But however single, or however conditional,—­the voice of the honourable member for Westminster is still for war; and he does me the honour to tempt me to take the same course, by reminding me of a passage in my political life to which I shall ever look back with pride and satisfaction.  I allude to that period when the bold spirit of Spain burst forth indignant against the oppression of Buonaparte.  Then unworthily filling the same office which I have the honour to hold at the present moment, I discharged the glorious duty (if a portion of glory may attach to the humble instrument of a glorious cause) of recognizing without delay the rights of the Spanish nation, and of at once adopting that gallant people into the closest amity with England.  It was indeed a stirring, a kindling occasion:  and no man who has a heart in his bosom can think even now of the noble enthusiasm, the animated exertions, the undaunted courage, the unconquerable perseverance of the Spanish nation, in a cause apparently so desperate, finally so triumphant, without feeling his blood glow and his pulses quicken with tumultuous throbs of admiration.  But I must remind the honourable gentleman of three circumstances, calculated to qualify a little the feelings of enthusiasm, and to suggest lessons of caution:  I must remind him first of the state of this country—­secondly, of that of Spain—­at that period, as compared with the present; and thirdly, of the manner in which the enterprise in behalf of Spain was viewed by certain parties in this country.  We are now at peace.  In 1808, we were already at war—­we were at war with Buonaparte, the invader of Spain.  In 1808 we were, as now, the allies of Portugal, bound by treaty to defend her from aggression; but Portugal was at that time not only menaced by the power of France, but overrun by it; her Royal Family was actually driven into exile, and their kingdom occupied by the French.  Bound by treaty to protect Portugal, how natural was it, under such circumstances, to extend our assistance to Spain!  Again:  Spain was at that time, comparatively speaking, an united nation.  I do not mean to say that there were no differences of opinion; I do not mean to deny that some few among the higher classes had been corrupted by the gold of France:  but still the great bulk of the people were united in one cause; their loyalty to their Sovereign had survived his abdication; and though absent and a prisoner, the name of Ferdinand VII was the rallying-point of the nation.  But let the House look at the situation in which England would be placed should she, at the present moment, march her armies to the aid of Spain.  As against France alone, her task might not be more difficult than before; but is it only with France that she would now have to contend?  England could not strike in the cause of Spain against the invading foe alone.  Fighting in Spanish ranks, should we not have to point our bayonets against Spanish bosoms?  But this is not the whole of the difference