Lords Sitting of 3 February 1809

SPAIN AND PORTUGAL.
Lord Erskinerose to make the motion of which he had given notice, for accurate returns of the number of officers and men belonging to the infantry, the cavalry, and the artillery, who had been embarked at different ports of this country and Ireland, for Spain and Portugal. He also wished to have an account delivered in of the expenditure, under the different heads, of money, arms, clothing, &c. which had been sent at different times to the Spanish patriots. Also an account of the horses, wagon train, &c. He likewise wished to have a return made, of the men, horses, artillery, &c. that had been relanded not in a disabled state, from the different ports of Spain. As the noble lord understood there would be no objection to the returns he called for, he should merely trouble the house with moving for them. The noble lord then proceeded to move, "That an humble address be presented to his majesty, praying that his majesty would be graciously pleased to give directions that these different returns be laid before the house."
The Earl of Liverpoolhad no objection to the motions of the noble lord. He only wished him to bear in mind, that accurate returns, such as the noble lord has called for, could not be immediately forthcoming. It must be some time before the different regimental returns could be regularly made; and he only rose to state, that whatever delay might occur, should not be imputed to any unwillingness fully to meet the object of the noble lord's motion.
The question was then put on each of the motions, which were agreed to.

PORTUGAL.
The Earl of Buckinghamshirerose, not for the purpose of bringing forward the motion of which he had given notice for this day, but to express a wish that he might be permitted to withdraw it for the present. He had received information from different quarters, which he feared was but too correct, that the French had re-entered and re-occupied Portugal. It was for his majesty's ministers to say whether such was the case or not, for they no doubt must have received advices of such an event. It was of the utmost importance in his mind that Portugal should be restored to its legitimate government, for should the enemy get permanent possession of the posts of Portugal, and of the fortresses of that country, it would be

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no easy matter to calculate the dangers that must arise from such possession, both lo the interests of Spain, and to the security of these kingdoms. He should not now press the discussion of these points, but wait till the real state of Portugal should be accurately ascertained.
The Earl of Liverpoolrose, not to detain the house for any time on the topics alluded lo, by the noble lord; that indeed would be irregular, as there was no motion before the house; but merely to state in answer to the noble lord's question, that his majesty's ministers had received no account of the French having re-entered and re-occupied Portugal. He was as deeply impressed as the noble earl could be, with the importance of Portugal, in the hands of an ally to this country, and with the dangers that might arise from its falling into the hands of an hostile power. He should only say, that on all occasions, he should be ready to furnish any information in his power on that interesting subject, as were his majesty's government, to enter into the fullest discussion and investigation of every point, connected with matters of such importance.