348 MISSION TO PORTUGAL. [1806- 



than lie (Nelson) did his great master, or more gratefully 

 felt his great kindness, and the extraordinary exer- 

 tions which he made in fitting out the fleet which he 

 gave him to command, and which gained the battle 

 of the Nile. But it was a kind of disease with Nelson 

 not to bear any person being in authority over him, 

 even as a puisne Lord of the Admiralty. 



When the delay of the passports for Madrid led to 

 my quitting Lisbon and proceeding to the north, I 

 was satisfied from what I then saw that there were 

 little means of defence, and that no preparations were 

 really intended. On my return from Lisbon, I found 

 that our fleet had suddenly been ordered home, and 

 that I was directed to remain until the passports came 

 from Madrid. These were again delayed ; and it was 

 evident that the Prussian army under the Duke of 

 Brunswick having marched into Saxony, at Madrid 

 they were waiting to see the consequences of the 

 rupture with France. But though Godoy was afraid 

 of the open quarrel with Napoleon, which must have 

 resulted from my being received at Madrid, he had 

 concluded a secret treaty with Eussia to join against 

 France as soon as the French armies should have 

 sufficient occupation in Germany ; and before the first 

 battle had been fought, he had, with the greatest 

 imprudence, published a proclamation, manifestly 

 hostile to France, for assembling all classes, and 

 making soldiers repair to their regiments. The battle 

 of Jena, a week after, destroyed all hopes of a success- 

 ful resistance, and the proclamation was explained 



