Skip to main content
Service phase: Beta

This is a new way to search our records, which we're still working on. Alternatively you can search our existing catalogue, Discovery.

Item

Folio 396: Earl of Hillsborough to R. Walpole. It has been secretly and reliably...

Catalogue reference: SP 89/87/142

What’s it about?

This record is about the Folio 396: Earl of Hillsborough to R. Walpole. It has been secretly and reliably... dating from 1780 Dec 9 in the series Secretaries of State: State Papers Foreign, Portugal. It is held at The National Archives, Kew.

Is it available online?

No, this record is not available online. However, you can order a copy. Other ways to view it.

Can I see it in person?

Yes, this record is held at The National Archives and is available to see in person. How to view it.

Full description and record details

Reference
SP 89/87/142
Date
1780 Dec 9
Description

Folio 396: Earl of Hillsborough to R. Walpole. It has been secretly and reliably reported that the Spanish government have sent from Madrid a sum of £50,000, which was used to bribe the Queen's Confessor, thus leading to the promulgation of the Decree of 30 August,which may be followed by another banning warships. Walpole is to check on this and to report in detail on the character and influence of the Confessor, and whether any of the Portuguese ministers may have been bribed. He is also to report on what the Russian warships are doing at Lisbon, and on whether the Russian admiral gave a grand dinner-party in the flagship at which toasts were drunk to `the King of Great Britain, success to his arms, and confusion to his enemies, and that during the whole night there was so much firing from the Fleet as occasioned much alarm to their Most Faithful Majesties.'.

Date and place: 1780 Dec 9 London.

Note
Secret and Confidential.
Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Legal status
Public Record(s)
Closure status
Open Document, Open Description
Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C6849087/

How to order it

  1. View this record page in our current catalogue
  2. Check viewing and downloading options
  3. Select an option and follow instructions

Series information

SP 89

Secretaries of State: State Papers Foreign, Portugal

See the series level description for more information about this record.

View series description

Catalogue hierarchy

Over 27 million records

This record is held at The National Archives, Kew

209,296 records

Within the department: SP

Records assembled by the State Paper Office, including papers of the Secretaries...

10,312 records

Within the series: SP 89

Secretaries of State: State Papers Foreign, Portugal

165 records

Within the piece: SP 89/87

Robert Walpole

You are currently looking at the item: SP 89/87/142

Folio 396: Earl of Hillsborough to R. Walpole. It has been secretly and reliably...

Related records

Records that share similar topics with this record.