might not prove effectual; if the latter should be the case, he would not barely be disappointed, but would also lose the hearts of his allies by making the experiment. Even if, by his contrivances, the gold could be kept in Portugal, he would very soon find worse consequences to flow from thence. As things then stood, the English weavers, tailors, shoemakers, and other tradesmen, wrought for his subjects in Brazil; the English merchants were at the pains to send those goods to Lisbon, and a great many ships and some hundreds of seamen were annually employed in this trade, which, suddenly taken away from them, would leave thousands of people destitute of subsistence. And as this proceeding would be a breach of the alliances subsisting between the two nations, numbers of the people so distressed might turn soldiers, and embarking on board the very ships turned out of the Portugal trade, might prove strong enough to attack and conquer the Brazils. Providence had made a wise and just distribution of wealth to the one and industry to the other, which proved a bond of harmony and a source of happiness to both; and if this was taken away, wars would certainly follow, and the power that was weakest at sea would certainly have the worst of it. The king and his ministers saw the strength and justice of his lordship’s observations, and immediately laid aside their design. This was a very important service rendered to the English nation.” I extract from another volume a fuller account of this service:—
“In the year 1709. the King of Portugal perceived that the vast quantities of gold that came from Brazil did but just touch at Lisbon. . . . His Council reported that the English and Dutch ran away with all the gold, in consequence of their furnishing the goods and manufactures that were sent to Brazil; and they proposed that the using these goods, and the wearing these manufactures, should be prohibited in that colony, and that the people should be content with what could be sent them from Portugal. This, as a great stroke of policy, was on the very point of being put in execution, when it was prevented by the following method.
“I he famous Lord Galway was then there on behalf of this nation, and had the confidence of the king, of whom he demanded a particular audience upon this occasion, upon which he delivered himself in the following manner:—
‘Your Majesty cannot be sufficiently commended for that steady attention which you have always shown to the affairs of your government, and the pains you have lately bestowed in examining into the Balance of Trade is a new proof of that merit which would entitle you to the crown, had it not descended to you from a long and glorious line of royal ancestors. But permit me, Sire, to observe that there is a greater King, one by whom all kings reign, and whose Providence is over all His works. According to His distribution of things, riches belong to some nations and industry to others; and by this means the liberality of Heaven is made equal to all. Vain, Sire, are all human counsels when opposed to His wisdom, and feeble are the efforts, even of royal power, when directed to cross His will. You have forbid gold to be exported from your dominions, and you would willingly enforce this prohibition; but the thing is impracticable. You may restrain your subjects (it is true), but you cannot set bounds to their necessities. But say that this was possible; suppose you could set bounds to the industry of the northern nations, what would be the consequence? Their husbandmen, graziers, weavers, and all that infinite train of manufacturers that now labour quietly at home to clothe and feed your subjects, would then turn soldiers; and instead of seeing their Merchantmen in the river of Lisbon, you would hear of their Fleets conveying them to Brazil, to fetch much more of that gold than you now fetch for them. Besides, Sire, if they are gainers by your trade, they became thereby the natural guarantees of your dominions. It is not their treaties only, but their interests that bind them to your service. You have potent enemies and you require powerful friends. The ambition of France knows no bounds; the pride of Spain will teach her to keep up a perpetual claim to your territories and crown. To frustrate the views and defeat the endeavours of those potentates, you can have no recourse but to the maritime Powers; and therefore let me beseech your Majesty to consider that every project to distress them is, in effect, a scheme to destroy yourself.’
“This speech had the desired effect; the intended prohibition was laid aside, and the English nation has reaped the benefit of this Trade ever since. I came to the knowledge of this fact by an accident. It is very imperfectly related by a French author. And I thought it my duty, and a piece of justice owing to his lordship’s memory, to relate it fully and fairly as I have done.” (Harris’ “Voyages and Travels,” vol. ii., book i. chapter iii., section 16, pp. 188-9.)
As a soldier, all that the Court would allow him to do, was to exercise his usual vigilance, and to defend the coast and frontier. His mind was busy, as is proved by two letters from Marlborough to Godolphin.
