The National Register.
London, England, 1808-01-10 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL ILEGISTER.

great aristocracy
;n the robes of an
Ambassador. Lord Straagfami is disqualified for such an ap-
poitement, because be had peeullar motives to become thorough-
1y acquainted with the language and manners of the Portuguese;
because he bad lived at the Court of Portugal a considerable
time, and in the very situation best calculated to afford him a
complete knowledge the characters and views of all the great
men at that Court—in the temporary exercise of the functions
of an Ambassador ! If these be the only disqualifications of
Lord Strangford, there are few, indeed, of The Morning Chroni-
cle's men of high rank, who would not be excellently fitted for
Ambassnilors at the new Court of the Brazils.
But a still heasier charge is attempted to be thrown on Lord
Strangford: we are informed that he has exposed himself as a
vain boaster, that the dispatches which he sent to hill Govern-
Meat contained palpable falsehoods, and that on these accounts
be is both contemptible and odious in the eyes of the Prince
Regent and his Court. Now we must acknowledge that we do
lot perceive the slightest ground for such assertions ; and if this
be theme, they can only be considered as malignant calumnies
invented for mischievous purposes. From his Lordship's dis-
patches we perceive that the Court of Portugal had prepared
for emigration, as soon as a French ievasion began to he appre-
iteuded ; and though it might very well be inferred that these
preparations wore accelerated by the instances of the British
Government, through their agent at Lisbon, yet his Lordship's
dispatches do not give a hint that he had any merit in the
transaction. Ile afterwards informs us that the Court of Por-
tugal lost its resolution as the hour of emigration approached ;
that, in spite of his remonstrances, it united itself vs ith the
enemies of Britain, and was ready to purchase the forbearance
of Bonaparte, at the price of engaging in the utmost hostilities
against this country ; that, however, he ventured to renew hie
Degociations with the Court of Lisboa; that he then found all
the Prince Regent's apprehensions directed to a French army,
and all his hopes to a British fleet; and that, nu his I,ortbhip.s
assurances that the Prince would find protectors instead of ene-
mies in our ships of war, the Portuguese fle.et immediately began
to drop down the Tagus. Now in all this we cannot see any
thing. that deserves the name of vain boasting: lord Strang-
ford merely assumes the merit of having taken the last step
to remove every remaining scruple of the wavering Por-
tuguese ; and of having taken upon himself some arranp.-,e-
meats for which he had not time •to receive orders from
his Court. As to his assertion that the confidence of the
Portuguese in the protection of Britain arose from the
moderation of our Mlaisters in not menacing their Court, seizing
their fleet, plundering their dock-yards, and treating this Ally
like a prostrate enemy whom he had hound hand and foot—we
have no hesitation in believing it : bad they always behaved in
this manner, we should probably have had at least one nation
less in the catalogue of otsr enemies. If Lord Sirangford's re-
presentations were the cause of this moderation, we have mills.
In regret that we bad not similar Ministers at some other Courts
of Europe.

The other insinuation of The Moran, Otrenick, that bis
Lordphip must be unacceptable to tht Portuguese (;overnment,
does not rest on even the slightest foundation. The Prince Re-
gent consulted with hint in bit atmoot esttinnity, relied upon Ais,
assurances of British forbearance and protection, sailed in bis
aompauy till he bad reached the open ocean, and at parting be-
stowed upon hint cordial expressions of esteem. accompanied by
suds presents as it is usual for Priuces so bestow on well deserv-
ing subjects.
From these considerations, we think ourselves entitled to
conclude that the attack of TAe ,Morning Chruniele on Lord
Strangford was a mere work of party ; a stab to the ministry at
she expeuce of an nnoTending Individual. We have no ad.- '
%nate means to jars, of kis Loetiship't rea degree Of :init/

JAN. 10,

but if nothing eau be shcwn to his disadvantage, we think it
world have been the height of injustice in ministers not to have
gluon him the appointment of ambassador at the court of the
Brazils. After having attended the Portuguese government in
all its fortunes, after having had every opportunity of studyin;
its views and character; after having accompanied it as a pm-
tector in the ino‘t distressing circumstance of its fate, would it
have been proper, or politic, or just, to set aside this man, ak
substitute in his place Iconic person who knew nothing more ,if
the Portuguese than of the Kamschatkans ? Lord Stmngforif
may behave ill hereafter ; but where is the man who
from his services or his knowledge hasat present au equal claim
to the Brazilian embassy ?

We cannot conclude these animadversions, without noticing
the pompous declamations which have appeared in 7'he Mot n•
ing Chronicle, respectingthe extreme importance of conciliating
the Brazilian Court, and the extreme delicacy of this under-
taking. We're the Court of Russia indeed, in question, a Court
of vast and independent power, such language might very pro-
perly he held ; but as to the Portuguese Clovernmeut, K hich
has not, nor ever had the power of injuring us, which depends
upon us entirely for the snpply, the protection and improve•
meat of its new dominion:, we should not imagine that any great
art was requisite, either to gain its good-si ill, or to retain its
fidelity. But the unhappy Morning Chronicle, in pursuit of its
vocation, was under the necessity of representing this object at
too great to be aliCetcd by any but the redoubtable politicians
of its own faction.

SO 7
simomuminsimmi
s sweep* / itiawielet a favootilf is? of the
w►be may be inclined *strut s year er tit. 1