Sperknoi, of 44 guns, and a large transport, were taken possession of as prizes on Wednesday night at Spithead, by the Leda and Hussar.-We hope soon to announce the entrance of the Russian Mediterranean squadron into an English port.

Part of the squadron that was under admiral Keates, is to sail from Portsmouth this morning.

On Wednesday night and yesterday morning a party of Officers went on board all the foreign vessels in the River, examined their papers, and scrutinized their cabins closely. All vessels found under Oldenburgh colours had the broad arrow put upon their masts, and orders were given that no person belonging to them should be suffered to go on shore. Dec. 4. Four persons were drowned on Sunday last, by imprudently venturing on the ice before it was sufficiently strong to bear them. An inquisition was taken yesterday at Newington, on the body of Peter Fowler, a joiner, residing in Gray's Inn-lane, who was drowned in a pond near Newington, and whose wife was a spectator at the time of the sad accident. The deceased had been to see his brother, and it was by mere accident that he was induced to go on the ice, where some boys were sliding. Verdict Accidental DeathA lad of the name of Bremen, was also drowned in a pond at Somers Town, as was also a youth at Paddington, exclusive of another in Hyde Park, whose death we mentioned yesterday.

Dec. 5. Yesterday evening, between seven and eight o'clock, a fire broke out in the house of lady Clermont, in Berkeley-square. Her ladyship had company at dinner, and the cloth was just removed when the alarm was given. As soon as her ladyship's company heard of the dreadful accident, they persuaded her to quit the house, but in vain: she remained in the house, and would not suffer the doors to be opened, while the fire was raging with the greatest fury in the back attic story, where it is imagined it had begun; the engines soon arrived, and the whole neighbourhood was in alarm. Water could not be procured for a considerable time, and when the plugs were opened, there was not a suf

ficient quantity to work the engines, until the main was forced at Pimlico and at the New River Head. By that time the flames had spread to such an alarming degree, as to threaten destruction to the houses of earl Powis, and sir John Harrington. Lord Foley's house also stood in great danger, as the back drawing-room windows project, and were much scorched by the flames. At nine o'clock the square was filled with people, and carriages full of ladies, who stopped to witness the dreadful scere; the flames by that time having extended to the front of the house, and still keeping to the attic stories, burning in the most awful manner. It illuminated the whole atmosphere for many miles round. The engines by that time had received an ample supply of water, but it did not seem to have any effect on the devouring element, it still burned with great violence in the back part of the house, and consumed the third floor room, with its furniture: By ten o'clock the roof fell in with a dreadful crash, which stopped the progress of the flames, although the ruins of that part of the house, by the great heat, threatened destruction to the second floor. About eleven o'clock, it was nearly got under, but it still had an awful appearance. Lord Foley stood on the roof of his own house, during the whole time; and lady Foley, who had packed up her jewels, remained within, with the greatest fortitude and composure, being determined not to retire until it was thought necessary. Her ladyship's carriage was at the door during the whole time, in case it was thought prudent for her to leave the house. At half-past eleven, the fire was very much abated. The St. James's volunteers attended, and kept excellent order. The firemen also exerted themselves to the utmost of their power; one of them having got access to the top of the house on fire, through sir John Harrington's house, he broke the windows of the dormers, stripped the lead off the top of them, and beat down the rafters. This had a very good effect in stopping the progress of the flames, which, at that period, had nearly caught the roof of earl Powis`'&

house. At twelve o'clock the engines were all at work, and the square was crowded with people. About one o'clock it was completely extinguished. Every gentleman's house in the square was opened, and ready to receive any thing that might be saved from the conflagration.

Dec. 12. A coroner's inquest sat on Friday at Pender's-gate, near Stanmore, on the body of James Richmond Davis. The deceased, an artist of considerable property, resided near the turnpike at Paddington, and had been on the preceding day to a house, near Watford, in a single horse chaise, accompanied by his neice, a girl 16 years old. On their return home in the afternoon, it being dusk, and the ditches being filled with snow on a level with the road, Mr. D. mistook the horse-track on the off-side, and drove into a ditch five feet deep. The young lady was precipitated into the hedge unhurt; but the chaise was overturned so suddenly, that the driver was thrown into the ditch with the vehicle upon him, by which he was killed.-Accidental death.

Dec. 19. In the course of this day the following letter was sent by the secretary of state and first lord of the admiralty to the lord mayor:

Foreign office, half past Two, P. M.
Dec. 19. 1807.

My lord-I have the honour to acquaint your lordship that lord Strangford, his majesty's minister plenipotentiary to the court of Lisbon, has just arrived, having left the Portuguese fleet on the 5th instant, between Madeira and the Western Islands, under convoy of a British squadron, with a fair wind, steering for the Brazils.

I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) G. Canning. The Right hon. the Lord Mayor. Captain Yeo, of the Confiance sloop, also reached town on Saturday, between two and three o'clock, and attended at the Admiralty with dispatches from Sir Sidney Smith. Shortly after his arrival the following letter was dispatched by lord Mulgrave to the lord mayor :

Admiralty, Dec. 19. 1807. My lord-I have great satisfaction in acquainting your lordship that captain

Yeo, of his majesty's sloop Confiance, arrived this afternoon at this office, with dispatches from rear-adıniral Sir Sidney Smith, dated December 6, stating that the Prince Regent, with the whole of the Royal Family, consisting of fifteen persons, had embarked for the Brazils on the 24th ult, with seven sail of the line, five frigates, three armed brigs, and upwards of thirty Brazil, merchant vessels.

The Portuguese fleet is attended by his Majesty's ships Marlborough, London, Monarch, and Bedford, under the command of capt. Moore.

Only one serviceable Portuguese line of battle ship, and three hulks, remained in the Tagus; eight Russian line of battle ships remained in the Tagus; only three of which were in condition for sea.

Rear admiral sir S. Smith has resumed the blockade of the port of Lisbon with five sail of the line; and will probably by this time have been joined by an additional squadron of line of battle ships, -I have the honour, &c. J. Ansley, mayor,

(True Copy)

BIRTHS.

Mulgrave

Νου. 18. At Talmouth, near Berwick, a seat of her father's, sir Francis Blake, bart. Mrs. Stag, of a daughter.

At lady Chambers's house, in Mortimer-street, the lady of colonel Wilton,

of a son.

20. In Guildford-street, the lady of Samuel Edwards, esq. of a son and heir.

25. At the cottage, Southgate, the lady of W. Curtis, esq. of a daughter. The lady of Colin Douglas, esq. of Frederick's-place, of a daughter.

Dec. 1. At Whiteford, the lady of sir Win. Call, bart. of a daughter.

3. The lady of adiniral Wilson, of Redgrave, Suffolk, of a son.

7. At Barham Court, near Canterbury, the lady of Samuel Tyssen, esq. of Narborough Hall, Norfolk, of a

son.

9. At Fountington, Sussex, the lady of sir James Duff, of a daughter.

MARRIAGES.

Nov. 17. At Clifton Church, John Eld, esq. of Singleford, Staffordshire, to the hon. Louisa S. Sidney Smythe, youngest daughter of the late right hon. and rev. Viscount Strangford.

18. At Stockport, the rev. George Hornsby, vicar of Turkdean, Gloucestershire, and chaplain to the marquis of Huntley, to Cordelia Enrna Astley, youngest daughter of the late John Astley, esq. of Dukingfield-lodge, Cheshire. 23. At Kendal, John Drinkwater, esq. Liverpool, Merchant, to miss. Gandy, of the former place.

24. At Inveresk, the earl of Selkirk, to miss Wedderburn, only daughter of James Wedderburn Colvile, esq.

At St. George's, Bloomsbury, John Edwards, esq. of Bloomsbury-square, to Mrs. Dalton, of Russel-square.

28. By the rev. Dr. Drummond, George Haldimand, esq. of Clapham, to miss Prinsep, daughter of J. Prinsep, esq. alderman of the city of London.

At Aswarby House, Lincolnshire, capt. Atty, of the royal North Lincoln Militia, to miss Harriot Whichcote.

Dec. 1. Major Williams, Bombay Establishment, to Martha, third daughter of the late Charles Deane, esq. of Keekle - Grove, Cumberland.

At the parish church of Bolton, by the rev. Mr. Folds, Joseph Yates, of Peel Hall, in the county of Lancaster, esq. barrister at law, only son of the late hon. Mr. Justice Yates, to miss Amelia Ainsworth, eldest daughter of Thomas Ainsworth, of Bolton in the same county, esq.

12. Earl Craven, to miss Brunton, late of Covent Garden Theatre. The ceremony was performed at seven o'clock, by special licence, at his lordship's house in Charles-street, Berkeleysquare. The hon. Berkeley Craven, his lordship's brother, and Mr. Brunton's family were present. A splendid dinner was prepared for the occasion. At eight o'clock yesterday morning, the happy pair left town for Combe Abbey, near Coventry, one of his lordship's seats. The noble earl is in his 37th year, the fair bride in her 25th.

DEATHS.,

Nov. 21. At Bury, Suffolk, in the 87th year of her age, Mrs. Pretyman, wife of George Pretyman, esq. and. another of the bishop of Lincoln.

25. At his house on Clapham-common, in his 31st year, John Colliek, esq. late of St. Martin's Lane, and one of the magistrates for the county of Middlesex and Westminster.

28. At his house in Grosvenor-place, Sir John Thomas Stanley, bart. of Alderley Park, Cheshire.

At his house in Spring Gardens, aged 65, Henry Vaughan Brooke, esq. M P. for the county of Donegal, in Ireland.

At Southampton, aged 69, Mr. T. Collins, Proprietor and manager of the theatres of Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester, and Chichester.

Dec. 2. In Wimpole-street, Cavendish-square, vice-admiral John Pakenham, of Lowestoft, in Suffolk, aged 61.

At Abb's Court, Surry, dowager .countess Bathurst. She had nearly completed her 77th year.

At her house in Upper Brook-street,. Mrs. Lynne, relict of the late Nicholas Lynne, esq. of Horsham, in the county of Essex.

At Ipswich, at an advanced age, Mrs. Clara Reeve, sister to the late viceadmiral Reeve.

5. At Gretford, in the county of Lincoln, in his 90th year, Dr. Francis Willis, M. D.

10. At his house in Southampton, John Brisbane, esq. admiral of the red.

12. At Stepleford, in Leicestershire, the right hon. Philip Sherard, earl and baron of Harborough,' and baron Leitrim in Ireland. His lordship was in his 41st year. He is succeeded in his titles and estates by his only son Philip, who is about twelve years of age.

Lately, Miss Frances Toynton, of Toynton All Saints, near Spilsby. But a few days before, the prospect of life and happiness presented itself to herand the day on which she died had been fixed upon for her wedding-day.

17. At Stoke-Newington, Thomas Penn, esq. after a very severe illness.