.
It was not long, indeed, before the Portuguese, laying aside their
characteristic pride and vain boasting, clung to their ancient
protectors, and submitted to their direction with a docility and
patience that produced the happiest result.

NAVAL AFFAIRS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

Napoleon had not yet abandoned all hopes of assistance from his navy, or
relinquished the fond wish he had entertained of diminishing the power
of the British on the sea. Nay, he had recently declared that a true
Frenchman could not rest till the sea was open and free. This year he
had collected a large squadron at Toulon, to co-operate with his troops
on the side of Calabria, in an attack on Sicily. Possessed of that
island, he would have been able to injure our commerce effectually; and
in order, therefore, to counteract his views, measures were taken
to fortify that part of the Sicilian coast where a landing could be
effected; while Lord Colling-wood blockaded the port of Toulon as
closely as he could consistently with his efforts to second the Spanish
patriots in their noble cause, which double duty was imposed upon him by
the British Government. A considerable French fleet, stationed at Cadiz,
surrendered in June to that people who had experienced so many insults
and injuries from its flag. Collingwood wished these men-of-war to join
his squadron, for the purpose of intercepting any French fleet that
might be sent against the Spanish dominions in South America; but the
supreme junta of Seville, instead of complying with his request, began
to dismantle them. A want of confidence in the British government, and
an overweening trust in their own internal resources, notwithstanding
the serious reverses they had recently met with; still pervaded the
Spanish nation.

STATE OF THE CONTINENT.

During this year the Russian autocrat and the Emperor Napoleon pursued
that system of aggrandizement, which they had contemplated in making
the treaty of Tilsit. In February a Russian army entered Finland, which
province had always been an object of cupidity to the court of St,
Petersburgh, and on the accession of Frederic VI. to the crown of
Denmark, that monarch declared war against Sweden. After several bloody
battles, the fate of Gustavus Adolphus appeared inevitable; when, to
avoid falling under the yoke of Russia, he entered into a convention
which virtually left the granary of Sweden in the hands of his
conqueror.

This year Napoleon a