The Sun.
London, England, 1804-05-11 00:00:00

RII'ER FENCIBLES.

lir about ten o'clock yesterda
cellent body of men y morning this ex. command by Commodore Ltr-
GAs, took water at the Tower, and were accom-
panied by the 7th Battalion of Loyal London Volun-
teers, under the command of Major PRATT. The
Fencibles were about boo in number, and the '
V 1e
aboet 400. They advanced up the River
in the folloWing order :—Six gun-boats in a line, in
front, to proteCt the Infantry in their advance
to cover their landin and
g, two b with a brass
Pon each; and two boats with aoats band and drumscan-
and
files followed. Fifteen launches then advanced
abreast, with the Volunteers on board and several
of the Fencibles.. The rough and hardy look, and
the plain 'neatness of the dress of the latter a ttrafted
Particular notice.. Each boat had fourteen oars, or
3wteps, which were all manned by the Fencibles.
Though the smooth water of the Thames is not well
suited for a display of nautical skill, this we may
with
the confidence assert, that even in that confined
situay displayed such manliness and dexte-
rity as could not possibly beequalled by any set of
men in Europe, but by the natives of those islands.
The rapidity with which they darted along at each
stroke, the regular order in which they pre-
served their two lines across the River, and the
corred time which each boat istant, preserved within itself,
n the feathering of 14 oars exactly at the same in-
was exceedingly pleasing to every speCtator,
and many were seen to enjoy a portion of self_vanity
in the performance, and say, " the re will you get
their fellows ?" They fired several shot, at various
intervals, as they went up, and when they came to
Chelsea, they fired a salute in honour of the Veterans
theY passed.
When they came to the Eight cells, near Putney,,
the Putney and Ruehampton Volunteers were tits_
covered lining the beach, and posting a detachment
upon a little bridge, which they would have to pass
if they landed. The guns on board the boats were
exceedingly well served; they kept up a constant
cannonade, and those on the beach poured in several
most complete volleys upon the boats. At length,
however the superiority of numbers, and the heavy
weight Of metal prevailed, and silenced the fire of
the small arms- The Light Infantry were first dis-
embarkd, some skirmishing then ensued, and it was
not until the whole had landed, that the Roehamp-
ton and ore_
fell hack. The Volunteers then
marched up to Wimbledon Common, where they had
a grand field-clay. After they had some refresh-
ments, the Fencibles ag,ain pradised the working
of their guns, until the Volunteers returned.
Tilt whole came down the River in the same or-
der in which they went up, with rmis;c playing and
colours !lying. They landed the Volunteers at
Blackfriars at.)o9t eight o'ziock in the ovening
The day was very favourable. The River above
Bridge was literally covered with boats, and, tho'
it mast be very obvions, that if one of the heavy
Cnn.boata-was to come athwart any of the little
ikiffs that as
generally seen upon the Ri::er, it
~,k;tild he immediately run down, yet stu.li was the
r‘..;elarity and ;kill ,;iat nit of those in the greater boats lingl‘ lccidf!nt c.v.-it red, ,