The three commanders 

 were as well selected as possible for this difficult and 

 delicate service. The admiral's name, renowned all 



