■ 





BBj QCQI 



380 



THE TREATY OF COMMERCE 



for reformation, and it is from this source that 

 the existing government has one heavy weight 

 hanging over it, which may lead to most serious 

 consequences. There are two evils which cannot 

 be long endured when they have arrived at a 

 certain height, — heavy and injudicious taxation, 

 and injustice; — these reach every man; in 

 his own hut he feels them, and they follow 

 him every where, subjecting him to privations, 

 and Jo many mortifications ; his temper is soured, 

 and his anger will at last break loose. 



Article 12th. " British subjects, and all 

 other foreigners resident in the dominions of 

 Portugal shall have perfect liberty of conscience, 

 and shall be permitted to build churches and 

 chapels under certain restrictions as to their 

 outward appearance ; and any person who should 

 attempt to make converts from, or should declaim 

 against the Catholic religion publicly, is to be 

 sent out of the country in which the oflence has 

 been committed." It is disgraceful that such 

 an article as this should be necessary in any 

 treaty between two civilised states ; but every 

 step towards liberality should be greeted with 

 great joy, proceeding from those countries' in 

 which the Catholic religion predominates. That 

 part of the article which concedes liberty of con- 

 science, not only to British subjects, but to every 

 foreigner, is another indication of the spirit of 

 liberality having found its way into the Council 



