*

world, and running from door to door, to beg it might be accepted; and above all, the odium which we have incurred with the less enlightened part of the continent, with the people in every foreign state, in whose eyes we have appeared only as instigators of war, and as corruptors of their rulers for their destruction. From the effects of these impressions our name will not soon recover, and we may rest assured that the Continent is at last heartily sick of our interference, and prepared to join with the enemy in his plan of excluding us from any voice in its affairs. But it was the less necessary to enter upon such topics, that they are naturally suggested by the previous discussions, and that they tend in no way to modify the picture formerly drawn of our affairs: for it is our misfortune that we look around in vain for any cir cumstances which may soften its features, while it is impossible to imagine any addition which can aggravate them,

.

III. STATE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, INDEPENDENT OF THE LATE COALITION AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.

Although the effects of our last exertions on the Continent have almost entirely new modelled it, yet there are several particulars in its present state, which have not been directly influenced by the fate of the war, partly because they lay beyond the sphere of its operation, but chiefly because our former impolicy and mismanagement had done as much detriment as was possible, to our interests in those quarters. An inquiry into the state of our foreign affairs would be imperfect without some notice of these points.

1. The unfortunate circumstance of having Spain against us, and given up entirely to the alliance, or rather the service of our enemies, during the present war, is a consequence of the impolicy of the British cabinet, previous to the commencement of the late coalition. After our rup

ture with France, and down to the forma tion of the late ministry, in May 1804, it clearly appears, that the dispositions of Spain towards this country, and against our enemy, were as favourable as could have been desired*. Our popularity was never so great, either with the Court of Madrid, with the confidential ministers of the crown, or with the nation at large. France, always disliked by the Spaniards, had be come still more odious from her insolent and rapacious demands; and from the intemperate conduct of her representatives. The wishes of the Spanish cabinet accorded with those of the people, in leaning plainly towards an offensive alliance. with England against France. But the state of our continental relations, and our inability to give Spain any effectual support in the dangers to which such a conduct must expose her, rendered it necessary for her to delay all measures leading to a rupture; and she submitted to a convention of

*Additional Spanish Papers, presented 2d. February, 1805.-No. II. to XX.

neutrality, by which she became bound to pay a considerable subsidy to the French government. To this the English cabinet consented as a temporary measure," intended to give time till the disposition of the great powers of Europe should be more decidedly known."* That the subsidy was extorted from Spain, by the imminent fear of seeing a French army in Madrid; that the dispositions of Spain in our favour, and her enmity to France were increased by this compulsory submission, is clearly demonstrated by the dispatches of the British Envoy +. Of these dispositions we ought doubtless to have availed ourselves. We were engaged in planning the new coalition, nothing could be more important than to include Spain in such a league. Her position with respect to France, must always render her hostility extremely hurtful to that power. Her frontier on the Pyrennees is strong, and well

* Additional Spanish Papers, presented 2d. February, 1805-No. VII.

t Ibid. No. VIII.

defended by fortified places. The French. frontier is only protected by Perpignan, and France has no way of removing the danger of an attack from Spain, but by attacking her in the first instance, and forcing her to conclude a separate peace. This would have been rendered impracticable by the preparations of the allies on the East side of the French territories, and a most important accession would thus have been gained to the measures of the offensive league. By the hostility of Spain, too, France would have lost the benefit of her subsidies, and the still greater advantage of that controul over her councils, which enabled her at any time to involve every branch of the Spanish monarchy in a war with her enemies. The allies would have secured the independence of Spain, while they profited by her assistance; and prevented the subjection of the whole of her resources to France, while they converted a. just and moderate proportion of them to their own use. By going to war with Spain, they necessarily threw her into the