the despotism of an absolute and arbitrary power; but now that we are apprised of the perfidy with which, under the pretext of a friendly conference, the King, the head of our house, and the branches of our family in Spain, were persuaded to trust their persons in the hands of him who menaced their rights, ours, and those of all the subjects of the King of Spain-a perfidy by which they were forced to sign formal acts of abdication and renunciation, and individually carried out of the kingdom, to be confined in places already stained with the blood of other branches of our Royal Family-filled with horror at such proceedings, we think it our duty to implore the assistance of your Royal Highness, as our immediate natural Guardian and Protector; intreating your assistance against the propagation of this system of usurpation, which swallows up all the States of Europe, one after another; and soliciting your Royal Highness's interposition in favour of our House, that by your power and influence you may place us in a condition (as the nearest relatives of the King of Spain) to be able to preserve his rights, and stoutly to secure our own, by a junction of the Portuguese, Spanish, and English forces, in order to prevent the French from effecting, by means of their armies, the same acts of violence and subversion which they have committed over almost the whole extent of Europe.

"Your Royal Highness, in consideration of the state and condition in which our august Father and Uncle, with the rest of the family of our august House of Spain, cannot but approve of this our proceeding a proceeding grounded on the fundamental principles and laws of the

Spanish monarchy, from which we will never detach ourselves-a proceeding justified by the incontrovertible principles of divine and natural justice; and as such we expect that it will merit the approbation of our beloved uncle, the King of the Two Sicilies, that of his Royal Family, and that of all those personages who are chiefly interested therein. This proceeding we also consider es a measure expected by the members of our unhappy and unfortunate family, now in a state of constraint and oppression, removed from their kingdom, and, what is assuredly the most painful, torn from the bosom of their tenderly beloved subjects, the faithful, constant, and generous Spaniards.

"Such is the view of things which our dearly-beloved cousins and uncle, the Prince of Asturias and the Infants Don Carlos and Don Antonio, wished to convey to us, when, after describing the entrance of the French troops, and their superiority of numbers, they thus proceed:

"In this state of things, their Royal Highnesses, reflecting on the situa tion in which they stand, and also the delicate circumstances wherein Spain is placed, considering that, in a crisis of such difficulty, any attempt on the part of the Spanish people to retrieve their rights would be pregnant rather with ruin than advantage, and could have no other result than that of producing torrents of bloodshed, and occasioning the certain loss of at least a great part of their provinces, and the whole of their transmarine colonies.'

"This style of expression appears to offer evident proofs, first, of the violence exercised towards the Princes, to make them write, but without per mitting them to write all that they

might wish, in order to manifest their real sentiments; secondly, that, perhaps, if Spain were not so circumstanced and occupied by a hostile army, they themselves would not think it useless in the inhabitants to make an attempt to recover their rights; thirdly, that if the transma. rine colonies were reduced to a similar situation, they would be completely lost. And in these expressions we discover a tacit, but very obvious insinuation, addressed by them to us, and their most faithful countrymen still in a state of freedom, that we should all of us, with one consent, contribute to the defence and preservation of their rights.

"We are, therefore, firmly persuaded that this opinion will meet with the concurrence of our uncles in Sicily, and also that of all the other Members of our Royal Family, and all our fellow-countrymen who are free, and at a distance from such insults and oppressions.

"Rome, the depositary of our holy religion, is once more insulted, and in subjection to this arbitrary Power, the common disturber of Europe. In vain does his Holiness protest against the exile of the Most Eminent the Cardinals; in vain does he enjoin them not to stir until they are compelled by violence. He has no recourse but to complaints and lamentations, as we perceive from his note, signed by the most eminent the Cardinal Doria, which says, that such proceedings are manifestly directed to the subversion and destruction of the power of the church.'

6

"We are happy in being on this side of the Atlantic, inasmuch as we are neither subjected, nor in a condition of being subjected; if, banishing from us all party-spirit, we cultivate that perfect union and alliance

which, in proportion as they identify our feelings, will also consolidate our resources, which are sufficient for the formation of a respectable force, fully adequate of itself to resist and repel any invasion, and to secure our interests, our liberty, and our lives, against the ambition of France.

"We cannot for an instant entertain a doubt of the loyalty and affection which, at all times, the inhabitants of the Americas have manifested towards our august house, and most particularly towards our dearlybeloved father, for whom they have so recently sacrificed their lives and properties, and given the highest proofs of their loyalty.

"Under this impression, and convinced that the misfortunes of our family will afflict their hearts with grief, which have ever taken an interest in the preservation of our rights, we trust, that, by means of the influence and assistance of your Royal Highness, a perfect alliance may be effected with the American subjects of the King of Spain, by which we shall easily be enabled to secure ourselves from the attacks of the enemy; while, by a measure so just and salutary, we shall also destroy the seeds of those family quarrels which incessantly arise between the subjects of the two kingdoms, and which always produce consequences to be lamented.

"With a view to the realization of our just and salutary intentions, we are desirous of having a secure opportunity to communicate them to the governors, tribunals, and other personages, being the lawful depositaries of the authority of our king and master, which we in no respect wish to alter or abridge, but, on the contrary, are anxious to preserve and defend it, against the power of

the French. For this purpose, we trust that your Royal Highness will interest yourself with the admiral of our great and powerful Ally, the King of Great Britain, that he may dispose of his force so, that, without impairing the defence of your Royal Highness on the coast of the Brazils, it may also contribute to that of the coasts of the River Plate, and the other dominions of Spanish America, and that it may in no respect be prejudicial to the navigation and commerce which the inhabitants of those dominions carry on with this and the other ports of this principality. This protection, we have no doubt, will be immediately afforded to us by the generosity and noble character of the King of Great Britain and his powerful nation.

"We conclude with entreating that your Royal Highness may be pleased to place at our disposal all the necessary means for communicating our intention to the governors, civil and ecclesiastical authorities, in whom resides, in full vigour and force, the authority of our august King and Master, and to whose loyalty are consigned the rights of our royal House; which we are anxious to preserve inviolable, during the continuance of the misfortunes with which French ambition has oppressed our Royal Family of Spain.

"Palace of Rio Janeiro, Aug. 19, 1808.

justice, in thinking me disposed to sustain your rights, and those of such Spaniards as are faithful to their crown and country. In the manifesto which I published on my arrival on this Continent, in which I might have expressed my just resentment for the conduct of the Spanish government, in allowing a passage to the French troops, and joining with them in the invasion of Portugal, I forebore doing so, and was rather solicitous to do justice to those sentiments of regret which all faithful Spaniards must have necessarily felt, on seeing themselves compelled to execute a measure so contrary to the interests of their Princes and their own safety.

"I entertained the greater confidence that the time would arrive when we should be able to unite as allies, for the purpose of mutual defence against such enormous and multiplied aggressions.

"I concur with your Royal Highnesses, that the time has now arrived for entering into such an union, in order to act against the common enemy; and I trust, that, in concert with my allies, among whom is to be reckoned Sicily, which must necessarily consider itself as such, we shall be able to oppose a barrier to the progress of the conquests which France may attempt to obtain over us. At least, I will, for my part, do every thing in my power to effect this salutary combination and alliance, which your Royal Highnesses have just proposed to me; and I am anxious that the Americans, satisfied that we are agreed as to the urgent necessity of protecting them, should unite their means with our forces, in order to give full and entire effect to the wishes by which I am actuated, of securing to them that peace and

prosperity of which they are susceptible from their local situation. "Given at our Royal Palace, in the River Janeiro, under our Royal Seal, August 19, 1808. "PRINCE."

No. 38. Suspension d'Armes arretée entre Monsieur le Chevalier Arthur

Wellesley, Lieutenant-General, et Chevalier de l'Ordre du Bain, d'une part, et Monsieur le General de Division Kellermann, Grand Officier de la Legion d'Honneur, Commandeur de l'Ordre de la Couronne de Fer, Grand Croix de l'Ordre du Lion de Bavière, de l'autre part; tous deux chargés de pouvoirs des Generaux respectifs des Armées Françaises et Anglaises.

Au Quartier General de l'Armée Anglaise, le 22d Aout, 1808. Art. I. Il y aura à date de ce jour une suspension d'armes entre les armées de sa majesté Britannique, et de sa majesté imperiale et royale Napoleon I. à l'effet de traiter d'une convention pour l'evacuation du Portugal par l'armée Française.

Art. II. Les generaux en chef des deux d'armées, et monsieur le commandant en chef de la flotte Britannique, à l'entrée du Tage, prendront jour pour se reunir dans tel point de la cote qu'ils jugeront convenable pour traiter et conclure la dite convention.

Art. III. La rivière de Sizandre formera la ligne de démarcation établie entres les deux armées; Torres Vedras ne sera occupé ni par l'une ni par l'autre.

Art. IV. Monsieur le general en chef de l'armée Anglaise s'obligera à comprendre les Portugais armées

pour eux la ligne de démarcation sera établie de Leira à Thomar.

Art. V. Il est convenu provisiorement que l'armée Française ne pourra dans aucun cas etre consideré comme prisonniers de guerre, que tous les individus qui la composent seront transportés en France avec particuliers quelconques, dont il ne armes et bagages, leurs proprietés pourra leur etre rien distrait.

Art. VI. Tout particulier,soit Portugais, soit d'une nation alliée à la France, soit Français, ne pourra etre recherché pur sa conduite politique; il sera protégé, ses proprietés respectées, et il aura la liberté de se retirer du Portugal dans un terme fixé avec se qu'il lui appartient.

Art. VII. La neutralité du port de Lisbonne sera reconnue pour la flotte Russe, c'est à dire, que lorsque l'armée ou la flotte Anglaise seront en possession de la ville et du port; la dite flotte Russe, ne pourra etre ni inquietée pendant son sejour, ni arretée quand elle voudra sortir, ni poursuivie lorsqu'elle sera sortie, qu'apres les delais fixés par les lois maritimes.

Art. VIII. Tout l'artillerie du calibre Français, ainsi que les chevaux de la cavalerie, seront transportés en France.

Art. IX. Cette suspension d'armes ne pourra etre rompue qu'on ne se soit prevenu quarante huit heures d'avance.

Fait et arreté les generaux designés c'y dessus, au jour et an c'y dessus.

(Signée) ARTHur Wellesley. KELLERMANN,

Le general de division. Article additionel.-Les garrisons

Le general de division. (A true copy.) A. J. DALRYMPLE, Capt. Military Sec.

No. 39. Definitive Convention for the Evacuation of Portugal by the French army.

The generals commanding in chief the British and French armies, in Portugal having determined to negociate and conclude a treaty for the evacuation of Portugal by the French troops, on the basis of the agreement entered into on the 22d instant, for a suspension of hostilities, have appointed the undermentioned officers to negociate the same in their names, viz.-on the part of the general in chief of the British army, Lieut.-colonel Murray, quarter-master-general; and on the part of the general in chief of the French army, Monsieur Kellermann, general of division, to whom they have given authority to negociate and conclude a convention to that effect, subject to their ratification respectively, and to that of the admiral commanding the British fleet at the entrance of the Tagus.

These two officers, after exchanging their full powers, have agreed upon the articles which follows:

Art. I. All the places and forts in the kingdom of Portugal, occupied by the French troops, shall be delivered up to the British army, in the state in which they are at the period of the signature of the present convention. Art. II. The French troops shall evacuate Portugal with their arms and baggage; they shall not be considered as prisoners of war, and, on

their arrival in France, they shall be at liberty to serve.

Art. III. The English government shall furnish the means of conveyance for the French army, which shall be disembarked in any of the ports of France between Rochefort and l'Orient inclusively.

Art. IV. The French army shall carry with it all its artillery of French calibre, with the horses belonging to it, and the tumbrils, supplied with sixty rounds per gun. All other artillery, arms, and ammunition, as also the military and naval arsenals, shall be given up to the British army and navy, in the state in which they may be at the period of the ratification of the convention.

Art. V. The French army shall carry with it all its equipments, and all that is comprehended under the name of property of the army; that is to say, its military chest, and carriages attached to the field commissariat and field hospitals, or shall be allowed to dispose of such part of the same, on its account, as the commander in chief may judge it unnecessary to embark. In like manner, all individuals of the army shall be at liberty to dispose of their private property, of every description, with full security hereafter for the purchasers.

Art. VI. The cavalry are to embark their horses, as also the generals and other officers of all ranks. It is, however, fully understood that the means of conveyance for horses, at the disposal of the British commanders, are very limited : some additional conveyance may be procured in the port of Lisbon. The number of horses to be embarked by the troops shall not exceed six hundred, and the number embarked by the staff shall not exceed two hundred.