=Source.=--_The Political Life of George Canning_, by A. G.
Stapleton. London, 1831. Vol. III. p. 219.
_The King's Message._
"George R.--His Majesty acquaints the House of Commons that His
Majesty has received an earnest application from the Princess
Regent of Portugal, claiming, in virtue of the ancient obligations
of alliance and amity between His Majesty, and the Crown of
Portugal, His Majesty's aid against an hostile aggression from
Spain.
"His Majesty has exerted himself for some time past, in conjunction
with His Majesty's Ally, the King of France, to prevent such an
aggression, and repeated assurances have been given by the Court of
Madrid of the determination of his Catholick Majesty, neither to
commit, nor to allow to be committed, from his Catholick Majesty's
territory, any aggression against Portugal; but His Majesty had
learned, with deep concern, that notwithstanding these assurances,
hostile inroads into the territory of Portugal have been concerted
in Spain, and have been executed under the eyes of Spanish
Authorities, by Portuguese Regiments, which had deserted into
Spain, and which the Spanish Government had repeatedly and solemnly
engaged to disarm, and to disperse.
"His Majesty leaves no effort unexhausted to awaken the Spanish
Government to the dangerous consequences of this apparent
connivance.
"His Majesty makes this communication to the House of Commons with
the full and entire confidence, that his faithful Commons will
afford to His Majesty their cordial concurrence and support in
maintaining the faith of treaties, and in securing against foreign
hostility the safety and independence of the kingdom of Portugal,
the oldest ally of Great Britain.
"G. R."