jesty, or of immediately employing it to remove the Prince Regent and ins family to the Brazils. I took upon myself this responsibility in renewing negociations after my public functions had actually ceased; convinced that, although it was the fixed determination of his Majesty, not to suffer the fleet of Portugal to all into the posses sion of his eonies, still his Majesty's first objeet continued to be the application of that fleet to the original purpose, of saving the Royal Family of Braganza from the tyranuy of France.

I according requested an audience of the Prince Regent, together with due assurances of protection and security; and upon receiving his royal highness's answer, proceeded to Lisbon on the 27th, in his Majesty's ship Confiance, bearing a flag of truce. I had immediately most interesting communications with the court of Lisbon, the particulars of which shall be more fully detailed in a future despatch. It suffices to mention in this place, that the Prince Regent wisely directed all his apprehensions to a French army, and all his hopes to an English fleet; that he received the most explicit assurances from me that his Majesty would generously overlook those acts of unwilling and momentory hostility to which his Royal Highness's consent had been extorted; and that I promised to his Royal Highness, on the faith of my sovereign, that the British squadron before the Tagus should be employed to protect his retreat from Lisbon, and his Voyage to the Brazils.

A decree was published yesterday,* in

The following is a copy of this decree, or proclamation, which was not printed in the Gazette:

PROCLAMATION of the PRINCE REGENT.

Having tried by all possible means to preserve the neutrality hitherto enjoyed by my faithful and beloved subjects, having exhausted my royal treasury, and made innumerable other sacrifices, even going to the extremity of shutting the ports o my do

inions to the subjects of my ancient and royal ally, the King of Great Britain, thus exposing the commerce of my people to total ruin, and consequently suffering the greatest losses in the collection of my royal revenues of the crown, I find that troops of the Emperor of the French and King of Italy, to whom I had united myself on the continent, in the hope of being no more disturbed, are actually marching into the interior of my kingdom, and are even on their way to this capital; and desiring to avoid the fatal consequences of a defence, which would be far more dangerous than profitable, serving only. to create an effusion of blood, dreadful to Sumanity, and to inflame the animosity of

which the Prince Regent announced his in tention of retiring to the city of Rio de Janeiro until the conclusion of a general peace, and of appointing a regency to transact the administration of government at Lisbon. during is royal highness's absence from Europe.

the troops which have entered this kingdom, with the declaration and promise of not comuitting any the smallest hostility; and knowing also, that they are more particularly des tined against my royal person, and that my faithful subjects would be less alarmed were I absent from this kingdom, I have resolved,for the bencnt of my subjects, to retire with the Queen my mother, and all my royal iamily, to my dominions in America, there to establish myself in the city of Rio de Janeiro, until a general peace. And moreover, considering the importance of leaving the government of these kingdoms in that good, order, which is for its advantage, and for that of my people (a matter which Lames-sentially bound to provide for); end baring. duly made all the reflections presented by the occasion, I have resolved to nominate, as governor and regent of these kingdoms during my absence, my truly and beloved, cousin the Marquis de Abrantio: Francisco de Cunha de Menezes, lieutenant-general of my forces, the principle castre (one of mg. council, and a regidor de justica); Pactrode Mello Breynet, also of my council, who will act as president of my treasury, during the incapacity of Luis de Vasconcellos, e Sanzi (who is unable so to do at present oa account of illness); Don Francisco de Nerocha, president of the board of conscience and religious orders; and in the absence of any of them, the Conde de Castro Mazim (grand huntsman), whom I have nominated president of the senate, with the assistance of the secretaries thereof. The Conde de Samapaye, and in his absence Don Miguel Perrora Forjas, and of my Attorney-General Juas Antonio Salter de Mendenca, on aecount of the great confidence which Fhave ` in them, and of the experience which they possess in matters of government, being certain that my people and kingdom will be governed and directed in such a manner that my conscience shall be clear, and that this regency will entirely fulfil its duty, se long as it shall please God that I should be absent from this capital, administering justice with impartiality, distributing remaids and punishments according to deserts. Ardthese regents will further take tins as my pleasure, and fulfil my order in the form thus mentioned, and in conformity to the instructions signed by me, and accompanying this decree, which they will comuumide to the proper departments. (Signed) Palace of the Ajuda, Nov. 27, 1897.

THE PRINCI

Intelligence from the London Gazette.

This morning the Portuguese fleet left the Tagus. Lhad the honour to accompany the Prince in his passage over the bar. The fleet consisted of eight sail of the line, four large frigates, several armed brigs, sloops, and corvettes, and a number of Brazil ships, amounting, I believe, to about thirty-six sail in all. They passed through the British squadron, and his Majesty's ships fired a salute of twenty-one guns, which was returned with an equal number. A more interesting spectacle than that afforded by the junction of the two fleets has been rarely

beheld.

On quitting the Prince Regent's ship; I repaired on board the Hibernia, but returned immediately, accompanied by Sir Sidney Smith, whom I presented to the Prince, and who was received by his royal highness with the most marked and gracious condescension.

I have the honour to enclose lists of the ships of war which were known to have left Lisbon this morning, and which were in sight a few hours ago. There remains at Lishon four ships of the line, and the same number of frigates, but only one of each sort serviceable.

I have thought it expedient to lose no time in communicating to his Majesty's government the important intelligence contained in this despatch. I have therefore to apologise for the hasty and imperfect manner in which it is written.

I have the honour to be, &c..

STRANGEORD.

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, DEC. 21.

Despatches, of which the following are Extracts.
and Copies, were received at this Office on
Saturday last, by Captain Yeo, of his Ma-
jesty's sloop the Confiance, from Rear-Admi-
ral Sir William Sainey Smith, addressed to
the Hon. William Wellesley Pole.

His Majesty's-Ship Hibernia, 22 leagues
west of the Tagis, Dec. 1,1807.

SIR,

In a former despatch, dated the 22d November, with a postscript of the 26th, I conveyed to you, for the information of my lords commissioners of the Admiralty, the proofs contained in various documents of the Portuguese government being so much influenced by terror of the French arms, as to have acquiesced to certain demands of France operating against Great Britain. The distribution of the Portuguese force was made wholly on the coast, while the lard side was left totally unguarded. desubjects of all descriptions were tained; and it therefore became necessary to inform the Portuguese government, that the case had arisen which required, in abedience to my instructions, that I should de

British

clare the Tagus in a state of blockade; and
Lord Strangford agreeing with me that host:-
ade was instituted, and the instructions we
tility should be met by hostility, the block-
had received were acted upon to their fulf
lection the first object adopted by his Ma-
extent; still, however, bearing in recol
the head of the Portuguese government.
jesty's government, of opening a refuge for
menaced as it was by the powerful arm, and
baneful influence of the enemy, I thought i
my duty to adopt the means open to us, of
of Portugal to reconsider his decision "to
endeavouring to induce the Prince Regent
unite himself with the continent of Europe,"
and to recollect that he had possessions on
that of America, affording an ample balance
for any sacrifice he might make here, and
ture of maritime warfare, the termination
from which he would be cut off by the na-
of which could not be dictated by the com-
bination of the continental powers of Eu-

rope..

truce.

In this view, Lord Strangford having received an acquiescence to the proposition which had been made by us, for his loreship to land and-confer with the Prince Regent under the guarantee of a flag of I furnished his lordslup with that conveyance and security, in order that he might give to the prince that confidence, which his word of honour as the king's minister plenipotentiary, united with that of a British admiral, could not fail to inspi e towards inducing his royal highness to throw himself and his fleet to the arms of Gre t Britain, in perfect reliance on the kings lity against his flag and subjects, and esta Overlooking a forced act of apparent hosti blishing his royal highness's government in his ultra-marie possessions as originally p.o.

most extent.

mised. I have now the heartfelt satisfaction
of announcing to you, that our hopes and
expectations have been realized to the u
On the morning of the 29 h.
the Portuguese fleet (as per list annexed),
came out of the Tagus with his Royal Hig
ness the Prince of Brazil and the whole
the royal family of Braganza on board, to-
and adherents, as well as other personS
gether with many of his faithful counsellors
attached to his present fortunes.

This fleet of eight sail of the line, four
frigates, two brigs, and one schooner, with a
crowd of large armed merchant ships, ar-
ranged itselt under the protection of that of
his Majesty, while the firing of a reciprocal
salute of twenty-one guns announced the.
friendly meeting of those who but the day
before were on terms of hostility, the scene
impressing every beholder (except the
Erence away on the hills) with the most
lively emotions of gratitude to Providence,
that there yet existed a power in the worlds
able, as well as writing, to protect the op
I have the honour to be, &c.
W.SI SMITH.

* See Rear-Admiral Sir Sidney Smith's passed. despatches.

List of the Portuguese fleet that came out of the Tagus on the 29th of November, 1207. Principe Reale, of 84 guns; Rainha de Portugal, of 74 gaus; Conde Henrique, of 74 guns; Meduza, of 74 guns: Alfonzo d'Albuquerque, of 64 guns; D. Joao de Castro, of 64 guns; Principe de Brazil, of 74 guns; Martino de Freitas, of 64 guns.

FRIGATES.-Minerva, of 44 guns; Golfinho, of 36 guns; Urania, of 32 guns; and one other, name not as yet known.

BRIGS.-Voador, of 22 guns; Vinganea, of 20 guns; Lebre, of 22 guns.

SCHOONER. Curioza, of 12 guns.
(Signed) JOAQ. JOZE MONT. TORRES,
Major-General.

SIR,

In another despatch of this day's date, I have transmitted a list of the Portuguese fleet that came out of the Tags on the 99th ultimo, which I received that day from the admiral commanding it, when I went on board the Principe Reale to pay my visit of respect and congratulation to his Royal Highness the Prince of Brazil, who was embarked in that ship, I here enclose the list of those left behind. The absence of but one of the four ships is regretted by the Portuguese (the Vasco de Gama), she being under repair; her guns have been employed to arm the Freitas, 64, a new ship, and one of those which came out with the prince. The other three are mere hulks; and there

is also one ship on the stocks, the Pracipe

Regente, but she is only in frame.

The prince said every thing that the most cordial feelings of gratitude towards, and confidence in, his Majesty and the British nation might he supposed to dictate.

I have by signal (for we have no other mode of communicating in this weather) directed Captain Moore in the Marlborough, with the London, Monarch, and Bedford, to stay by the body of the Portuguese fleet, and render it every assistance.

I keep in the Hiberia close to the prince's ship. I cannot as yet send the Foudroyant, Plantagenet, and Conqueror on to Admiral Purvis, according to their lordships' order of the 14th, which, I trust, will be the less felt as an inconvenience off Cadiz, as they appear to have been ordered thither with reference to the Russians being within the Straus, before it was known they were on Dy station.

I have the honour to be, &c.
W. SIDNEY SMUTH.
List of the Portuguese Ships that remained in
Lisbon.

S. Sebastiano, of 64 guns-unserviceable without a thorough repair.

Maria Prima, of 74 guns--unserviceable;

SIR,

Ilibernia, at sca, lit. 37. 47. Imag. 14. 17. Dec. 6, 1807.

I have the satisfaction to acquaint you, for the information of my lords commissioners of the Admiralty, that I succeeded in collecting the whole of the Portuguese fleet, creept å brig, after the gale, and that the weather was such as to allow the necessary repairs and such distribution of supernameraries and resources to be made, as to enable Vice-Arai Don Manuel d'Acunha Sotto-mayor 19 report to me yesterday all the ships capace of performing the voyage to Rio Janeiro, except one line of battle ship, which he requested might be conducted to an English but she did not quit the fleet with me last port. I meant to escort her part of the way, night as settled. I hope, however, she mayarrive safe, as she is not in a bad state, being substituted for the Marto de Frenas, which was at first destined to go to England,

in consequence of a fresh arrangement made yesterday, on the latter bemg found in ite best state for the voyage of the two. I have detached Captain Moore in the Maribe rough, with the London, Monarch, and Bedford, to attend the Portuguese fleet tə the Brazils. I have thought it my duty, addition to the usual order, to take the above slips under his orders, to give Captain Moore one to hoist a broad pendant after passing Madeira, in order to give him greater weight and consequence in the performance of the important and unusually delicate duties I have confided to him. I feel the most perteet rehance in that officer's judgment, ability, and zeal.

The Portuguese ships did not, after their reparation, want more provisions or sleps from us than the list enclosed, which I supplied from this ship and the Conqueror.

This despatch will be delivered by Captain Yeo, of his Majesty's sloop Confiance, who has shewn great address and zeal in opening the cotanications by flag of truce, which it was the interest of those in power wo were against the measure of emigration, to obstruct.--Lurd Strangford speaks of las conduct in terms of warm approbation; cu this ground i beg leave to recommend him

to their lordships, to whom his genera! merits
Hav-
as an officer are already well known.
ing been in Lisbon without restraint during
the intercourse, he is qualified to answer any
questions their lordships may wish to put to
him.

I have the honour to-be, &c.
W. SIDNEY SMITH.

MEMORANDUM.

The Diana merchant vessel, having on hoard about sixty British subjects, who had been detained in consequence of the embargo, came out of the Tagus in company with the Portuguese fleet, and it is supposed, that she bore up for England at the conmencement of the gale.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

LONG details have been published of a

grand fete given by the city of Paris to the Imperial Guards; details which would General not anuse any of our readers. Hulin, the wretch who presided at the mock trial of the Duke d'Enghien, was, on this occasion, by a strange chance, or by design, stationed at the barrier through which that last hope of the illustrious House of Conde was conducted by torch-light to his execution,

The last Paris journals contain some tedious details of Bonaparte's travels in Italy, and of the flattering manner in which he has been received in every town through which he has passed.

The only article of any interest in the Dutch papers is the address of the Dutch legislative body to King Louis, with his answer; in which he sympathizes with the distresses of his people, and expresses with them his wish for peace.

The state of Holland is well expressed in the following words contained in this official document---

"May Providence prosper us, &c.-May it give us that PEACE, which is so necessary for the tranquility of mankind, and for that of this country in particular;-then shall we see those bright days return, which a thick cloud-has overcast for so many years."

The answer of the king is still more melancholy :

"It is a satisfaction to me to make you participators in the little good which can be procured, or rather in shunning the evils which may be avoided; for, in difficult circumstances, the latter is the more accurate expression. You will see, that notwithstanding the peace on the contment, our situation is full of difficulty; but still we may finally hope, that, by a general peace, we may reach the end of our MISERIES."

There is a benevolence, and something of natural goodness in King Louis, which does not belong to the blood of the Bonapartes. He is much beloved in Holland, and, according to all accounts, he well merits it.

By passengers lately arrived from Holland, we learn that at the time of their departure, a report was prevalent at Amsterdam, &c. that Louis Bonaparte was on the eve of ab dicating the throne of Holland; and that Murat had been appointed by Napoleon as

his successor.

The change, however, that appears to be on the point of taking place in Holland, will, we suspect, deprive the Dutch even of the name of an independent people and nation, and unite them to the French empire. This we conceive to be the motive and object of Talleyrand's journey to Holland.

We have received a copy of a treaty concluded between France and Austria, relative to the territorial arrangements of those two powers on the side of Italy. Of England, or her interests, no mention whatever is made in this treaty. Besides the territorial arrangements, it is agreed that there shall be a military road communicating from the kingdom of Italy to the right of the Li sonzo, Istria, and Dalmatia; for the purpose, of course, of facilitating Bonaparte's future objects in that direction; and Brannau was

to be evacuated in the course of a month.

It is reported, that Bonaparte has made some fresh demands on the King of Prussia. He requires, it is said, to be immediately supplied with 5,000,000 of dollars, and to garrison with French troops eight of the strongest Prussian fortresses until the conciusion of the war.

Since the publication of the Spanish de cree (or proclamation), inserted in p. 401, subsequent accounts have been received; stating, that in consequence of the proceedings against the King s son, (Prince Asturias) who was high in favour with the people, an insurrection had taken place at Madrid; to appease which, the court was under the necessity of issuing a counter-proclamation, declaring, that on due inquiry it had been found, that his royal highness had had no personal concern in the plot; and this declaration appears to have produced the desired effect of causing the popular ferment to subside. It is supposed that the first proclamation was issued through the influence of the Prince of the Peace, who has been, and is still attached to the French interest.

A letter from Gihon, of the 21st ult. mentions, that Bonaparte has himself written to the Prince of Asturias, constituting him generalissimo of the united French and Spanish army destined to act against Portugal, and tells him, "to go and conquer a country which he will one day govern." By this it would appear, that the fate of Portugal is determined on, and that in future it is to