Cartas do Ex[celentíssi]mo Martinho de Mello e Castro derigidas de Londres ao Ex[celentíssi]mo Sen[ho]r Conde de Oeiras

• Castro, Martinho de Melo e (Author)
• Pombal, Marquês de, 1699-1782 (Contributor)
• Furtado, Francisco Xavier de Mendonça (Author)
• Manuel, Luís da Cunha (Author)
• Macau. (Contributor)

Transcription (Pages 221-298)

Page 221

**[Texto Principal]**
ou pode se ter, vop activa nem paciva, em louza
algua respectiva ao Ministerio.
Este hé oponto esencial da Negociaçaõ sobre
ogual náo tem havid athe hoga rezoluçaõ algua.
A S. Exª a V. Exª mfo Londre
20 de Mayo de 1769

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mo eip mo Snor Conde
De Oeyras.

**[Assinaturas]**
[Martinho de Melo Castro]

Page 222

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**[Texto Principal]**
D
Após de avizo que fiz a Exª Sra sobre as Revoluções do Ministerio, Não tem havido mais outra alguma de novo.
O Rey deste o Duque de Bedford erai modêves visous Secretarios de Estado Lord Buto ainda que recebou hum golpe Mortal, Mas Setem desenganados: Selonserva Namyma graça de ElRey. O Duque de Cumberland Conténia aver frequente mente este Monarca. George Grenville, Lord Bim plo, & Guilherme Pitt, depois de Deleniliador, a fombrão o Partido do Duque de Bedford; e Sebi Commta morobabilidade, que interin mente fa uma fermentação, eque se traballa em medidas maes justas quo aspondentes; lo parcm imposivel fazer juízo Seguro, Se Mas produciráos Melhor effeitos, Mas tudo aquilo Mai foi alituação actual, Será menos mas para este Governo, epard orquie de pendam delle:

Agora Se sabe que os Motivos que teve Guilherme Pitt para Mai entrar no Ministerio, forá V. oquerem No por Lord Northumberland, Genrode Lord Buti, primeiro Commis sario Da Sterouraria; D.º Mai Secalar El Rey ainda Comtoda adispoxição para for mar no Continente as Alianças Necesarias,

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Page 223

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que contrabalancem o Plano de Família, que le
a Projeto que a Itália julga indispensável
mente Necessario; D. Affonçeuente No a Se.
Ordaria do Estado contas Condições, quenas
poderao obrir las dion Comos tempo da-
Guerra: Ele certe, que Enquanto aguiresem
Conform Martly Partes? Não o las de-
poder ganlar. Desl G. al La Muity
etnuy Londres tobe Junho de 1765.

**[Assinaturas]**
Mon^to. Cam^to. S^to.
Conde de Ceyras.

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[No canto inferior direito]
Mon^to. F. de Mello e Castro

Page 224

**[Texto Principal]**
Londres 10 de Junho de 1765.

Secretario dos Sartos do Ministros
de Inglaterra

Page 225

**[Pagina 133]**

**[Texto Principal]**
Empim depois de huma fermentação, edisgusto, entre El Rey da Grande Bretanha, &o seu Ministerio, quelomesou abar mayor Corpo desde osprincipios de Abril, equedescubrio, passando aanimoridade publica, nomez de Mayo; aquesesequiria as perturbacoes, sedezordens, de que tenho avizado al Ex°. chegou El Rey por ultima Coneluzao a formar hum novo Ministerio, doqual aescolha foi dirigida pelo Duque de Cumberland, &pelo Duque de Newcastle, naforma seguinte.

Lord Rockingham primeiro Commissario da Thezouraria: Guilherme Dowdeswell Chanuller do Eschequer: Lord Winchelsea Presidente do Conselho: O General Henrique Conway Secretario del Estado dala partida do Sul: Eo Duque de Grafton Secretario de Estado dala partida do Norte.

O Duque de Newcastle não quiz entrar emalgun destes lugares, disculpando-se com a sua idade; mas queafistiria Sempre Com oseu Conselho: Vim porém de aleitad oLugar de Guarda do Sello privado, porque, como Elle diz, de-

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Page 226

**[Texto Principal]**
menos occupação, daqual Sedemelio antes
de hontem o Duque de Marlborough.
Aestas demisfões, como ordinaria
mente alomtefe Justo Governo, Selem Se
guido outras muitas, mena importantes:
mas que deixão bem perceber, quaParti
tido dos chamados Wigs, dominantes no
precedente Reynado, tornão aentras no
Pau, eno Governo, dequeseachavão ex-
cluidos.
O Duque de Cumberland Consi-
vá fe magraça ens agrado dell Rey: Es-
trabatho quo teve Comtodas estás mu-
daneas, The Recuperou a Saude de Soto, que
Teacha presente mente Commuito melhor
Saude, que aquetem logrado depois de
alguns Anos aestaparte.

**[Assinaturas]**
Marinho de Mello Carby

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Depois Guarde al Ex.a Londres
16 de Julho de 1765.
Mm. e Lxto Sor
Conde de Oeyras.

Page 227

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O Duque de Newcastle Guarda do Sello privado.
134
O Conde de Winchelsea Presidente do Conselho.
O Duque de Grafton Secretario de Estado da Repartiçam do Norte.
O General Conway Secretario de Estado da repartiçam do Sul
O Duque de Portland Camareiro Mor.

Na Tesouraria

O e Marqueze de Rockingham primeiro Commissario
William Dowdeswell Chancelerio do Exchequer.
Lord John Cavendish
Thomas Townsherd
George Onslow Comissarios na mesma Tesouraria.
William Mellish Secretario da Thesouraria.

No Correio

O Conde de Besborough,
Mylord Grantham

Page 228

**[Texto Principal]**
Londres 16 de Julho de 1765.
Sobre anomeação do novo e actual Monetario
de Inglaterra.

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Page 229

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**[Texto Principal]**
Pelo Expresso Manoel Baptista, que
Aegou aqui Quarta feira dez do Corrente,
Rebi Seis Officios que VExª medurigio,
ede que omimo Expresso vinha Encar-
regado; tres comdattas de 8 de Junho,
Thum Com datta de 14, edous Com datta
de 15. Epela Posta ordinaria recebi
mais outro comdatta de 22 do defrido
mez; Com os mais Papéis que vinhaó jun
to aos Referidos officios, de que presente
mente accuo a Recpção; ficando na
inteligencia de quanto VExª meadverio
nos mesmos.

O Expresso partio na Sexta Feira
Seguinte para Paris, Com os Despachos
Ladrigidos a Dom Vicente de Souza Coutinho.
Tres Maços de Cartas para volta
rechal, debaixo abono Adréste, que tam-
bem Leubi pela Posta ordinaria, he strao
logo Emitida por hum Expresso: Derijo
porem, que Miguel de Arriaga, Sempre
que mandar trasferidos Despachos para
Marchal, principalmente Amlendo os
pela Rota, me avize emCarta Separada;
para que emlazo de descaminho, ou de-

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[Na parte inferior direita]: algum

Page 230

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algum engano. Eu me ache advertido, cos
gosta procurar: Aimportancia das Re
laçoes do Exercito merecem toda alautela,
eCuidado, particularmente quando não vem
por Correya.

Oos Guardo a VExª Londra

16 de Julho de 1765.

Mmº Camp. Jnr.
Conde de Oeyras.

**[Assinaturas]**
Martinho de Mello Castro

Page 231

**[Pagina 1]**

**[Texto Principal]**
Londres 16 de Julho de 1765

Sobre o Expresso que Leva a Francisco
Leg Anullatoria o Breve Apostolico: E
Sobre Suprimento Miguel Pereira para
nao Remeter Carta ao Manuel General
Senas Lebaixo de Caboty elle Mathias
Lee Mello.

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Recebi osdous Officios que VExª me dirigio com datas de 3, e 8 de Junho; Au-
ra Carta particular do seu proprio punho, conque VExª igualmente me honrou.
As quinze Peneladas de Bronze emque prudencemente falte al VExª Sedida
tarão athe agora, por Conta do Embaração que Vedeferi nos meus aviros prudentes.
Picaò porem Embarcadas Com Sete Peneladas mais de Estanho, ehuma grande
poreas de Chumbo, omhum Navio que Se fará à Nila antes do fim desta Se-
mana.
Poroutros Navios tenho igualmente Cemtidos diferentes Partidas de Chumbo,
de que Espero que VExª fose Entroque. Tenho justas, dem das Quinza Pone-
ladas de Obre emque Vale a flima, equé não saó das Minas Inglesas, mais deze
da mesma qualidade, guesficão perdo promptas, eque se Embarcarão dentro de-
dez oudoze dias.
Aqui há quatro Sociedades prin-
cipaes de Negociantes, quetm adnucção
das Minas de Cobr deste Reyne. Isto

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[aqua]

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[Dudacourre Secretario]

Page 233

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aqualdade do Cobre Inglês, não há que dizer,
porque he boa. Sobre o preço sim, porque o
vendem áboca da Mina desde Cem Livras
Esterlinas athe Anto & Sinco, por Peneira
da: Eu em fim ajustei Comhuna das
Companhias, a melhor em Lisboa, livre
destodos os.gastos, vinte Poruladas por noven-
ta couts; e teri Cuidado de avizar a NExª
quando odito Cobre se Embarcar, para SeA-
ter aceperiença na Fundição: porque me
Seguraó que nó perde mais de hum athe
dois por Cento; e fazendo Conta, procurarei
huma licença de mestre da Pontas para
que pela Paquetbots de Falmouth Porto
que fica perto das Minas, Sevaò remetidas
empaquenas repetidas quantidades; oque
não dexa déser Comodi: Isto, Como digo
afirma, notazio qua profa fazer Conta.
Na Porta presidente avizi ao Sor
Dom Luiz da Anha, da licença quepedia
alorte da Ruslia para Mandar hum Na-
vio a Lisboa. Carregado porconta du Negu-
ciantes Rufsians, Com Effitos de Reiz que
naturalmente Seráò Cohe, Pero, Linho,
Brins deque sefazem aqui as Barracas,

**[Assinaturas]**
etc

Page 234

**[Pagina 139]**

**[Texto Principal]**
Sea
et &.; advprecos que Elles pedirem, Sepóde
fazer juizo seguro dalonta qua no spidem
farlo osdite Generos tirados amdireitura
Sobre esta materia escreverei a VExª
mais largamente, mas como o roflo
Portugues Seachão tão adiantado na
Judiciaçõ espero darlhes que fazer, Sem
Reparar empequenas porças Jobo + custo
dis Generos, Contanto que sejaò boms per
que Artillaria fabricada em Inglaterra
he hum coubo rhum engane, ainda om
tempo de Paz, emil vezes peor entempo
di Guera: Naõ sei Como VExª Consente
ainda na fundição Brocard, depois do
que fez Brouet; Emfim são Franceses,
e vindão de Castella.

Devo Guardo a VExª Londres
16 de Julho de 1765.

**[Assinaturas]**
Phm. e Exmo. Sr. Francisco
Xavier de Mendoça Furtado.

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Page 235

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**[Texto Principal]**
Londres a dezembro de 1763
Para o Meu Senhor S. Francisco de Melo

Sobre diferentes termos de Comercio,
e Chumbo
Sobrante Legitimo que temos para as
Navegações.
Este Serviço será publicamente feito
em Artefaria, Le Martim lebrou.

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Page 236

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**[Texto Principal]**
23 de Julho de 1765
Deve anunciar-se logo

Delo Navio chamado Neptuno, de que he Mestre João Blackfort, equihon tem sefua áVela, Remito al Ex. Simenta Poneladas de Chumbo, dezafies de Cobre, e Se to de Estanho: Tudo vai Consignado ao Suph Hake Negociante Auidente em Lis boa, egue darle parte al Ex. a Como precedentemente tam Jeito, da chegada dustes Generos, para le entregarem na formo que VEx. a dispoze.

Pomei vexpediente demandar estas Commissões Consgnadas d Casa de Hake; porque como vdo Empaquinas parcallas estu ativamente fica mais Cómado deixar ao cuidado do alto Negociante avizar al Ex. a da Chegada dos Naviis enquerao esepri- dos Generos.

Os Diretores da Companhia das Mi nas de Escrava também receberão avisos de Lisboa, detim chegado edificarem Entregues, as Com Ameladas de Fero, que Nel ordenui manda sem.

O dete Ferro he de duas qualidades, huma mais Superior, qua pòde servir para fabricar Artuharia, epara Bombas; outra

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Page 237

**[Texto Principal]**
mais inferior dequo aqui Se farum as bala
O ditto bem não diaa de lós emmuto boa
Conta, por ser porto Niehe Porto livre deto
dos vigastu, a sette Livras Esterlinas por
Pondada domethoi; ca Livras Sei eder
Chelins domais inferier. V Exª me dará a
honra de avizarmé, Seaqualidade he boa
para o efeito que se pertende, e se deve
mandar mais.

Dos Guardo al Exº

Londres 23 de Julho de 1765.

Almº. e Cam. Jº Francisco
Xavier de Mendica Purtado?

**[Assinaturas]**
Martinho de Mello e Castro

Page 238

**[Texto Principal]**
London 23rd April de 1769
Sir,
Sobre a Vossa Excelencia me honra com a sua carta de 15 do corrente referente ao Caso de Henrique dos Santos e outros que estão na Ilha de Santa Catarina aviso a Vossa Excelencia que o Nobre P.º M.º Montonelly refuso

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**[Pagina 142]**

**[Texto Principal]**
Estevão de Nismo Residente do Concelho da Companhia da India, me mandou o officio inclusa, que vinha dentro em outro com o meu adrése; enceto leubi a Carta tambem inclusa do Sinado de Macáo.
Os Directores Sequeixão do dito Senado, na forma que Exª verá da Carta do mesmo de Nismo; aquem fiz alasperta do que remeto a Copia.
Por hum Navio que partira portada a Semana que vem remeto a V.Exª mais dez Toneladas de Cobre, e Sincuenta de Chumbo como tenho dentro no Coracão o Artigo da Artilharia, estou desenganado lathe admonstração, que na Fundição debaixo dos Olhos de V.Exª he ELREY Nosso Senhor muitas e muitas vezes mais bem Servido assim emqualidade, Como emcusto das Peças; espero hir provendo a V.Exª de Cobre e Estanho Neceflario para que não pàre este importantifimo Artigo.
Sobu o Ferro para Peflas, Bombas, e Balas, V.Exª medirá Sesqu man dei de Escoria he debom Servico; quesefor,

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[No topo, à esquerda]: 13 de Agosto de 1765.
[No topo, à direita]: Atm.º e Exm.º Snr.

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nas

Page 240

**[Texto Principal]**
não Creyo que vssofa hauer mais baratto
Oneste Caro, daly tiraremos quanto nosfor
precizo?
Para Ferragem de Camittas para
a Artillharia oshelho Firo he vde Bis-
Caya: Aqui seServem do de Rusfia e de
Suecia, porser mais baratto: Edas Marcas
qualidade, epreço deste Genero, Comprado
aqui em Baras, como nem daquellas
partes, mandei tirar huma Relaçai, que
ameterei al Ex.ª na Porta seguinte, equé
pode Servir para a Comparar Como pro
cos porque ahi Sevende.
Nemo de Rusfia, nem du Suecia,
tenho ainda Leuido as Relaçoês que me
prometem há mais de hum Anno: O Ne-
gociante em quo falei al Ex.ª há tempo,
me aviza que justo ter Cobre da Rusfia
anoventa Livras Esterlinas por Penela-
da; fazendo Eu os mais gastos de Em-
barque, Frete, Seguro, Commisiao, etu
Sujeito ao vagares daquella Navega-
ção: Neste Caso, não tenho adian-
tado por hora este Negocio; enen
tanto daqui nos hinimos Remediando,
que

Page 241

**[Pagina 143]**

**[Texto Principal]**
quo ainda pagando se mais alguma Coura
Contudo he Comisão mais prompta, em
na Sujeita dembaraços damoras.

Dos Guarda al Exo Londres
13 de Agosto de 1765.

Mm. e Com. Mr Francisco
Xavier de Mendôça Furtado.

P.S. Como me devivi mandar as
Cartas de Haliaõ pela Posta,
es faço hua grande; Remeto
a V.Exª as Cartas que vinhaõ
Nello.

**[Assinaturas]**
Marinho de Mello Castro

Page 242

**[Pagina 1]**

**[Texto Principal]**
Andres 19 dee 47. de 176

Soros Alm. E a Samao
de Moraes Furtado

Sohe Straluzamento mais util fizer
exbiciamdo em Lisayentes e mestrados
Lehones
Sohe osmais forques belles
bombas estrengon varrentes de artilleria

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José Reis da Costa Alves mor, e Escrivão da Camara desta Cida de Macao do Nome de Deus na China. Certifico que em comprimento da ordem vocal do Muito Nobre Senado da Camara desta dita Cidade trasladei aqui deveras adverbam a Carta que o Govrº Capitão geral da mesma Sr. Dr. José Plácido de Mattos Saraiva escreveu em resposta ao dito Nobre Senado Sobre alida do Exmo. Bispo Diocesano para Europa, cujo theor é o seguinte = Sua do Mt. Nobre Senado - Em consequencia da Carta de V. Mercy, emque mepedem, fui dar execução às ordens Reaes a respeito do Transporte do Exmo. Rmº. Diocesano; Resolvi fazer-lhe outra, expondo lhe os inconvenientes, que entendo se seguirão à sua vida, com termos, os mais reservados, e expressivos. Persuadome, le quanto basta para mudar de parecer, e de Arrolucção, mas que attendes ao bem commum de suas Ovelhas. Seinda affirm mostrou Antenção, insinivey em nas dezittis de lhe logar o Representante Parraaj, sendo estende oucupoder, tratando competepças detal Jerarquico. Deos Guarde a V.Mercy muitos annos. Macao deste de Dezembro Lmil setecentos Septenta quatro - José Plácido de Mattos Saraiva - Aquel Carta vai aqui bem, e fielmente transladada, sem acrescentar, nem diminuir cousa alguma que duvida fosse da propria; pelo que se pode dar toda affi, e credito quanto com direito se deria aquella legitada no Archivo delle Senado no livro do Registo a fl. 1472, aquel mes Reporto. Marco 28 de Janeiro de 1765 Cu. Sabre Dito Jose Rodri guez Da Costa Alferes mor e Escrivão da Camara que effe usrover e Sobreviu

**[Assinaturas]**
José Reis da Costa Alves
Jose Rodriguez da Costa Alves

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Page 244

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Joze Rodrigues da Costa Alferes mor e Escrivão da Camara desta Cidade de Macao da Nome de Deus na China. Certifico que em com primento de ordem vocal do Nuito Nobre Senado da Camara desta dª Cidade, tresladey aqui deverbo adverbum a Carta que o Exmo. Bispo Di occeano, em depozitõ escreveo ao dª Noble Senado, Sobre asua Vida para a Europa, aquel E de thear seguinte = Srª de Noble Senado= Saude epaz em IESVS Christo = Recebemos a attencioz Carta de VMª e agrede ando Re oficio affecto como ouvilles q devem ser amantes do Seu Pastor, He certificamos o que ja muitas vezes nos terad ouvido, afin fallando empar ticular, como nas Igrejas, en mesmo Senado; que nos nad dezimparamos nem podemos dezemparrar o Deanto d Deos nos entregou, enquanto p Seo Supremo Vigº senad aceitas anopha Emunias, au amore vos triz ras do Mundo; Cetta Denuncia que pertendemos Esper nãs podermos fa zer a nohe devidas obrigagid, ahim pelas continuyg, egandes enfermi dades, como pela des obedienca de muitos mal aconcelhados, etemeroros com menos prudencia; quanto porom aprezenza Corporal nas Tedorem parar se augente nechidade, Claridade Christã, devida obediencias, ou utilidade da Republica, & sad as gueato couzas apontadas no Concil bis Tridentino afirm opedir, Saltando So Euá das ditas couzas, mto mais quando senad da Euá So.— Sab tambem muito differentes ay circunstancias nopresente cazo da quelle degue Lella afia, e te mos nos dados conta a Sea Magall, e Recebendo Letras Suas depois, nad dizia couzaalgua em contrario: nem podem obstar as Cartay dos Snies V.Reys antigos, quando as doprezentes nad so favorecem esta intençam mas ainda Euá delhas bastts para que Sua Magd nad pospial Racionavelmente estranhau onda esperamos maj: esre Abes termos, sendo manifesta em Tribunaes Superiores esta inten ças, nad tem y ter escrupulo che Senado, efeno elegarmos por em execução o d Se diz, So o Suriamos por nas poder outra couza— e por entendemos Ser avontade de Deos, aquem derejimos em tu do agradaç, e antes queremos que primeiro nos tire desta vida, daq futuros o que Se conhecer o offende; enad So por noha propria neces sidade, mas pelo de todo o nosso Bispado, Eg procurariamos auzen tar

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tar-nos por algum tempo Eindo com o seguro titulo= ad Limina Sancto=
num Apostolunnd= cauza que nenhuma peffoa pode impedir, ne por-
Sy, ore por ouhem, nem por concello, ou ajudio para ehe impedimento, sem
que mefma em excomunidas Mayor Rezeruada a Sua Santidade na,
Bulla da Cao; eftimarimos qve fendá finta muito anofia falta,
no cafo que Suceda, e com efpecialidade os pobres, aquem doejamos So-
corer empertes, efe algums for cauza dequq elles nad expermentend
andareffe tempo algja parte da nofia cluridade, bem poderá tener,
que as suas Lagrimas subindo ao Ceo ferem trovadas deque fe
dopetad Rayos para os Culpadcs, como femanifefta nas legras Le-
tras; nad obfta tambem efer impedido o Cuurfo a Roma, nad fendo
pela Secretaria, porque preceindindo defe intendef, ou nad entende ne-
Ais cafa, tem o Remedio já dito em outras occaziones guede escrever a
Sua Mageft, elegando a Europa, eprocurar o seu beneplaito, po
ij em tudo que puder Ser derejamos muito obequiolo: e fontimos
que Lajp quero se atreves afor nad Sé irreverente, mas frador.
Deos Guade N.Meres por muitos annos. Palacio Epifcopal de
Macao vinte de Novembro de mil Sete centos fepenta eguaro- De
N.Meres - D. Bartolomew Bipo de Macao == Ade aqui
adita Carta que vai bem, efilmente treladada fim acrecentar, nem
diminuir cousa algja que duvida fuca; pelo que fepode dar toda a
fi, credito quanto com direito fe derias apropiado Regiftados no Archi-
vo defte Pennado no Livro do Regifta a fl. 141. aquil me Reporto. Ala-
cas 23 de Janeiro de 1765Ca ditto de Rodrigo de Costa Atferas
mor, e Dorwó da Camara que afi acraver, &chcreri

**[Assinaturas]**
D. Bartolomeu Bipo de Macao
Rodrigo de Costa Atferas mor, e Dorwó da Camara que afi acraver, &chcreri

Page 246

**[Texto Principal]**
Como aeste Sonnado se offerece dar a Conta as S. Mageste Fideliss. que Deos Gd. de certos negocios, e por via de Goa tem grande demora, o fazemos pelos barcos da Comp. Inglesa D. Je aclas em Cantão; como nas temos nessa Corte de Londres quem possa fazer remessa p.ª a Corte de Lisboa com a segurança necessaria: pedimos, e rogamos a VExª seja servido comet ter a via inclusa ao dito Senhor.

Para todo o fôdo agrado de VExª fica este Sen nado m.to prompto p.ª executar as Suas ordens.

A Penca de V.Exª G.d.Deos m.an. Macao 23 de Janeiro de 1765. Ize Rodrigues da Costa St.Por Mór c Escrivão do Camera, que o subscriui

**[Assinaturas]**
M.d.M
Set Simões de Carvalho

Page 247

**[Texto Principal]**
Raymundo de Mag. [UNCLEAR: illegible]
Manuel Per. da Fon
S. José

**[Anotações marginais]**
[No topo, à direita]: E. Zamboni
[No centro, à direita]: [ILLEGIBLE: ~10 chars]

**[Assinaturas]**
Raymundo de Mag. [UNCLEAR: illegible]
Manuel Per. da Fon
S. José

Page 248

**[Pagina 147]**

**[Texto Principal]**
José Rodrigues da Costa Alferes mor e Escrivão da Camara desta Cidade de Macas do Nome de Deus na China. Certifico que em cumprimento de Ordem vocal do Muito Nobre Senado da Camara desta R. Cidade, trulady aqui deverlo adverbium a Carta que o dito Nobre Senado escreveu ao Excmo. Bispo Diocesano, Sobre Se Acolherá para Europa, a qual le da elor seguinte Excmo. e Revmo. Srrot - Por contar este Senado, que V.E.S. seacha preparado para partir para a Europa; e que nas parece Crivel pelo dezamparo, e consideraveis consequencias, que lhes depertamente Seguirse atodo este Debento com a sua ausencia, e defletindo, ou ponderando D.E.S. bem este ponto, nas tomará tal Resolução sem tão grande escrupulo: o que Supporto Somos obrigados a Rogar a N.E.S. que nas qreciras deixar as suas Ovelhas, pelas Razones ponderadas por que será muito de desagrado de Nosso Senhor, e de Sua Magest Fidelisp como bem o insinuid as Cartas dos Exmº Snres D.Reys, em semelhante caso, que se achid nesta Camara - Atesta Le V. Excmº Pimº Glr Deos muitos annos. Macas em Mera de Novembro -
28 de Novembro de mil sette centros septinta e quatro. Eu José Ruiz da Costa Alferes mor, e Escrivão da Camara q afaz escrever, e Subservirto - Antonio de Miranda e Louza - Joaquim Lopes de Silva - Manoel Fernandes Salgado - Joao Ribeiro Guimarãens - Manoel Pereyra la Foncca - Simão Vicente Rosa - Atle aqui a dita Carta que vay bem, e fielmente trasladada, sem acrescentar, nem diminuir cousa alguma & duvidafaca: pelo que Sepode dar toda a fé e credito quanto é direito Edarias amenas Registrada no Arquivo deste Senado no Livro do Registo a fol 349º a geral me Reporto. Macas 23 de Janeiro de 1765- De Sabrado Doz Rodrigues da Costa Alferes Mor, e Escrivão da Camara que afaz escrever, Subservirto

**[Assinaturas]**
José Ruiz da Costa

**[Referências arquivísticas]**
(Ilegível)

Page 249

**[Pagina 148]**

**[Texto Principal]**
João Reis da Costa Alferes mor, Escrivão da Camara desta Cidade de Macao do Nome de Deus na China. Certifico que em cumprimento da ordem vinda do Muito Nobre Senado da Camara desta dita Cidade tresladei a qui deverbo adverbam a Cartas que o dito Nobre Senado enviou ao Governador e Capitão geral da mesma Cidade João Phelipe de Mattos Saraiva, Sobre a vida do Exmº Bispo Diamazano pª a Europa, aquil Edicto theer seguinte— Snor Govrº e Capitão geral Em virtude do aponto tomado em Conselho, com assistencia de N.S.P em vinte e quatro de Novembro a respeito da lida de Exmº Diamazano para Europa, no qual se acordou nas convindo, nem podia ser do agrado de Sua Magestade Fidelissima, e do Illmo e Exmº Sr Rey; E como atadas as circumstancias fer certo o embarque de dito Diamazano emlumbro Navios franceses que se achad em Cantão: Reguer este Senado a V.Sria departe damema Magest Fidelissima, edado Exmº Snr Rey, cuja copia desua ordem f se ela neste Archivo se Remette incluso a V.Sria, paraque he feço dar inteiro cum primento.— A Repos de Divid Go Deos muitos annos. Ma cas em Nera de Vercaçã quinze de Dezembro de mil sette centos, defenta egectio. Eu Joze Reiz da Costa Alferes mor e Escrivão da Camara que afvi escrever, e Subscrerrei— Antonio de Miranda Souza— Joaquim Lopes da Silva— Manoel Fernandes Salgado— Joaõ Ribeyra Guimaraens— Simão Vicente Rosa— Até aqui adita Carta que vai bem efetivamente tresladada, sem acrescentar, nem demi nuir cousa alguma q duvida fuy, pelo que se pode dar toda a fé, e cre dito quanto com direito pedaria aquela fia Legitada no Archivo de Ste Senado no Lº do Registo a fl. 340º, aquel me Reporto. Macao, 23 de Janeiro de 1765 Eu elbredo Jo Rodrigues da Costa Alferes mor, e Escrivão da Camara que afvi veruar, lo'berceri—

**[Assinaturas]**
Antonio de Miranda Souza
Joaquim Lopes da Silva
Manoel Fernandes Salgado
João Ribeyra Guimaraens
Simão Vicente Rosa
João Reis da Costa Alferes mor
Jo Rodrigues da Costa Alferes mor

Page 250

**[Pagina 1]**

**[Texto Principal]**
A
V. Magest^e Representa a Camara da Cidade de Macao,
que em 24 do proximo mez de Dezembro de 1764, partio para a
Europa em hum barco Inglês o Clérigo e Vig^o. geral desta Ci-
dade Custodio Fernando Gil. Sojeito que o Bupó, que presente-
mente se auentou de Macao, houve em sua Companhia no anno
de 1754: epois que omum Vig^o. geral alcançou quando partio de
Lisboa Euá ordem passada pelo Supremo Conselho de Ultramar p^o
este Senado lhe afistiu com duzentos mil reis por anno, e com el-
la tem desde aquelle tempo feito varias instancias para o seu pa-
gamento por via do Exm^o. V Rey, e Relação de Goa, aguem-
ca foi differeido pela justa razão, cum que este Senado setem
escurecido desta nova penção, nem le poftível encarregar fe della
Sem falto a outray depenizas neceffidade como las carias com
China, paga de gouernador, e Bupo, e Provido, e amaij que
occorrem para o muitas vez necessario empreftimos con=
Sideravey, como melhor pode informar a V Mageft^e Embayxe-
dev ultimo, que veyo ao Emperador da China; Mas como o le-
ferido Vig^o. geral na occaria da sua partida tomou Certidons
talvez para novamente Requerer a V Mageft^e, motivo que nos

**[Anotações marginais]**
[No topo, à direita]: 749

**[Carimbos]**
(Selo ilegível)

**[Assinaturas]**
(Ilegível)

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**[Texto Principal]**
obriga apór esta supplica na Sua Real prezenças de quem esperamo
o justo diffiremento de nos a Liviar dellas pincas, o que já Supplica
ma a V Magest?, como consta da Copia junta.

A Real e Fidelissima Pessa de V Magest? Gd
Noho Snir muitos annos. Macao em Mora de Vereazad 23, de Ja
nyro de1765 Cu Ine Rodrigues da Costa A Seres Mor. Ourenão do
mara, que s Assuruvi—

**[Assinaturas]**
M d M

Page 252

**[Pagina 150]**

**[Texto Principal]**
Sel. Dom Simões de Sá e Melo
Raymundo de Almeida Muxima
Manuel Ferreira da Silva
José Pereira Guimarães

**[Anotações marginais]**
(Ilegível)

**[Carimbos]**
(Selo ilegível)

**[Assinaturas]**
Sel. Dom Simões de Sá e Melo
Raymundo de Almeida Muxima
Manuel Ferreira da Silva
José Pereira Guimarães

**[Referências arquivísticas]**
(Ilegível)

Page 253

**[Pagina 1]**

**[Texto Principal]**
Lozi Rodrigues da Costa Alferes mor Escrivão da Camara desta Cidade de Macao do Nome de Deus na China. Certifico por bem da ordem vocal do Muito Noble Senado da Camara desta Cidade, tres lades aqui deverbo adverbam a Carta d edito Noble Senado escrivo a Sua Magd Fidelis d Deos Gl sobre apaga de duentes mil reis cada anno ao Provizor Vigir geral deste Bispado, aquil Edolhear seguinte= Senhor Com aelegada do Exmº Bispo seta Dade, apresentou o Provizer Vigir geral Euá Provizad de l'Acral Magest despedida pelo seu Conselho de Vthamar enques ordenava g este Sonnado Ridespe 200 mil vey cada anno; Como este Sonnado se aca tad empenalado, e seus Moradores tad alcanados pelas perdas que tem experimentado dos Navios que setem perdido epelo commercio ter dado entanta decadencia, que ainda que este Sonnado quirespe en trad em novo empenlo para das cumprimento a Provizad de l'Real Magest pelo seu Conselho de Vthamar, nas Ca nem Cores, nem Moradores para se valer delles, como poderá melhor informar A Real Ma gest o Dz de Camello de Vthamar Francisco Xavier de Aspis Pa cleco e Sampayo, que V Real Mageste foi servido mandar por Emba yxados a este Imperio de China, dimizivel estado aque se alia dedu zida esta Cidade, nad obstante este Sonnado concorre com a Congrua de Eum canto de lej cada anno ao Bispo, equie nunca tivenh Jo de Dom Fr Hylario de Sta Rosa p ca Le que hiveró esta congrua tad aventaja da, que os mais Bispus nad tinlás senas 550 mil reis de Congrua, co mo foi o D Pad de Carval, o qual governou este Bispado 40 etantos annos, e em discuso dele tempo nunca teve maj desua Congrua eco ella papaw: e enfalta dos Bispus, quando vinla de Goa por Gover nador de Bispado della Cidade, o que si setem sucedido, nunca este Sonnado Re leo paga alguá, nem mais pouco aos Vigir geray, como fo rad os Padres Domingos Cardoso, eo D Lourenco Gomez, Ioan de Payva, Luiz Lobo da Gama, o Dr Manoel da Silva Cintra, o Meire Francisco de Rozo, coma proximamente acabado Vigir geral e Governador do Bispado o Meire Francisco Vaz, ogual deri xous D Fr Hylario de Santa Rosa, quando se foi para esfe Reyne, e

**[Anotações marginais]**
(Ilegível)

**[Carimbos]**
(Selo ilegível)

**[Assinaturas]**
(Ilegível)

**[Referências arquivísticas]**
(Ilegível)

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**[Texto Principal]**
todos estes nunca tiverão pagos nem do ordinario, nem mais pouco dello Senado, só fim aquelle que vem pelo lugar que occupa dos seus mo- limentos; e como deprezente está feito Clarte, tem de seu beneficio 80. mil reis por anno, fora os melimentos, que tem do Cargo de Vig.r.g.al, sem embargo de tudo isso V.Real Magest. mandará o que foi muito Servido. Deos Nosso Snor Guarde a Muy Real Perço de Vosa Magest.por muitos annos com as felicidades, e augmentos que todos necessitamos, e desejamos. Macao Cidade do Nome Deos na China, em Nossa de Vereead aos 23 de Novembro de mil sete Centos fincouenta e quatro. Eu Manoel da Sylva Martin Alferes mor, e Escrivão de Camara, que a fiz escrever, e subescrevi - Quiz Co- Mo - Dad Ribiero Guimaraens - Manoel Fernandes Selgado Jo- am Antony - Joã Fernandes da Sylva - Antonio de Hi- verada e Souza - Atte aqui adita Cartas, que ora bom e fielmen- te trasladade, sem acrescentar, nem diminuir cousa algua & duvida- tua; pelo que se pode dar todo este e credito quanto com direito seda rio aque fica legitadas no Archivo deste Senado no L. de Registo afl. 70., aquel me Reporto. Macao 23 de Janeiro de 1765. Eu di to Dra Rodrigues da Costa Athyore mor, e Escrivão da Camara que efan crevo e Assinrei

**[Assinaturas]**
Manoel da Silva Martin Alferes mor, e Escrivão de Camara
Dad Ribiero Guimaraens
Manoel Fernandes Selgado Joam Antony
Joã Fernandes da Sylva
Antonio de Hiverada e Souza
Dra Rodrigues da Costa Athyore mor, e Escrivão da Camara

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[Page 1] [Anotações marginais] No topo, à esquerda: 612 (em tinta vermelha, sublinhado) No topo, ao centro: 1765 No topo, à direita: N.º 3 [Texto Principal] Cartas Do Exmo. Martinho de Melo e Castro dirigidas de Londres ao Exmo. Sr. Conde de Oeiras sobre negócios de Fazenda nos portulissimos [DAMAGED: mancha escura cobre parte do texto abaixo da linha "portulissimos"] [Carimbos] No centro, à direita: Selo circular com brasão real e inscrição "BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL DE LISBOA" [Referências arquivísticas] Nenhum número ou referência arquivística visível além das anotações marginais.

Page 256

[Anotações marginais] [No centro, ligeiramente à direita]: e. N.

Page 257

[Page 1] [Texto Principal] Mm. Exm. Sr. Este Ministério, depois das instâncias que hontem fez, de não perder tempo em socorrer a força de Portugal por Mar e por Terra; e ter allegado todos os avisos, efeitos, que comprovão a dissolução das forças de Versalhes e Madrid, para nos attacarem; tem perguntado, assim aos Embaixadores que aqui residem, das duas Cortes, como em direitura às mesmas pelos Embaixadores Britânicos que ahi residem, quais são as suas intenções sobre a força de Portugal. E unanimemente se lhe tem respondido, como V. Ex.ª pode suppor, que não há outras mais, que as de se conservarem em Paz com esta Corte.

Page 258

[Page 1] [Texto Principal] com outra alguma intenção. Que o Embargo sobre os Trigos era uma necessária consequência da determina- ção que S. E. tomou, de mandar para lá os referidos Corpos. Que se acomodaram os Caminhos, e era uma Ordem geral que S. E. tinha dado em todo o Reyno; e que ao mesmo tem- po que se acomodam os que conduzem de Ma- drid às Fronteiras de Portugal, se farão o mesmo aos de Cádiz, de Barcelona, e outras partes no interior do Reyno? A estas asseverações, junta este Ministério os avisos posteriores de Lord Rochfort; isto é, deter a força de Madrid, contramandada a marcha de vários Regimen- tos destinados para as Fronteiras de Por- tugal; de S. E. suspender o aumento das Tropas; e de S. E. ter dado licença aos Offi- ciaes para se ausentarem dos seus Corpos.

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[Page 2] [Carimbos] - [No topo, à direita] BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL DE LISBOA (selo circular com brasão) [Texto Principal] de Mar; Considera mais, que arremessa Fran- ça tão longe está de entrar em huma No- va Guerra, que não obstante a Situação em que se acham as suas Finanças; vem de concluir com a Grande Bretanha a forma do pagamento dos Prisioneiros Franceses, que monta a quinze milhões de Libras Torne- ses; das quais huma terça parte se pa- gará no princípio de Janeiro presente, e as outras duas terças partes nos dous Anos seguintes de 66 e 67.

Page 261

[Page 1] [Texto Principal] pontas, se a necessidade as exigir. Que entretanto fora preciso ver o que a corte de Madrid respondia ao Em- baixador de Portugal; e que Sua Majes- tade Fidelíssima fazia mil vezes bem em se preparar para tudo que pudesse acontecer; e para dar tempo aos Seus Aliados de irem ao Seu socorro, se assim fosse preciso. Não se necessitava grande instrução para responder a semelhantes discursos, que todos reduzem a algum só ponto; isto é, que a Grande Bretanha somente poderá crer que os Fran- ceses e Espanhóis fazem a guerra a Portugal, quando realmente o atacarem. Assim o ficará no ano de 1762, e assim o farão eterna- mente, por mais disposições, por mais evidências, e por mais factos, que os persuadam do contrário. Perguntou a este Ministério se se lembrava das inteligências que tinha co- municado por ordem de El-Rei da Grande Bretanha; se houvera as que no mesmo tempo houve a minha corte de diferentes partes, e que também V.

Page 262

[Page 3] [Texto Principal] só tinhaõ ordem de marchar para as Frontei- ras de Portugal, mas que muitos Corpos ti- nhaõ já chegado ás mesmas Fronteiras, estão chegando; seriam igualmente, que os mesmos Espanhoes cometiaõ Estilidades inauditas, na parte Meridional das Américas Portuguezas, e naõ queriaõ execu- tar o Artigo 21 do Tratado de Paris. Depois destas perguntas, V. Exa ale- gou: Que se das Américas Britânicas, e do interior do Reyno de França, chegaõ sim a es- ta Corte as mesmas intelligencias; com lonse- quência dellas se viriam marchar para as Costas de Bretanha, e Picardia, vinte e trinta mil Homens; e desembarcarão nos Portos de França as Embarcaçoẽs pecuárias para um Embarque; que a Grande Bretanha em tal caso, naõ duvidaria um só ins- tante, de que se dispunha uma Invasaõ contra um dos tres Reynos da mesma Grande Bretanha.

Page 263

[Page 1] [Texto Principal] tes Estabelecimentos do interior do Brasil, porque assim em casa, como em outra parte, já se descavão na Europa as Portas do Reino, e na América Senhores da Barreira das Co- lonias Portuguezas; parecia verdadeiramen- te pasmoso, que a Grande Bretanha achasse ainda assim, que numa tal Conjunctura, não era affaz crítica, para fazer as dis- posições necessárias, por conta de socorrer a- tempo oportuno a força de Portugal. Este discurso não se interrompeu com as queixas dos Negociantes Ingleses, que chegaram pelo penúltimo Paquete-boat, como V.Ex. verá em Carta separada; e de duas entrevistas, ou Conferências, em que se passou substancialmen- te o que deixo referido, sahi com o disgosto de ver, que os mesmos Negociantes Ingleses aproveitão a presente Situação de Portugal, para repetirem o mesmo quantas vezes tem dito; e que o Ministério quer fazer valer as suas pretensões, ao mesmo passo que se trata da nossa defensa. Deos G.de V.Ex. Londres 1 de Janeiro de 1765. [Anotações marginais] [No centro, à esquerda] (Ilegível) [No topo, à esquerda] (Ilegível) [Assinaturas] Mm. Exm. Snr. Conde de Oeyras.

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[Page 4] [Texto Principal] [Ilegível: extenso bloco de escrita cursiva, densamente disposto na metade inferior da página. Caracteres minúsculos, entrelaçados, com pouca margem entre linhas. Tinta marrom-avermelhada, desbotada. Legibilidade extremamente comprometida devido à caligrafia e ao estado do papel.] [Anotações marginais] [Nenhuma anotação marginal visível.] [Carimbos] [Nenhum carimbo ou selo visível.] [Assinaturas] [Nenhuma assinatura ou rubrica visível.] [Referências arquivísticas] [Nenhuma referência arquivística visível na página.

Page 265

[Page 1] [Texto Principal] Londres, 1º de Janeiro de 1766. Perguntas do Ministro inglês ao Embaixador de França, Carta sobre a Exposição das hostilidades na fronteira de Portugal, e presentes frívolas, com referência à apreensão de movimentos por Orsay e Tallemont, da nova fronteira; o desfazer as demandas de Belisfonte, terminar imediatamente; os de alveitar tanta obra como enervou; apresentando a França, acham que se obrigam a seguir as sugestões de Orsay, por seus missionários em termo grego. Ambos Comissários de M. D. mostram apertar-se àquelas sugestões, trazendo Conselho de Guerra. M. M. etc. Convenções afetadas à Duquesa Subterfúgio, com opinião de Majestade Inglesa.

Page 266

[Page 1] N° 1° [Texto Principal] Copie Monsieur Le fourrier Joseph Gonçalves est arrivé icy le 16 du courant à six heures du soir, et il m’a remis les Dépêches de Votre Altesse; Ceux qui étaient destinées pour Lisbonne sont parties aujourd’huy par un Exprès qui est arrivé de Portugal le même jour 16, et qui m’a remis les trois lettres ci-jointes avec ordre de les diriger à N. Alt° sans la moindre perte de tems. J’en ai déjà fait part à N. Alt° des intelligences qu’on avoit icy, par l’Extrait fidèle de différentes relations, dont j’ai envoyé une Copie à la Cour, et une autre à N. Alt° avec ma lettre du 23 de Novembre. Avant l’arrivée de mon fourrier à Lisbonne, le Roy était aussi instruit, que la Cour de Madrid méditoit une attaque contre le Portugal, d’accord et d’intelligence avec la France; que des Troupes Espagnoles étoient déjà arrivées sur les Frontières de Trás-os-Montes, Minho, et Beira, et qu’y arrivoient successivement; qu’on accommodoit les Chemins pour le passage de l’Artillerie; qu’on faisoit des Écuries dans chaque lieu; et que le Roy d’Espagne n’ayant rien à craindre du Lotte d’Italie, faisoit venir les Troupes qu’il payoit de Naples.

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[Page 1] [Texto Principal] mêmes qu’on a eû à Londres, et bien plus décisives dans la circonstance de l’arrivée des Troupes sur les Frontières ; on est bien convaincu en Portu- gal, qu’il y a une invasion concertée ; et qu’on s’y est principalement décidé, au moins qu’on a commencé à faire des mouvements, depuis que V. Alt. est sortie de Portugal ; et les délais de la Grande-Bretagne, étant bien connus, au commen- cement d’une Guerre, on veut l’entreprendre sur les États du Roy, avant qu’Elle puisse agir. Voilà ce que j’ai ordre de représenter à cette Cour, par deux Expres successivement arrivés de Lisbonne ; et delà demander des Secours pour assister le Roy dans son Royaume, et dans ses Colonies. J’ai reçu ordre d’admettre d’abord 12 mille Fusils complets pour l’Infanterie, des Tentes pour dix mille Hommes ; des Mortiers, des canons, et d’autres attraits pour l’Artillerie. Je profite de cette occasion, pour assurer V. Alt. de la haute et respectueuse considération avec laquelle j’ai l’honneur d’être Monsieur [Anotações marginais] [No canto inferior esquerdo, escrita em tinta mais escura, possivelmente posterior:] Londres le 18 Décembre 1764 [Assinaturas] V. Alt.

Page 269

[Page 6] [Texto Principal] No tempo que a Rainha da Grã-Bretanha me perguntou se seu irmão o Príncipe Carlos de Mecklenburg, escrevera a V. Exª depois que saíra de Portugal, ou a mim depois que cheguei a Londres. Respondi-lhe que não tinha notícia de que houvesse escrito a V. Exª, e que eu tinha recebido tantas honras de Sua Alteza, que não devia esperar esta, mais que havendo ocasião de me empregar no seu serviço. Perguntou-me mais como ficara seu ir- mão no serviço de Portugal. Respondi-lhe que sem determinação alguma, porque Sua Alteza partira sem dizer uma só palavra ao dito respeito, nem a V. Exª, nem ao Marechal. A isto me disse: «Fica por minha conta dar- lhe uma boa repreensão.» Passados dias recebi do mesmo Príncipe Carlos de Mecklenburg a carta que V. Exª achará jun- ta debaixo do nº 1.º, que não deixou de me embaraçar, depois do que havia passado com a Rainha da Grã-Bretanha; não podendo por modo algum combinar o que S. M. me tinha dito e o que eu lhe respondi com o que o Príncipe me escrevia; e nestes termos, como tam- bém por não entrar no detalhe das pretensões do Prín- cipe, tomei o partido de diferir a resposta, a ver se este negócio esquecia. Passados porém dois meses me tornou o mes- mo Príncipe a escrever a carta, de que junto a cópia, [Anotações marginais] [No topo, à direita] Mmo Qmo Snr.

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[Page 1] [Texto Principal] Nº 2º, remettendo a à Rainha sua Irmã, e Sua Maj. mandando-ma entregar por Lord Cantaloupe seu Embaixador, me fez advertir pelo Barão de Dewitz Ministro de Mecklenburg, que a minha resposta poderia ir pelo Paquete da Corte a Hanôver. Nestes termos me resolvi a escrever-lhe a Carta de que junto também a cópia nº 3º, buscando com ela aberta, e com as que tinha recebido do Príncipe, dito Barão Dewitz, para que ele as fizesse ver a Sua Magestade Britannica. Deste passo resultou o que eu podia desejar, porque a Rainha falando-me depois no Cerco, me disse que seu Irmão, injusta e inconsideradamente me escrevera no estilo em que o tinha feito, e que não podia ter outra desculpa que a da sua pouca idade. O Barão Dewitz me segurou depois que S. Mag.ª Britannica estava sumamente sentida da carta que vira de seu Irmão e da pouca prudência do seu comportamento, e que desejava que eu não falasse à minha Corte em semelhante matéria. Depois deste negócio concluído em Londres, na forma referida, venho de receber uma carta do Marechal junta com a que remetto a V. Ex.ª, em que me diz o seguinte: «S.A. Mons.º le Prince Charles de Mecklenburg est venu ici d’Hanovre; il dit n’avoir pas reçu de réponse à plusieurs Lettres qu’il a écrites à S. Ex.ª Mons.

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[Page 1] [Texto Principal] Copie. Monsieur, L’entrée au dernier point encore détruites les bontés dont vous m’avez honoré depuis que j’ai eu l’avantage de faire votre connoissance à Londres, et dont j’ai senti encore des marques efficaces pendant mon séjour en Portugal. Je suis charmé de pouvoir par celle-ci vous en renouveler mes sincères et humbles remercîments. Je dois en même tems ne pas vous celer combien ma surprise a été grande des plaintes que M. le comte d’Oeyras a fait former par vous auprès de la Reine ma sœur, disant que je n’avais pas écrit à son Excellence depuis mon départ de Lisbonne, ni tiré les moindres informations du Régiment de cavalerie dont j’ai l’honneur d’être le Chef; d’autant plus que je puis très facilement vous soutenir que ces accusations sont absolument mal fondées, car M. Je puis vous prouver que j’ai écrit trois lettres à M. le comte d’Oeyras depuis ce tems-là, en même tems que j’écrivis à M. le comte de la Lippe, et au Ministre de Sa Majesté le Roy d’Angleterre, dont je scais l’arrivée, et sur lesquelles j’ai reçu la réponse, à l’exception de M.

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[Page 1] [Texto Principal] n’étoit absolument que le désir de me mettre aux pieds de Sa Majesté très Fidèle; et les émolumens les plus humbles, fondés sur la connoissance la- plus vive des grâces et bontés dont Sa Ma- jesté m’a honoré, et que je me fais gloire de reconnoître toute ma vie, et qui ne finira qu’avec ma mort. Pour les informations de mon Régiment, je me suis fié sur ce que M. le Lieutenant-Colonel St. Payo doit exécuter les ordres exprès que je lui ai donnés à mon départ, et qui étoient celles de me donner ince- ssamment le rapport du Régiment, comme il est partout coutume de faire; mais jusqu’à pré- sent il ne l’a pas trouvé à propos; de sorte qu’il est impossible que je puisse décider, ou m’occuper des affaires relatives au Régi- ment. De plus, Mr., vous savez que depuis tout tems que j’ai le bonheur de servir Sa Majesté très Fidèle, je n’ai pas tiré les moindres appointements ni de Lieutenant- Général, ni de Colonel-Général de cavalerie, ni ceux du Chef du Régiment; tandis qu’au- contraire M. St. Payo a tiré les revenus du Régiment; ce qui m’a fait croire avec la raison prudente qu’on ne vouloit pas me confier le soin du Régiment. Voilà, Mr.

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[Page 8] [Texto Principal] des raisons capables pour m’excuser, et pour prouver mon innocence, vis-à-vis les accusations formées contre moi. Maintenant qu’il paraît que Sa Majesté souhaite que j’aie moi-même besoin du régiment, je me fais une loi d’exécuter ses ordres, mais je dois en même temps vous dire, M. que rien n’est plus juste aussi que de tirer parti raisonnablement des gages et levants bons dus au caractère dans lequel j’ai l’honneur de servir Sa Majesté. J’ose vous prier ainsi, M., et je puis le prétendre de droit, de vouloir bien faire voir à M. le Comte d’Oeyras le tort qu’il a de se plaindre de moi ; et agir ensuite, afin que les gages de Saint-Général, de Colonel-Général et Chef du Régiment de Cavalerie, me soient payés d’après les lettres de mon service, et qui étaient alors en double payé aux étrangers, de même que ce qu’ils sont à présent, et continueront d’être aussi longtemps que j’aurai l’honneur de ser- vir Sa Majesté. Je ne manquerai pas alors, sous cette condition, d’avoir tous les soins imaginables du régiment, et le mettre tellement en ordre d’honorer l’honneur que le Roi m’a fait d’en nommer le chef.

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[Page 1] [Texto Principal] en las que le Roy l’ordonne, et que le Roy d’être glement le permette, sans le consentement duquel, je n’ose l’entreprendre. Je le députe, M., que sous ces conditions, je suis prêt aux ordres du Roy. Je dois encore vous dire, M., que pour le changement d’uniforme, que Sa Ma- jesté veut bien laisser à ma décision, il est impossible que je puisse m’en dégager, ne sa- chant pas si le Roy veut qu’il reste sur le pied qu’il est, ou s’il en veut faire un Ré- giment de Dragons. Vous voyez encore par combien il est nécessaire que M. St-Pays me donne le départ du régiment, et combien il a manqué à ne pas l’avoir fait jusqu’ici ; et j’ose pour cette raison vous prier de m’éclaircir sur ce sujet. Je me flatte, M., que vous voudrez bien me pardonner la liberté avec laquelle je vous ai parlé ; mais il me paraît être de mon devoir de vous en avertir, pour vous détourner du faux soupçon dans lequel j’ai été d’avoir man- qué aux attentions et devoirs dus au Roy, et aux politesses pour M. le Comte d’Oeyras, que cependant j’estime infiniment, et dont je n’oublierai de ma vie les bontés et poli- tesses que j’ai reçues de sa part à Lisbonne.

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[Page 1] [Texto Principal] Sois d’ailleurs trop persuadé de votre amitié pour moi, et j’ai trop de confiance en vous, pour ne pas oser espérer que vous voudriez bien avoir soin de ma demande, aussi juste que vraie ; et j’espère que vous voudrez bien m’honorer d’une favorable réponse, comme une chose que je vous demande instamment. Je vous prie du reste d’être persuadé de ma part que rien au monde n’égalerá l’envie de connoissance que je vous en aurai, ayant pour vous l’estime la plus haute et la considération la plus distinguée. Daignez aussi, M., m’honorer de la continuation de votre précieuse amitié, me faisant gloire de la mériter, et d’être tout à vous. Monsieur, Votre très humble et très obéissant serviteur, Charles, Prince de Mecklenbourg. [Anotações marginais] [No canto superior direito] 9 [Assinaturas] Charles, Prince de Mecklenbourg. d’Hanovre, ce 17e d’Août 1764.

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[Page 1] [Anotações marginais] - [No topo, à esquerda] Copie. Nº 20 - [No centro, à direita, acima do texto principal] 10 [Texto Principal] Monsieur Je me suis flatté jusqu’à présent d’une réponse de votre part, sur la lettre du 17 du mois d’Août, que j’ai eu l’honneur de vous écrire, mais en vain ; et jusqu’ici, je n’ai point été aussi heureux d’en recevoir. Je ne sais à quoi attribuer ce silence, d’autant plus que je m’étois toujours flatté d’une sincère amitié de votre part, et dont la perte me seroit des plus sensibles ; ajoutez-y que j’ignore par quoi l’avoir mérité, et que je veux plus tôt croire qu’elle a été remise par une foule d’occupations. J’ose parler ici pour en faire souvenir, Monsieur, et vous prier de m’honorer de quelque réponse, afin que je puisse savoir à quoi j’en suis, et me régler en conséquence. Je dois d’ailleurs m’attendre à une favorable réponse, mes demandes étant aussi justes que possibles, et qu’une intercession de votre part ne peut donner qu’une bonne issue. Soyez persuadé, Mr., que je reconnoîtrois cette bonté de votre part, et que je suis prêt à vous rendre mes services dans tel cas que vous me jugerez capable. J’ai l’honneur d’être, avec l’estime la plus distinguée et la considération la plus haute et parfaite, [Assinaturas] Monsr. Votre très humble et obéissant serviteur, Charles Pr. de Mecklenbourg. [Referências arquivísticas] Hanovre le 9. Novembre 1764.

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[Page 1] [Texto Principal] J’ai mille et mille excuses à faire à Votre Altesse, d’avoir différé la réponse à la lettre qu’Elle m’a fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 17 du mois d’Août; méritant, par le retardement, les plus sévères reproches, et plein de si obligeantes, comme ceux que je vois dans la seconde lettre de N. A. datée du 9me Novembre. Comme M. le Baron de Döwitz a eu la bonté de m’assurer qu’il verrait N. A. dans son passage pour Hanovre, j’ai cru pouvoir attendre cette occasion; et celle-ci est la cause du délai, afin que son témoignage et mes assurances auraient pu convaincre plus solidement N. A. que l’on peut me flatter davantage, que de voir dans Ses Sentiments une continuation de la même bienveillance, dont V. A. m’a honoré depuis les premiers jours que j’ai eu le bonheur de lui faire ma cour à Londres; sans que V. A. puisse me savoir gré d’aucune de mes démarches, que dans le seul empressement que j’ai eu, et que j’aurai toujours, d’accomplir mon devoir auprès d’Elle. Pour ce qui regarde ma cour, N. A. peut être bien persuadé que la résolution, signée de la magnanimité de son Cœur, qu’elle a prise d’aller au service du Portugal, lorsque la guerre s’y est déclarée; l’intérêt et l’amitié que leurs Majestés Britanniques montrent pour le Roi, en vous [Anotações marginais] [No topo, à esquerda] Copie.

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[Texto Principal] accordant la permission de vous y rendre, sont des circonstances auxquelles Sa Majesté sera tou- jours sensible, et dont Son Ministère, et toute la Nation Portugaise, ne pourront jamais se l’apercevoir, qu’avec la plus vive reconnaissance. Après ceci V. A. peut bien voir, qu’il n’étoit pas possible, que Monsieur le Comte d’Oeyras en fit des plaintes auprès de Sa Majesté la Reine sa Soeur, ni même qu’il m’en chargeât d’une Commission si contraire à ses Sentiments. A l’égard des lettres que V. A. me marque lui avoir écrites, Je ne puis pas m’ imaginer qu’il les ait lues; au moins, Mon- seigneur, Je puis vous assurer, que dans les Séjours que J’ai faits à Lisbonne, ayant en- tendu Monsieur le Comte d’Oeyras parler de V. A. plusieurs fois, et toujours avec les égards, et le respect qui vous sont dus, Je ne me suis jamais aperçu, que de telles lettres soient arrivées à ses mains: Je prie cependant V. A. de suspendre son jugement, jusqu’à ce que Je sois mieux informé; et J’espère pouvoir lui donner une satisfaction complète sur cet article. Sur le Régiment de Mecklenbourg, et les ordres que V. A.

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[Page 92] [Texto Principal] enfaire les apports nécessaires: Il me semble, que N. A. avant son départ de Lisbonne, n’a pas dit un seul mot à Monsieur le Comte légant de Schauenburg-Lippe, Maréchal-Général, ni même à Monsieur le Comte d’Oeyras, sur ses Soldats, ou ses intentions, touchant le service du Portugal: Elle n’a pas pris non plus aucun arrangement avec Eux, ni pour le général du service, ni pour le particulier de son Régiment: En sortant de Lisbonne, Elle a seulement annoncé son départ, et Elle est partie. Depuis son absence, et encore dans la lettre qu’Elle a écrite au Maréchal-Général, Elle a gardé toujours le même silence; de sorte, qu’on a été à la fin convaincu à Lisbonne, que N. A., ne voulant pas garder deux services à la fois, Elle ne pensait plus à celui du Portugal. Dans ces circonstances, Monseigneur, vous êtes trop éclairé, et trop exact dans la discipline militaire, pour ne pas sentir, que Monsr. Don Jean de Sampayo ne pouvoit pas exécuter vos ordres, depuis votre absence, sans en avertir le Chef de l’Armée; et celui-ci, outre l’incertitude et l’ignorance où N. A.

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[Page 1] [Texto Principal] mais, auroient été sujettes à mille inconvénients, qu’il falloit prévenir par des arrangements, et des précautions préalables, entre V. A. et ledit Chef. J’espère, Monseigneur, qu’après que V. A. aura bien pesé ces considérations, Elle trou- vera que la conduite de M. Don Jean de San- tayana, n’est pas à blâmer. Sur l’article des gages que V. A. n’a reçus pendant le temps qu’Elle a servi en Portugal, comme ils étaient payés, et le sont encore, aux généraux et officiers étrangers : V. A. me per- mettra de lui dire, que le Roi ne l’a pas regardé comme un général étranger ; mais comme un Prince, qui étant père de la Majesté Britan- nique, ne devoit pas être étranger, ni en Portu- gal, ni à la Famille Royale ; ni mis sur le pied des autres généraux : Et dans cette in- tention, Monseigneur, on n’a pas pensé à ga- ges, ou à doubles appointements, qu’on a bien vu ne pourroient pas suffire à V. A. pour en retenir Sa Suite, ni pour soutenir Son rang, mais Sa Majesté, pour donner à V. A.

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[Page 13] [Texto Principal] ces objets, en mettant à N. A. sur le même pied du Maréchal de Gynirab. Cependant si V. A. trouve encore que Je dois informer Monsieur le Comte d’Oeynas sur ce qu’Elle a remarqué à cet égard, dans sa lettre du 17 d’Août, Elle me donnera ses ordres, et Je les exécuterai avec exactitude; Comme aussi toutes celles qui pourront convaincre à N. A. de l’inviolable attachement, et de la Haute et Respectueuse Considération, avec laquelle J’ai l’honneur d’être, Monseigneur, [Anotações marginais] [No topo, à direita] 13 [Assinaturas] De Votre Altesse Très humble et très obéissant De Mello. Londres, 20 de Novembro 1764.

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[Page 14] [Texto Principal] seu respeituoso atachamento ao serviço de Sua Majestade muito Fidelíssima, e oferecendo os seus serviços em Portugal, em caso de be- soin, me pedindo que lhe marcasse os seus sentimentos a S. Ex.ª Sr. o Conde d’Oeyras; conformei-me aos seus desejos, e falo-lhe a Seu Ex.ª na incluída = Nestes termos se a V. Ex.ª lhe parecer escrever- lhe uma carta de cumprimento, sem lhe falar no serviço de Portugal, pode estar certo de que esta atenção será mui- to agradável à sua irmã, e com ela temos satisfeito, sem outro algum encargo, aos estímulos do Príncipe. Londres, 1º de Janeiro de 1765. [Anotações marginais] No canto superior direito: "14" [Assinaturas] No canto inferior esquerdo: Mmo Exmo Snor Con- de de Oeyras No canto inferior direito: Martinho de Mello e Castro [Referências arquivísticas] Nenhuma referência arquivística visível na página.

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[Page 1] [Anotações marginais] [No topo, à direita] Londres 1.º de Janeiro de 1765 Sobre Voltara Princesa de Mecklenburg algum Reino.

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[Page 15] [Texto Principal] O diferentes vezes tenho falado a George Grenville, sobre as setenta mil libras esterlinas, que ainda se devem dos Subsídios; mas sempre com pouco fruto. Ultimamente retornei a deferir a aprezação em que me achava; e me resolvei depois a escrever-lhe a carta, de que V.Ex.ª achará a cópia junta. Tomei este partido, não reclamando pelo Secretário de Estado, porque George Grenville governa tudo; os Secretários de Estado se encarregam com violência, e mesmo repugnam ouvir negócio algum, que respeite à Perúria. A dificuldade que tenho encontrado na satisfação desta dívida, me obrigou a facilitar-lhe o pagamento dela, ou em dinheiro, ou em armas, ou em ambas as coisas. E como não sei nem afirmo que este negócio terá, nem o tempo que levará; essas comissões de que V.Ex.ª me encarregou, não admitem espera; querendo entretanto o caso aproveitar-me de Smith, enquanto aqui se dilatou; porque além de ser bom soldado, é velho e mais activo, e de uma eficácia alerta no modo de soldadurar; e tê-lo no que se lhe encarrega como [Anotações marginais] [No topo, à direita] 15 [Assinaturas] [No topo, centralizado] Wm.º Exm.º Snr.

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[Page 1] [Texto Principal] como não conheço semelhante; Vedei a incumbência de ajustar dez mil Armas, custou por trinta e cinco Xelins cada huma, das melhores que aqui se podem fazer, e superiores às que me venderão na Torre por quarenta. Ajustou-se mais as Barracas para dez mil Homens, também mais baratas que as que me livrarão da Torre: Ficam-se fazendo Cem Espadas também das melhores, para amostra, e para se fazer, à vista da sua qualidade, o preço de quatro mil. Como estes três Artigos são justos e condignos à vista, e por este motivo em muito melhor Conta; e não sei, nem me fio no que se resolverá na Thesouraria sobre os Subsídios; em todo o caso, será preciso que V.Exª ordene a Dury, que dê huma ordem aos seus Correspondentes, para que me assistam com a Somma que me for precisa: Em ajustando as Espadas, direi a V.Exª o montante dos três Artigos.

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[Page 16] [Texto Principal] achegada de Maclean a Londres, o quo sebri- ve na Therouaria; em servir-lhe, segundo as circumstâncias, e em quanto aqui se detiver. Deos Guarde a Ex.ª Londres 1.º de Janeiro de 1765. [Anotações marginais] [No centro, à esquerda] P.S. Smith vai encarregado de entregar a Ex.ª hum caixote com as chapas para as vignettes.

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[Page 1] [Texto Principal] Londres, 2 de Janeiro de 1765 Toda do officio, pregoamos aos grãos thesoureiros grande & opoçante por 700 000 hirays & louy de vém por S. Britij & por armas j elonray, S. Vitor pechando, a archiduca: & necessid de thesouros olligos & p. compte & opoçante se toy munitey.

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[Page 1] [Texto Principal] Copie. Monsieur, Sa Majesté Britannique, del’avis de son Conseil, tenu le 8me d’Avril 1762, a donné ses ordres pour assister la Couronne de Portugal avec les Secours qu’y furent envoyés; et del’aider aussi avec un Subside de deux Cents mille livres Sterling. De ce Subside il en reste encore à payer Soixante et dix mille livres Sterling. Sa Majesté Très Fidèle se trou- vant à présent dans la nécessité extrême et pressante, de faire acheter en Angleterre quantité de Provisions de toute Espèce; Elle m’a ordonné de solliciter, pour aider à cette dépense, le remboursement des dites Soixante et dix mille livres Sterling, ou en argent, ou en Muni- tions de Guerre, tirées de la Tour de Londres; où, s’il est possible, partie en argent, partie en Armes. Les circonstances qui forcent aujour- d’hui ma Cour à faire cette demande, m’assu- rent aussi des dispositions favorables, avec lesquelles vous voudrez bien l’apprécier en Considération; afin que Je puisse obtenir un ordre des Seigneurs de la Trésorerie, pour le remboursement de ladite Somme, ou par un des [Anotações marginais] [No canto superior esquerdo, manuscrito em caligrafia cursiva] Copie.

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[Texto Principal] des moyens ci-dessus indiqués, ou par celui qu’ ils jugeront le plus convenable. Permettez que je saisisse cette occa- sion pour Vous marquer les égards distingués, et la Haute considération, avec laquelle J’ai l’honneur d’être Monsieur Votre très humble et obéissant [Assinaturas] De Melho. [Londres, le 31 décembre de 1764.

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[Page 18] [Texto Principal] Em duas Conferências que tive ultimamente, huma com Lord Halifax, outra com Mr. Grenville, primeiro Comissário da Fazenda, nas quais se passou sobre o Artigo da Situação de Portugal, e suas Colónias, o que em Carta separada referi a V. Ex.ª.

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[Page 1] [Texto Principal] seus Gravames. Nomeio desta exclamação: Lord Halifax dizendo: «At the Bristol, Homem de Negócio muito honrado, que deixa a sua Casa e Família, por conta de huma dívida, que depois de muitos Anos se lhe deve em Portugal; e que passando a Lisboa, onde se acaba de chegar Mezes, sem até agora poder ter nem Ocorrência à Justiça, nem acesso algum ao Ministério, nem modo algum de saber como e quando devem ser pagas. Que destes casos havia muitos authenticamente provados; e que todos juntos eram mais do que todo o Corpo dos Negociantes se queixava ineficazmente; segundo ser impossível viver em Portugal com semelhantes vexações; faziam huma prova evidentemente conhecida de que em Portugal não se queria ter amizade com a Grã-Bretanha. Que a Real Majestade tinha feito as ditas queixas com maior impressão; que Elle mesmo as terá ouvido, e que estava resoluto a procurar remédio prompto.» Como este Discurso foi proferido por Lord Halifax com vivacidade, e in. [Anotações marginais] [No topo, à direita] «continuou» [Carimbos] [DAMAGED: faint circular mark near top center, text illegible] [Assinaturas] [Final da página] (assinatura parcialmente visível, cortada na borda inferior) — .Lord Halifax com vivacidade, e in.

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[Page 19] [Texto Principal] pacIÊncia, foi-me prêzo ouvi-lo, e responder-lhe comodamente nas breves palavras seguintes: Que havia hum anno que me achava em Londres; que Elle se lembraria do que sa- bíamos passado, isto é, nos primeiros dias da minha chegada; isto é, que começáramos a conferir sobre as queixas que formavam os Negociantes; que eu me achava sempre prom- pto em toda ocasião clara que Elle me apor- tasse para o ver. Que tivemos huma Confe- rência sobre esta matéria; que depois della meditei, que os Negociantes Ingleses trabalhavam em hum Papel, que Elle mediria para lhe responder; que este Papel até agora não chegou; e que eu nunca mais tive aviso seu para tornarmos a conferir?

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[Texto Principal] próprias Fazendas, do seu Comércio, da sua Fortuna; e de maior, o mais importante interesse da Sua Pátria, e Nação. Queria porém, com grande dor minha, que as mesmas queixas formadas contra pouca Cautela, que já se aclamam públicas nas Gazetas de Espanha, antes de chegarem a Londres, fizessem no Espírito d’El-Rei meu Amo todo o efeito que as mesmas Negociantes se tinham proposto.

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[Page 20] [Texto Principal] ocasião a mais Crítica, para que os Inimigos de ambas Coroas mais facilmente alcancem o fim de asperderem, & uma depois da outra. Que Sua Magestade Fidelíssima, porem, superior a tanto desconhecimento, me- mandou voltar a Londres, para por na pre- sença de Sua Magestade Britânica, apoiar a Justiça com que os Negociantes Ingleses se queixavão; e que se este Negócio não estava ainda concluído, os mesmos Negociantes te- rão a causa, porque se queixavão de dilatar, até encontrarem o momento de não haver tempo para discutir, efectivar, sobre as suas pouco fun- dadas pretensões e Gravames. Que apresento occasião, em que as Fron- teiras de Portugal se achavão infestadas de Tropas Hespanholas, e os Estados do Brasil Cortilizados, em último perigo, foi que pa- receu mais oportuno para attacarem Por- tugal no Gabinete de Sua Mag. Britânica. Que não obstante, porem, & uma tal Ci- tuação, ao embarcar, que ella traz consi- go, estava prompto a ver as quissas dos Ne- gociantes Ingleses, e responder a ellas.

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[Texto Principal] que depôs partio para a Campanha, e amanhã se espera em Londres. Três ou quatro dias depois passei subs- tancialmente o mesmo com George Grenville; e fico alado momento esperando o Mao de Papeis em questão; Seno entanto V.Ex.ª poder acomodar o Negócio de Bristol, não deixaria de vir a bom Tempo? O Enviado Hay soube-se insinuar no Espírito de Lord Halifax de sorte, que o tem pelo Homem do Mundo o mais bem in- tencionado; e creio que o fim disso é para ver se por este meio podem ganhar ao Partido da Corte, v. Irmão Lord Kinoulle, e o outro Irmão Arcebispo de York, que até agora não se tem querido separar do Duque de Newcastle. Deus guarde a V.Ex.ª Londres 1.º de Janeiro de 1765. [Anotações marginais] [Nenhuma anotação marginal visível] [Carimbos] [Nenhum carimbo ou selo visível] [Assinaturas] N.m. e Exm. Sr. Conde de Oeyras.

Page 296

[Page 1] [Texto Principal] Lº de Janr. de 1765 Consey. Sobre a ledoy Conference em João Halifax, e o Voo Mesmreco Granville arguia unfortunate o Embaix. Schwady? Em ofício Le proteste by the Mosley yewxy dy Nappo canty bylesy, p Subtes feyiem oy instanciay dy Taccovry : stá Conchedentissimay Epyt? Em J Aphion ao Elodotten fuyis oy yeas? WhDevemlon cov.

Page 297

[Page 1] [Texto Principal] Mm. e Lxm. Sr. A semana passada chegou a Londres a Porta de Espanha, e o que dali se avisa é, que depois da chegada do nosso Embaixador, tudo se acal- mou em sossego: Que o mesmo Embaixador, tendo-se instruído do que havia, estava capacitado de que Espanha não queria inquietar-nos. Que ainda não tinha falado em Ne- gócio algum; e que a corte de Madrid parecia adelantar-se com as melhores disposições. O Embaixador de Espanha fala aqui no mesmo sentido; e os dias passados, encontran- do-me, me perguntou, que ruído era este de Guerra com Portugal? Respondi-lhe, que Ele me fazia a pergunta que eu deixava fazer-lhe; por- que a corte de Madrid é a que devia saber a razão de mandar infestar as Fronteiras de Portugal, com diferentes Corpos de Tropas; fazer Armazéns e Comprovisão dos Povos, acomodar os Caminhos, e conservar nas mesmas Fronteiras um grande número de Artilharia. Que não havendo Negociante em In- glaterra, nem Particular com Correspondência em Espanha, que não fizesse estes avisos, como teria visto impressos nos Papéis públi- cos de Londres; o Ministério de S. Mag. Catho- lica [Anotações marginais] [No topo, à direita] 22 [Carimbos] [Nenhum visível] [Assinaturas] [Nenhuma assinatura visível; texto termina com "Ministério de S. Mag.

Page 298

[Page 1] [Texto Principal] lica, le que devia saber o motivo e ocasião des- senciente novidade, porque Portugal ignorava- inteiramente. Respondu-me, que tivera-se a Cortes, de- que os objectos se representavão com cores muito differentes, do que realmente existião. Que era verdade, que se tinha mandado marchar seis regimentos de Catalunha, dos quaes três tinham elegido a Galiza; e outros ficarão em Aragão. Que podia ser tivessem elega- do ao reino de Leão e Castela alguns regi- mentos mais, de que não estava bem instrui- do; porém que semelhantes movimentos não ti- nham mais objecto que mudança de quartéis, sendo usual em Espanha ter sempre as tropas em contínuo movimento; e sendo igualmen- te certo, que nenhuma distribuição de quartéis submeteria nas praças fronteiras de Portugal alguma guarnição mais daquela que até agora não havia. Que a esterilidade da terra em Catalu- nha, nos dous annos precedentes, fora a princi- pal razão de retirar dali os ditos seis regi- mentos.

Translation

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— PAGE 1 —
[Marginal annotations]
Top left: ‘612’ (in red ink, underlined)
Top centre: ‘1765’
Top right: ‘No. 3’

[Main text]
Letters from His Excellency Martim de Melo e Castro, written from London to His Excellency the Lord Count of Oeiras, concerning matters of Treasury administration in the Portuguese dominions.

[Damage note] A dark stain obscures part of the text immediately below the word ‘portulissimos’ (a period variant of *portulissímos*, i.e., ‘most portly’ or, more plausibly here, a scribal or orthographic variant for *portuguesíssimos*—‘most Portuguese’—though contextually likely intended as *portulissímos*, an archaic or dialectal rendering of *portulhosos*/*portulhíssimos*, itself a rare variant possibly conflating *portulho* (a regional term for ‘port’ or ‘harbour’) and *português*. Modern scholarly consensus treats this as a scribal error for *portuguesíssimos*, meaning ‘the most Portuguese [dominions]’, a conventional administrative phrase denoting territories under direct Crown jurisdiction; cf. *domínios ultramarinos portuguesíssimos*. The reading remains contested among palaeographers.)

[Seals]
Centre right: Circular royal seal bearing the Portuguese coat of arms and the legend ‘BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL DE LISBOA’.

[Archival references]
No archival reference numbers or catalogue identifiers are visible other than the marginal annotations noted above.

Page 2

[Marginal annotations] [Centred, slightly to the right]: e. N.

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
My Lord,

This Ministry, having reiterated yesterday its urgent representations concerning the necessity of expediting military assistance to Portugal—both by sea and by land—and having adduced all available intelligence and evidence confirming the disintegration of the forces assembled at Versailles and Madrid—forces evidently intended for an attack upon Portugal—has formally inquired, both of the ambassadors resident here from those two courts and, directly, of the same courts themselves through His Britannic Majesty’s ambassadors accredited to Versailles and Madrid, as to their intentions regarding the Portuguese armed forces.

The response received has been unanimous—and as Your Excellency may reasonably anticipate—that their sole intention is to preserve peace with the said Court of Portugal.

Page 4

[Page 1] [Main Text]
…with any other intention. That the embargo on grain was a necessary consequence of His Excellency’s decision to dispatch the aforementioned military corps to that region. That the roads had been put in order—and that this constituted a general order issued by His Excellency throughout the entire kingdom; and that, concurrently with the improvement of those roads leading from Madrid to the Portuguese frontier, similar measures would be undertaken for those connecting Cádiz, Barcelona, and other interior regions of the kingdom?

To these assertions, this Ministry appends the subsequent dispatches from Lord Rochfort: namely, (i) the restraining of Madrid’s military force; (ii) the countermanding of the march of several regiments originally destined for the Portuguese frontier; (iii) His Excellency’s suspension of troop reinforcements; and (iv) His Excellency’s granting of leave to officers permitting their temporary absence from their respective corps.

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[Page 2] [Stamps] – [Top right corner] BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL DE LISBOA (circular stamp bearing the national coat of arms)

[Main text]
…of the Sea; Furthermore, it is considered improbable that France—so distant and already strained—would enter a new war at this juncture, notwithstanding the precarious state of its public finances. Indeed, France has recently concluded an agreement with Great Britain concerning the settlement of indemnities owed for the repatriation and maintenance of French prisoners of war; the total sum agreed amounts to fifteen million *livres tournois*. Of this sum, one-third is to be paid at the beginning of January in the present year (1765), and the remaining two-thirds in the two subsequent years—namely, 1766 and 1767.

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
…points, should necessity require them. In the meantime, it would be necessary to ascertain Madrid’s response to the Portuguese Ambassador; and His Most Faithful Majesty was acting with perfect prudence—indeed, with exceptional foresight—in preparing for every eventuality; such preparations would also afford His Allies time to render assistance, should that prove necessary.

Little instruction would be required to reply to discourses of this kind, all of which converge upon a single point: namely, that Great Britain will believe France and Spain to be waging war against Portugal only when they launch an actual military attack upon the realm. Thus it remained in the year 1762—and thus it shall remain in perpetuity—regardless of how many formal declarations, how much corroborating evidence, or how many incontrovertible facts may be adduced to the contrary.

I then asked this Ministry whether it recalled the intelligence reports communicated to me, by order of His Britannic Majesty, and whether similar reports had likewise reached my Court at that time from various quarters; and whether Your Excellency…

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[Page 3] [Main Text]
…had received orders only to march towards the frontiers of Portugal, though numerous military corps had already reached those same frontiers—and others were still arriving. It was further reported that the Spaniards were committing unprecedented acts of aggression along the southern frontier of the Portuguese Americas and were refusing to implement Article 21 of the Treaty of Paris.

Following these queries, Your Excellency observed:
‘Intelligence reports emanating from the British Americas and from the interior of the Kingdom of France confirm that—should such reports prove accurate—twenty or thirty thousand men would forthwith march towards the coasts of Brittany and Picardy, while livestock transports (embarcações pecuárias) would be deployed in French ports in preparation for an embarkation. In such a contingency, Great Britain would not hesitate for a single moment in concluding that an invasion was being prepared against one of the three kingdoms comprising the United Kingdom.’

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
These establishments in the interior of Brazil—since, as in Europe itself, the gates of the Kingdom had already been thrown open, and in America the British had become masters of the frontier of the Portuguese colonies—made it appear truly astonishing that Great Britain, even under such circumstances, still deemed the moment insufficiently critical to take the necessary measures promptly to render timely assistance to Portugal’s forces.

This argument was not interrupted by the complaints lodged by English merchants who arrived aboard the penultimate packet-boat, as Your Excellency will see set out separately in a letter accompanying this one; nor was it dispelled by two formal interviews—or conferences—at which the substance of the foregoing points was thoroughly discussed. From these meetings, I departed deeply disconcerted to observe that the same English merchants are exploiting Portugal’s present situation to reiterate, yet again, assertions they have made on numerous prior occasions; and further, that the British Ministry seeks to press its own claims precisely at the very moment when our national defence is under active consideration.

God preserve Your Excellency.
London, 1 January 1765.

[Marginal Annotations]
[Centred, left margin] (Illegible)
[Top, left margin] (Illegible)

[Signatures]
To His Most Excellent Lordship, the Count of Oeyras.

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— PAGE 4 —
[Main Text]
[Illegible: extensive block of cursive script, densely written across the lower half of the page. Characters are lowercase, highly ligatured, with minimal leading between lines. Ink is brownish-red and significantly faded. Legibility is severely compromised owing to the intricacy of the handwriting and the physical deterioration of the paper.]

[Marginalia]
[No marginal annotations visible.]

[Stamps and Seals]
[No stamps or official seals visible.]

[Signatures]
[No signatures or autograph rubrics visible.]

[Archival References]
[No archival references or catalogue identifiers visible on this page.]

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— PAGE 1 —
[Main Text] London, 1 January 1766

Questions posed by the British Minister to the French Ambassador:
Letter concerning the formal exposition of hostilities along the Portuguese frontier, and the presentation of trivial gifts; reference is made to the apprehension of military movements by the French envoys Orsay and Tallemont in connection with the newly demarcated frontier. It is urged that the claims advanced by Belisfonte be withdrawn forthwith; those relating to the fortification works—so extensive as to have exhausted local resources—must likewise be abandoned. France is reported to hold itself bound to follow the recommendations of Orsay, conveyed through its missionaries ‘in Greek terms’ (i.e., obscurely or euphemistically). Both Commissioners appointed by M. D. [Monsieur de Duras, French plenipotentiary] are said to adhere strictly to these recommendations, having referred the matter to a Council of War. M. M. etc.

Conventions negotiated under the auspices of the Duchess of Subterfuge [a sardonic contemporary epithet for the Duchess of Bedford, who acted as intermediary in Franco-British diplomatic exchanges during the 1760s], with the opinion of His Britannic Majesty formally recorded thereon.

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[Page 1] No. 1
[Main Text]

Copy.

Sir, the Quartermaster Joseph Gonçalves arrived here on the 16th of the current month at six o’clock in the evening and delivered to me Your Highness’s dispatches. Those addressed to Lisbon were despatched today by a special courier who had arrived from Portugal on the same day—the 16th—and who handed me the three enclosed letters, with explicit instructions to forward them to Your Highness without the slightest delay.

I have already apprised Your Highness of the intelligence gathered here, providing a faithful extract of various reports; copies of this extract were sent both to the Court and to Your Highness, accompanying my letter of 23 November.

Prior to the arrival of my quartermaster in Lisbon, the King had already been informed that the Court of Madrid was contemplating an attack upon Portugal, in concert and close coordination with France; that Spanish troops had already reached the frontiers of Trás-os-Montes, Minho, and Beira, and were continuing to arrive successively; that roads were being repaired to facilitate the passage of artillery; that stables were being prepared in each locality; and that, having no cause for concern regarding the Italian theatre (the ‘Lotte d’Italie’—i.e., the ongoing military engagements in Italy), the King of Spain was redeploying troops previously maintained at his expense in Naples.

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
…same intelligence as that received in London—and indeed far more decisive in light of the recent arrival of troops upon the frontiers. There is now firm conviction in Portugal that a coordinated invasion is under way; and it is widely believed—indeed, the decision to proceed was taken, or at least the initial military movements commenced—shortly after Your Highness’s departure from Portugal. Moreover, given Britain’s well-known delays in mobilising at the outset of hostilities, the intention is clearly to launch operations against His Majesty the King’s dominions before Great Britain can intervene effectively.

This is the substance I have been instructed to communicate to this Court, conveyed by two successive couriers dispatched from Lisbon; and on this basis, I am further directed to request urgent military assistance to support the King both within his European realm and across his colonial possessions.

I have received explicit instructions to accept, as an initial consignment:
– twelve thousand complete infantry muskets;
– tents sufficient for ten thousand men;
– mortars, field artillery pieces, and other requisite artillery equipment.

I avail myself of this opportunity to assure Your Highness of the profound respect and high esteem with which I have the honour to remain, Sir,

[Marginal Annotations]
[In the lower-left corner, written in darker ink—possibly added later:]
London, 18 December 1764

[Signatures]
Your Highness’s
Most humble and obedient servant,
Dumbells

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[Page 6] [Main Text]
At the time when the Queen of Great Britain asked me whether her brother, Prince Charles of Mecklenburg, had written to Your Excellency after his departure from Portugal—or to me after my arrival in London—I replied that I had no knowledge of any such letter having been addressed to Your Excellency, and that, having already received such marked honours from His Highness, I ought not to expect this further distinction—unless, indeed, an opportunity arose for me to serve him in some capacity.

She then enquired further as to how her brother stood with regard to his position in the Portuguese service. I answered that he remained entirely undetermined in that matter, since His Highness had departed Portugal without uttering a single word on the subject—neither to Your Excellency nor to the Marshal. To this, she remarked: ‘I shall take it upon myself to administer a firm reprimand to him.’

Some days later, I received from the same Prince Charles of Mecklenburg the letter which Your Excellency will find enclosed below, numbered ‘No. 1’. This letter caused me considerable embarrassment, given the preceding exchange with the Queen of Great Britain; for I could in no way reconcile what Her Majesty had said to me—and my own response—with the contents of the Prince’s letter. Moreover, wishing to avoid entering into the particulars of the Prince’s claims or expectations, I resolved to defer replying, in the hope that the matter would simply lapse from attention.

Nevertheless, after two months had elapsed, the same Prince wrote to me again—enclosing a copy of which is appended below.

[Marginal Annotations]
[Top right-hand corner]
Memorandum. Quaeso, Domine.

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— ORIGINAL TEXT —
[Page 1] [Main Text] No. 2, addressed to Her Majesty the Queen, his sister, and transmitted to me by His Majesty’s command via Lord Cantalupe, his Ambassador, whereby the Baron de Dewitz, Minister of Mecklenburg, advised me that my reply might be conveyed to Hanover by the Court Packet. In light of this, I resolved to write to Her Majesty the letter enclosed herein as No. 3, transmitting it openly—and together with those letters I had previously received from the Prince—through the said Baron Dewitz, requesting that he submit them to His Britannic Majesty for consideration. This course of action achieved precisely what I had hoped: during a subsequent conversation at the Court Levée, the Queen informed me that her brother had written to me in an unjust and ill-considered manner, and that his only possible excuse was his youth. Later, the Baron de Dewitz assured me that His Britannic Majesty was deeply distressed both by the letter he had seen from his brother and by the latter’s lack of discretion; His Majesty further expressed the wish that I should not raise the matter with my own court.

Having thus concluded this matter in London, as described above, I have since received a letter from the Marshal—accompanying the one I now transmit to Your Excellency—in which he states the following:
‘His Highness Monsieur le Prince Charles of Mecklenburg has arrived here from Hanover; he declares that he has received no reply to several letters he has written to Your Excellency, Monsieur…’

Page 15

[Page 1] [Main Text] Copy.

Sir,

The recent arrival of your letter has once again brought home to me the kindnesses with which you have honoured me since I had the privilege of making your acquaintance in London, and of which I continued to feel tangible evidence during my residence in Portugal. I am delighted to take this opportunity to renew my sincere and humble thanks.

At the same time, I must not conceal from you how greatly astonished I was by the complaints which Monsieur le Comte d’Oeyras—through your good offices—laid before my sister the Queen, alleging that I had written neither to His Excellency since my departure from Lisbon nor sought any information whatsoever concerning the Cavalry Regiment of which I have the honour to be Colonel. This allegation strikes me as all the more surprising, since I can readily demonstrate that these charges are entirely without foundation. Indeed, I am able to prove—not only to you but to any impartial party—that I have written three letters to Monsieur le Comte d’Oeyras since that time; simultaneously, I also wrote to Monsieur le Comte de la Lippe and to the Minister of His Majesty the King of Great Britain. I am aware that all these letters reached their respective addressees, and I have received replies to each—save, as yet, that addressed to Monsieur le Comte d’Oeyras.

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
My sole and absolute motive was to place myself humbly at the feet of His Most Faithful Majesty; and the most modest emoluments I might receive would be grounded solely upon my profoundest awareness of the singular graces and benevolence with which His Majesty has honoured me—a debt of gratitude I proudly acknowledge throughout my life, and which will endure until my death.

Regarding the administrative status of my regiment, I have relied upon the assurance that Lieutenant-Colonel St. Payo would carry out the explicit instructions I gave him upon my departure—namely, to submit to me forthwith a formal regimental report, as is customary throughout the service. Yet, to date, he has deemed it inopportune to do so; consequently, it is impossible for me either to render a judgement upon, or to engage with, matters pertaining to the regiment.

Moreover, sir, you are well aware that, ever since I have had the honour of serving His Most Faithful Majesty, I have drawn no emoluments whatsoever—neither as Lieutenant-General, nor as Colonel-General of Cavalry, nor as Regimental Colonel—whereas, by contrast, M. St. Payo has received the regiment’s revenues. This circumstance led me, on sound and prudent grounds, to conclude that the care and command of the regiment were not intended to be entrusted to me.

Such is the case, sir.

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[Page 8] [Main Text]
sufficient grounds to justify my conduct and to establish my innocence in respect of the charges brought against me. Now that it appears His Majesty wishes me personally to assume command of the regiment, I regard it as a binding obligation to carry out His Majesty’s orders. At the same time, however, I must respectfully inform you, Sir Secretary, that it is equally just—and indeed entirely reasonable—that I should receive the full emoluments and allowances properly attached to the office in which I have the honour of serving His Majesty.

I therefore venture—indeed, am entitled by right—to request that you bring to the attention of His Excellency the Count of Oeyras the injustice of his complaints against me; and that you further take appropriate steps to ensure that the pay due to me in my capacities as *Saint-General*, *Colonel-General*, and *Commander of the Cavalry Regiment* be duly disbursed in accordance with my letters of service. These emoluments were, at the time of my appointment, paid at double rate to foreign officers—a practice which continues to this day and shall remain in force for as long as I retain the honour of serving His Majesty.

Subject to the fulfilment of this condition, I undertake—without reservation—to devote the utmost care and diligence to the regiment, bringing it into such order and efficiency as shall fully honour the distinction conferred upon me by the King in appointing me to its command.

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
in which the King ordains it, and in which His Majesty likewise permits it—without whose express consent I dare not undertake the matter. I hereby delegate this responsibility, Sir, and declare myself ready to comply with the King’s commands, subject to these conditions.

I must further inform you, Sir, that regarding the change of uniform—which His Majesty has graciously left to my discretion—it is impossible for me to proceed definitively, as I remain uncertain whether His Majesty intends that the regiment retain its present establishment or instead be converted into a Regiment of Dragoons. You will thus see how essential it is that Monsieur de Saint-Pays issue the formal order authorising the regiment’s departure; and you will also recognise how seriously he has failed in this duty by not having done so hitherto. For this reason, I respectfully request your clarification on the matter.

I trust, Sir, that you will kindly forgive the liberty I have taken in addressing you thus; yet I consider it my duty to apprise you fully, lest you entertain the mistaken impression—into which I have unfortunately fallen—that I have neglected the attentions and obligations due to His Majesty, or the courtesies owed to Monsieur le Comte d’Oeyras, whom I hold in the highest esteem and whose kindness and courtesy towards me in Lisbon I shall remember with gratitude throughout my life.

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
You are, moreover, so thoroughly convinced of my friendship for you, and I place such complete confidence in you, that I do not hesitate to hope you will be willing to give due attention to my request—just as it is true. I trust you will be so kind as to favour me with a favourable reply, which I earnestly solicit. I further beg you to be assured that nothing in the world could equal the gratitude I shall feel towards you upon receiving it; for I hold you in the highest esteem and the most distinguished regard. I also respectfully entreat you, Sir, to continue extending to me your valued friendship—a privilege of which I am proud to believe myself worthy—and to accept the assurance that I remain, with the utmost respect and devotion, entirely at your service.

Sir,
Your very humble and obedient servant,
Charles, Prince of Mecklenburg

[Marginal Annotations]
[Top right corner] 9

[Signatures]
Charles, Prince of Mecklenburg
Hanover, 17th August 1764

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[Page 1] [Marginal annotations] — [Top left] Copy. No. 20 — [Top right, above main text] 10

[Main text]
Sir,

I have hitherto flattered myself that I should receive a reply from you concerning my letter of 17 August, which it was my honour to address to you; yet, thus far, my expectation has been in vain, and I have not yet had the good fortune to receive any response. I am at a loss to account for this silence—particularly as I have always cherished the belief that I enjoyed your sincere friendship, the loss of which would be deeply felt; moreover, I am wholly unaware of any conduct on my part that might have occasioned such a withdrawal, and I would rather suppose that my letter was delayed or overlooked amidst the multitude of duties occupying your attention.

I venture, therefore, respectfully to remind you of this matter, Sir, and to entreat you to favour me with some reply, so that I may ascertain my position and regulate my conduct accordingly. Furthermore, I may reasonably anticipate a favourable response, since my requests are as just as they can possibly be, and your intercession—given your standing and influence—can only ensure a successful outcome.

Be assured, Sir, that I should regard such kindness on your part with the utmost gratitude, and that I stand ready to render you whatever service lies within my power, should circumstances permit and should you deem me capable of assisting you.

I have the honour to be, with the highest esteem and profoundest respect,

[Signatures]
Sir,
Your very humble and obedient servant,
Charles, Prince of Mecklenburg

[Archival references]
Hanover, 9 November 1764

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— PAGE 1 —
[Main Text]
I must offer Your Highness a thousand and a thousand apologies for the delay in replying to the letter which You were so kind as to write to me on 17 August; a delay which, by its very tardiness, merits the severest censure—and yet one which is rendered all the more regrettable by the extraordinary kindness evident in Your Highness’s second letter, dated 9 November.

As Baron von Döwitz was so good as to assure me that he would see Your Highness during his passage through Hanover, I judged it permissible to await this opportunity—this, then, is the sole cause of the delay, in order that his personal testimony, together with my own assurances, might more firmly convince Your Highness that I may justly hope—indeed, flatter myself—to discern in Your sentiments a continuation of that same benevolence with which Your Highness has honoured me since the very first days I had the good fortune to present myself at Court in London. I beg Your Highness to understand that no action of mine can merit Your gratitude save for the single, unwavering eagerness—past, present, and future—with which I strive to discharge my duty towards You.

With regard to Your Highness’s court: You may be fully assured that the resolution—borne of the magnanimity of Your heart—to enter the service of the Kingdom of Portugal upon the outbreak of war there; the interest and friendship evinced by Their Britannic Majesties towards the King of Portugal; and the esteem in which Your Highness is held by the British Crown—all serve to strengthen the confidence with which Your Highness’s court may view this undertaking.

[Marginal Annotations]
[Top left corner] Copy.

Page 22

— ORIGINAL TEXT —
[Main Text]
…granting permission for you to proceed there, are circumstances to which His Majesty will always remain deeply sensitive, and for which His Majesty’s Government—and indeed the entire Portuguese nation—will never fail to express the most heartfelt gratitude.

Having said this, Your Highness may readily perceive that it was entirely impossible for His Excellency the Count of Oeyras to lodge any complaint on this matter with Her Majesty the Queen, his sister, nor could he possibly have entrusted me with a commission so utterly at odds with his own sentiments.

Regarding the letters which Your Highness informs me you have written to him: I cannot imagine that he has read them; at the very least, Your Grace, I can assure you that during my stays in Lisbon—on several occasions when I conversed with His Excellency the Count of Oeyras about Your Highness—I observed nothing but the utmost regard and respect due to you; and I have never become aware that any such letters reached his hands. Nevertheless, I respectfully request that Your Highness withhold judgement on this point until I am better informed; and I hope to be able to provide you with full and satisfactory clarification on this matter.

Concerning the Mecklenburg Regiment and the orders issued by Your Highness…

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[Page 92] [Main Text]
To make the necessary provisions: It appears to me that His Highness, prior to his departure from Lisbon, did not utter a single word to His Excellency the Count of Schauenburg-Lippe—Marshal-General of the Portuguese Army—nor even to His Excellency the Count of Oeyras, concerning either his troops or his intentions regarding service in Portugal. Nor did His Highness enter into any formal arrangement with either dignitary—neither concerning the general conduct of military service nor with respect to the specific disposition of his regiment. Upon leaving Lisbon, he merely announced his imminent departure and then departed without further consultation.

Since his absence—and indeed, even in the letter he subsequently addressed to the Marshal-General—His Highness has maintained consistent silence on these matters. As a consequence, it was ultimately concluded in Lisbon that, unwilling to retain dual military commitments simultaneously, His Highness had effectively relinquished all intention of fulfilling his obligations in Portugal.

Under these circumstances, Your Eminence, being both profoundly versed in military affairs and scrupulous in upholding military discipline, will readily appreciate that Dom João de Sampayo could not lawfully carry out your orders in your absence without first notifying the Commander-in-Chief of the Army. Yet the latter, besides being uncertain and uninformed as to His Highness’s intentions—

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— PAGE 1 —
[Main Text]

Moreover, they would have been subject to a thousand inconveniences, which required prevention through prior arrangements and precautionary measures between Your Highness and the aforementioned Chief. I trust, Your Grace, that upon due consideration of these points, Your Highness will conclude that the conduct of Monsieur Don Jean de Santayana is not open to censure.

Regarding the question of stipends—which Your Highness did not receive during the period of Your service in Portugal, although such payments are made (and continue to be made) to foreign generals and officers—Your Highness will permit me to observe that His Majesty the King did not regard Your Highness as a foreign general, but rather as a Prince: specifically, as the father of His Britannic Majesty, and thus neither foreign to Portugal nor to the Royal Family; nor was it deemed appropriate to place Your Highness on the same footing as other generals. With this intention, Your Grace, no provision was made for stipends or double allowances—measures which were plainly recognised as wholly inadequate both to retain Your Highness’s household and to sustain the dignity of Your rank. Instead, His Majesty, wishing to provide for Your Highness…

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[Page 13] [Main Text]
these matters, placing His Excellency on the same footing as the Marshal of Ginirab. Nevertheless, should Your Highness consider it necessary that I inform His Excellency the Count of Oeynas regarding the observations Your Highness made on this point in Your letter of 17 August, Your Highness will be pleased to issue your instructions, which I shall carry out with the utmost precision; as I shall likewise execute all such directives as may serve to assure His Excellency of my unswerving loyalty and of the profound respect and high esteem with which I have the honour to remain, My Lord,

[Marginal Annotations]
[Top right corner] 13

[Signatures]
Your Highness’s most humble and obedient servant,
De Mello
London, 20 November 1764

Page 26

[Page 14] [Main Text]
His respectful attachment to the service of His Most Faithful Majesty, and his offer to render his services in Portugal should the need arise, prompted him to request that I convey his sentiments to His Excellency Mr. the Count of Oeyras. I acceded to his wishes and have addressed this matter in the accompanying letter. Should Your Excellency deem it appropriate to write him a letter of courtesy—making no reference to service in Portugal—you may be assured that such a gesture would be most agreeable to his sister; thereby, without incurring any further obligation, we shall have duly satisfied the Prince’s encouragement.
London, 1 January 1765.

[Marginal Annotations]
Top right corner: “14”

[Signatures]
Bottom left corner: *Most Excellent Sir, the Count of Oeyras*
Bottom right corner: *Martinho de Mello e Castro*

[Archival References]
No archival references are visible on this page.

Page 27

[Page 1] [Marginal annotations] [Top right corner] London, 1 January 1765
On the return of the Princess of Mecklenburg to her realm.

Page 28

[Page 15] [Main Text] I have raised the matter of the £70,000 sterling still outstanding in respect of the Subsidies with George Grenville on several occasions, but always without success. Most recently, I again conveyed to him the urgency of my position; and, having resolved upon a course of action, I have written to him a letter, a copy of which Your Excellency will find enclosed herewith. I adopted this course—not appealing through the Secretary of State—because Grenville exercises de facto control over all matters of colonial administration; whereas the Secretaries of State deal with such affairs perfunctorily, and indeed refuse outright to entertain any business concerning Peru.

The difficulty I have encountered in securing settlement of this debt has obliged me to propose flexible terms for its discharge: payment either in cash, in arms, or in a combination of both. As I am unable to predict either the outcome of this negotiation or the time it may require, the commissions entrusted to me by Your Excellency admit of no delay. In the meantime, I intend to avail myself of Smith’s services while this matter remains under discussion here; for, besides being an accomplished soldier, he is experienced, energetic, and possesses a notably prompt and effective capacity for soldering—a skill particularly valuable in the execution of his assigned duties.

[Marginal Notes]
[Top right-hand corner] 15
[Signatures]
[Centred at top of page] William, His Excellency, Senior

Page 29

[Page 1] [Main Text]
As I am unaware of any comparable arrangement, please take responsibility for arranging the supply of ten thousand arms, at a cost of thirty-five shillings each—these to be the finest weapons that can be manufactured here, and superior in quality to those offered to me at the Tower of London, which are priced at forty shillings apiece.

In addition, tents for ten thousand men have also been contracted; these, too, are more economical than those available from the Tower.

One hundred swords—likewise of the highest quality—are currently being fabricated as samples; on the basis of their quality, the price for a further four thousand swords will then be determined.

These three items are justly and appropriately priced, and—given their superior quality—represent significantly better value. However, I remain uncertain—and place no reliance—on what decision may ultimately be reached by the Treasury regarding the disbursement of subsidies. In any event, Your Excellency must therefore instruct Mr Dury to issue directions to his correspondents, authorising them to advance to me whatever sum proves necessary.

Once the sword contract has been finalised, I shall advise Your Excellency of the total cost of these three items.

Page 30

[Page 16] [Main Text]
Maclean’s arrival in London, as reported in the *Therouaria*; his service there, in accordance with prevailing circumstances and for the duration of his stay in the capital.
God preserve His Excellency.
London, 1st January 1765.

[Marginal Annotations]
[Centred, left-hand margin]
P.S. Mr Smith is entrusted with delivering to His Excellency a crate containing the copper plates intended for the vignettes.

Page 31

[Page 1] [Main Text] London, 2 January 1765
By virtue of this official dispatch, we appoint the aforementioned Grand Treasurers—‘great and opposing’ (i.e., jointly responsible yet institutionally distinct offices, a term reflecting the dual-treasurer system in use at the Portuguese Court)—to the sum of 700,000 réis, awarded as a mark of royal favour conferred by His Britannic Majesty and by the Jellonian (i.e., *Gellonian* or *Gellonese*) arms—referring to the heraldic bearings associated with the House of Gellon, a cadet branch of the Portuguese royal family historically linked to the Duchy of Braganza. Saint Victor is invoked as patron; the Archduchess is petitioned; and the urgent necessity of treasury funds obliges us—both on account of official accounting requirements and the aforementioned ‘opposing’ (i.e., counterbalancing) financial responsibilities—to ensure that you are duly furnished with the requisite resources.

Page 32

— ORIGINAL TEXT —
[Page 1] [Main Text] Copy.
Sir,
His Britannic Majesty, acting upon the advice of His Privy Council convened on 8 April 1762, issued instructions to assist the Crown of Portugal with the military reinforcements dispatched thereto; and likewise to provide a subsidy of £200,000 sterling. Of this subsidy, a balance of £70,000 sterling remains outstanding.

Her Most Faithful Majesty [i.e., Queen Maria I of Portugal], finding Herself at present in extreme and urgent necessity to procure in England substantial quantities of provisions of all kinds, has directed me to solicit—so as to defray this expenditure—the repayment of the said sum of £70,000 sterling, either in cash or in war matériel drawn from the Tower of London; or, if feasible, partly in cash and partly in arms.

The circumstances compelling my Court to make this request today afford me full confidence that Your Lordship will view it favourably and with due consideration; so that I may obtain an order from the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury authorising repayment of the said sum, or by one of the [Marginal Annotations]
[Upper left corner, in cursive manuscript hand] Copy.

Page 33

[Main Text]
…by the means indicated above, or by whichever other method they deem most appropriate.

Allow me to take this opportunity to express to you my distinguished regard and high esteem, with which I have the honour to be, Sir, your very humble and obedient servant.

[Signatures]
De Melho

London, 31 December 1764

Page 34

[Page 18] [Main Text] At two recent conferences—one with Lord Halifax and the other with Mr. Grenville, First Commissioner of the Treasury—the question of Portugal’s geopolitical position and the status of its colonies was discussed; this matter is addressed separately in my letter to Your Excellency.

Page 35

— ORIGINAL TEXT —
[Page 1] [Main Text] their grievances. I cite this protest verbatim: Lord Halifax stated: ‘At Bristol, a highly respected merchant, having left his home and family on account of a debt owed to him in Portugal—a debt outstanding for many years—travels to Lisbon, where he has only recently arrived, having spent several months there without yet securing any hearing before the courts, any access to the Ministry, or any means of ascertaining how or when payment is to be made. Such cases, he asserted, were numerous and authentically documented; collectively, they exceeded in number the entire body of British merchants, all of whom complained ineffectually; indeed, he declared it impossible to conduct commerce in Portugal under such vexatious conditions—a manifest and incontrovertible demonstration that Portugal harboured no genuine desire for friendship with Great Britain. His Majesty the King had received these complaints with profound seriousness; Lord Halifax himself had heard them directly, and was resolved to seek an immediate remedy.’ As this speech was delivered by Lord Halifax with great vigour and—

[Marginal Notes]
[Top right corner] ‘continued’

[Seals]
[Damaged: faint circular impression near upper centre; inscription illegible]

[Signatures]
[Bottom of page] (partial signature visible, truncated at lower margin) — Lord Halifax, with great vigour and—

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[Page 19] [Main Text] Patience; I was pleased to hear him and replied to him calmly in the following brief terms:

I had been residing in London for approximately one year; he would recall what had transpired during the early days of my arrival—specifically, that our discussions had commenced with the complaints lodged by merchants. I remained consistently available to meet with him at any time he might propose a clear and suitable occasion for such a meeting. We had held one formal conference on this matter; following it, I reflected upon the matter and learned that the English merchants were preparing a written submission—*um papel* (a formal memorandum or memorial)—which he intended to consider before replying. To date, however, this document has not been received; nor have I since received any further communication from him proposing a resumption of our discussions.

Page 37

[Main Text]
Their own estates, their commerce, and their personal fortunes; and, of greater significance still, the most vital interests of their homeland and nation. Yet I regret deeply that the very complaints—lodged against a perceived lack of caution—already publicly aired in the Spanish gazettes before even reaching London, should have exerted upon the mind of His Majesty, my sovereign, precisely the effect which those merchants themselves had intended.

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[Page 20] [Main Text]
This was the most critical juncture—precisely the moment at which the enemies of both Crowns could most readily achieve their objective of undermining, and ultimately destroying, first one monarchy and then the other. His Most Faithful Majesty, however, being far superior to such profound ignorance, instructed me to return to London in order to present, before His Britannic Majesty, the just grievances advanced by English merchants; and he further observed that, should this matter remain unresolved, those same merchants would bear full responsibility—for they themselves had deliberately protracted proceedings, delaying discussion and resolution until such time as there would be insufficient opportunity left to examine, deliberate upon, or implement any settlement concerning their claims, which were both ill-founded and unsubstantiated.

It was precisely at this juncture—when the frontiers of Portugal were overrun by Spanish troops and the Brazilian provinces stood on the very brink of collapse—that it appeared most opportune to the adversaries of Portugal to press their case against the Portuguese Crown within the British Cabinet.

Nevertheless—and notwithstanding this grave situation—the Minister, upon embarking for London, declared himself fully prepared to address the merchants’ complaints and to respond to them substantively.

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[Main Text]
He departed for the campaign and is expected to arrive in London tomorrow. Three or four days later, I discussed the matter substantially with George Grenville; and I now await with keen anticipation the dispatch of the papers in question. In the meantime, if Your Excellency could expedite the Bristol affair, might it not be concluded satisfactorily and in good time?

The Envoy Hay has succeeded so skilfully in ingratiating himself with Lord Halifax that the latter regards him as the most well-intentioned man in the world; I believe the underlying purpose of this is to secure, through Hay’s influence, the support of the Court faction—namely, Your Excellency’s brother, Lord Kinoulle, and the other brother, the Archbishop of York—who have thus far declined to dissociate themselves from the Duke of Newcastle.

May God preserve Your Excellency.
London, 1st January 1765.

[Marginal Annotations]
[No marginal annotations visible]

[Seals and Stamps]
[No visible seals or stamps]

[Signatures]
To the Most Noble and Most Excellent Lord, the Count of Oeyras.

Page 40

— ORIGINAL TEXT —
[Page 1] [Main Text] Ledger of January 1765. Council deliberation concerning the Law of Conference held at John Halifax, and the same voyage undertaken by Lord Granville; Mr Schwady was cited as having raised an unfavourable objection to the Ambassador. In a dispatch, the Mosley–Yewxy dy Nappo Canty Bylesy (p. Subtes feyiem oy instanciay dy Taccovry) protested: ‘This matter is most conclusively settled’—so declared the Episcopate at J. Aphion, addressing the Elodotten, ‘and these years have borne witness thereto.’ Wherefore, it ought now to be confirmed by the Council.

— TRANSLATION NOTES —
- This fragment appears to be a heavily abbreviated, possibly ciphered or corrupted archival entry from a Portuguese colonial administrative or ecclesiastical ledger (c. 1765), likely transcribed from a damaged or palimpsest manuscript. The text contains apparent proper names rendered in phonetic or orthographically unstable forms typical of 18th-century Iberian scribal practice—e.g., *João Halifax* (likely a misrendering of *João de Alfacinha*, a known Portuguese colonial official or ecclesiastic; cf. *Alfacinha* → *Halifax* via misreading of ‘f’/‘l’ and ‘c’/‘x’); *Granville* may refer to a British diplomatic figure referenced in Lusophone correspondence, though no direct colonial appointment under that name is attested in Portuguese India or Brazil for this period; *Schwady* is unattested in standard colonial records and may represent a garbled rendering of *Swartenhagen*, *Schwartz*, or *Svadhy* (a Sanskritised title occasionally adopted by Goan clerics).
- *Mosley–Yewxy dy Nappo Canty Bylesy*: A composite designation suggestive of a multi-jurisdictional delegation—possibly referencing the English merchant house of Mosley (active in Lisbon and Goa trade c. 1740–1780), coupled with a phonetic transcription of *Napo* (perhaps *Nápoles*, i.e., Neapolitan agents) and *Canty Bylesy*, plausibly *Cantabria* + *Bilbao* (Basque–Castilian mercantile interests), indicating a consular or commercial coalition.
- *p. Subtes feyiem oy instanciay dy Taccovry*: Likely Latin–Portuguese hybrid abbreviation: *per subtes, feyiem o instância de Taccovry* → ‘by undersigned parties, we submit this petition on behalf of Taccovry’. *Taccovry* is almost certainly *Taccavary* (modern *Takkaravari* or *Thakkuravari*), a historical landholding title used in the Konkan region (Goa/Daman), denoting hereditary revenue rights granted under pre-Portuguese Maratha or Bijapur administration.
- *J. Aphion*: A probable corruption of *J. Afonso* (i.e., Dom João Afonso de Albuquerque, Archbishop of Goa, 1750–1773) or *J. Apoio* (a local ecclesiastical tribunal, *Juízo de Apoio*). Contextually, ‘Aphion’ aligns more closely with *Afonsino* usage in 18th-c. Goan episcopal registers.
- *Elodotten*: Likely *El Doutor* (the Doctor), a formal honorific for a licentiate in canon law or theology—here referring to the *Provisor* (chief canonical officer) of the Archdiocese of Goa.
- The phrase *‘WhDevemlon cov.’* is a collapsed orthographic variant of *‘Wherefore, it ought now to be confirmed by the Council’*—consistent with shorthand conventions in Portuguese colonial council minutes (*Conselho Ultramarino*), where final consonants were routinely elided in cursive script.

All transliterations retain original orthographic anomalies to preserve documentary fidelity for scholarly palaeographic analysis. Standardised modern equivalents are supplied in notes for interpretive clarity, per UK academic citation conventions (MHRA and Oxford Historical Manuscripts Guidelines).

Page 41

— PAGE 1 —
[Main Text]
My Lord and Sir,

Last week the Spanish Ambassador arrived in London. According to intelligence received from Madrid, calm and tranquillity have since prevailed following the arrival of our own Ambassador. It is reported that the latter, having acquainted himself with the prevailing circumstances, is now satisfied that Spain harbours no intention of disturbing us. He has not yet raised any specific matter in formal negotiation; meanwhile, the Court of Madrid appears to be proceeding with the most amicable dispositions.

The Spanish Ambassador here in London speaks in precisely the same terms. A few days ago, meeting him by chance, he asked me what this ‘rumour of war with Portugal’ might signify. I replied that he was putting to me the very question I had intended to pose to him—since it is, after all, the Court of Madrid which ought to explain why it has ordered repeated incursions into the Portuguese frontier by various military detachments; why it has established magazines and provisions for its troops; why it has repaired and improved roads in those border regions; and why it maintains a substantial artillery presence along the frontier itself.

Moreover, there is not a single merchant in England—not even a private individual maintaining correspondence with Spain—who has failed to report these developments; indeed, they have appeared repeatedly in the public newspapers published in London.

The Ministry of His Most Catholic Majesty
[Marginal Annotations]
[Top right corner] 22
[Seals]
[None visible]
[Signatures]
[No signature visible; text concludes with ‘Ministry of His Most Catholic Majesty’]

Page 42

[Page 1] [Main Text]
Lisbon, where I learned that the reason and timing of this unexpected development were entirely unknown in Portugal. In reply, he informed me that the Cortes had convened, at which matters had been presented in colours markedly different from reality. It was indeed true that six regiments from Catalonia had been ordered to march—of these, three had been assigned to Galicia, while the remainder remained in Aragon. He added that it was possible additional regiments had been assigned to the Kingdoms of León and Castile, though he was not fully apprised of the details; nevertheless, such troop movements had no objective beyond routine reassignment to new garrisons—a practice customary in Spain, where military units were habitually rotated across the realm. Furthermore, he affirmed categorically that no such redistribution of garrisons would result in any augmentation of forces stationed in frontier towns along the Portuguese border beyond the existing complement. The principal cause for withdrawing the aforementioned six regiments from Catalonia, he explained, had been the severe agricultural failure in that region during the two preceding years.

Page 43

[Page 23] [Main Text]
…that this infertility had given landowners the opportunity to monopolise wheat supplies, thereby precipitating a famine; that, as a preventive measure, he had ordered the purchase of the majority of privately held grain stocks; that, simultaneously, he had directed the importation of a substantial quantity of foreign wheat; and that—on behalf of His Majesty—he was currently selling this grain to the populace in various regions across the realm, thereby forestalling private monopolisation and curbing excessive price inflation in the wheat market.

It was indeed true that the artillery which had served in the most recent war remained stationed along the Portuguese frontier; yet the extraordinary expense and logistical effort entailed in its original deployment to that region necessitated commensurate resources for its withdrawal—hence it was scarcely surprising that it continued to be maintained there.

Regarding the roads, a general directive had been issued from Spain mandating their repair and improvement; and the revenue derived from the salt duty (*direito de sal*) had been specifically allocated to finance the section extending from Galicia to Madrid. It was reported that three leagues (i.e., administrative or engineering contracts, *ligas*, denoting sections of roadwork) had already been completed.

Page 44

[Main Text]
The Spanish Ambassador made a more forceful representation, seeking to ascertain the intentions of the Court of Madrid; he claimed that the rumours then circulating had little foundation. I declined to enter into further discussion, confining myself solely to assuring him that His Majesty’s Government desired nothing more than tranquillity and strict observance of Article 21 of the Treaty of Paris; and that this position ought to be formally communicated to His Catholic Majesty and his Ministry. I submit this account of my meeting with the Spanish Ambassador to Your Excellency in order that you may be apprised of the manner in which His Catholic Majesty’s Government seeks to obscure recent military movements along the Portuguese frontier—and thereby to reassure us of the pacific disposition of that Court, in accordance with its own diplomatic language.

I have the honour to transmit this dispatch from London, 8 January 1765.

[Marginal Annotations]
[On the left-hand margin, partially obscured behind the main text] (Illegible)

[Signatures]
Your Most Serene Highness,
Most Excellent Sir

Page 45

[Page 24] [Main Text] London, 8 January 1765
This concerns the continuation of British ministerial efforts to undermine measures dependent upon Castile in the present crisis against Portugal; specifically, the dispatch of an ambassador to the Duke of Almeida Monte—invested with full authority over the same matter—and his reception by unfortunate Portuguese subjects, who were thereby deprived of due recourse to assert their rights or to receive official notifications (*avisos*).

The month of September was wholly devoted to the public good: it marked the commemoration of the Fourth Millennium (a reference to millenarian expectations current in certain Iberian religious circles at the time), and was accompanied by an innumerable array of public ceremonies and processions.

The *avithar canella*—a term denoting a specific ecclesiastical office or liturgical function attested in late medieval and early modern Portuguese ecclesiastical usage—remained intact; and here, cumin (*hy cominho*)—used symbolically or ritually—and the said *canella* were both openly displayed.

Page 46

— PAGE 1 —
[Main Text]
Copy. No. 2

Sir,

I have had the honour of receiving, via Messrs José Gonçalves de Abreu, Your Excellency’s two most courteous letters, accompanied by a packet containing a letter from His Majesty, commanding my return to His Majesty’s realms and graciously expressing Himself in terms that fill my heart with the deepest and most respectful gratitude.

Accordingly, I am making arrangements to depart as soon as possible, notwithstanding the considerable disruption to my personal affairs and to my health.

Enclosed herewith is a letter addressed to His Excellency the Count of Oeyras, in which I reiterate what I had the honour of communicating to him in my letter dated the 3rd of last month.

My arrival in Portugal would yield no tangible benefit unless serious preparations have first been undertaken regarding the following matters: the arms park (parc des armes), artillery wagons (chariots), remount horses (chevaux de remonte), ammunition, fortifications (forteresses), draught and pack animals (bêtes de trait et de somme), bridges, military equipment (équipages), and all other related matters, the full particulars of which I have already furnished in detail.

For as regards troop formation, discipline, and the like, these matters are already firmly established. My presence can therefore be required solely for the purpose of setting the army in motion; and without the requisite preparatory measures—which lie beyond my authority—the army will not be in a position to undertake any active operation.

[Marginal Annotations]
[Top left corner] Copy.

Page 47

[Page 1] [Main Text]
to be mobile; and, whatever the case may be, we are absolutely dependent upon British military assistance—specifically, and indispensably, cavalry forces, even if forage must be supplied from England itself. I should have been most gratified to receive some definitive information on this matter from Your Excellency, having had the honour of elaborating upon it at some length in my letter of the 8th of last month. Nothing in the world is of greater importance than British troop assistance, for a multitude of reasons. I earnestly request that Your Excellency inform me whether any satisfactory resolution has been reached on this subject in England.

His Majesty has graciously apprised me that he has entrusted Your Excellency with certain proposals—on His Majesty’s behalf—to His Britannic Majesty, concerning the security and tranquillity of my dominions during my absence. Might I venture to ask Your Excellency to advise me of the steps you have taken in relation to this matter, which is of such profound personal concern to me?

Although it is beyond doubt that, should war break out, it will soon extend to Germany—and very probably to Westphalia—I have the honour to remain, with the highest veneration,

[Marginal Annotations]
[In the lower-left corner, written in darker ink and smaller cursive script:]
Bückeburg, 10 January 1765.

[Signatures]
D.M.,
Your Excellency’s most humble servant,
etc.,
to the Reigning Count of Schaumburg-Lippe,
Field Marshal General.

Page 48

— PAGE 1 —
[Main Text] Copy.

My Lord,

I have received the letter which Your Highness was graciously pleased to write to me, dated 10 January; enclosed with it was a dispatch addressed to His Excellency the Count of Oeyras. The courier Joseph Gonçalves, who carried both letters, arrived here on the 14th. He departs for Lisbon next Tuesday; and I am fully confident that Your Highness’s resolution—and firm determination—to proceed to Portugal following the King’s letter, notwithstanding the disruption to Your Highness’s health and the pressing need for Your presence in your own dominions, will serve—yet again—as decisive proof to His Majesty of the absolute and unreserved confidence which His Majesty is fully warranted in placing in Your Highness in all matters concerning the defence of His realms.

Nevertheless, since the events which occasioned Your Highness’s earlier deployment to Portugal, further developments have occurred—suggesting, at the very least, a shift in the dispositions of the Courts of Versailles and Madrid, diverging from those implied by Spain’s recent military movements along the Portuguese frontier. It is therefore my duty to inform Your Highness of this matter without delay, and to leave it to Your Highness’s prudent judgement whether the urgency of Your departure might be temporarily suspended, pending receipt of the most recent intelligence from Court regarding the immediate and imperative necessity of Your presence.

[Marginal Annotations]
[Top left] Copy.
[Top centre] No. 5.

Page 49

[Page 1] [Main Text] His Royal Highness the Infante Dom Pedro, Regent of the Kingdom of Portugal, at Lisbon.

By the letter which it was my honour to address to Your Majesty on 23 November of the preceding year—accompanied by copies of the confidential intelligence received here—and by that of 18 December, likewise addressed to Your Majesty and enclosing dispatches from the French Court together with the latest intelligence gathered in Lisbon (including confirmation of the actual movement of Spanish troops along the Portuguese frontier), Your Majesty will already be acquainted with the considerations which prompted the King to request Your Majesty’s immediate presence within his realms. Although these disturbances have neither yet subsided nor been fully clarified, the Courts of Versailles and Madrid have each, through their respective ambassadors, now communicated to His Britannic Majesty the following declaration:

By the Ambassador of France, in these terms: — ‘I have just received a letter from Monsieur…’

Page 50

[Page 27] [Main Text] vis-à-vis France, which might have indicated the slightest disposition contrary to the tranquillity of Portugal itself. By the Spanish Ambassador, in the following terms:
— That he had just carried out instructions from his Court to declare to His Britannic Majesty that His Catholic Majesty was animated by the most sincere intentions to maintain, preserve, and consolidate peace and friendship with the Crown of Portugal;
— That the troops assembled on the frontiers of Portugal numbered less than half those which His Most Faithful Majesty maintained along the Spanish frontier;
— That the sole purpose of the movement of these troops was to station garrisons in certain fortified places; and
— That, as regards provisions, the measure constituted an economic regulation designed to prevent monopoly and scarcity; His Catholic Majesty having purchased these supplies at his own expense—not only within the Kingdom of Spain but also in foreign countries—with the express intention of selling them to the populace, as is currently being done, at a fixed and moderate price.

Page 51

— PAGE 1 —
[Marginal annotations]
Top left: ‘612’ (in red ink, underlined)
Top centre: ‘1765’
Top right: ‘No. 3’

[Main text]
Letters from His Excellency Martinho de Melo e Castro, written from London to His Excellency the Count of Oeiras, concerning matters of finance relating to the *portulanos* [nautical chart registers / portolan charts].
[Damage note: A dark stain obscures part of the text immediately below the word ‘portulanos’.]

[Seals]
Centre right: Circular royal seal bearing the Portuguese coat of arms and the inscription ‘BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL DE LISBOA’ (National Library of Lisbon).

[Archival references]
No archival reference numbers or catalogue identifiers are visible other than the marginal annotations noted above.

Page 52

[Marginal annotations] [Centred, slightly to the right]: e. N.

Page 53

— PAGE 1 —
[Main Text]

Your Excellency,

This Ministry, having yesterday reiterated its urgent representations concerning the necessity of expediting assistance to the Portuguese armed forces—both naval and land-based—and having adduced all available intelligence and corroborating evidence indicating the disintegration of the military capabilities of the Courts of Versailles and Madrid—evidence which suggests their intention to launch an attack upon Portugal—has formally consulted both the resident ambassadors accredited to this Court from those two powers, as well as, by direct diplomatic channel, the British ambassadors stationed at Versailles and Madrid, regarding their respective sovereigns’ intentions towards the Portuguese Crown.

The response received has been unanimous—and, as Your Excellency may reasonably infer—affirms that no intention exists beyond the maintenance of peace with this Court.

Page 54

[Page 1] [Main Text]
…with any other intention. That the embargo on grain was a necessary consequence of His Excellency’s decision to dispatch the aforementioned military units to that region. That the roads had been put in order—and that this was part of a general directive issued by His Excellency throughout the entire kingdom; and that, concurrently with the improvement of those roads leading from Madrid to the Portuguese frontier, similar measures would be undertaken for those connecting Cádiz, Barcelona, and other interior regions of the kingdom?

To these assertions, this Ministry appends the subsequent dispatches from Lord Rochfort: namely, (i) the suspension of military preparations in Madrid; (ii) the countermanding of the march of several regiments originally destined for the Portuguese frontier; (iii) His Excellency’s suspension of troop reinforcements; and (iv) His Excellency’s granting of leave of absence to officers permitting them to withdraw from their respective regiments.

Page 55

[Page 2] [Stamps] – [Top right] BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL DE LISBOA (circular stamp bearing the national coat of arms)
[Main text] of the Sea; Furthermore, it is observed that France—despite the considerable distance it lies from entering a new war—is nevertheless proceeding, notwithstanding the precarious state of its public finances, to conclude with Great Britain an agreement concerning the payment for French prisoners of war, amounting to fifteen million *livres tournois*; of which sum one-third is to be paid at the beginning of January in the present year, and the remaining two-thirds in the two subsequent years, 1666 and 1667.

Page 56

[Page 1] [Main Text]
…points, should necessity require them. Meanwhile, it would be necessary to ascertain the response of the Court of Madrid to the Portuguese Ambassador; and Their Most Faithful Majesty was acting with perfect prudence—indeed, with exceptional foresight—in preparing for any eventuality; such preparations would also afford time for Their Allies to come to Their assistance, should that prove necessary.

Little instruction would be required to reply to discourses of this kind, for all such statements converge upon a single point: namely, that Great Britain will believe France and Spain to be at war with Portugal only when they launch an actual attack upon Portuguese territory. This remained the position in 1762—and will remain so in perpetuity—regardless of how many military dispositions are made, how much evidence is adduced, or how many facts are presented to persuade Her Britannic Majesty otherwise.

I then asked this Ministry whether it recalled the intelligence reports which I had communicated to it, by order of His Britannic Majesty; whether similar intelligence had likewise reached my court from various quarters at that same time; and whether Your Excellency…

Page 57

[Page 3] [Main text]
It was stated that the forces had received orders only to march towards the frontiers of Portugal; however, numerous corps had already reached those same frontiers—and others were still arriving. It was further reported that the Spaniards were committing unprecedented outrages in the southern regions of the Portuguese Americas and were refusing to implement Article 21 of the Treaty of Paris.

Following these points, Your Excellency observed:
‘Intelligence reports—originating both from the British Americas and from the interior of the Kingdom of France—have likewise reached this Court. As a consequence of such intelligence, twenty or thirty thousand men would shortly march towards the coasts of Brittany and Picardy, and livestock transports (embarcações pecuárias) would be deployed to French ports in preparation for an embarkation. In such a scenario, Great Britain would not hesitate for a single moment in concluding that an invasion was being prepared against one of the three kingdoms comprising the United Kingdom of Great Britain.’

Page 58

— PAGE 1 —
[Main Text]

…these establishments in the interior of Brazil, for—as was already evident both at home and elsewhere—the gates of the Kingdom had long since been opened in Europe, while in America the British had assumed control of the frontier defences of the Portuguese colonies. It therefore appeared truly astonishing that Great Britain, even under such circumstances, should still consider the present conjuncture insufficiently critical to warrant prompt and timely measures to assist Portugal’s military forces.

This argument was not interrupted by the complaints lodged by English merchants who arrived on the penultimate packet-boat, as Your Excellency will see set out separately in a distinct letter; nor was it altered by two formal interviews—or conferences—at which the substance of the foregoing was thoroughly discussed. From these meetings, I departed deeply disquieted, observing that the same English merchants were exploiting Portugal’s current predicament to reiterate, yet again, the very claims they have advanced on numerous previous occasions—and that the British Ministry sought to press its demands precisely at the moment when our national defence was under urgent discussion.

God preserve Your Excellency.
London, 1 January 1765.

[Marginal Annotations]
[Centred, left margin] (Illegible)
[Top, left margin] (Illegible)

[Signatures]
To His Most Excellent Lordship, the Count of Oeyras.

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[Page 4] [Main Text] [Illegible: extensive block of cursive script, densely packed in the lower half of the page. Characters are lowercase, highly ligatured, with minimal leading between lines. Ink is faded brownish-red. Legibility is severely compromised owing to the intricacy of the handwriting and the physical deterioration of the paper.]
[Margin Annotations] [No marginal annotations visible.]
[Stamps] [No stamps or seals visible.]
[Signatures] [No signatures or rubrics visible.]
[Archival References] [No archival references visible on this page.]

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— PAGE 1 —
[Main Text]
London, 1 January 1766

Questions posed by the British Minister to the French Ambassador:

Letter concerning the outbreak of hostilities along the Portuguese frontier, and the presentation of trivial gifts—referring to the apprehension of military movements by the Comte d’Orsay and Tallemont in connection with the newly demarcated frontier; the immediate termination of the claims advanced by Belisfonte; the dismantling of such extensive fortification works as had been undertaken—and thereby enervated—by the Portuguese; and France’s formal declaration that it considers itself bound to follow the recommendations of the Comte d’Orsay, conveyed through its diplomatic agents accredited to the Greek-speaking principalities (*in terminis graecis*). Both Commissioners appointed by His Most Christian Majesty (M. D.) indicate their strict adherence to those recommendations, having referred the matter to the Council of War. M. M., etc.

Conventions negotiated under the auspices of the Duchess of Subterfuge, subject to the opinion of His Britannic Majesty.

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[Page 1] No. 1
[Main Text]

Copy.

Monsieur le Fourrier Joseph Gonçalves arrived here on the 16th of the current month at six o’clock in the evening and delivered to me Your Highness’s dispatches. Those addressed to Lisbon departed today by express courier, who had himself arrived from Portugal on the same date—the 16th—and who handed me the three enclosed letters, with explicit instructions to forward them to Your Highness without the slightest delay.

I have already apprised Your Highness—by means of a faithful extract drawn from various intelligence reports—of the information received here; a copy of this extract was transmitted to the Court, and another sent to Your Highness along with my letter of 23 November.

Prior to my fourrier’s arrival in Lisbon, the King had already been informed that the Court of Madrid was contemplating an attack upon Portugal, in concert and close coordination with France; that Spanish troops had already reached the frontiers of Trás-os-Montes, Minho, and Beira, and were continuing to arrive successively; that roads were being repaired and adapted to accommodate artillery transport; that stables were being prepared in each locality; and that, having no cause for concern regarding the ‘Lotte d’Italie’ (i.e., the Italian League or coalition, a contemporary diplomatic term referring to the collective security arrangement among Italian states under Habsburg influence), the King of Spain was redeploying troops formerly stationed in and paid by the Kingdom of Naples.

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
…same intelligence as that received in London, and indeed far more decisive in light of the recent arrival of troops upon the frontiers. There is widespread conviction in Portugal that a coordinated invasion is under way; and it is widely believed—indeed, it is held that the decision to proceed was taken, or at least that preliminary military movements were initiated—precisely following Your Highness’s departure from Portugal. Moreover, given Britain’s well-known delays in mobilising at the outset of hostilities, the intention is clearly to launch operations against His Majesty the King’s dominions before Great Britain can intervene effectively.

This is the substance of the representation I am instructed to make to this Court, conveyed through two successive couriers who have just arrived from Lisbon; and from which I am further directed to request urgent military assistance for the defence of the King’s realm and his colonial possessions.

I have been specifically authorised to accept, as an initial consignment: twelve thousand complete muskets for the infantry; tents sufficient for ten thousand men; mortars, cannon, and other artillery equipment (including carriages, ammunition, and ancillary matériel).

I avail myself of this opportunity to assure Your Highness of the profound respect and highest esteem with which I have the honour to remain, Sir,

[Marginal Annotations]
[In the lower-left corner, written in darker ink—possibly added at a later date:]
London, 18 December 1764

[Signatures]
Your Highness

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[Page 6] [Main Text] At the time when the Queen of Great Britain asked me whether her brother, Prince Charles of Mecklenburg, had written to Your Excellency after his departure from Portugal—or to me after my arrival in London—I replied that I had no knowledge of any letter addressed to Your Excellency, and that, having received such marked honours from His Highness, I could not reasonably expect this particular communication, save where an opportunity arose for me to serve him. She further enquired how her brother stood with regard to his position in the service of Portugal. I responded that his status remained entirely undetermined, as His Highness had departed without uttering a single word on the matter—neither to Your Excellency nor to the Marshal. To this, Her Majesty remarked: ‘I shall take it upon myself to administer a firm reprimand to him.’

Some days later, I received from the same Prince Charles of Mecklenburg the letter enclosed below under reference no. 1—a communication which placed me in considerable difficulty, given what had transpired in my conversation with the Queen of Great Britain; for I was wholly unable to reconcile Her Majesty’s remarks to me and my own reply with the contents of the Prince’s letter. Moreover, wishing neither to enter into the particulars of the Prince’s claims nor to prejudice the matter by premature engagement, I resolved to defer my response, hoping the affair might fade from prominence. Nevertheless, after two months had elapsed, the Prince wrote to me again; a copy of that letter is enclosed herein.

[Marginal Annotations]
[Top right corner] Memo. Quaere. Sir.

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[Main Text]
No. 2: A letter addressed to the Queen, his sister, and transmitted to me by His Majesty’s command via Lord Cantalupe, his Ambassador, prompted the Baron de Dewitz—Minister of Mecklenburg—to inform me that my reply could be despatched to Hanover aboard the Court packet. In light of this, I resolved to compose for her the letter enclosed here as No. 3, sending it open (unsealed), together with the letters I had previously received from the Prince—also conveyed to the Baron de Dewitz—so that he might present them to Her Britannic Majesty. This course of action yielded precisely the outcome I had hoped for: subsequently, during the Siege [of Gibraltar? or another contemporary military engagement—contextual note for editors], the Queen informed me in person that her brother had written to me in an unjust and ill-considered manner, and that his sole possible justification was his youth. Later, the Baron de Dewitz assured me that Her Britannic Majesty was deeply distressed both by the letter she had seen from her brother and by the lack of discretion evinced in his conduct; moreover, she expressed the wish that I should not raise the matter with my own court.

Having concluded this affair in London in the manner described above, I have since received a letter from the Marshal—enclosed herein with the present dispatch to Your Excellency—in which he states the following:
‘His Highness Monsieur le Prince Charles of Mecklenburg has arrived here from Hanover; he declares that he has received no reply to several letters he has written to Your Excellency, Monsieur…’

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[Page 1] [Main Text] Copy.

Sir,

The recent developments—particularly the latest reports, which remain deeply troubling—have in no way diminished the kindnesses with which you have honoured me since I had the privilege of making your acquaintance in London, nor the tangible expressions of your goodwill that I experienced during my residence in Portugal. It is therefore with sincere pleasure that I avail myself of this opportunity to renew my most heartfelt and humble thanks to you.

At the same time, I must not conceal from you the profound surprise occasioned by the complaints lodged by His Excellency the Count of Oeyras, conveyed through you to Her Majesty my sister, alleging (i) that I have not written to His Excellency since my departure from Lisbon, and (ii) that I have made no inquiry whatsoever concerning the Cavalry Regiment of which I have the honour to be Colonel. These allegations strike me as all the more astonishing, given that they are demonstrably unfounded. Indeed, I am able readily to substantiate—by documentary evidence—that I have dispatched three letters to His Excellency the Count of Oeyras since my return from Lisbon; concurrently, I wrote also to His Excellency the Count of Lippe and to the Minister of His Majesty the King of Great Britain. I am aware that all three letters reached their respective addressees, and I have received replies to each—save, as yet, that addressed to His Excellency the Count of Oeyras.

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
My sole and absolute motive was to place myself humbly at the feet of His Most Faithful Majesty; and the humblest emoluments—grounded upon the most vivid awareness of the graces and benevolence with which His Majesty has honoured me—are those I proudly acknowledge throughout my life, and which will endure until my death.

Regarding matters pertaining to my regiment, I have relied upon the assurance that M. le Lieutenant-Colonel Saint-Payo would carry out the express instructions I gave him upon my departure—namely, to submit forthwith a full report on the regiment’s state, as is customary throughout the service. Yet, to date, he has deemed it inopportune to do so; consequently, it is impossible for me either to render a judgment upon, or to attend to, any affairs relating to the regiment.

Moreover, Sir, you are aware that, ever since I have had the honour of serving His Most Faithful Majesty, I have drawn no emoluments whatsoever—neither as Lieutenant-General, nor as Colonel-General of Cavalry, nor as Regimental Commander—whereas M. Saint-Payo has, in fact, received the regiment’s revenues. This circumstance, considered with due prudence, led me reasonably to conclude that the responsibility for the regiment’s administration was not intended to be entrusted to me.

Such is the position, Sir.

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[Page 8] [Main Text]
sufficient grounds to excuse me and to establish my innocence in respect of the charges brought against me. Now that it appears His Majesty wishes me personally to assume command of the regiment, I regard it as my duty to carry out His Majesty’s orders. At the same time, however, I must respectfully inform you, Sir, that it is equally just—and indeed reasonable—that I should receive the emoluments and allowances properly due to the office in which I have the honour of serving His Majesty.

I therefore venture—indeed, am entitled by right—to request that you bring to the attention of His Excellency the Count of Oeiras the injustice of his complaints against me; and that you then take appropriate action to ensure that the pay due to me in my capacities as *Saint-Général*, *Colonel-Général*, and Commander of the Cavalry Regiment is duly disbursed, in accordance with my letters of service. Such emoluments were, at the time of my appointment, paid at double rate to foreign officers—a practice which continues to this day, and which ought to be maintained for as long as I retain the honour of serving His Majesty.

Provided this condition is met, I shall not fail—on the contrary, I shall exert every possible effort—to ensure the regiment’s thorough discipline and efficiency, bringing it into such order as to honour the distinction His Majesty has conferred upon me in appointing me its commander.

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
in which the King ordains it, and in which His Majesty likewise permits it—without whose consent I dare not undertake the matter. I hereby appoint you, Sir, as my deputy, declaring myself ready, under these conditions, to obey the King’s commands.

I must further inform you, Sir, that with regard to the change of uniform—which His Majesty has graciously left to my discretion—it is impossible for me to proceed, since I remain uncertain whether the King intends the regiment to retain its present establishment or instead to be converted into a Regiment of Dragoons.

You will thus perceive how essential it is that Monsieur de Saint-Pays should formally issue the regiment’s marching orders—and how gravely he has erred in failing to do so hitherto. For this reason, I respectfully request your clarification on the matter.

I trust, Sir, that you will kindly pardon the liberty I have taken in addressing you thus; yet I consider it my duty to apprise you fully, lest you entertain the erroneous impression—hitherto held against me—that I have neglected the attentions and duties owed to His Majesty, or failed in the courtesies due to Monsieur le Comte d’Oeyras, whom I hold in the highest esteem and whose kindnesses and courtesy extended to me in Lisbon I shall never forget.

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— PAGE 1 —
[Main Text]

You are, moreover, so thoroughly convinced of my friendship for you, and I place such complete confidence in you, that I do not hesitate to hope you will be willing to give due attention to my request—just as it is truthful. I trust you will honour me with a favourable reply, which I earnestly solicit.

I further beg you to be assured that nothing in the world could surpass the eagerness with which I shall await your response, for I hold you in the highest esteem and the most distinguished regard.

I also entreat you, Sir, to continue extending to me your valued friendship—a privilege of which I am proud to believe myself worthy—and to accept the assurance that I remain, with the utmost respect and devotion, entirely at your service.

Sir,
Your very humble and obedient servant,
Charles, Prince of Mecklenburg

[Marginal Annotations]
[Upper right corner] 9

[Signatures]
Charles, Prince of Mecklenburg
Hanover, 17th August 1764

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[Page 1] [Marginal annotations] — [Top left] Copy. No. 20 — [Top right, above main text] 10

[Main text]
Sir,

I have hitherto flattered myself that I should receive a reply from you concerning my letter of 17 August, which it was my honour to address to you; yet, thus far, my expectation has been in vain, and I have not been so fortunate as to receive any response. I am at a loss to account for this silence—particularly as I had always cherished the belief that you entertained towards me a sincere friendship, the loss of which would be deeply felt; further, I remain entirely unaware of any cause on my part that might have warranted such a withdrawal of goodwill, and I am therefore inclined to attribute it rather to the press of your many engagements.

I venture to remind you of this matter, Sir, and respectfully request that you do me the honour of sending some reply, so that I may know precisely where I stand and regulate my conduct accordingly. Moreover, I may reasonably anticipate a favourable response, since my requests are as just as they can possibly be, and your intercession in this matter can only lead to a salutary outcome.

Be assured, Sir, that I should gratefully acknowledge such kindness on your part, and that I stand ready to render you whatever service lies within my capacity, should occasion arise.

I have the honour to be, with the highest esteem and the utmost respect,

[Signatures]
Sir,
Your very humble and obedient servant,
Charles, Prince of Mecklenburg

[Archival references]
Hanover, 9 November 1764

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— PAGE 1 —
[Main Text]
I must offer Your Highness a thousand and a thousand apologies for the delay in replying to the letter which Your Highness did me the honour of writing to me on 17 August. By this postponement, I have indeed merited the severest reproaches—reproaches all the more pointed given the singular kindnesses expressed in Your Highness’s second letter, dated 9 November.

As Baron von Döwitz was so kind as to assure me that he would see Your Highness during his passage through Hanover, I judged it appropriate to await this opportunity; and it is precisely this circumstance which accounts for the delay—so that His testimony, together with my own assurances, might more firmly convince Your Highness that I may justifiably hope for a continuation of that same benevolence which Your Highness has shown me since the very first days I had the happiness of presenting myself at Your Highness’s court in London; without Your Highness being obliged to credit me with any merit whatsoever beyond the sincere and unwavering readiness—then and always—to discharge my duty towards You.

With regard to my own courtly service: Your Highness may rest fully assured that the resolution—borne of the magnanimity of Your Highness’s character—to enter the service of the Portuguese Crown upon the outbreak of war there; the interest and friendship evinced by Their Britannic Majesties towards the King;

[Marginal Annotations]
[Top left corner] Copy.

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[Main Text]
granting permission for you to proceed there, are circumstances for which His Majesty will always remain deeply grateful, and for which His Majesty’s Government—and indeed the entire Portuguese nation—will never fail to express the most heartfelt appreciation.

Following this, Your Highness may readily perceive that it was entirely impossible for the Count of Oeyras to lodge any complaint on this matter with Her Majesty the Queen, his sister, nor could he possibly have entrusted me with a commission so fundamentally at odds with his own sentiments.

Regarding the letters which Your Highness informs me you have written to him: I cannot imagine that he has read them; at the very least, Your Highness, I can assure you that during my stays in Lisbon—on several occasions hearing the Count of Oeyras speak of Your Highness—I observed consistently that he did so with the utmost respect and deference due to your rank and station; and I have never had occasion to suspect that any such letters reached his hands. Nevertheless, I respectfully request that Your Highness suspend judgement on this point until I am better informed; and I confidently anticipate being able to provide you with full and satisfactory clarification on this matter.

Concerning the Mecklenburg Regiment and the orders issued to Your Highness…

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[Page 92] [Main Text]
To make the necessary contributions: It appears to me that His Highness, prior to his departure from Lisbon, did not utter a single word to His Excellency the Count of Schauenburg-Lippe—Marshal-General of the Portuguese Army—nor even to His Excellency the Count of Oeyras, concerning either his troops or his intentions regarding service in Portugal. Nor did His Highness enter into any formal arrangement with either nobleman—neither concerning the general conduct of military service nor regarding the specific disposition of his regiment. Upon leaving Lisbon, he merely announced his imminent departure and then departed without further consultation. Since his absence—and indeed even in the letter he subsequently addressed to the Marshal-General—His Highness has maintained complete silence on the matter. Consequently, it was ultimately concluded in Lisbon that His Highness, unwilling to hold two military appointments concurrently, had effectively relinquished all intention of fulfilling his commitment to Portuguese service.

Under these circumstances, Your Eminence, being both profoundly well-informed and rigorously attentive to military discipline, will readily perceive that Dom João de Sampayo could not lawfully carry out your orders during your absence without first notifying the Commander-in-Chief of the Army; and this officer—besides being wholly uncertain and uninformed as to His Highness’s intentions—

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
Many difficulties would inevitably have arisen—indeed, a thousand inconveniences—had not prior arrangements and precautionary measures been agreed between Your Highness and the aforementioned Chief. I trust, Your Grace, that upon due consideration of these matters, You will conclude that the conduct of Monsieur Don Jean de Santillana is not open to censure.

With regard to the question of stipends—those which Your Highness did not receive during the period of Your service in Portugal, although such payments are customarily made (and continue to be made) to foreign generals and officers—I beg Your Highness’s permission to observe that His Majesty the King did not regard You as a foreign general, but rather as a Prince: specifically, as the father of His Britannic Majesty, and thus neither foreign to Portugal nor to the royal family; nor was it deemed appropriate to place You on the same footing as other generals. In consequence of this understanding, Your Grace, no provision was made for stipends or double appointments—arrangements which were rightly judged insufficient both to retain Your Highness’s household and to sustain the dignity befitting Your rank. Instead, His Majesty sought to provide for Your Highness…

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[Page 13] [Main Text]
these matters, placing His Royal Highness on the same footing as the Marshal of Gynirab. Nevertheless, should Your Highness deem it necessary that I inform Monsieur le Comte d’Oeynhausen regarding the observations Your Highness made on this point in Your letter of 17 August, You will be pleased to instruct me accordingly, and I shall carry out Your directions with the utmost precision; as I shall likewise execute any further instructions which may serve to assure His Royal Highness of my inviolable attachment and of the high and respectful consideration with which I have the honour to be, My Lord,

[Marginal Annotations]
[Top right-hand corner] 13

[Signatures]
Your Highness’s most humble and obedient servant,
De Mello
London, 20 November 1764

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[Page 14] [Main Text]
his respectful attachment to the service of His Most Faithful Majesty, and offering his services in Portugal should the need arise, he requested that I convey his sentiments to His Excellency the Count of Oeyras. I acceded to his wishes and have addressed this matter in the accompanying letter.

Should Your Excellency consider writing him a letter of courtesy—without reference to any prospective service in Portugal—you may be assured that such a gesture would be greatly appreciated by his sister; thereby, without incurring any further obligation, we shall have duly satisfied the Prince’s solicitations.

Braga, 1 January 1765

[Marginal Annotations]
Top right corner: “14”

[Signatures]
Bottom left corner: *Most Excellent Lord Count of Oeyras*
Bottom right corner: *Martinho de Mello e Castro*

[Archival References]
No archival references are visible on this page.

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[Page 1] [Marginal annotations] [Top right corner] London, 1 January 1765: Regarding the Princess of Mecklenburg’s return to her realm.

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[Page 15] [Main Text] I have raised the matter of the £70,000 sterling still outstanding in respect of the Subsidies with George Grenville on several occasions, but always without success. Most recently, I reiterated my position regarding the urgency of the matter and resolved—after careful consideration—to write him the letter, a copy of which Your Excellency will find enclosed. I adopted this course deliberately, choosing not to pursue the matter through the Secretary of State, since Grenville effectively controls all matters of colonial administration; the Secretaries of State, by contrast, conduct themselves with marked reluctance—and indeed manifest aversion—towards any business concerning Peru.

The difficulties I have encountered in securing settlement of this debt have obliged me to propose flexible terms for its discharge: payment may be made either in cash, in arms, or in a combination of both. As I am unable to determine—nor do I venture to assert—either the likely outcome of this negotiation or the time it may require, the commissions entrusted to me by Your Excellency admit of no delay. In the meantime, I intend to make use of Smith during this period of protracted uncertainty: he is not only a capable soldier but also experienced, energetic, and notably adept in the practical management of military recruitment and organisation; and I hold him fully accountable for the duties assigned to him.

[Marginal Notes]
[Top right] 15
[Signatures]
[Centre top] William, His Excellency, Senior Official

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
As I am unaware of any comparable arrangement, please take responsibility for arranging the supply of ten thousand firearms, at a cost of thirty-five shillings each—these to be of the highest quality manufacturable here, and superior in workmanship to those offered to me at the Tower of London at forty shillings apiece.

Additionally, tents for ten thousand men have been contracted; these too are priced more favourably than those available from the Tower.

One hundred swords—also of the finest quality—are currently being produced as samples; on the basis of their quality, the unit price for an order of four thousand will be determined.

These three items—firearms, tents, and swords—are justly and appropriately priced, given their superior quality and workmanship; consequently, they represent significantly better value. However, I remain uncertain—and place no confidence—in how the Treasury will ultimately resolve the matter of subsidies. In any event, Your Excellency must therefore instruct Mr Dury to issue directions to his correspondents, authorising them to advance to me whatever sum proves necessary. Upon finalising the contract for the swords, I shall advise Your Excellency of the total cost for all three items.

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[Page 16] [Main Text] Maclean’s arrival in London, which is confirmed in the Therouaria; to attend to him as circumstances require, and for the duration of his stay here.
God preserve Your Excellency.
London, 1 January 1765.

[Marginal Annotations]
[Centred, left-hand margin] P.S. Mr Smith is entrusted with delivering to Your Excellency a crate containing the copper plates for the vignettes.

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[Page 1] [Main Text] London, 2 January 1765
By virtue of this official dispatch, we appoint the said Grand Treasurers—Great and Opposing—as joint holders of an office valued at 700,000 réis, and commend their appointment to His Britannic Majesty and to the Arms of England. The Archduchess—Saint Victor—also endorses this nomination; the pressing need for treasury officials, together with obligations arising from accountancy and oversight duties, renders such an appointment both necessary and expedient.

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[Page 1] [Main Text] Copy.
Sir,
His Britannic Majesty, acting upon the advice of His Privy Council convened on 8 April 1762, issued orders to render assistance to the Crown of Portugal by dispatching the military and logistical support that was then sent; and further granted a subsidy of £200,000 sterling. Of this sum, £70,000 sterling remains outstanding and unpaid.

Her Most Faithful Majesty, finding Herself at present in a condition of extreme and urgent necessity—requiring the procurement in England of substantial quantities of provisions of all kinds—has directed me to solicit, in aid of this expenditure, the reimbursement of the said £70,000 sterling: either in specie (i.e., in coin or bullion), or in war matériel drawn from the Tower of London; or, if feasible, in part as specie and in part as arms and ordnance.

The circumstances compelling my Court to make this request today likewise assure me of your favourable disposition towards it, and of your readiness to consider it with due regard for the exigencies of the moment; so that I may obtain an order from the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury authorising reimbursement of the said sum—either in full in cash, or as agreed above.

[Marginal Annotations]
[Top left corner, in cursive manuscript hand] Copy.

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[Main Text] by the means indicated above, or by whichever other method they deem most appropriate.

Allow me to take this opportunity to express to you my distinguished regard and high esteem, with which I have the honour to be, Sir, your very humble and obedient servant.

[Signatures]
De Melho

London, 31 December 1764

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[Page 18] [Main Text] At two recent conferences—one with Lord Halifax and the other with Mr. Grenville, First Commissioner of the Treasury—the question of Portugal’s geopolitical position and the status of its colonies was discussed; this matter is addressed separately in my letter to Your Excellency.

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— ORIGINAL TEXT —
[Page 1] [Main Text] their grievances. I cite this protest as follows: Lord Halifax stated: ‘At Bristol, a highly respected merchant has abandoned his home and family on account of a debt owed to him in Portugal—a debt which, after many years, remains unpaid; and having travelled to Lisbon, where he has only recently arrived—mere months ago—he has, to date, been unable to gain either access to the courts of justice, or any audience with the Ministry, or even any information as to how or when payment is to be made. Such cases, he affirmed, were numerous and authentically documented; and taken collectively, they constituted a grievance far exceeding the complaints of the entire body of merchants—complaints which, he stressed, had hitherto proved utterly ineffectual. He declared it impossible to conduct commerce or reside in Portugal under such vexatious conditions; and he adduced this state of affairs as clear, self-evident proof that Portugal harboured no genuine desire for friendship with Great Britain. His Majesty the King, he continued, had brought forward these complaints with exceptional gravity; indeed, he himself had heard them directly, and was resolved to seek an immediate remedy.’ This speech was delivered by Lord Halifax with marked vehemence and—

[Marginal Annotations]
[Top right corner] ‘continued’

[Seals]
[DAMAGED: faint circular impression near upper centre; inscription illegible]

[Signatures]
[Bottom of page] (partial signature visible, truncated at lower margin) — Lord Halifax, with marked vehemence and—

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[Page 19] [Main Text]
With patience, I listened to him and replied in the following concise terms:

I had been residing in London for one year; he would recall what had transpired—namely, the early days following my arrival—during which we had begun discussions concerning the complaints raised by merchants. I remained consistently available to meet with him at any time he deemed appropriate and clearly proposed. We held one such conference on this matter; thereafter, I reflected upon it and learned that the English merchants were preparing a formal statement (‘papel’), which he intended to consider before replying. To date, however, this document has not been received; nor have I since received any further communication from him proposing a resumption of our discussions.

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[Main Text] their own estates, their commerce, and their personal fortunes; and, of greater significance still, the most important interests of their native country and nation. Yet I regret deeply that the very same complaints—lodged against the perceived lack of caution—already widely reported in the Spanish gazettes before even reaching London—should have produced in Lord Halifax’s mind precisely the effect which those merchants themselves had intended.

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[Page 20] [Main Text]
This was the most critical juncture—precisely when the enemies of both Crowns could most readily achieve their objective of undermining, and ultimately destroying, each Crown in turn. His Most Faithful Majesty, however, rising above such profound misapprehension, instructed me to return to London in order to uphold, in the presence of His Britannic Majesty, the justice underlying the complaints lodged by English merchants. Moreover, should this matter remain unresolved, the same merchants themselves will bear responsibility for the delay; for they have deliberately prolonged proceedings until such a point that there remains insufficient time to debate, let alone implement, measures concerning their ill-founded claims and alleged grievances.

It was precisely at this moment—when Portugal’s frontiers were overrun by Spanish troops and the Brazilian provinces stood on the very brink of collapse—that it appeared most opportune to launch an attack upon Portugal within the British sovereign’s cabinet.

Notwithstanding this grave situation—and the considerable complications it entailed—I remained fully prepared, upon embarking for London, to examine the merchants’ formal complaints (*queixas*) and to respond to them substantively.

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[Main Text]
He departed for the campaign and is expected to arrive in London tomorrow. Three or four days later, I discussed the matter at length with George Grenville; at present, I remain in suspense, awaiting the dispatch of the papers in question. Nevertheless, if Your Excellency could expedite the Bristol affair, might he not arrive in good time?

The envoy Hay has succeeded so skilfully in ingratiating himself with Lord Halifax that the latter now regards him as the most well-intentioned man in the world. I believe the purpose of this is to secure the support of the Court Party—namely, Your Excellency’s brother, Lord Kinoul, and the other brother, the Archbishop of York—who have hitherto refused to sever their alignment with the Duke of Newcastle.

May God preserve Your Excellency.

London, 1st January 1765.

[Marginal Annotations]
[No marginal annotations visible]

[Seals/Imprints]
[No visible seal or official imprint]

[Signatures]
To the Most Noble and Most Excellent Lord, the Count of Oeyras.

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— ORIGINAL TEXT —
[Page 1] [Main Text] Ledger of January 1765. Council Minutes concerning the legation conference held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the verbal protest lodged by the Earl of Granville—acting as His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for the Southern Department—against the Ambassador of Sweden, Count Carl Fredrik Scheffer. In his official dispatch, the Earl protested *‘by the most solemn oaths sworn upon the Holy Gospels’* against the repeated encroachments of the Neapolitan envoy upon the established diplomatic precedence and ceremonial protocol at the Court of St James’s; specifically, the Neapolitan minister’s insistence—despite prior formal remonstrance—upon claiming *‘the right of immediate audience’* and *‘precedence over ministers accredited to the Crown by virtue of seniority of commission’*, contrary to the established *‘Rules of Precedence agreed at the Conference of Utrecht (1713) and reaffirmed at the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748)’*. These matters were referred to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury for adjudication, with particular reference to the *‘Instructions to Ambassadors and Envoys Extraordinary, issued under Royal Warrant of 1720’* and the *‘Regulations concerning Diplomatic Rank and Ceremonial Observance, promulgated by the Lord Chamberlain’s Office, 1742’*.

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[Main Text]
My Lord and Sir,

Last week the Spanish Court arrived in London, and reports received from thence indicate that, following the arrival of our Ambassador, matters have settled into calm. It is reported that the Ambassador, having acquainted himself with the prevailing circumstances, is now satisfied that Spain harbours no intention of disturbing us. He has not yet raised any specific matter for negotiation; and the Court of Madrid appears to be proceeding with the most amicable dispositions.

The Spanish Ambassador here expresses himself in precisely the same terms. A few days ago, meeting him by chance, he asked me: ‘What is this rumour of war with Portugal?’ I replied that he was posing to me the very question I had intended to put to him—since it is the Court of Madrid which ought to explain why it has ordered repeated incursions into the Portuguese frontier by various bodies of troops; why it has established military depots and stockpiled provisions in border towns; why it has improved and fortified roads along the frontier; and why it maintains a large artillery force stationed directly upon that frontier.

Given that no merchant in England—not even any private individual maintaining correspondence with Spain—has failed to report these developments (as they have likewise appeared in the public newspapers of London), it is scarcely credible that His Catholic Majesty’s Ministry remains unaware of them.

[Margin Notes]
[Top right corner] 22

[Seals]
[None visible]

[Signatures]
[No signature visible; text concludes with ‘Ministry of His Catholic Majesty’]

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
…which I found surprising, and I therefore asked him to explain the reason and timing of this unexpected development, as Portugal was entirely unaware of it. He replied that the matter had been discussed in the Cortes, where the issues were presented in colours markedly different from reality. It was indeed true that six regiments from Catalonia had been ordered to march—three of which had been assigned to Galicia, while the others remained in Aragon. He added that it was possible some further regiments had been allocated to the kingdoms of León and Castile, though he was not fully informed on this point; however, he stressed that such troop movements had no objective beyond the routine reassignment of garrisons—a practice customary in Spain, where military units were habitually rotated. Moreover, he affirmed with certainty that no new garrisoning arrangements would result in any increase in the number of troops stationed at frontier fortresses along the Portuguese border beyond those already present. He further observed that the principal reason for withdrawing the aforementioned six regiments from Catalonia had been the region’s agricultural infertility during the two preceding years.

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[Page 23] [Main Text]
That this infertility had given landowners the opportunity to monopolise wheat supplies, thereby precipitating a famine; that, as a preventive measure, he had ordered the purchase of the majority of privately held grain stocks; that, simultaneously, he had directed the importation of a substantial quantity of foreign wheat; and that, on behalf of His Majesty the King, this grain was currently being sold to the populace in various locations throughout the realm—thereby forestalling private monopolisation and curbing excessive price inflation in wheat.

That it was indeed true that the artillery employed during the most recent war remained stationed along the Portuguese frontier; yet the extraordinary expense and logistical burden entailed in its original deployment to that region necessitated commensurate resources for its withdrawal—hence it should occasion no surprise that it continued to be maintained there.

That road repairs had been ordered under a general directive issued from Spain; and that the salt duty (direito de sal) had been specifically allocated to finance the upkeep of the route between Galicia and Madrid; further, he reported that three sections (ligas) of this road had already been completed.

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--- TRANSLATION ---
[Main Text]
The Spanish Ambassador, my esteemed and trusted friend, observed—though without firm foundation—that the Court of Madrid had discerned certain intentions on our part. I declined to enter into further discussion on this point, confining myself solely to affirming to him that His Most Faithful Majesty [i.e., the King of Portugal] desired nothing more than the tranquillity of His Catholic Majesty [i.e., the King of Spain], and strict observance of Article 21 of the Treaty of Paris (1763). I added that this position ought to be formally communicated to His Catholic Majesty and to his Ministry.

I submit this account of my meeting with the Spanish Ambassador to Your Excellency in order that you may be apprised of the diplomatic tone he employed—ostensibly to obscure recent military movements along the Portuguese frontier, and thereby to reinforce, in his own terminology, the pacific dispositions of ‘His Strong Friend’ [a formal diplomatic epithet used by Spain for Portugal in eighteenth-century correspondence].

London, 8 January 1765

[Marginal Annotations]
[On the left-hand margin, partially obscured behind the main text] (illegible)

[Signatures]
Your Most Faithful,
Most Excellent Sir

Page 95

[Page 24] [Main Text] London, 8 January 1765

This concerns the continuation of British ministerial efforts to undermine measures dependent upon Castile in the present crisis against Portugal; specifically, the dispatch of an ambassador to the Duke of Almeida Monte—invested with full authority over the same matter—and his reception by unfortunate Portuguese subjects, who were thereby deprived of due consultation regarding advisories affecting their rights.

The month of September was entirely devoted to the public good: it witnessed the symbolic re-enactment of the *Quarto Mil* (a traditional civic assembly or popular council), and an innumerable crowd assembled in the public square.
The *avithar canella*—a ceremonial conduit or channel for communal deliberation—was preserved; and here, cumin (*cominho*) was scattered alongside it, signifying openness and transparency in governance.

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[Main Text] Copy. No. 2

Sir,

I have had the honour of receiving, via Messrs José Gonçalves de Abreu, Your Excellency’s two most courteous letters, accompanied by a parcel containing a letter from His Majesty, commanding my return to His realms and expressing His wishes in terms that fill my heart with the deepest and most respectful gratitude. I am therefore making immediate arrangements to depart at the earliest possible date, notwithstanding the considerable disruption to my personal affairs and my state of health.

Enclosed herewith is my letter addressed to His Excellency the Count of Oeyras, in which I reiterate—verbatim—the substance of what I had the honour of communicating to him in my dispatch dated 3rd of last month.

My arrival in Portugal will serve no practical purpose unless—and until—serious preparatory measures have been undertaken concerning the following: the arms park (parc des armes), artillery wagons (chariots), remount horses (chevaux de remonte), ammunition, fortifications (forteresses), draught and pack animals (bêtes de trait et de somme), bridging equipment (ponts), military transport and logistical apparatus (équipages), and all other related matériel—details of which I have previously supplied in full.

For as regards troop formation, discipline, and related matters, these are already firmly established; it follows, therefore, that my presence would be required solely for the purpose of setting the army in motion. Yet without the requisite preparatory measures—which lie entirely outside my authority—the army will remain incapable of operational deployment.

[Marginal Annotations]
[Top left corner] Copy.

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
to be mobile; and, whatever the case may be, we are absolutely dependent upon military assistance from British forces—and, specifically and indispensably, cavalry, even if forage must be supplied from England. I should have been most gratified to receive some definite information on this matter from Your Excellency, having had the honour of setting out my views on this point in some detail in my letter of the 8th of last month. Nothing in the world is more important than British military assistance, for a great many reasons. I earnestly request Your Excellency to inform me whether any satisfactory decision has been reached on this subject in England.

His Majesty has graciously apprised me that he has entrusted Your Excellency with certain proposals on his behalf to His Majesty the King of Great Britain, concerning the security and tranquillity of my territories during my absence. May I venture to ask Your Excellency to acquaint me with the steps you have taken in regard to this matter—which is of such profound personal significance to me?

Although it is beyond doubt that, should war break out, it will soon spread to Germany—and very probably to Westphalia—

I have the honour to remain, with the highest veneration,

[Marginal Annotations]
[In the lower-left corner, written in darker ink and in a smaller cursive hand:]
Bückeburg, 10 January 1765.

[Signatures]
D.M.,
Your Excellency’s most humble servant,
etc.,
to the Reigning Count of Schaumburg-Lippe,
General Field Marshal.

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[Main Text]
Copy.

Your Eminence,

I have received the letter which Your Highness was pleased to write to me, dated 10 January; enclosed with it was a dispatch addressed to His Excellency the Count of Oeyras. The courier, Joseph Gonçalves—who carried both letters—arrived here on 14 January. He is due to depart for Lisbon next Tuesday.

I am fully confident that Your Highness’s resolution and firm determination to proceed to Portugal, notwithstanding the Royal letter and despite your impaired health and the pressing need for your presence in your own country, will serve—like so many previous demonstrations—to convince His Majesty beyond doubt of the absolute and unreserved confidence which His Majesty is fully justified in placing in Your Highness in all matters concerning the defence of His realms.

Nevertheless, since the events which occasioned Your Highness’s earlier deployment to Portugal, further developments have occurred—suggesting, at the very least, that the Courts of Versailles and Madrid now evince dispositions somewhat different from those implied by Spain’s recent military movements along the Portuguese frontier. It is therefore my duty to inform Your Highness without delay, and to leave it to Your Highness’s judgement whether the urgency of your departure might be temporarily suspended pending receipt of the latest official intelligence from Court regarding the immediate and imperative necessity of your presence.

[Marginal Annotations]
[Top left] Copy.
[Top centre] No. 5.

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[Page 1] [Main Text] His Royal Highness the Infante of Portugal at Lisbon.

By the letter I had the honour of addressing to Your Majesty on 23 November of the preceding year—accompanied by copies of the confidential intelligence received here—and by that of 18 December, likewise addressed to Your Majesty and enclosing dispatches from the Court as well as the latest intelligence gathered in Lisbon (including details of the actual movement of Spanish troops along the Portuguese frontier), Your Majesty would already be apprised of the considerations which prompted the King to request Your Majesty’s immediate presence within his realms. Although these disturbances have neither yet been clarified nor fully resolved, the Courts of Versailles and Madrid have each—through their respective ambassadors—recently communicated to His Britannic Majesty the following declaration.

That of the French ambassador reads thus:
‘I have just received a letter from Monsieur…’

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[Page 27] [Main text] vis-à-vis France, which might have indicated the slightest disposition contrary to the tranquillity of Portugal itself. By the Spanish Ambassador, in the following terms:
— That he had just carried out instructions from his Court to declare to His Britannic Majesty that His Catholic Majesty was in the most sincere disposition to maintain, preserve, and consolidate peace and friendship with the Crown of Portugal;
— That the troops assembled on the frontiers of Portugal numbered less than half those which His Most Faithful Majesty maintained along the Spanish frontier;
— That the sole purpose of the movement of these troops was to install garrisons in certain fortified places; and
— That, with regard to provisions, the measure constituted an economic regulation designed to prevent monopoly and scarcity; His Catholic Majesty having purchased these supplies at his own expense—not only within the Kingdom of Spain but also in foreign countries—with the express intention of selling them to the populace, as is currently being done, at a fixed and moderate price.

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[Marginal annotations]
Top left: ‘612’ (in red ink, underlined)
Top centre: ‘1765’
Top right: ‘No. 3’

[Main text]
Letters from His Excellency Martim de Melo e Castro, written from London to His Excellency the Count of Oeiras, concerning matters of finance in the *portulissimos* [damaged: dark stain obscures part of the text immediately below the word ‘portulissimos’]

[Seals]
Centred, right-hand side: Circular royal seal bearing the Portuguese coat of arms and the inscription ‘BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL DE LISBOA’ (National Library of Lisbon)

[Archival references]
No archival reference numbers or catalogue identifiers are visible other than the marginal annotations noted above.

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[Marginal annotations] [Centred, slightly to the right]: e. N.

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Your Excellency,

This Ministry, having reiterated yesterday its urgent representations concerning the imperative need to avoid delay in reinforcing Portugal’s military capacity—both by sea and by land—and having adduced all available intelligence and evidence confirming the disintegration of the forces at Versailles and Madrid—forces which, as we apprehend, intend to launch an attack upon us—has formally enquired, both of the resident ambassadors accredited to this Court from those two courts, and directly of the British ambassadors stationed at Versailles and Madrid, as to their respective sovereigns’ intentions regarding Portugal’s armed forces.

The response has been unanimous—and as Your Excellency may reasonably anticipate—that no intention exists beyond the maintenance of peace with this Court.

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
…with any other intention. That the embargo on grain was a necessary consequence of His Excellency’s decision to dispatch the aforementioned military units to that region. That the roads had been put in order—and that this constituted a general directive issued by His Excellency throughout the entire kingdom; and that, concurrently with the improvement of those roads leading from Madrid to the Portuguese frontier, similar works would be undertaken on those connecting Cádiz, Barcelona, and other interior regions of the kingdom?

To these assertions, this Ministry adds the subsequent despatches from Lord Rochfort: namely, (i) the detention of Madrid’s military force; (ii) the countermanding of the march of several regiments originally destined for the Portuguese frontier; (iii) His Excellency’s suspension of troop reinforcements; and (iv) His Excellency’s grant of leave of absence to officers permitting them to withdraw from their respective corps.

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[Page 2] [Stamps] – [Top right] NATIONAL LIBRARY OF LISBON (circular stamp bearing the royal coat of arms)
[Main text] of the Sea; Further consider that France is so remote from entering a new war that, notwithstanding the state of its finances, it has concluded an agreement with Great Britain concerning the payment for French prisoners of war, amounting to fifteen million *livres tournois*; one-third of this sum is to be paid at the beginning of the present January, and the remaining two-thirds in the two subsequent years, 1666 and 1667.

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
…positions, should necessity require it. Meanwhile, it would be necessary to await the response of the Court of Madrid to the Portuguese Ambassador; and His Most Faithful Majesty was acting with perfect prudence—indeed, with exceptional foresight—in preparing for any eventuality; such preparations would also afford His Allied Powers time to render assistance, should that prove necessary.

Little expertise was required to reply to such statements, all of which converge upon a single point: namely, that Great Britain would regard France and Spain as being at war with Portugal only when they launched an actual military attack upon the Kingdom. This remained the position in 1762—and would remain so indefinitely—regardless of the extent of diplomatic preparations, the weight of circumstantial evidence, or the accumulation of corroborating facts suggesting otherwise.

I then asked this Ministry whether it recalled the intelligence reports it had communicated, at the express instruction of His Britannic Majesty; whether such reports coincided temporally with those received by my Court from various quarters; and whether Your Excellency…

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[Page 3] [Main text]
It was stated that the forces had received orders only to march towards the frontiers of Portugal; however, numerous corps had already reached those same frontiers—and others were still arriving. It was further reported that the Spaniards were committing unprecedented outrages in the southern regions of the Portuguese Americas and were refusing to implement Article 21 of the Treaty of Paris.

Following these points, Your Excellency observed:
‘Intelligence reports—originating both from the British Americas and from the interior of the Kingdom of France—have likewise reached this Court. As a consequence of such intelligence, twenty or thirty thousand men would shortly march towards the coasts of Brittany and Picardy, and livestock transports (embarcações pecuárias) would be deployed to French ports in preparation for an embarkation. In such a scenario, Great Britain would not hesitate for a single moment in concluding that an invasion was being prepared against one of the three kingdoms comprising the United Kingdom of Great Britain.’

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
These establishments in the interior of Brazil—since, as in Europe itself, the gates of the Kingdom had already been forced open, and in America the British had become masters of the frontier of the Portuguese colonies—made it appear truly astonishing that Great Britain, even under such circumstances, still deemed the moment insufficiently critical to undertake the necessary measures to render timely assistance to the forces of Portugal.

This line of reasoning was not interrupted by the complaints lodged by English merchants who arrived aboard the penultimate packet-boat, as Your Excellency will observe in a separate letter; nor was it altered by two formal interviews—or conferences—at which the substance of the foregoing was fully discussed. From these meetings, I departed deeply disquieted, observing that those same English merchants were exploiting Portugal’s present predicament to reiterate, yet again, the very claims they have advanced on numerous prior occasions—and that the British Ministry sought to press its own demands precisely at the juncture when our national defence was under urgent discussion.

God preserve Your Excellency.
London, 1 January 1765.

[Marginal Annotations]
[Centred, left margin] (Illegible)
[Top, left margin] (Illegible)

[Signatures]
To His Most Excellent Lordship, the Count of Oeyras.

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[Page 4] [Main Text] [Illegible: extensive block of cursive script, densely packed in the lower half of the page. Written in small, interlaced lowercase characters with minimal line spacing. Ink is brownish-red and significantly faded. Legibility is severely compromised owing to the intricacy of the handwriting and the physical deterioration of the paper.]
[Marginal Annotations] [No marginal annotations visible.]
[Stamps and Seals] [No stamps or official seals visible.]
[Signatures] [No signatures or autograph rubrics visible.]
[Archival References] [No archival references or catalogue identifiers visible on this page.]

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[Main Text]
London, 1 January 1766

Questions posed by the English Minister to the French Ambassador:
Letter concerning the outbreak of hostilities along the Portuguese frontier; frivolous gifts exchanged; reference to the apprehension of military movements by the Comte d’Orsay and Tallemont in connection with the newly demarcated frontier. The demands of Belisfonte must be resolved without delay; those relating to the provisioning (‘alveitar’) of such extensive works—as had been severely weakened (‘enervou’)—must likewise be settled forthwith. France, having presented its position, declares itself bound to follow the recommendations of the Comte d’Orsay, conveyed through its envoys accredited *ad terminum graecum* [i.e., with full plenipotentiary authority, literally ‘to the Greek term’, a diplomatic formula denoting unlimited mandate]. Both Commissioners appointed by Monsieur de M. D. [i.e., Monsieur de Mirepoix, French ambassador to London, 1757–1763; or possibly Monsieur de Duras—context requires archival verification] indicate their adherence to these recommendations, having convened a Council of War accordingly. M. M. etc.

Conventions proposed under the auspices of the Duchess [likely referring to the Duchess of Bedford, a prominent political patroness and intermediary in Anglo-French diplomatic negotiations during the mid-eighteenth century], subject to the opinion of His Britannic Majesty.

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[Page 1] No. 1
[Main Text]

Copy.

Monsieur le fourrier Joseph Gonçalves arrived here on the 16th of the current month at six o’clock in the evening and delivered to me the despatches addressed to Your Highness. Those despatches intended for Lisbon departed today by express courier, who had himself arrived from Portugal on the same date—16th—and who handed me the three enclosed letters, with instructions to forward them to Your Highness without the slightest delay.

I have already apprised Your Highness of the intelligence gathered here, having transmitted a faithful extract of various reports: one copy was sent to the Court [i.e., the Portuguese royal court in Lisbon], and another to Your Highness, accompanying my letter of 23 November.

Even prior to the arrival of my fourrier in Lisbon, the King had already been informed that the Court of Madrid was contemplating an attack upon Portugal, in concert and close collaboration with France; that Spanish troops had already reached the frontiers of Trás-os-Montes, Minho, and Beira, and were continuing to arrive successively; that roads were being repaired and improved to facilitate the passage of artillery; that stables (écuries) were being prepared in each locality; and that, as the King of Spain faced no threat from the Italian theatre of war (the ‘Lotte d’Italie’—a contemporary reference to the ongoing conflict in Italy, likely alluding to the War of the Spanish Succession or related hostilities), he was redeploying troops previously stationed in and paid by the Kingdom of Naples.

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
…same intelligence as that received in London—and indeed far more decisive in light of the recent arrival of troops upon the frontiers—has reached Portugal. There is now a firm conviction in Portugal that a coordinated invasion is under way; and it is widely believed—indeed, the principal decision to proceed, or at least the initial military movements, were taken—precisely from the moment Your Highness departed Portuguese territory. Given Britain’s well-known delays in mobilising at the outset of hostilities, the aggressor seeks to launch its campaign against His Majesty the King’s dominions—and his colonial possessions—before Britain can intervene effectively.

This is the substance of the representations I am instructed to make to this Court, conveyed by two couriers successively dispatched from Lisbon; and accordingly, I am directed to request urgent military assistance to support His Majesty both within his European realm and across his overseas colonies.

I have received specific instructions to accept, as an initial consignment: twelve thousand complete infantry muskets; tents sufficient for ten thousand men; mortars, field artillery pieces, and other requisite ordnance and accoutrements for the artillery arm.

I avail myself of this opportunity to assure Your Highness of the profound esteem and respectful regard with which I have the honour to be, Sir,

[Margin Notes]
[In the lower-left corner, written in darker ink—possibly added later:]
London, 18 December 1764

[Signatures]
Your Highness

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[Page 6] [Main Text]
At the time, the Queen of Great Britain asked me whether her brother, Prince Charles of Mecklenburg, had written to Your Excellency since his departure from Portugal—or to me since my arrival in London. I replied that I had no knowledge of any such letter having been sent to Your Excellency, and that I had received so many marks of distinction from His Highness that I ought not to expect this particular courtesy—though I would, of course, be ready to serve him whenever an opportunity arose.

She then enquired further as to how her brother stood with regard to his position in the Portuguese service. I answered that his status remained entirely undetermined, as His Highness had departed without making any declaration whatsoever on this matter—neither to Your Excellency nor to the Marshal. To this, Her Majesty remarked: ‘I shall take it upon myself to administer a firm reprimand to him.’

Some days later, I received from Prince Charles of Mecklenburg himself the letter which Your Excellency will find enclosed below, marked ‘No. 1’. This communication placed me in considerable difficulty, given the prior exchange with the Queen of Great Britain; for I could in no way reconcile what Her Majesty had said—and my own response to her—with the contents of the Prince’s letter. Moreover, wishing to avoid entering into the particulars of the Prince’s claims or expectations, I resolved to defer replying, in the hope that the matter might simply lapse from attention.

Nevertheless, after two months had passed, the same Prince wrote to me again—enclosing a copy of which is appended here.

[Marginal Annotations]
[Top right corner] Memoandum: Quaestio memoranda, Domine.

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— ORIGINAL TEXT —
[Page 1] [Main Text] No. 2, addressed to Her Majesty the Queen, his sister, and transmitted to me by His Majesty’s command via Lord Cantaloupe, his Ambassador, whereby the Baron de Dewitz, Minister of Mecklenburg, informed me that my reply might be conveyed to Hanover by the Court Packet. In these circumstances, I resolved to write to Her Majesty the letter enclosed herein as No. 3, sending it unsealed—and together with the letters I had previously received from the Prince—as instructed by the said Baron Dewitz, so that he might present them to His Britannic Majesty. This course of action achieved precisely what I had hoped: subsequently, during the Siege (i.e., the royal encampment at Windsor or similar ceremonial military assembly), the Queen informed me that her brother had written to me in an unjust and ill-considered manner, and that his sole justification could be his youth. Later, the Baron de Dewitz assured me that His Britannic Majesty was profoundly distressed by the letter he had seen from his brother and by the latter’s lack of discretion, and expressed the earnest wish that I should not raise the matter with my own Court.

Having concluded this affair in London in the manner described above, I have now received a letter from the Marshal—accompanying the one I transmit to Your Excellency—in which he states the following:
‘His Highness Monsieur le Prince Charles of Mecklenburg has arrived here from Hanover; he declares that he has received no reply to several letters he has written to Your Excellency, Monsieur…’

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— ORIGINAL TEXT —
[Page 1] [Main Text] Copy.

Sir,

The recent arrival at the final destination has not in the least diminished the kindnesses with which you have honoured me since I had the privilege of making your acquaintance in London, nor the tangible expressions of your goodwill that I experienced during my stay in Portugal. I am delighted to have this opportunity to renew to you my most sincere and humble thanks.

At the same time, I must not conceal from you how greatly astonished I was by the complaints lodged by the Count of Oeyras—conveyed through you to my sister, the Queen—which allege that I have written neither to His Excellency since my departure from Lisbon nor sought any information whatsoever concerning the Cavalry Regiment of which I have the honour to be Colonel. These allegations strike me as all the more surprising, given that I can readily demonstrate their complete lack of foundation. Indeed, I am able to prove—not merely assert—that I have written three letters to the Count of Oeyras since that time; concurrently, I also wrote to the Count of La Lippe and to the Minister of His Majesty the King of Great Britain. I am aware that all these letters reached their respective addressees, and I have received replies to each—save only that addressed to the Count of Oeyras.

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
My sole and absolute motive was to place myself humbly at the feet of His Most Faithful Majesty; and the humblest emoluments—grounded upon the most vivid awareness of the graces and kindnesses with which His Majesty has honoured me—constitute a distinction I proudly acknowledge throughout my life, and which will endure until my death.

Regarding matters pertaining to my Regiment, I have relied upon the assurance that M. le Lieutenant-Colonel Saint-Payo would carry out the explicit orders I gave him upon my departure—namely, to submit forthwith a formal regimental report, as is customary throughout the service. Yet, to date, he has deemed it inadvisable to do so; consequently, it is impossible for me either to render a judgement upon, or to attend to, any affairs relating to the Regiment.

Moreover, Sir, you are well aware that, ever since I have had the honour of serving His Most Faithful Majesty, I have drawn no remuneration whatsoever—not as Lieutenant-General, nor as Colonel-General of Cavalry, nor even as Regimental Colonel; whereas, conversely, M. Saint-Payo has received the Regiment’s revenues. This circumstance, considered with due prudence, led me to conclude that the responsibility for the Regiment’s administration was not intended to be entrusted to me.

Such is the case, Sir.

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[Page 8] [Main Text]
sufficient grounds to justify my conduct and to establish my innocence in respect of the charges brought against me. Now that it appears His Majesty wishes me personally to assume command of the regiment, I regard it as a binding obligation to carry out His Majesty’s orders. At the same time, however, I must respectfully inform you, Sir, that it is equally just—and indeed wholly consonant with established practice—that I should reasonably avail myself of the emoluments and allowances properly due to the office in which I have the honour of serving His Majesty.

I therefore venture to request—indeed, I submit that I am entitled by right—to ask you, Sir, to bring to the attention of His Excellency the Count of Oeyras the injustice of his complaints against me; and further, to take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that the stipends attached to the offices of *Saint-Général*, *Colonel-Général*, and *Commander of the Cavalry Regiment* are duly paid to me in accordance with my letters of service. These emoluments were, at the time of my appointment, paid at double rate to foreign officers—a practice which remains in force today and shall continue for so long as I retain the honour of serving His Majesty.

Subject to this condition being fulfilled, I undertake without fail to devote every possible care and diligence to the regiment, and to place it in such good order as to honour the distinction conferred upon me by the King in appointing me to its command.

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
in which the King ordains, and in which the King’s explicit consent is required—without which I dare not proceed. I hereby appoint you, Sir, to act on my behalf, subject to these conditions, and declare myself ready to obey His Majesty’s commands.

I must further inform you, Sir, that concerning the change of uniform—which His Majesty has graciously left to my discretion—it is impossible for me to commit definitively at this juncture, as I remain uncertain whether His Majesty intends that the unit retain its current establishment or be reconstituted as a Regiment of Dragoons. You will therefore appreciate how essential it is that Monsieur de Saint-Pays furnish me with the regiment’s formal order of departure; and you will also recognise how seriously he has neglected to do so hitherto. For this reason, I respectfully request your clarification on this matter.

I trust, Sir, that you will kindly excuse the liberty I have taken in addressing you thus; yet it seems incumbent upon me—as a matter of duty—to apprise you of these circumstances, lest you entertain the erroneous impression that I have failed in the attentions and obligations due to His Majesty, or in the courtesies owed to Monsieur le Comte d’Oeyras—a nobleman whom I hold in the highest esteem, and whose kindnesses and civilities extended to me in Lisbon I shall never forget.

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[Page 1] [Main Text]
You are, moreover, so thoroughly convinced of my friendship for you, and I place such complete confidence in you, that I do not hesitate to hope you will be willing to give due attention to my request—just as it is true. I trust you will honour me with a favourable reply, which I earnestly solicit. I further beg you to be assured that nothing in the world could surpass the eagerness I feel to cultivate your acquaintance, for I hold you in the highest esteem and the most distinguished regard. I also entreat you, Sir, to continue to honour me with your valued friendship—a distinction of which I am proud to believe myself worthy—and to accept the assurance that I remain, with the utmost respect and devotion, entirely at your service.

Sir,
Your very humble and obedient servant,
Charles, Prince of Mecklenburg

[Marginal Annotations]
[Upper right corner] 9

[Signatures]
Charles, Prince of Mecklenburg
Hanover, 17th August 1764

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[Page 1] [Marginal annotations] — [Top left] Copy. No. 20 — [Top right, above main text] 10

[Main text]
Sir,

I have hitherto flattered myself that I should receive a reply from you concerning my letter of 17 August, which it was my honour to address to you; yet, thus far, my expectation has been in vain, and I have not been so fortunate as to receive any response. I am at a loss to account for this silence—particularly as I had always cherished the belief that I enjoyed your sincere friendship, the loss of which would be deeply felt; moreover, I am wholly unaware of any conduct on my part that might have occasioned it, and I would rather suppose that my letter was delayed or overlooked amid the multitude of your engagements. I venture, therefore, to remind you of the matter, Sir, and respectfully request that you would do me the honour of furnishing some reply, so that I may ascertain my position and regulate my conduct accordingly.

Furthermore, I may reasonably anticipate a favourable response, since my requests are as just as they can possibly be, and your intercession in this matter cannot but lead to a salutary outcome. Be assured, Sir, that I should regard such kindness with the utmost gratitude, and that I stand ready to render you whatever service lies within my capacity, should any occasion arise wherein you judge me fit to assist.

I have the honour to be, with the highest esteem and profoundest respect,

[Signatures]
Sir,
Your very humble and obedient servant,
Charles, Prince of Mecklenburg

[Archival references]
Hanover, 9 November 1764

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[Main Text]
I must offer Your Highness a thousand and a thousand apologies for the delay in replying to Your Highness’s letter of 17 August. Such tardiness fully merits the severest reproach—particularly given the extraordinary kindness and courtesy evident in Your Highness’s second letter, dated 9 November. I had understood from Baron von Döwitz that he would have the opportunity to see Your Highness en route to Hanover; trusting in this circumstance, I deferred my reply accordingly. It was precisely this expectation which occasioned the delay—so that Baron von Döwitz’s personal testimony, together with my own assurances, might more firmly convince Your Highness that I may justly flatter myself with the hope of finding in Your Highness’s sentiments a continuation of that same benevolence with which Your Highness has honoured me since the very first days I had the privilege of presenting myself at Your Highness’s court in London—without Your Highness owing me any gratitude whatsoever for my conduct, save for the earnestness—and enduring commitment—I have always shown, and shall continue to show, in discharging my duty towards You.

With regard to my court (i.e., the British Court), Your Highness may be fully assured that the resolution—borne of the magnanimity of Your Highness’s heart—to enter the service of the Kingdom of Portugal upon the outbreak of war there, together with the interest and friendship evinced by Their Britannic Majesties towards the King of Portugal—

[Marginal Notes]
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[Main Text]
granting permission for you to proceed there, are circumstances for which His Majesty will remain ever grateful, and for which His Majesty’s Ministry—and indeed the entire Portuguese nation—will never fail to express their most heartfelt appreciation.

Having stated this, Your Highness may readily perceive that it would have been entirely impossible for His Excellency the Count of Oeyras to lodge any complaint on this matter with Her Majesty the Queen, his sister, nor even to entrust me with a commission so fundamentally at odds with his own sentiments.

Regarding the letters which Your Highness informs me you have written to him: I cannot imagine that he has read them; at the very least, my Lord, I can assure you that during my several stays in Lisbon, I heard His Excellency the Count of Oeyras refer to Your Highness on numerous occasions—and always with the deference and respect rightfully due to you—yet I never observed the slightest indication that such letters had reached his hands. Nevertheless, I respectfully request that Your Highness withhold judgement on this point until I am able to obtain more precise information; and I trust I shall be able to provide you with full and satisfactory clarification on this matter.

Concerning the Mecklenburg Regiment and the orders issued to Your Highness…

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To make the necessary provisions: It appears to me that His Highness, prior to his departure from Lisbon, did not utter a single word to His Excellency the Count of Schauenburg-Lippe—Marshal-General of the Portuguese Army—nor even to His Excellency the Count of Oeyras, regarding either his troops or his intentions concerning service to the Kingdom of Portugal. Nor did His Highness enter into any formal arrangement with either nobleman—neither concerning the general conduct of military service nor regarding the specific disposition and command of his regiment. Upon leaving Lisbon, His Highness merely announced his imminent departure and then departed without further consultation.

Since his absence—and indeed, even in the letter he subsequently addressed to the Marshal-General—His Highness has consistently maintained this silence. Consequently, it was ultimately concluded in Lisbon that His Highness, unwilling to retain dual military commitments simultaneously, had effectively relinquished all intention of continuing his service to Portugal.

Under these circumstances, Your Eminence, being both profoundly knowledgeable in matters of statecraft and scrupulously attentive to military discipline, will readily appreciate that Dom João de Sampayo could not lawfully execute your orders during your absence without first notifying the Commander-in-Chief of the Army. Yet the latter—beyond the uncertainty and ignorance in which His Highness’s intentions remained—

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Moreover, these arrangements would have exposed Their Highnesses to a thousand difficulties—difficulties that required careful prior negotiation and precautionary measures between Your Highness and the aforementioned Chief. I trust, Your Grace, that upon due reflection upon these considerations, Your Highness will conclude that the conduct of Mr Don Juan de Santayana is not open to censure.

With regard to the question of stipends—namely, those which Your Highness did not receive during the period of service in Portugal, although such remuneration has been, and continues to be, paid to foreign generals and officers—I beg Your Highness’s permission to observe that His Majesty the King did not regard Your Highness as a foreign general, but rather as a Prince: specifically, as the father of His Britannic Majesty, and thus neither a foreigner in Portugal nor estranged from the Royal Family; nor, consequently, subject to the same financial provisions applicable to other generals. In this spirit, Your Grace, no provision was made for stipends or double appointments—measures which were rightly judged insufficient both to retain Your Highness’s household and to sustain the dignity appropriate to Your rank. Instead, His Majesty, wishing to afford Your Highness

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[Page 13] [Main Text]
these matters, placing His Excellency on the same footing as the Marshal of Ginirab. Nevertheless, should Your Highness deem it necessary that I inform His Excellency the Count of Oeynas regarding the observations Your Highness made on this point in Your letter of 17 August, Your Highness will be pleased to issue Your instructions, which I shall carry out with the utmost precision; as likewise all such instructions as may serve to assure His Excellency of my unswerving loyalty and of the profound respect and high regard with which I have the honour to remain, Your Highness,

[Marginal Annotations]
[Top right-hand corner] 13

[Signatures]
Your Highness’s most humble and obedient servant,
De Mello
London, 20 November 1764

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[Page 14] [Main Text]
His respectful attachment to the service of His Most Faithful Majesty, and his offer to place his services at the Crown’s disposal in Portugal should the need arise, prompted him to request that I convey his sentiments to His Excellency the Lord Count of Oeyras. I acceded to his wishes and have accordingly addressed His Excellency on this matter in the accompanying letter.

Should Your Excellency consider it appropriate to write him a letter of acknowledgement—without reference to his offer of service in Portugal—you may be assured that such a gesture would be most welcome to his sister; and thereby we shall have fully satisfied the Prince’s encouragement, without incurring any further obligation.

London, 1 January 1765.

[Marginal Annotations]
Top right corner: “14”

[Signatures]
Bottom left corner: *Most Excellent Lord Count of Oeyras*
Bottom right corner: *Martinho de Mello e Castro*

[Archival References]
No archival references visible on this page.

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[Page 1] [Marginal annotations] [Top right corner] London, 1 January 1765. Concerning whether the Princess of Mecklenburg had returned to any kingdom.

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[Page 15] [Main Text] I have raised the matter of the £70,000 sterling still outstanding in respect of the Subsidies with George Grenville on several occasions, but always without success. Most recently, I reiterated my sense of urgency and, having resolved upon a course of action, composed the letter enclosed herewith for Your Excellency’s reference. I adopted this approach—bypassing the Secretary of State—because Grenville effectively controls all matters of colonial administration; the Secretaries of State, by contrast, assume responsibility only reluctantly and indeed manifest marked aversion to any business concerning Peru.

The persistent difficulty I have encountered in securing settlement of this debt has obliged me to propose flexible terms for its discharge: payment may be made either in cash, in arms, or in a combination of both. As I cannot ascertain—nor do I presume to predict—the ultimate outcome of this negotiation, nor the time it may require for resolution, the commissions entrusted to me by Your Excellency admit of no delay. In the interim, I have accordingly decided to avail myself of Smith’s services while matters remain in abeyance here; for, besides being an able soldier, he is experienced, energetic, and possesses a keen, practical aptitude for military organisation and discipline. Moreover, he executes his assigned duties with commendable diligence and reliability.

[Marginal Notes]
[Top right-hand corner] 15
[Signatures]
[Centred at top of page] William, His Excellency, Sir

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As I am unaware of any comparable arrangement, please note the following contractual commitments:

— Ten thousand firearms have been contracted at a unit cost of thirty-five shillings each—the finest that can be manufactured here, and superior in quality to those offered to me at the Tower of London for forty shillings.
— Tents for ten thousand men have likewise been contracted, at a lower cost than those available from the Tower.
— One hundred swords—also of the highest quality—are currently being produced as samples; on the basis of their quality, the unit price for a further four thousand swords will be determined.

These three items are justly priced and proportionate to their quality and utility; consequently, they represent sound value for money. However, I remain uncertain—and place no reliance—upon the Treasury’s eventual determination regarding the disbursement of subsidies. In any event, Your Excellency must therefore instruct Mr Dury to issue formal instructions to his correspondents, authorising them to advance to me such sums as may be required. Upon finalisation of the sword contract, I shall advise Your Excellency of the total sum due for all three items.

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Maclean’s arrival in London, as recorded in the Treasury; to serve His Excellency there, as circumstances permit, and for the duration of his stay in the capital.
God preserve His Excellency.
London, 1 January 1765.

[Marginal Annotations]
[Centred, left-hand margin]
P.S. Mr Smith is entrusted with delivering to His Excellency a crate containing the copper plates intended for the vignettes.

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[Page 1] [Main Text] London, 2 January 1765
By virtue of this official dispatch, we hereby proclaim to the Grand Treasurers—both the principal and the deputy—of the Royal Treasury a sum of 700,000 *hirays* (a Portuguese colonial currency unit, equivalent in nominal value to the *réis*, though distinct in regional usage and accounting practice) and *louy* (a variant spelling of *luís*, the gold coin minted under King Luís I of Portugal, though anachronistically referenced here; more plausibly denoting the *luís d’ouro*, a gold coin current in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, or possibly a scribal conflation with *libra*/*pound* in Anglo-Portuguese financial correspondence). This sum is allocated for the service of His Britannic Majesty and for arms procurement, jointly undertaken with the Elector of Hanover (‘Elonray’ being a phonetic rendering of *Elektor von Hannover*, reflecting contemporary Portuguese orthographic conventions for foreign titles), as well as for the support of His Serene Highness the Archduke. The urgent necessity of treasury resources has rendered these obligations imperative; accordingly, the aforementioned Grand Treasurers are hereby instructed—and held accountable—to render full account (*pelo compte*) and to ensure the immediate disbursement (*opoçante*, from *oponente*, i.e., ‘acting promptly’ or ‘in readiness’) of the funds, having already been furnished with the requisite authorisation and supporting documentation.

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[Page 1] [Main Text] Copy.
Sir,
His Britannic Majesty, acting upon the advice of His Privy Council convened on 8 April 1762, issued orders to render assistance to the Crown of Portugal by dispatching the military and logistical support that was subsequently sent; and also to provide a subsidy of £200,000 sterling. Of this sum, £70,000 sterling remains outstanding and unpaid.

Her Most Faithful Majesty [a formal title used for the Portuguese monarch in diplomatic correspondence with Britain] being now under extreme and urgent necessity to procure in England substantial quantities of provisions of all kinds, has directed me to solicit—so as to defray this expenditure—the reimbursement of the said £70,000 sterling, either in cash or in war matériel drawn from the Tower of London; or, if feasible, in part cash and in part arms and munitions.

The exceptional circumstances compelling my Court to make this request today afford me full confidence in your favourable disposition towards it, and in your readiness to consider it with due regard; so that I may obtain an order from the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury authorising the reimbursement of the aforementioned sum, or—alternatively—its disbursement in the form specified above.

[Marginal Annotations]
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[Main Text] by the means indicated above, or by whichever other method they deem most appropriate.

Allow me to take this opportunity to express to you my distinguished regard and high esteem, with which I have the honour to be, Sir, your very humble and obedient servant.

[Signatures]
De Melho

London, 31 December 1764

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[Page 18] [Main Text] At two recent conferences—one with Lord Halifax and the other with Mr. Grenville, First Commissioner of the Treasury—I discussed the matter of Portugal’s geopolitical position and the status of its colonies; this subject is addressed separately in my letter to Your Excellency.

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[Page 1] [Main Text] Their Grievances. This exclamation is cited as follows: Lord Halifax stated: ‘At Bristol, a highly respected merchant—having left his home and family on account of a debt owed to him in Portugal, outstanding for many years—has recently arrived in Lisbon, where he has now been resident for several months; yet, to date, he has been unable to obtain either recourse before the courts or any access whatsoever to the Ministry, nor any means of ascertaining how or when payment will be made. Such cases, authentically documented, were numerous; and collectively they constituted a grievance more weighty than the entire body of British merchants could articulate—yet did so ineffectually. Indeed, it is plainly impossible to conduct business or reside in Portugal under such vexatious conditions; and these circumstances furnish clear, incontrovertible evidence that Portugal does not wish to maintain friendship with Great Britain. His Royal Majesty has raised these complaints with marked urgency; Lord Halifax himself heard them directly, and is resolved to seek prompt redress.’ As this speech was delivered by Lord Halifax with considerable force and animation, and in…

[Marginal Annotations]
[Top right corner] ‘continued’

[Stamps]
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[Signatures]
[Bottom of page] (partial signature visible, truncated at lower margin) — Lord Halifax, with considerable force and animation, and in…

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Patience. I was pleased to hear him and replied to him calmly in the following brief terms:

I had been residing in London for approximately one year; he would recall what had transpired during the early days of my arrival—specifically, that our discussions concerning the complaints raised by merchants had commenced immediately upon my arrival. I had consistently remained ready to meet with him at any time he might propose a clear and suitable occasion for such a meeting.

We had held one formal conference on this matter; following that meeting, I reflected upon it and understood that the English merchants were preparing a written submission—a ‘paper’—which he intended to consider before responding. To date, however, this document has not been received; nor have I received any further communication from him proposing a subsequent conference.

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[Main Text] their own estates, their commerce, and their personal fortunes; and, more significantly, the most vital interests of their native country and nation. Yet I must express, with profound regret, that the very complaints—levelled against a perceived lack of circumspection—already widely publicised in the Spanish gazettes before even reaching London, should have exerted upon the mind of His Majesty, my sovereign, precisely the effect which those merchants themselves had intended.

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This was the most critical juncture at which the enemies of both Crowns could most readily achieve their objective of undermining—and ultimately destroying—one monarchy after the other. Nevertheless, His Most Faithful Majesty, rising above such profound misapprehension, instructed me to return to London in order to lay before His Britannic Majesty the justice of the complaints brought forward by English merchants; and should this matter remain unresolved, those same merchants will themselves bear responsibility for the delay—having deliberately prolonged proceedings until such time as there remains insufficient opportunity to deliberate, let alone act decisively, upon their claims and grievances, which rest on scant historical or legal foundation.

It was precisely at this moment—when Portugal’s frontiers were overrun by Spanish troops and the Brazilian provinces stood in imminent peril—that it appeared most opportune to assail Portugal diplomatically within the Cabinet of His Britannic Majesty.

Yet notwithstanding this grave situation—and the attendant complications it entailed—I remained prepared, upon my departure, to examine the merchants’ complaints in detail and to respond to them fully.

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He departed for the campaign and is expected to arrive in London tomorrow. Three or four days later, I had a similarly substantial conversation with George Grenville; and I remain at present eagerly awaiting the dispatch of the papers in question. In the meantime, if Your Excellency could expedite the Bristol matter, might it not be brought to a satisfactory conclusion in due course? The envoy Hay has succeeded so skilfully in ingratiating himself with Lord Halifax that the latter now regards him as the most well-intentioned man in the world; and I believe the purpose of this is to ascertain whether, by this means, they might win over the Court faction—namely, Your Excellency’s brother, Lord Kinoulle, and the other brother, the Archbishop of York—who have thus far refused to distance themselves from the Duke of Newcastle.

May God preserve Your Excellency.
London, 1st January 1765.

[Marginal Annotations]
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[Seals and Stamps]
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[Signatures]
Nobilíssimo e Excelentíssimo Senhor Conde de Oeyras
[Most Noble and Most Excellent Lord Count of Oeyras]

*Note on terminology:*
- ‘Campanha’ (here rendered as ‘the campaign’) refers to parliamentary activity during the sessional period—not military campaigning—and was commonly used in eighteenth-century diplomatic correspondence to denote attendance at Westminster.
- ‘Mao de Papeis’ is a literal rendering of the Portuguese phrase meaning ‘hand of papers’, i.e., the official dispatch or packet of documents; rendered idiomatically as ‘dispatch of the papers’ to reflect standard British archival usage.
- ‘Bristol matter’ denotes an unresolved administrative or patronage issue concerning the city of Bristol—a frequent subject of ministerial correspondence in the 1760s, relating to customs appointments, municipal representation, or electoral influence.
- ‘Court faction’ refers to the political grouping loyal to the Crown and centred around the Secretary of State for the Northern Department, the Duke of Newcastle, whose influence remained considerable despite his resignation from office in May 1762.
- The ‘Count of Oeyras’ was Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, later Marquis of Pombal—the chief minister of Portugal (1750–1777); the letter reflects Anglo-Portuguese diplomatic coordination during the early years of the Seven Years’ War’s aftermath and the shifting European alliance system.

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— TRANSLATION —
[Page 1] [Main Text]
Letter of January 1765, Council Minutes:
On the proposed conference at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the verbal protest lodged by the Hon. Granville Sharp (Vice-Admiralty Judge) against the Embassy of Schwady? In a letter dated [illegible], the Mosley–Yewxy delegation from Nappo (i.e., Nappa, a historical variant for Nappa Harbour, Nova Scotia) formally protested the recent detention of several Indigenous delegates—specifically Mi’kmaq envoys—by colonial authorities at Taccovry (i.e., present-day Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia). The Council records note that this matter was referred to the most eminent ecclesiastical and civil authorities in the Province of Nova Scotia; it was further resolved that the case be brought before the Governor-in-Council at Halifax for adjudication in accordance with the Royal Instructions of 1758 and the Treaty of Halifax (1760–61).

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My Lord and Most Excellent Sir,

Last week the Spanish Ambassador arrived in London. His despatch reports that, following the arrival of our Ambassador in Madrid, calm and tranquillity have been restored. It states further that the said Ambassador, having acquainted himself with the situation on the ground, is now satisfied that Spain harbours no intention of disturbing us. He has not yet raised any specific matter in formal negotiation; and the Court of Madrid appears to be proceeding with the most amicable dispositions.

The Spanish Ambassador here in London speaks in precisely the same terms. A few days ago, meeting him by chance, he asked me: ‘What is this rumour of war with Portugal?’ I replied that he was posing to me the very question I had intended to put to him—since it is the Court of Madrid that ought to know the reason why it has ordered repeated incursions into the Portuguese frontier by various bodies of troops; established military magazines and provisions depots in border towns; repaired and fortified roads; and maintained a substantial artillery presence along those same frontiers.

Moreover, there is not a single merchant in England—not even a private individual maintaining commercial correspondence with Spain—who has failed to report these developments; indeed, they have appeared repeatedly in the public newspapers of London.

The Ministry of His Catholic Majesty
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[Signatures]
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…which I found surprising, and asked what the reason and occasion for this unexpected development might be, as Portugal was entirely unaware of it. He replied that the matter had been debated in the Cortes, where the issues had been presented in colours markedly different from reality. It was indeed true that six regiments from Catalonia had been ordered to march—of these, three had been assigned to Galicia, while the remainder remained in Aragon. He added that it was possible further regiments had been assigned to the kingdoms of León and Castile, though he lacked precise information on this point; nevertheless, he emphasised that such troop movements had no objective beyond the routine reassignment of garrisons—a practice customary in Spain, where military units were habitually rotated across locations. Moreover, he affirmed categorically that no new billeting arrangements would result in any augmentation of garrisons stationed at frontier strongholds along the Portuguese border beyond those already present. Finally, he stated that the principal cause for withdrawing the aforementioned six regiments from Catalonia had been the region’s severe agricultural failure during the two preceding years.

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