The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-05-19
REPORT OF THE +. MINISTER OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
RELI7IEE no PORTUGAL:


does not ackaow ledge, that if his territory,
his jurisdiction should be violated to the de-
trilnent of your majesty, he would be res
ponsib'e for it. II d French ship were seized
in the port of Trieste or Lisbon, the govern
ment of Portugal and the sovereign to whom
Trieste belongs. wuald have to consider that
violence and damage done to your majestv's
subjects as a personal outrage: they could
not hesitate to compel England, by force, to
respect their territory and their ports if
they adopt q contrary conduct, if they be.
came accompices of the wropg done BY En-
gland to your subjects, thew would place
themselves in state of war with your males
".
when the Portuguese government suf-
fered its ships to be visited BY English ships,
its independence was violated by It's own con-
sent, by the outrage done to it's flag, as it
would have been, had England violatedits ter
ritory and its ports.
The enemy ought to be placed in a state
OF interdict, in the midst OF the seas to which
he preteads to reserve to himself the en-
pife. In this position, all powers could and
ought to expect from each other a mutual
support.
And at what moment did Portugal betrav
the cause of the Continent? Ought England
TO expect still to have an ally, when; cxerci-
sing her violence on every sea, she mena-
iO,6
ed, without any motive of aggression, the
flag of the Americans, and dyed their own
shores with their blood when, scandalous-
~ famous by the disasters of Copenhagen,
which she surprised i'll the midst OF peace,
she sought in the piiage Of her arsenals, for
;soti!e sad bloody spoils
But the scandal of this understandin ing be-
tween the Portuguese government and En-
gland may lie traced to other timcs-NVhen
N Ia I'll l,-... ..1. ONr
IN Europe that war which r,ur majesty has
SO gloriously terminated, She sent a feet to
Lisbon the ministers had conferences
time has developed the object and the result
Have not the Fttig!sh squadron sen, to
the River Plate, touched at Janeiro Did
hot the troops sent to Buenos Ayres 6 Mon
te Viedo receive provisions from the Brazik. 2
hese distant sdccours may nave escaped
the attention ofEurope; but she saw Portu-
gal receive and victual in her ports the En-
elish ships DESTINED 10 blockade Cadiz. to at
tack Constantinople and Egypt ;'those which
were 70 iand troops IN NAPLES TO stirup revolt
---t!ose winch we're to introduce Enelish
merchandise upon the coast Of the Metliter-
ranean; though PORTUGAL knew that ali the
ports IN the south were shut against them.
IS a French consul, whom Portugal had
acknowledged and admitted to the exercise
c. his functions in the port Of Faro. las been
taken BY the intend ant CT tie customs, sent
II prison, taken out only to be exiled, < the
Portuguese government refused for three
months to repair The outrage.
Professions OF neutrality Ill concealed
TINS hostile conduct. ne court OF Lisbon
should have explained itself without shut
Hing Your majesty proposed it to accede to
the system Of the continent, and had it done
80, you woald have forgotten every thing.
Ear from deterring to your majesty's
proposal, the Portuguese government had
10 other soiicitudc than that of Informing
the court of london, Of trancuilizinr En-.
gland relative to her interests; OF guarantee
ing the safety OF the English, and theft pro
perty In Portugal. y had neither protected
the French nor their commerce the per-
sons and trade of their enemies have CONT.
nued free and favored. Portugal promises
TO Join the cause Of the continent, even 10
declare war against England; but SHE wish
I'd to make war, il ] may use the expressi-
on, IN concert with her, to furnish her. I'M
der the appearance of hostility, with the
means OF continuing her trade with Portugal.
and through Portugal With the rest of F.u-
rope; Kind OF war equivalent to a perHoi-
GUS neutrality. Succours were demanded of
F-ngiand, and 70 gain time, attempts were
made to deceive your majesty by vain decla
rations; scrup'es were alledged upon some of
The consequences Of the war, when none
were entertained npcn the war itself, which
breaks all ties.
= in vain did your majesty, de;snins 10
condescend to these pretended scruples. mo-
CITY your first demand the same ref,isals
we're ACKNOWLEDGMENT made promises.
but delayed the execution under different
pretexts. AT one tine it was the prince of
Bcira, child of twelve years old, who was
to be sent to the Brazis to defend that colo
ny; at anothe. time it WAS a feet expected
from the deditcrra lean which it is wished
to haYe in safety in the Tagus
Thus Portugal embarrassed in her arti-
noes, making with the court Of London en-
gagements'real and useful to the English.
with France vague and pretended engage
ments, waited for succours and advice rom
England, sought 20 delay the measures ofthe
taDinet, and humiiating herself before both,
blihdiy committed 10 the chance of events
the interests, perhaps the existence of a ma
ton, which unanimously desired her. not Give
them up to power so fatal to ali its allies.
The epoch which your majesty had fix
ed Tor the expected determination, which Won
had consented toprolong for month. arriy-
ed. Portugal decided her own fate. She
broke Other last connections with the CONT
neut, by reducing the French and Spanish
Legations TO the necessity of quitting Lis
bon.