JET. 28.] MISSION TO PORTUGAL. 349 



away by the pretence that the object of the arma- 

 ment had been the apprehension of some attack in 

 Africa from the Moors. I was, however, still kept in 

 suspense, by Godoy wishing to have communication 

 with England, unknown to Napoleon ; but as he sent 

 no passports, I refused to wait after November, and 

 returned to England, considering all prospect of Spain 

 being detached from France as at an end, by the con- 

 quest of Prussia, and the completed dependence of 

 Germany, which would probably enable Napoleon to 

 prosecute his designs in the south. The Government 

 which I represented had no wish to maintain a pro- 

 tracted negotiation at Madrid, even if what had passed 

 there with Eussia had led to her supporting Prussia, 

 and renewing the war with France. The folly of the 

 Spanish Government had led, after the defeat at Jena 

 and the entry of Berlin, to the more entire subjuga- 

 tion of Spain, and to the abandonment of the half- 

 begun resistance of Portugal. But even had the 

 contest in the north been foreseen (which ended in 

 the peace of Tilsit), it was impossible to expect that 

 while it lasted the powers in the Peninsula would do 

 more than remain passive till they saw how it was to 

 end ; and in fact Spain did not even so remain, but 

 allowed Eomana to join Napoleon with a considerable 

 force, the penalty which he made her pay for the pre- 

 mature demonstration, denied as soon as it failed. 

 The battle of Friedland and the peace of Tilsit were 

 the final consummation ; and it was Napoleon's insane 

 aggression upon Spain which threw away all the ad- 



