Venice, April 17.

E have Letters from Sicily, which give us an account, That the Spaniards having possessed themselves of the Castle of St. Salvador, and other posts, which lay towards the water, with the assistance of the Dutch Fleet; and that de Ruyter having by the weather been some days after obliged to remove from his station, and to stand over to the other side of the Fare, the Duke de Vivonne had made use of the opportunity to regain those Posts; which he had effected, by causing 6 or 7000 Men to sally out of Messina, and disposing at the same time the French Fleet so, as that their Cannon did very much annoy the Spaniards, while de Ruyter was hindered by the contrary winds from coming to their succor. It is said that the French lost about 200 Men in the Action, and the Spaniards above treble the number, together with the Count de Bucquoy, and several other Officers. For the rest, the same Letters tell us, That the French Fleet consists in 32 Men of War, all mounted from 44 to 84 Guns; That nine of them are ships of three Decks, but that they are ill manned; That the French are in possession of all the Castles and Forts belonging to the Messineses, of whom they are very jealous; That much will depend upon the Succors that are now expected there with the French Gallies from Marseilles, they having at present in Messina hardly Corn enough to supply those inhabitants one Month, notwithstanding they have of late taken several ships laden with their provision.

Copenhagen, April 25. The Squadron of Men of War that lately failed from hence, are returned again without having been able to effect their design, which was to make themselves Masters of the Isle of Rugen; the Suedes having had notice of it time enough to put themselves into a posture of defense. These Men of War have however orders to continue at Sea, and to have an eve upon the Swedish ships that are fitting at Gossenberg, to carry as is believed, a succor to Stade. Yesterday Grissenselt was for the first time examined by the Commissioners appointed for that purpose, in which four hours were spent. The tenth of the next Month he is to be examined again in the presence of the King. In the mean time we cannot yet particularly learn what is charged upon him. The Sicur Omenius is declared Vice-chancellor.

Vienna, April 19. The Emperor continues in his retirement, though, it's said, he will on Wednesday next part for Newstadt, with intention to continue there till June. Our last Letters from the Port told us, that the Grand Signior will not go into the Field this Summer, but that he will remain at Adrianople, committing the conduct of his Armies to the Grand Viser. Many people here seem to promise themselves, that the Elector of Bavaria will now suddenly declare in favor of the Emperor; and, it's said farther, that to dispose his Electoral Highness thereunto, a marriage will be proposed between the Emperor and his Daughter, but this is as yet but discourse. We are told, that the Duke of Lorrais hath given his Imperial Majesty

Strasburg, April 24. It is reported here, that the French Troops which have assembled at Metz, are marched to join the King in Flanders, which the more surprises us, for that we have all along expected that a reinforcement would rather have been sent from Flanders into these parts. Vast provision is making at Saverne and Haguenaw, for the subsistence of the Army this Campaign. From Eslingen, the Imperial Head quarter, they write, that all the Regiments had positive orders to be at the general Rendezvous the sixth of the next month.

Cologne, April 28. The Deputies sent by the Duke of Newburg to Maestricht, have been only able to obtain a defearing of the execution for eight days longer upon those that do not bring in their Contributions in that time. In the mean time, his Highness endeavors all he can to put his Countreys into a state of defense; besides the new Fortifications we have already told you of, he has caused a Fort to be Built near Linnich. We expect very suddenly in these parts the Troops of the Bishop of Osnabrug, and some Munsrer and Brandenburg, who will form a body to act on the side of Trevos. From Strasburg there are Letters by the Ordinary, which say, that the French did again assemble a Body of Men about Colmar, with design, as is believed, to put a relief into Phillipsburg; and that the Duke of Lorrain was preparing to hinder it.

Hamburg, April 28. We have this week no very good news from Berlin, viz. That the Elector of Brandenburg hath commanded afresh, that the Ships and Goods belonging to the Subjects of this City, that be stopped; and that his Electoral Highness had refused to receive the Letters written to him by our Magistrates on that subject, directing at the same time that his Minister, who hath resided here, should forwith return home. From Copenhagen they write that Griffensel had been once examined, that his accusation consisted in 12 Headsor Articles, of which the first is said to be, That he had, by surprise, got the King to sign a Paper, by which his Majesty in case of death, should appoint him sole Governor and Regent of his Children and Countries, during the min???ry of his eldest Son, which, it seems was found among his Papers. 2. That he had sent orders to countermand the Dutch Ships of War, that are to come from Holland, to join with his Majesty's Fleet this Summer. 3. That he had not sent any succor to the Sieur Guldenlien, Viceroy of Norway and had not communicated seven several Letters which were written by his Excellency, to demand a supply. 4. That he had sold all Places and Offices to persons that were not capable of them. The other Articles we as yet know not. There seems at present good appearance of accommodating matters between the King of Denmark and the Duke of Holstein, which would be well for the Sieur Kielman, President of the Dukes Council, who is now a prisoner at Copenhagen.