that there must be vigorous action in Spain, and that he would serve in the army there, “even if it had the great misfortune of being commanded by the Earl of Galway.” His consolation for the general rejection of his own programme consisted in hearing a small chorus of voices exclaiming, “A very clever speech.”[1]
Mr. J. Chetwynd wrote to Lord Manchester from Turin, 25th February 1708:— “The queen was desirous that the Earl of Galway should have staid in Catalonia, and I did send him letters to the purpose the other day, but they would come too late.” Galway and Das Minas had sailed, with some British and Portuguese officers, and 1200 dismounted Portuguese. They arrived at Lisbon in the month of March, and found (as stated in the Gazette) that the queen had appointed the Earl of Galway Envoy Extraordinary to the Court of Lisbon, and Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in Portugal.
Sec. 15.— The Earl of Galway’s Later Residence in Portugal, and his Return Home (1708-1710).
The noble and gallant Earl found that great changes had taken place in Lisbon society. Not only was our very influential ambassador, Mr Methuen, dead and gone, but death had also removed King Pedro and his sister, Katherine, Queen Dowager of England, a great advocate of the policy of the Anti-French alliance as to the war of the Spanish succession. The new king, Juan V., was much under the influence of a French faction headed by the Duke of Cadaval. The Portuguese Government, awed by the British fleet, was outwardly true to the grand alliance; but, as far as the war was concerned, little was in Lord Galway’s power either as an ambassador or a general. The British government gave every assistance in the endeavour to make a favourable impression on the people. Luttrell noted at London, 15th May 1708, “Two rich coaches and forty liveries are making here for the Earl of Galway, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Portugal.” And it is recorded that he made a magnificent entry into Lisbon.
At that date our Government officials had the privilege of sending letters free by post (called franking) to a ludicrous extent. When quite at a loss for a conveyance, they posted the article or the creature whether living or dead. I may quote here the contents of two odd franked letters — (1.) Two maid-servants going out as laundresses to my Lord Ambassador Methuen. (2.) A box of medicines for my Lord Galway in Portugal. The maidens and the medicines, having been franked, were conveyed, at the expense of the post-office, from London to Lisbon.
Lord Galway knew how to serve the common cause by attractive courtesy and dignified hospitality. A letter dated Lisbon, Aug. 8, says —
“Everything is quiet on the frontiers. Three British men of war are going to meet the Brazil fleet. The news of the victory obtained at Oudenarde occasioned a great rejoicing at court, and public rejoicings were made for three days together, not only in the city, but likewise in all the other cities of Portugal. His Excellency, the Earl of Galway, gave a splendid entertainment to the grandees, attended with a fine consort [concert] of music, fireworks, &c.”
His sense and ingenuity as an ambassador were well illustrated in an incident related by Sir Thomas de Veil thus:— “The King of Portugal, who began to draw greater advantages from the Brazils than any of his predecessors had done, was very uneasy at the sight of the gold vanishing as it came from thence almost as soon as it appeared; and being informed that the greatest part of it was sent to England, he consulted privately with his ministers about finding out ways and means for putting a stop to this, in order to keep the money at home. A project was formed for this purpose, which turned chiefly upon two points — one was setting up manufactures in his own country for supplying the people of Brazil with what they wanted; the other, putting the laws strictly in execution for preventing the exportation of gold. This scheme was kept very private, but as he had a great confidence in Lord Galway, and believed him to be, as he really was, a man of great honour and sincerity, he desired his opinion upon it. Lord Galway, therefore, humbly represented to the king that the situation of his dominions made it requisite for him to depend constantly on his allies for his security against neighbours who were inclined to do him all the mischief they could, and were powerful enough to do it if he was not assisted by his friends. While he lived upon good terms with the British nation, he was sure of receiving succours from them proportionable both to his wants and wishes, which he ought to consider to be a great alleviation of any alleged grievances. He told the king that as to the remedies proposed, he would not inquire whether they might or
- ↑ Kemble’s “State Papers,” p. 464.
