missioners 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 GreatBritain. The distribution of the Portuguese force was made wholly on the coast, while the land-side was left totally unguarded. British subjects of all descriptions were detained; and it therefore be-, came necessary to inform the Portuguese government, that the case had arisen which required, in obedience to my instructions, that I should declare the Tagus in a state of blockade; and lord Strangford agreeing with me that hostility should be met by hosti lity, the blockade was instituted, and the instructions we had received were acted upon to their full extent; still, however, bearing in recollection the first object adopted by his majesty's government, of opening a refuge for the head of the Portuguese government, menaced as it was by the powerful arms and baneful influence of the enemy, I thought it my duty to adopt the means open to us, of endeavouring to induce the prince regent of Portugal to reconsider his decision to unite himself with the continent of Europe," and to recol lect that he had possessions on that of America, affording an ample balance for any sacrifice he might make here, and from which he would be cut off by the nature of the maritime warfare, the termination of which could not be dictated by the combination of the continental powers of Europe. In this view lord Strangford having received an acquiescence to the proposition which had been made by us, for his lordship to land and confer with the prince regent under the guarantee of a flag of truce, I furnished his lordship 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 ple nipotentiary, united with that of a British admiral, could not fail to inspire towards inducing his royal highness to throw himself and his fleet into the arms of Great Britain, in perfect reliance on the king's overlooking a forced act of apparent hostility against his flag and subjects, and establishing his royal highness's government in his ultramarine possessions, as originally promised. I have now the heart. felt satisfaction of announcing to you, that our hopes and expectations have been realized to the ut most extent. On the morning of the 29th, the Portuguese fleet (as per list annexed) came out of the Ta gus with his royal highness the prince of Brazil and the whole of the royal family of Braganza on board, together with many of his faithfui counsellors and adherents, as well as other persons 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, arranged itself 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 French army on the hills) with the most lively emotions of gratitude to Providence, that there there yet existed a power in the world able, as well as willing, to protect the oppressed. I have the honour to be, &c. W. S. SMITH. List of the Portuguese Fleet that came out of the Tagus on the 29th of November. 1807. Principe Reale, of 84 guns; Rainha de Portugal, of 74 guns; Conde Henrique, of 74 guns; Medusa, of 74 guns: Affonzo d'Albu. querque, 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; Urinia, 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. JOAQ. JOZE MONT. TORRES, (Copy) W. SIDNEY SMITH. His Majesty's ship Hibernia, 22 leagues west of the Tagus Dec. 1, 1807. SIR, In another dispatch of this day's date, I have transmitted a list of the Portuguese fleet that came out of the Tagus on the 29th ultimo, which I received that day from the admi. ral 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; VOL. XLIX. 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 Principe Regente, but she is only in frame. The prince said every thing that the most cordial feelings of gratitude towards, and confidence in, his najesty and the British nation, might be 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 Hibernia 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 inconve. nience off Cadiz, as they appear to have been ordered thither with reference to the Russians being within the Straits, before it was known they were on my station. I have the honour to be, &c. Hibernia, at sea, lat. 37. 47. long. 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, ex. cept a brig, after the gale, and that the weather was such as to allow the necessary repairs and such distribution of supernumeraries and resources to be made, as to enable vice-admiral Don Manuel d'Acunha, sotto-mayor, to report to me yesterday all the ships capable of performing the voyage to Rio Janeiro, except one line-of-battle ship, which he requested might be conducted to an English port. I meant to escort her part of the way, but she did not quit the fleet with me last night as settled. I hope, however, she may arrive safe, as she is not in a bad state, being substituted for the Martino de Freitas, which was at first destined to go to England, in consequence of a fresh arrangement made yesterday, on the latter being found in the best state for the voyage of the two. I have detached captain Moore in the Marlborough, with the London, Monarch, and Bedford, to attend the Portuguese fleet to the Brazils. I have thought it my duty, in addition to the usual order to take the above ships 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 perfect reliance in that officer's judgment, ability, and zeal. The Portuguese ships did not, after their reparation, want more provisions or slops from us than the list enclosed, which I supplied from this ship and the Conqueror. This dispatch will be delivered by captain Yeo, of his majesty's sloop Confiance, who has shewn great address and zeal in opening the com. munications by flag of truce, which it was the interest of those in power who were against the measure of emigration, to obstruct. Lord Strangford speaks of his conduct in terms of warm approbation; on this ground I. beg leave to recommend him to their lordships, to whom his general merits as an officer are already well known. Having 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. A GENE 60.......1665 | 102.........1 103..........0 104..........0 90..........462 105..........0 110.........0 115..........0 Died under 2 years........5443 | 50 and DISEASES. BORTIVE, Croup.......... 57 | Mortification....210 Worms............. Still born.....481 Dropsy.............790 Palpitation of Bit by Mad Dogs.2 Abscess............ 50 | Evil................. 4 the Heart..... 1 Broken Limbs.. 2 Phthisic........523 Gout................ 32 Bedridden........ 2 Gravel, Stone, and Strangury 10 Grief............... 10 Headmouldshot, 5 Excessive DrinkRising of the ing................ 9 Lights... 1 Executed......... Small Pox......1297 Found Dead..... 13 Sore Throat...... 4 Fractured......... 1 Sores and Ul- Frighted........... 4 cers....... 12 Killed by Falls, and several other Accidents............ 101 Horse-shoe-head, St. Anthony's and Water in Fire............... S the Head........209 Spasm.............. 12 Chicken Pox.... 3 Jaundice.......... 29 St. Vitus's Dance..1 Killed themChildbed..........164 Jaw-locked..... 5 Stoppage in the Colds.... ............. 10 Imposthume.......2 Cholic, Gripes, Inflammation...632 Swelling.......... 3 Poisoned............ 1 &c.............. 14 Lethargy......... 3 Teeth...............322 Scalded............ 8 Consumption..4964 Livergrown...... 10 Thrush.. ......... 43 Suffocated......... 11 Lunatic............135 Tumour..... Cough & Hoop- Measles..........452 Vomiting and 1 ing Cough.....489 Miscarriage...... 8 Looseness..... 3 Total 352 *There have been executed in the city of London and county of Surrey 13; of which number 5 only have been reported to be buried (as such) within the buis of mortality. |