JET. 28.] MISSION TO PORTUGAL. 337 



suspicion of the service in which they were to be 

 employed, all supposing, probably, that these evolu- 

 tions were merely a piece of discipline connected with 

 landing and embarkation, as the arrival of our troops 

 was known to be expected. As soon as the moment 

 came, and the operation was resolved upon, the 

 admiral was to propose that the regent and his 

 attendants of rank should drive to the harbour to 

 view the Hibernia (his flagship), dressed out on occa- 

 sion of some English festival. They had frequently 

 done so before, and their repairing now to the spot 

 would not be objected to. The regent was of course 

 likely to be accompanied by many of his Court, and 

 Lord St Vincent himself would attend him. I recollect 

 his saying, in answer to my question whether he 

 would invite him to a collation as on former occa- 

 sions, " Certainly not ; for, considering what was in- 

 tended, it might be thought contrary to good faith." 

 I replied that 1 conceived the plan to be so little 

 grounded on good faith, as to make this distinction 

 somewhat of a refinement. But he said that was as 

 one happened to feel it, only they would cry out the 

 more against the whole proceeding. 



When he had with the utmost possible respect at- 

 tended the regent to the boat, he expected that there 

 would be a positive refusal to go on board, which he 

 meant to urge in the most humble and submissive 

 terms. He laid his account with the resistance being 

 greater the more he pressed, and took for granted 

 that either a peremptory refusal or a return to the 



VOL. I. y 



