22 July 1806 Letter. Viscount Howick, HMS Hibernia in the Tagus, to Lord St. Vincent re Bonaparte's attack on Portugal and return of Simcoe to England.
CWF Rockefeller Library Special Collections. SCMS1930.6
Viscount Howick to Lord St Vincent July 22d 1806
Dispatches have been received to day which give us the
strongest reason to believe that the Enemy meditate an
immediate attack upon Portugal & that their preparations
are already in a considerable state of forwardness — 30,000
men being assembled at Bayone. To defend Portugal at
the present moment may perhaps be impossible, we must
therefore look to the next best means of assisting our old ally, &
of rendering the conquest of that country as little prejudicial
to ourselves as possible. The first of these objects can I
fear only be accomplished by bringing off the Court & protecting
them on their passage to the Brazils.
The second must induce us to use all possible means to
secure their fleet. Both require great dexterity in the
previous negotiation, & the service is of such paramount
importance that it appears to me, as well as the rest of
the Kings ministers, that it cannot safely be intrusted in any
but your Lordships; you may therefore [illegible] appoint
immediately some confidential person fully possessed of
all our views, & to be joined with you in the powers to
negotiate to proceed off Lisbon for this purpose. By him
full explanations & instructions will be sent to your Lordship
but I thought it necessary to lose no time in communicating
to you this intention that you may make your arrangements
[&c. &] Howick.
We have also a variety of important intelligence, a part
of which under the important service which has been
the subject of very late communications less immediately
pressing. It must not however be lost sight of & a
negotiation it is still intended should proceed to Lisbon
of whose proceedings your Lordship shall have due
notice from me, & full time to prepare…
Hibernia, in the Tagus
Septr 21st
General Simcoe continues at [illegible]ntra & is reported to be
something better, but I fear his constitution is breaking up.
Septr 27th
I have great doubts whether Genl Simcoe will live to reach
England. He is so valuable a man that I could not do
less than appoint a ship of the line for his conveyance."