Anglo-Portuguese Relations in the Eighteenth Century: a Reassessment

Author:

Dr. Jeremy Black

Report:

14

Page:

125

Year:

1987

Subject Matter:

Diplomatic and General History

Excerpt:

"Nothing is more simple or natural than the constant union which has existed since the beginning of the century between the courts of London and Lisbon and between their respective ministries. As soon as Philip V became King of Spain England replaced us in Portugal".   (Puysieulx, French foreign minister, 1750).

"There is no state upon earth of which the Portuguese entertain so high an opinion as of ours, nor any people of whom they think or speak as well as of the English, whether in a collective sense as a nation, or an individual one as traders; while there are no nations, or people, which they equally hate with the French and Spaniards. So that, in spite of all their blind bigotry in Religion (by which they are made to hate us as heretics) as a state, or as traders, their own interest and experience have attached them to us in the strongest manner. A most sure sign they are sensible of no yoke we impose upon them, notwithstanding sovereigns have disgraced themselves with assertions of such an injury".   (London Chronicle 13 May 1762).

The article aims to place Anglo-Portuguese relations within the context of British foreign policy as a whole. The full article can be read here.