607. in the manner. Gazette Letters. GAZETTE LETTERS. 555 18th. It was brought by the Ann armed ship, which arrived at Plymouth on Wednesday, and spoke with the Portugueze squadron on the 80th ult, having the Royal family on board. The requisition of his Imperial Majesty, for the immediate conclusion, by his Majesty, of a Peace with France, is as extra- the throne of Portugal, and the de ordinary in the substance, as it is offensive parture of the Prince Regent and Intelligence of the abdication of time declined to treat with France, when reached London on Friday, Dec. the His Majesty has at no France has professed a willingness to treat all the Royal family for the Brazils, on an admissible basis. And the Emperor of Russia cannot fail to remember, that the last negociation between Great Britain and France was broken off upon points immediately affecting, not his Majesty's own interests, but those of his Imperial Ally. But his Majesty neither understands, nor will he admit, the pretension of the Emperor of Russia, to dictate the time, or the mode, of his Majesty's pacific negociations with other powers. It never will be endured by his Majesty, that any Govern ment shall indemnify itself for the humiliation of subserviency, to France, by the adoption of an insulting and peremptory tone towards Great Britain. ligence was confirmed by the receipt On Saturday, the 19th, this intelof dispatches from Sir Sydney Smith, and the publication of an Extraordinary Gazette. His dispatches, dated Dec. 6th, stated that the Prince Royal of Portugal, with the whole of the Royal family, consisting of fifteen persons, had embarked for the Brazils, His Majesty proclaims anew those prin- three armed brigs, and upwards of with seven sail of the line, five frigates, ciples of Maritime Law against which the thirty Brazil merchant-vessels. It was armed neutrality under the auspices of the further stated, that the Portuguese Empress Catherine was orginally directed; fleet was attended by his majesty's and against which the present hostilities of ships, Marlborough, London, MoRussia are denounced. Those principles narch, and Bedford; that one Portuhave been recognised and acted upon in the gueze line of battle ship was on its way best periods of the history of Europe; and acted upon by no power with more strict ness and severity than by Russia herself, in the reign of the Empress Catherine. Those principles it is the right and the duty of his Majesty to maintain; and against every confederacy his Majesty is determined, under the blessing of Divine Providence, to maintain them. They to Plymouth; and that only one serviceable ship of the line and three hulks had been left in the Tagus. Eight Russian line-of-battle ships also remained in that river, only three of which were in a condition for sea. Sir Sydney Smith, it was added, having have at all times contributed essentially to five sail of the line, had probably, by resumed the blockade of Lisbon with the support of the maritime power of that time, been joined by an additional Great Britain; but they are become incal- squadron of English ships. culably more valuable and important, at a period when the maritime power of Great ligence were to have been published Britain constitutes the sole remaining bulThe particulars of the above intel wark against the overwhelming usurpations in a second extraordinary Gazette on When the opportunity for peace be- He adds, "this grand and memorable retain, except as a vassal of France. event is not to be attributed only to the sudden alarm excited by the appearance of a French army within the frontiers of Portugal. It has been the genuine result of the system of persevering confidence and moderation adopted by His Majesty towards that finding, that I had thus anticipated country for the ultimate success of the intentions of His Majesty; your which I had in a manner rendered my- dispatches directing me to authorise self responsible; and which, in obedience to your instructions, I had uniformly continued to support, even under appearances of the most discouraging nature. that measure, in case the Portuguese Government should pass the bounds which His Majesty had thought fit to set to his forbearance, &c. &c. Those Dispatches were drawn up I had frequently and distinctly under the idea that I was still resident stated to the Cabinet of Lisbon, that at Lisbon, and though I did not rein agreeing not to resent the exclusion ceive them until I had actually taken of British commerce from the ports of my departure from that Court, still Portugal, His Majesty had exhausted upon a careful consideration of the the means of forbearance; that in tenor of your instructions, I thought making that concession to the peculiar that it would be right to act as if that circumstances of the Prince Regent's case had not occurred. I resolved, situation, His Majesty had done all therefore, to proceed forthwith to asthat friendship and the remembrance of ancient alliance could justly require; but that a single step beyond the line of modified hostility, thus most reluctantly consented to, must necessarily lead to the extremity of actual war. The Prince Regent, however, suffered himself for a moment to forget that, in the present state of Europe, no country could be permitted to be an enemy to England with impunity, and that however much His Majesty might be disposed to make allowance for the deficiency of the meaus possessed by Portugal of resistance to the power of France, neither his own dignity, nor the interests of his people, would permit Him to accept that excuse for a compliance with the full extent of her unprincipled demands. On the 8th instant, his Royal Highness was induced to sign an order for the detention of the few British subjects, and of the inconsiderable portion of British property, which yet remained at Lisbon. On the publication of this order I caused the Arms of England to be removed from the gates of my residence, demanded my passports, presented a final remonstrance against the recent conduct of the Court of Lisbon, and proceeded to the squadron commanded by Sir Sydney Smith, which arrived off the coast of Portugal some days after I had received my passports, and which I joined on the 17th inst. I immediately suggested to Sir Sydney Smith the expediency of establishing the most rigorous blockade at the mouth of the Tagus; and I had the high satisfaction of afterwards certain the effect produced by the blockade of Lisbon, and to propose to the Portuguese Government, as the only condition upon which that blockade could cease, the alternative, stated by you, either of surrendering the fleet to His Majesty, or of immediately employing it to remove the Prince Regent and his 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 fall into the possession of his enemies, still His first object continued to be the application of that fleet to the ori giual purpose, of saving the Family of Braganza from the tyranny of France. I accordingly requested an audience of the Prince Regent. I had immediately most interesting communica tions with the Court of Lisbon, the particulars of which shall be fully detailed in a future Dispatch. It suffices to mention that the Prince Regent wisely directed all his apprehension 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 momeatary 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, Gazette Letters. in which the Prince Regent announc- termination of which could not be The following is given as a list of the ships of war which were known to have come out of the Tagus on the 29th of November. Principe Real, 84 guns; Rainha de Portugal, 74; Conde Henrique, 74; Meduza, 74; Alfonso de Albiquerqui, 64; D'Joan de Castro, 64; Principe de Brazil; 74; Martino de Freitas, 64. Frigates-Minerva, 44 guns; Golfinho, 96; Urania, 32; and one other, name not as yet known. Brigs-Voador, 22 guns; Vinganea, 20; Schooner Curioza,12 guns. JOAQ. JOZE MONT. TORRES, who was on board the fleet, was landed After this it seems Lord Strangford, in a flag of truce, and had a conferupon his reliance on the King of Great ence with the Prince Regent, in which, Britain's overlooking a forced act of apparent hostility against his flag and himself and his fleet into the arms of subjects, he persuaded him to throw Great Britain, which was then pledged to "establish His Royal Highnesses Government in his ultra-marine possessions, as originally promised." of the Tagus, they were saluted by his When the Portuguese flect came out Majesty's squadron which they return ed. Sir Sydney remarks, that this firing of a reciprocal salute of twentymeeting of those who but the day be one guns announced the friendly scene impressing every beholder (exfore were on terms of hostility; the cept the French army on the hills) with the most lively emotions of gratitude to Providence, that there yet existed a Power in the world able, as oppressed. well as willing, to protect the Sir Sydney Smith's dispatch, dated His Majesty's ship Hibernia, 22 leagues West of the Tagus, Dec. 1, begins with referring to a former, containing proofs in various documents of the Portugueze government being so much influenced by terror of the French arms, as to have acquiesced to certain demands of France, operating cipe Real to pay his respects to the Sir Sydney went on board the Prinagainst Great Britain. The distribu- Prince of Brazil; he gives the following tion of the Portuguese force was made list of the ships left behind, and adds, wholly on the coast, while the land the absence of but one of the four side was left totally unguarded. Bri- ships is regretted by the Portuguese tish subjects of all descriptions were (the Vasco de Gama), she being under detained; and it therefore became repair: her guns have been employed necessary to inform the Portuguese to arm the Freitas, 64, a new ship, and Government, that the case had arisen one of those which came out with the which required, in obedience to my instructions, that I should declare the hulks; and there is also one ship on Prince. The other three are mere Tagus in a state of blockade; still, the stocks, the Principe Regente, but however, bearing in recollection the she is only in frame. first object adopted by His Majesty of opening a refuge for the head of the Portuguese Government, menaced as it was by the powerful arm, and baneful influence of the enemy, I thought it my duty to adopt the means of endeavouring to induce the Prince Regent of Portugal to reconsider his decision" to 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 from which he would be cut off by demned; ordered to be fitted as a floating Princessa de Beira, of 64 guns--conthe nature of maritime warfare, the battery. UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. VIII, 4 B most cordial feelings of gratitude to- without a thorough repair. ordered to be made into a floating hattery, pair, and nearly ready. Frigates-Fenix, of 48 guns, in need of thorough repair. Amazona, of 44 guns-in need of ditto. Memorandum. The Diana merchant vessel, having on board about sixty British subjects, who had been detained, came out of the Tagus in company with the Portuguese fleet, and it is supposed that she bore up for England at the commencement of the gale. lution, that it embraced objects unconnected with each other, of magnitude sufficient to warrant a separate discussion; and, upon this ground, an amendment was moved, "That so much of the Message of the President Sir Sydney concludes his last dis- of the United States, as relates to the patch, dated Dec. 6, with observing attack made on the frigate Chesathis dispatch will be delivered by Capt. peake, be referred to a select ComYeo, of his Majesty's sloop Confiance, mittee; and that the Committee be who has shewn great address and zeal instructed to enquire into the circumin opening the communication by stances of that attack, the causes flags of truce, which it was the interest assigned for making it, and the manof those in power, who were against ner in which it was repelied; and to the measure of emigration, to obstruct. report the result of such enquiries in detail to this House." A debate arcse upon this amendment, but perfectly free from all violence, in which it was contended, that the Commander of the Chesapeake was then upon trial, and the discussion might tend to excite a prejudice against him. The amend ment was negatived, and the original This remark of Sir Sydney's, respect- Resolution carried without a division. ing the persons who were against the It was supposed, however, that nothing measure of emigration, is explained by interesting would be brought forward the known circumstance that it was at until the receipt of dispatches from first given out that the Court was only the American Minister in London. going to Madeira; but when the secret Mr. Erskine, the British Minister, and transpired that South America was the General Turreau, the French Minireal destination of the fleet, numbers ster, had arrived in Washington. of seamen, &c. conceiving themselves Denmark k.dnapped, became mutinous, in consequence of which, the Prince giving those persons leave to return who chose so to do, about two hundred from his own ship were relanded. The officers, according to private letters, had much trouble in keeping the rest in order; and this accounts for the circumstance of four British men of war being detached by Sir Sidney Smith to accompany the Portuguese fleet. FOREIGN EVENTS. America. New York papers to the 10th ult, have arrived containing the proceedings of Congress to the 4th. On the 29th of October, in the House of Representatives, Mr. Dawson moved, That so much of the message of the President of the United States, as relates to aggressions committed within our ports and waters by foreign armed vessels; to the violations of our juris diction; and he measures necessary for the protection of our ports and habours, be referred to a select Committee." ~ It was objected to this reso In the year 1785, his Majesty made the Crown Prince of Denmark a present of a frigate, which frigate was purposely left behind when the late Expedition quitted Copenhagen; but so hostile is his Highness to every thing British, that he has ordered it to be sent back to this country, and it actually sailed from Copenhagen on the 23d of last month.-The crew put on board the above frigate, to navigate her to England, consisted of one mate and sixteen sailors, all liberated English prisoners of war. Russia. An Ukase was published at St. Petersburgh on the 28th of October last, ordering an embargo on all British ships in Russian harbours, and on all property of the British on board of the same, as also on that at Change and in the Custom house Packhouses. Their immoveable property, and what does not consist of goods, to be left in their possession as heretofore, but not be allowed to be sold, mortgaged, or transferred into other hands. Taking such measures merely from our evident Provincial Occurrences. mercy to them, we hope they will not, had at the same time signified his plea559 during the existing difference, trans- sure, that the Prince of Asturias gress their duty by actions which should be declared Generalissimo of might prove prejudicial to Russia, and all the troops, both French and Spathus incur our just displeasure, but nish, in Spain, and accompanied this live in due quietness and tranquillity. message by a letter, full of civil exTo counteract this measure, an order pressions to his Royal Highness, and appeared in the London Gazette for by sending him the sword, which he Saturday Dec. 9; in which, it is re- had some time ago received himself as markable, that the usual clause au- a present from the King of Spain, thorizing his Majesty's ships to burn, saying, that it could not be in better sink, and destroy is omitted. It, how- hands than those of the Heir Apparent. ever, as usual prohibits vessels from to the Spanish Monarchy. sailing, or clearing out for any ports in the Russian dominions till further orders, and lays an embargo upon all Russian vessels inBritish ports, besides ordering the commanders of his Majesty's vessels, &c. to bring in and detain all ships and vessels belonging to the subjects of the Emperor of Russia, or bearing the flag of the Emperor of Russia; but that the utmost care be taken for the preservation of all and every part of the cargoes on board any of the said ships or vessels, so that no damage or embezzlement whatever be sustained, &c. &c. Spain. The public papers have some time since announced the discovery of a conspiracy, in which the Prince of Asturias has been engaged against his father. This Prince has since confessed his crime, and received pardon: he had been apprehended, but was afterwards released, and a day of thanksgiving appointed for his father's escape from the catastrophe that threatened him. The Prince of Asturias, it is affirmed, obtained his liberation in the following manner-He found means to open a communication with Beauharnois, the French Ambassador at Madrid; in consequence of which his Royal Highness was set at liberty, after ten days confinement, and the proceedings which had been begun against him in the Council of Castille, had been stopped. It is added, that the interference of Beausharnois in the Prince's favour, was in obedience to the express orders of Bonaparte, who turias, and his petition for forgiveness, The confession of the Prince of Ashave been officially circulated by the Spanish Government, in the same manner as the original Proclamation denouncing the conspiracy. peror sent to the Prince of Asturias, is The Sword which the French Em-that of Francis I. taken by the Spaniards at the battle of Pavia, and lately returned by the King of Spain to the French Emperor. addressed to the Prince of Asturias : The following is a copy of a letter BELOVED PRINCE, Count of Haro, the sword which the "Receive from the hands of the interest of my Empire, the honour of the Spaniards, and the opinion of your excellent accomplishments require to be made over to the Chief of the troops destined to revenge our arms for the repeated grievances with which our enemies have thought proper to outrage them.-One day you will go vern the people you now fly to conquer, distinguish among its neighbours, to and France will have in you a friend to concur with us, in suppressing in their origin, and chastising those that may be disposed to promote discord. I have, therefore, thought proper to command General Junot to make known to the army, that your sacred person, placed at its head, represents mine, and that of your Father, my dear Ally. I am proud in promising myself, that by these means, that friendship which I so much value, will be encreased. 64 NAPOLEON, Emperor of the French, &c." PROVINCIAL OCCURRENCES. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. DIED. At the Windmill Inn,[laydon, wife of Mr. Haydon, printer don, for the advice of Mr. Cline, Mrs. Salt Hill, just after her arrival and bookseller to his royal highness in a journey from Plymouth to Lon- the Duke of Clarence, Plymouth. She 4 B 2 |