XI.

1808.

September.

On the other hand, those members who had kept CHAP.
aloof from the interests of the enemy, and retain-
ing their loyalty had retained the confidence of
the nation, had an unquestionable claim to be
reinstated in their situations. Declaring there-
fore that his instructions were to take measures
for forming a Regency as soon as possible, com-
posed of such persons of rank, character, and
talents, as might be found ready to undertake,
and qualified to discharge, the important trust,
but with as few changes (particularly in the sub-
ordinate departments) as might be compatible
with the public interests, in the fulfilment of
this duty he naturally addressed himself to his
Excellency and the Provisional Board of Govern-
ment at Porto. "You," Sir Hew continued,
"have already turned your thoughts to the
great question now at issue, and are doubtless
prepared to propose measures for completing
the Council of Regency so as to merit the con-
fidence of the nation, and to prevent any just
cause of discontent in any other provisional
government, or other respectable description of
the people. For my own part, I have only been
able, from the information I have received since
my arrival in Portugal, to form one decided
opinion on this subject; which is, the infinite
importance to the public welfare that your
cellency should yourself hold a distinguished
place in the proposed Regency."

66

Ex

The Bishop's reply was, that he should readily The Counacquiesce in whatever might be determined upon, gency re

cil of Re

established.

XI.

September.

CHAP. except his own nomination to the Council; for he, better than any other person, knew what 1808. was necessary for the good of the public cause, and of the northern provinces, and therefore would not remove from the place where he had been stationed by God and by his Prince. It was soon, however, ascertained, that if this Prelate could not remain at the head of the government at Porto, he would not persist in refusing to accept a share in it at Lisbon. Sir Hew therefore, upon mature deliberation, and with the best advice which could be obtained, issued a proclamation, saying, that through the success with which Providence had blessed the British arms, the time was come when the reestablishment of the Portugueze government could be effected. He gave the people due praise for the exertions which they had made against the French; and saying that no views of interest or of national aggrandizement could be imputed to the liberal policy of Great Britain, declared, that the best manner in which he could fulfil the intentions of his Sovereign, and promote the welfare of Portugal, was by restoring that Council to which their Prince had delegated his authority when he preserved his royal dignity from the insults of an implacable enemy, and secured his American dominions. One of that Council had been unhappily sent away from his country; others had incurred imputations which rendered their restoration impossible at this time. The three, however, who had contracted no such

Sept. 18.

XI.

1808.

disability, the Monteiro Mor, D. Francisco Xavier CHAP. de Noronha, and Francisco da Cunha e Menezes, he called upon to resume the administration, and September. with them the Desembargador Joam Antonio Salter de Mendonça, and Brigadier D. Miguel Sept. 20. Pereira Forjas Coutinho, whom the Prince had named to succeed in case of vacancies. These persons assembled accordingly, and to fill up the number which the act of regency appointed, elected the Marquez daz Minas and the Bishop of Porto. The Junta of Porto then dissolved itself, declaring, however, that if the Regency should again be overthrown by any new invasion of the enemy, (which they prayed God to avert,) or any other calamity, they should by that event enter again upon the full exercise of the authority which they now laid aside. The other Juntas were in like manner dissolved: the Regency was acknowledged throughout Portugal, and things resumed, as far as possible, their former course.

England

Convention.

While Sir Hew Dalrymple was employed in Outcry in carrying the terms of the convention into effect, against the putting an end to the anarchy which prevailed, and preparing with all possible speed to advance into Spain, an outcry which he little expected had arisen against him at home. The official account of the battle reached England a fortnight before the news of the armistice and convention: tidings came with it that the French had proposed to evacuate Portugal, and the news of Junot's unconditional surrender was looked for as what must necessarily ensue. When the terms

XI.

September.

CHAP. of the convention were received the Park and Tower guns were fired; but the public feeling 1808. was not in accord with this demonstration of joy, and never was any public feeling so unanimously and instantaneously manifested. The hopes of the nation had been raised to the highest pitch; their disappointment was in proportion, and it was expressed with a violence only to be explained by the deep and general abhorrence which the conduct of the French in Portugal had provoked. The capitulations of the Helder and of Buenos Ayres were remembered as less mortifying than the convention of Cintra. Nothing else could be talked of, nothing else could be thought of: men greeted each other in the streets with execrations upon those who had signed this detested convention; it kept them waking at night, or disturbed their sleep, like a misdeed or a misfortune of their own. The London newspapers joined in one cry of wonder and abhorrence; on no former occasion had they been so unanimous. The provincial papers proved that, from one end of the island to the other, the resentment of this grievous disappointment was the same; some refused to disgrace their pages by inserting the treaty; others surrounded it with broad black lines, putting their journal in mourning for the dismal intelligence it contained; some headed the page with a representation of three gibbets, and a general suspended from each, cut in wood for the occasion.

What could be done? There were not want,

up

XI.

1808.

September.

ing writers who called upon government to annul CHAP. the convention. The Romans, they said, would have done so, and have delivered the generals who signed it, bound and haltered, to the enemy's discretion. Would it be argued, that to break the treaty would be to break our faith towards the enemy? Why, it was so framed that it could not be fulfilled without breaking our faith towards each and all of our allies! We were the allies of Portugal; and it was a breach of faith towards Portugal, to transport this army of thieves, ravishers, and murderers out of the country in which they had perpetrated their crimes, and from which they had no other possible means of escape. We were the allies of Spain; and it was a breach of faith towards Spain, if four-andtwenty thousand French troops, cut off from all succour and all retreat, should be conveyed, under the British flag, into their own country, with arms and baggage, that they might join the forces with which Buonaparte was preparing to march against the Spaniards. We were the allies of Sweden; and it was a breach of faith towards Sweden to carry Russian sailors through the Swedish fleet for the purpose of manning Russian ships against the Swedes. Were we then to annul this treaty with our enemies, or to betray our friends? for to this alternative our triumvirate of generals had reduced us! No law of nations could justify them in making such stipulations; no law of nations therefore could justify us in performing them.. But the French, it was urged,