The National Register.
London, England, 1813-01-03 00:00:00

STAN. 3.

fish 74 is 500 men, but seldom is there an board, even on
the home stations, more than from 460 to 480 men, and of
these generally about On are foreigners, and about 60 are
boys. The United States, in the recent engagement, had a
complement of 478 men, that is, 12 less tan the nominal
complement of our 74's, and at least equal to the number
that any 74 actually has on board. But a consideration of
by far greater consequence than the quantity of men is their
quality. horn the extended state of the British navy, it is
impracticable to man our fleets with seamen. About 6-7ths
of every ship's company are landmen ; and thus, in a 74,
there are seldom more than 70 hands that can be put upon
the forecastle or rated as able seamen. Now the Americans,
having but few national vessels, are able to man their ships
not only entirely with sailors, but with picked, choice sailors;
and they have been but too successful in enticing some of
our ablest hands to become their petty officers.

THE ARETHUSA.
Tla Morning, Chronicle, in the course of the week, felt it
to be its paiifful duty, as it frequently does, to be the first to
spread the news of a disaster, and accordingly put forth a
positive and circumstantial account of the capture of the
frigate Arethusa, with four millions of dollars on board.—
This ship was stated to have been taken by the Americans,
and carried into the Mississippi. No actual intelligence
having been received of the fact, the statement was contro.
verted. The Chronicle then informed its readers, that the
frigate had been seen in a storm, and was expected to be
taken possession of by the Americans. On this, it was first
foolish enough to make the *count public, and on this
absurd enough afterwards to defend it. It is now generally
disbelieved altogether, as advices have been received of her
down to the 27th of October, at which time she was " all
well," having repaired some damages previously sustained in
a gale of wind. •

It had been confidently stated, for some days past, that
the Belle Poule was seen with a French frigate in tow, which
she had captured after an action of an hour and a half. Of
this, such positive intelligence was received, that no one
doubted the tact ; but the following paragraph in the Cou-
rier of yesterday destroys the pleasing illusion, and scarcely
leaves it in OW power to hope that the information is cor-
rect.
" We fear there is no truth in the account transmitted in
the Plymouth letters yesterday, of the capture of a French
frigate by the Belle Poule. They stated that she was actu-
ally seen in the offing in tow of the Belle Poule. Our let-
ters, however, from Plymouth this morning are silent upon
the subject, and no account of such a capture has been re-
ceived at the Admiralty."
Some further correspondence has been published by the
American Government between Mr. RUSSELL and Lord
C:ISTLEREAGH. The new overtures frown America called
for the concessions before demanded, on the understanding
that a Law should be passed to prevent British seainen enter-
ing into the service of the Vnited States. These as not
essentially differing from those formerly made, and not con-
taiuing a specification of the Law to be enacted, were not
deemed satisfactory, and accordingly rejected.
The Minerva packet, Capt.W ans,arrived on Monday
at Liverpool, from New York, as a Flag of Truce. Mr. Boss
employed in the late mission from this country, arrived in
this vessel with dispatches for Lord CASTLEREAGH, 110111
Mr. 13ATES, the British Diplomatic Agent at Washington.
Those dispatches are stated to be of great importance, but no
account of their contents has yet transpired latteri of the