The National Register.
London, England, 1808-04-03 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

%IT

It is evident that Government have long expected an
engagement, because an Order was some days ago received
at Plymouth for the Masters attendant and their assistants,
to hold themselves in readiness for the reception of any
ships that might arrive from the West. There is therefore
a great internal probability in the account we have quoted.
The wind has veered into such a western direction, as to
allow the conveyance of intelligence from the Mediterra-
nean up Channel: and the easterly gales will have expe-
dited the passage of dispatches through the Streights into
the Atlantic. Sincerely as we shall rejoice in a confirma-
tion of any favourable accounts, we must nevertheless feel
that if the victory have been purchased by the death of
Sir IllcnAße STRACHANI it has been purchased at a great
expense. In this uncertainty, the belief of Englishmen
will probably incline with their wishes, and every body wilt
endeavour to assure himself that England has conquered,
and that her Admiral is still alive. If indeed he liVes, fie.. •
lives for admiration if he has died, he has died but to
be immortal !

The westerly winds will aid the progress of our fleet,

under the command a Admirals Sir J. SAUXAREL, Bunn,
and Kr Ts, nhich are probably by this time on their
voyage toward the Baltic.

No advices from Sir 11 ICU D STRACHAN'S squadron had
reached the Admiralty at a late hour last night. A tele-
graphic communication from 'Plymouth was said to have
reached the Admiralty, but its result had not transpired
when this Paper was put to press ; and it was not supposed
to refer to the floating reports of the defeat of the French
and Carthagena squadrons.

' The C;plain of the Portuguese vessel, Quatro liermanos,
which arrived on the 22d at Cork, reports the blockado
of Lisbon to have been carried on so strictly, that not more
than four vessels had entered since its commencement.
lie adds, that the scarciiy of provisions is dreadful ; that
a quantity of letters, collected on board of our ships, were
riven to a French Officer, who was mistaken for a Rus-
sian ; that this Officer took charge of them, and delivered
them to JUNOT, who sent an express to Paris for instruc-
tions; and that general apprehensions were entertained of
a great discovery of English property.
A flag of truce has passed between General hinny and
Sir Cumming CoTrolv, probably on the subject of an ex-
change of the crew of a gun-boat that was cut out of the
Tagus. This communication is the source of the vaglie
reports about the Treaty for the Evacuation of Portugal.

There have been no fresh arrivals from the North. Tl'e
adverse state of the winds has prevented the passage of
packets from England ; and at. Gottenburgh not one is left
for the dispatch of ordinary business. We hope, however,
that some means would be found for the conveyance of
any very decisive intelligence. At present sse are in tow
ignorance of the operations in Finland, and of the progress
of the ins asion with which Scenia is threatened bv Zea-
land ; where it seems there are, or lately were. !..?,000
troops, under the command of General lic.nst.sporre.
The Declaration of the king of Prussia is a short and
clear avowal of his own imbicility. lie says that he has
been solicited by France and Russia to break his relations
with Sweden, and adds, that they are broken accordingly.
His. •wa opiiiions, if he presumes to entertain any, he has .

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