home trade, with foreign capitals. For they are trufted with all kinds of traffic till the returns come round: infomuch that the merchants of other countries not only ftand the difburfe of the coft of their goods, and the charges of tranfporting them to Portugal, but alfo of the duties, till the returns for them arrive. Portugal pays a great ballance in fpecie to the countries up the Baltic; as also to the United Provinces, France, and Italy. The Portugueze even pay a ballance to Spain: but no nation is more effential in commerce to them than Great-Britain, who furnishes them with the necef faries of life, and chiefly receives articles of luxury. The treaty made between queen Anne, and Peter II. of Portugal, is fufficient to fhew the neceffity of a proper understanding, and perpetual friendship, between both crowns for Portugal is thereby for ever to admit the woollen manufactures of the Britons; and Great-Britain is to admit the wines of Portugal, for one-third lefs duty than the wines of France. It will be attended with too much prolixity to enumerate all the articles of trade imported and exported between both countries: they are reciprocally advantageous; and the ballance is greatly in favour of Great-Britain, whofe intereft it is to protect Portugal, and the Portugueze are fenfible how much they ought to rely on the friendship of the British nation. Indeed, Portugal once feemed blind to her own intereft: for king Peter, when the Spanish fucceffion was difputed, at first fided with the duke of Anjou; by concluding a treaty with France, whereby he agreed to acknowledge Philip V. as king of Spain; and that no shelter fhould be given in the Portugueze ports, to English or O 2 Dutch, Dutch, in cafe of their declaring for the archduke, nor any attempts of theirs against the two crowns be feconded in Portugal. France was to give the king of Portugal a fubfidy; and to affift in recovering the Ile of Ceylon from the Dutch. But these engagements with France could not prevail upon the court of Lisbon to acknowledge the Pretender for king of England; notwithstanding the preffing inftances made ufe of for that purpose His Portugueze majefty foon deferted France, and concluded a treaty with the allies: in confequence of which, he affifted the archduke in the conqueft of Spain. The Portugueze troops have been stigmatized for their mifbehaviour at the battle of Almanza: but this was owing to a young nobility who were unused to arms, and fet a bad example to their men, who behaved well when they were incorporated among the British foldiers. However, the kingdom of Portugal was brought into imminent danger by the treaty of Utrecht, which only stipulated a fufpenfion of arms between the Spaniards and the Portugueze; nor was any treaty concluded between them till the year 1715. When the king of Portugal, in 1709, had formed a project to prevent the extraction of bullion; he was told by Lord Galway, "that, according to the diftribution "of things by Providence, riches belong to fome na"tions, and induftry to others; by which means the liberality of heaven is made equal to all. That, those "nations, who are gainers by their trade with Portugal, "thereby become her natural guarantees. That, his majesty had powerful enemies, and required powerful friends. That, the ambition of France knew no "bounds; "bounds; and the pride of Spain would teach her to keep up a perpetual claim to the territories and crown "of Portugal. That, his majesty had no recourse to "frustrate those views, and defeat the endeavours of "those potentates, but to the maritime powers. And, "therefore, (his lordship) defired his majefty to confi"der, that every project to diftrefs them, was in effect "a scheme to destroy himself." From that time, the crown of Portugal has winked at the extraction of gold and filver. It is neceffary she should do so because, with Spain for an hereditary enemy; and France a friend that the dares not truft; where can Portugal, too weak to defend herself, look for an able and trufty ally? To no where but to Great-Britain, which is the only nation that ever has been, can, or will be, the fafe, trufty, and honourable fupporter of Portugal. The English generously helped them in their emancipation from the Spanish yoke, and have protected them in it ever fince. If a fquabble happened in Oliver's time, it was from an indifcretion of the court of Portugal, which they paid heartily for, and, on their becoming wifer, England became their friend again. Our Charles II. married their Infanta, in preference to all other princeffes; and concluded a treaty with Alphonfo VI. whereby Great-Britain is to fuccour them in times of need, and particularly with a naval force adequate to the neceffity of their demand. In confequence of which, in 1735, Great-Britain fent a fleet to protect Portugal from the refentment of Spain, which coft the British government above a million fterling: and it is our duty, as well as intereft, to grant the fame protection whenever it is required. The obfervance of national faith has always made Great-Britain the best friend of Portugal; who, in her late dreadful calamity, has feasonably and bountifully experienced the charity and generofity of Britons. Cur merchants want a confirmation of fome privileges in Portugal; and his most faithful majefty is readily difpofed to oblige them. He is a moft amiable and excellent monarch: he confults nothing fo much as the happiness of his fubjects and the fatal event that has happened in his metropolis, of Lisbon, as well as the other parts of his dominions, has given inexpreffible concern to the inhabitants of London; and fhewn an unprecedented example of the honour, friendship, and humanity of the British nation. : A PRO A PROJECT FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF AUTHORS*. TO THE VISIT E R. I Know not what apology to make for the little differtation which I bave fent, and which I will not deny that I have fent with defign that you should print it. I know that admonition is very feldom grateful, and that authors are eminently choleric; yet, I hope, that you, and every impartial reader, will be convinced, that I intend the benefit of the public, and the advancement of knowledge; and that every reader, into whofe hands this fhall happen to fall, will rank himself among thofe who are to be excepted from general censure. I am, Sir, your humble fervant. Scire velim quare toties mihi, Navole, triftis Juv HERE is no gift of nature, or effect of art, how THERE ever beneficial to mankind, which either by cafual deviations, or foolish perverfions, is not fometimes mif From the Univerfal Vifiter, April, 1756. |