ered by lying disavowals,
or hollow promises; and every day its conduct became more and more
perfidious. The invasion was, to all political intents and purposes,
an invasion by Spain; and as the danger increased, the Portuguese
ambassador at London made a formal application to our government for
the military assistance which the treaties between the two countries
stipulated. Ministers waited a few days till the conduct of Spain had
been placed beyond a doubt, and then advised his majesty to send the
above message to the commons.

In proposing an address to the throne on this occasion, Mr. Canning
vindicated our interference in the affairs of the Peninsula and fully
developed the principles of his foreign policy. Disclaiming every
purpose of interference in the internal dissensions of Portugal or
influencing the settlement of her domestic institutions, he considered
England as merely called upon to defend her from an invasion organized
by foreign aid. In order to prove this position he detailed the
provisions of subsisting treaties; after which he called the attention
of parliament to the present relative state of Portugal and Spain,
asserting that he asked for a vote merely for the defence of Portugal,
and not for aggression against Spain. There is still a road open to
Spain, he said, for retraction and redress; and this would be
greatly promoted by the presence of a British army on the Portuguese
territories. Concerning the new constitution he remarked:--"As to the
merits of the new constitution of Portugal, I do not think I have any
right to offer any opinion. Personally I may have formed one; but as an
English minister all I have to say is, May God prosper this attempt at
the establishment of constitutional liberty in Portugal! and may that
nation be found as fit to enjoy and to cherish its new-born privileges,
as it has often proved itself capable of discharging its duties among
the nations of the world!" Mr. Canning next went into a detail of the
aggressions of Spain, as well as her motives: expressing an earnest
hope, that, on hearing of the step we were about to take, that power
would act so as to render hostilities unnecessary. He dreaded war; but
he begged to be understood not as dreading war in a good cause, from any
distrust of our strength and resources; on the contrary, he feared it
because this country possessed the power to push any war in which she
might engage to consequences the bare notion of which ma