I say, my Lords, that I regard these financial difficulties with the greater apprehension, when I remember that occasions may arise, and are in fact, likely to arise, in which it may be necessary for his Majesty to call forth all the resources of the country.  When I look to the state of Ireland, when I turn my attention to our foreign relations, and above all, when I call to mind the present condition of the Peninsula, I find it impossible to shut my eyes to the alarming truth, that events are on the eve of occurring, which may call forth to the utmost, every exertion which Englishmen are capable of making, and may demand, as I have said before, all the resources of the empire.

August 15, 1832.

Policy of the Wellington Administration towards Portugal.

The noble Earl (Grey) has stated, that the late government was the cause of the usurpation of Don Miguel.  Now that is a mistake in point of time; for it will be found that Don Miguel was brought to Portugal, when the noble Viscount opposite, (Viscount Goderich) was at the head of the government.  It is true that I was in office when Don Miguel landed in Portugal, and when he usurped the government over which he was placed as Regent.  The noble Earl has stated, that at that time the British army was there, and might have prevented the usurpation.  I deny the fact; the British Army had been withdrawn before the usurpation.  It is true that, before the army was withdrawn, Miguel had dissolved the Chambers, and had given indications that it was not his intention to carry into effect the constitution of the country; but he had given no indication of a resolution to usurp the Sovereign power; and that usurpation was occasioned by a decree of the Cortes, acquired for that purpose.  In point of fact the army was withdrawn; and even if it had not been withdrawn, what was its force?  Why it only amounted to 5,000 men, which would not have been enough to effect anything.  I deny therefore, that the government has been the cause of the usurpation.  When Don Miguel did usurp the sovereign authority, the late government did all they could; they ceased their diplomatic relations with Portugal, and then brought away the minister from thence.

Then the noble Earl says, that the state of things just mentioned existed when he came into office; and that the late government was willing to recognize Don Miguel, provided he would grant a general amnesty.  The noble Earl has omitted to state all.  It would have been fair, had the noble Earl stated what had previously occurred.  The first thing we did was to advise a reconciliation between the two branches of the House of Braganza, and we referred the question to Brazil.  The Emperor of Brazil was perfectly ready to go to war if we would make war for him, but he would not go to war himself, because, in fact he had no resources of his own to do so.  What then became our duty?  Our duty was to place Portugal in the society of nations as soon as we could, and