"A decree was published yesterday, in which the Prince Regent announced his intention 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 His Royal Highness's absence from Europe." Sir Sydney Smith writes on the first of December the following letter to the admiralty:-- His Majesty's Ship Hibernia, 22 leagues west of the Tagus, Dec. 1, 1807. "Sir, "In a former despatch, dated 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 land side was left totally unguarded. British subjects of all descriptions were detained; and it therefore became 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." (_Sir Sydney then repeats part of Lord Strangford's despatch._) "On the morning of the 29th, the Portuguese fleet came out of the Tagus with His Royal Highness the Prince of Brazil, and the whole of the royal family of Braganza on board, together with many of his faithful councillors 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[20], 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 yet existed a power in the world able, as well as willing, to protect the oppressed.--I have, &c. "W. SYDNEY SMITH." [Note 20: _List of the Portuguese Fleet that came out of the Tagus on the 29th of November, 1807._ Guns. Commanded by Principe Real 84, Adm. Manoel da Cunha. Capt. Manoel da Canto. Rainha de Portugal 74, Capt. Francisco Manoel Soetomayor. _The Princess Dowager and younger daughters came in this ship._ Conde Henrique 74, Capt. Jose Maria de Almeida. Medusa 74, Capt. Henrique de Souza Prego. Affonso d'Abuquerque 64, Capt Ignacio da Costa Quinatella. _The Queen and family in this ship._ D. Joam de Castro 64, Capt. Don Manoel Juan Souça. Principe do Brazil 74, Capt. Garçaŏ.