;ET. 29.] MISSION TO PORTUGAL. 365 



rate, that M. de Souza should receive no hints which 

 may lead to a knowledge of the drift of those plans 

 until they are fully matured. Indeed I must be 

 allowed to add that M. d'Aranjo's attachment to 

 England is too slender, and his entire freedom from a 

 contrary bias too problematical, to justify any confi- 

 dential intercourse with his party upon such matters. 

 " Before leaving this subject, allow me to express 

 my high sense of the honour conferred on me by the 

 king's servants in thinking of me for the conduct of 

 the business in contemplation. It would be improper 

 to make promises at present, but I shaH desire to be 

 tried only by the event ; and, without any reference 

 to circumstances, shall be satisfied to have my services 

 judged entirely by the actual success which may at- 

 tend them. In the mean time I shall spare no pains 

 to fit myself for the duty in question, especially by 

 the collection of such information as may bear upon 

 the discussions likely to arise. I have the honour to 

 be, my lord, your most obedient and humble servt., 



" HENRY BROUGHAM." 



TO LOED EOSSLYK 



"LISBON, Oct. 13, 1806. 



" MY DEAR LORD, The frigate Mercury carried 

 both a private and public letter from me. In case 

 you may not have received them, I here shortly run 

 over the contents of the former. 



"My regret at not having seen you before your 

 departure ; my inability to comprehend what Morland 



