to serve her majesty, that he might be called upon to render.  So that those additional articles were essentially different from the terms and provisions of the original treaty, by which the removal of the two princes from Portugal was effected.  I do not mean to say, that, in the preamble to that treaty, allusion is not made to the affairs both of Spain and Portugal, but there still is a remarkable difference between the words used in the treaty and the additional articles; and moat particularly in relation to the part to be taken by this country.

April 21, 1837.

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The Legion and the Stock Exchange.—­Impotency of our interference.

I contend, as I have before contended in this house, that his majesty’s present ministers (Lord Melbourne’s government) ought not to have departed from the position which the previous administration had established while they were in power.  I will not pretend to say what would have been the result of their following out that course, but this I do say, that the course pursued by his lordship’s government has not benefited the military or the financial affairs of Spain, or promoted the peace of that country or the general tranquillity of Europe, or attained any of the political advantages which the noble viscount boasts have been attained by his departure from that position which the previous government had occupied and left to their successors.  But, my lords, it did unfortunately happen that certain parties in this country had been connected with the Spanish finances; and it was important to those parties that the red coats should make their appearance in Spain, and that the name of “Great Britain,” and of the British legion, should be mixed up in the operations of the war.  Money was raised in this country to defray the expense of the equipment of the “Legion,” as it was called, of 10,000 or 12,000 men, and also of their pay, their food, and maintenance, for a certain number of months; and the noble lords, in order that this scheme might be carried into execution, gave their consent to the order in council for the suspension of the Foreign Enlistment Act.  The corps gathered in this country, and went to Spain, in the spring of the year 1835, nearly two years ago.  Their first operation upon their arrival at St. Sebastian, was a march over the very same ground to the very spot which was the scene of the late disaster.  My lords, up to that moment, the Eliot convention, as it is most honourably and justly called, had been carried into execution.  It was on that day departed from on both sides, and from that day to this, I firmly believe, from all I have seen and read,—­and I have read much on the subject within the last few days—­there has been no certainty in the execution of that convention.  Not only has there been no certainty in the execution of that convention, but, notwithstanding the millions of money that Spain has expended,—­notwithstanding the blood which has been shed and the number of lives that have been lost,—­I will venture to say, that the military affairs of the Queen of Spain are in a worse condition now than they were in the month of May, 1835.