Folio 71: `Separate Instructions' for W. H. Lyttleton as Envoy Extraordinary and...

Folio 71: `Separate Instructions' for W. H. Lyttleton as Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the King of Portugal. Is given copies of the various memorials presented by the Factories at Lisbon and Oporto for the redress of their complaints and the restoration of their treaty privileges, where these have lapsed or been overruled. The Board of Trade has reported on these and he has had a copy of this report (S.P.89/64). On the basis of this report, he is to make `the most serious representations' for redress of these grievances, the most serious of which are (1) violation of personal rights and privileges (2) detrimential innovations against British trade, above all by the Wine Coy. of the Alto Douro (3) monopolistic companies for the Brazil Trade (4) delays in the recovery of debts (5) new shipping charges and arbitrary seizures of goods (6) sumptuary law of 1749 and contraband law of 1757 (7) any extension of the law against the export of money. He is to investigate thoroughly all branches of Anglo-Portuguese trade and to ascertain whether the direct trade of the North American colonies with Portugal is beneficial or harmful to the mother country.

Date and place: 1767 June 25 London.