Folio 447: R. Walpole to Earl of Hillsborough. In reply to Hillsborough's secret...

Folio 447: R. Walpole to Earl of Hillsborough. In reply to Hillsborough's secret and confidential letter of the 9th (f.396), Walpole states that the £50,000 remitted from Madrid to Lisbon was nothing to do with bribing Portuguese ministers, but connected with discounting a Spanish government loan. He does not think that the Queen's confessor has been bribed, and he is reliably reported to be `of a plain good understanding, without any extensive knowledge beyond his profession,' with no political influence over the Queen. Walpole does not think that the Visconde de Villa Nova de Cerveira, Secretary of State for the Interior, is bribable. The Visconde is admittedly not `a very good friend to our nation', but he fully realizes that a strict neutrality is Portugal's best policy, and advises the Queen accordingly. The Marquis de Angeja is a valetudinarian who `professes himself to be a friend to the English nation.' Angeja has used his influence `to procure very profitable things for himself and family .. but I do not believe that he would incline against us.' Doubtless some minor officials and courtiers are venal, `but I do not think that this spirit of dissolution has extended into the transactions of the Council on public affairs.' The decree of 30 August was motivated by a desire to preserve a strict neutrality, and to avoid pressure from France and Spain. Walpole does not think that the Portuguese Court at present contemplate any further measure, and are satisfied with British acquiescence in their exclusion of privateers and prizes from Portuguese ports. The Russian naval officers have certainly been very hospitable to all and sundry, including Walpole. They are very pro-British, and `it is true that they kept up their jovial doings' on one occasion with the night-long firing of salutes, `very much to the dissatisfaction of their Most Faithful Majesties.'.

Date and place: 1780 Dec 29 Lisbon.