The Sun.
London, England, 1803-09-15 00:00:00

GIBRALTAR, AuGuvr !!.

ON the 3oth of July the Canopus, Admiral
CAMPBELL, arrived from off Cadiz, where; he had
been for some time watching for the four• French
sail of the line, that unfortunately got into,Ferrol.
He left the Malta cruizing off The con-
queror wai ordered rci England, and it is supposed
the Sceptre has gone to the East Indies. .
On the 31st, the *Asa): Capr..GottE, arrived
from our squadron off Toulon, in ten days. Lord
NELSON had then only, five sail of the line block-
ing up seven sail of the French, all ready fur sea,
his Lordship I;aVing dispatched the rest of the sqpa'
dron on other duties,-.---The Maidstite had taken -a
French 'sloop of war, loaded with GreCian
Antiqui-
ties, going as a preset to BONAPATRE. We daily
expect a convoy of about sixty sail froth Malta and
the porti in the Mediterranean, ac'the covOy is to
call off all the different ports where there are any
English merchant, ships.
The Spaniards are forming a camp at Valladolid,
where it is said the King means to command them in
person, if the French should attempt to march an
army through Spaiu.

DOPER, SRPT. 12.

THE Rigta. Hon. W. rtorr came jto town yes.
terday about three o'clock,, and, en barked on board
one 'dour great boats, named the Polecat, to make
trial' of a gun fitted up on 'the under-mentioned con.
strutlion. I e s'et sail, accompanied by Col.. Put PPS,
Capt. Ess N (tip r 4,.. Lieutenants STOW “Pd
.s..votto, and, Mr, Jnmas MOON,. ;whp planned the
fixing of the gun. After sailing, off two or three
miles, the gun, which was an eighteen pounder, was
fired three tires With :round, and twice with can.
nisier shot, and was found to answer very coin.
Plei6lY, being 'fired in several ' 'After"
giving lctis entire. .approbation to the.. fitting of the
gun, &c, fifty boats are-to be fitted up iinmediately
in like manner, to an as gutt.toats &wanted, he
landed, .and. proceeded to inspen the l)over 'Volun-
teers, Of Mioin he is. Colonel: he entered the field
where they were, drawn up to receive him,' about
eoo stron,g, when the men went through their ex_
ercise and field mangeuvies in a manner that did them
great credit, eonsidering the short time 'char they
have been trained: , Lord 'IVIAt3o:;4, Col. PHIPIIS,
Cot. 13ROD ttR Cob. ClpiaOtilt:L., and several
other Militaty c's.ntlerleu, were present, and seemed
very well pleased with the men's appearance. At six
he set off for Walmer Castle.

-Arrived several colliers, and some coasters wind-
bound.

The'boat in which the gun is fitted is 66 feet
long,.
,and 13 wide, rigged- lugger-fashirin, and the ,
gun is fought on a moveable skid, in, the centre of
the boat, on a circle, St, that it cen be pointed in
any dirediory; a 'piece of the circle takes out for.
ward, and also a piece abaft, so that, ilmore Con-
venient, the gun canshe made to tun on its skid
forward, and, fought ,on the botv, or ,ab.d!, and
fonght at the stein ; and as the great d4oger of
heavy cannon in boats arisesTrom their being top
heavy, andliable to break loose, with the motion of
the boat when it blows, hard, is sQ,cosstruaed,
in that by means of two- screws, onean cao lower
the gum down.on thkkelson of the boat, .where,it
serves•for additional ballast,, and, if wanted fur use,
one.man can raise it to its place for fighting. (41.
though. its weight is 24 Mt.) ;.:this,baa, manned
hyl the Dover Sea Feocibles, under, the command_ of
Capt. Essirwrom, of the Royal Navy„ attended by
his Lieutenants, STow and Cite rpswo D, SAht
COLLET) Esq. jAht7o Mouttx, and two or three
other private, Gentlemen, set sail, in company with
one of our fast-sailing pilat.boats ; anti after they
had found out the trim of the fencible boar, it was
foUnd that .317 e ,would sail, even -on a wind, near,
three feet to the other boa-t's,two„ and that in corn-
ing back off-the wind, she completely aistanced the
other boat ; trial wo then made of the gun, which
was fired in, different directions, nine times, :and
was lOWA to ;answer beyond their rnosi sanguine
expeCtations; the recoil was so little, that ltlie piece
was fired three times before it was necessary to-run
the gun but, and it did not shake the circle on which
it is fixed in the letiSt : three oefour 'of such. busts
would he incite than a mate!' for the stoutest priva-
teer that ever 'comes in these-parts, ind- from their
superior sailing, either in fine weather, when she
can likewise'be rowed, with. twenry.eight oars, or
when it blows hard, must cause:her to have a
.great
advantage over any of the heavy gUn.boats with
which the Enemy intend to invade -Us, by 'taking
such a situation cis they could annoy the Enemy,
without being much annoyed themselves,..especially
when manned by seamen sir.rtruch used to the boats
as ours are; tin -so superior to French seamen in
such craft. The public .is indebted. for his useful
information to Mr. )hems M 0 Otir
tej.Zi to
,Ex;ri.r-11:1:InSdreerr
here, who hap spared no 'pains o
it verfeo„......Fifty boats and vessels are to be fated
up in a Similar way-immediately, and cur brave
tars burn to signalise. themselves, a. ml
doubt, should the Enemy give theirs an oppor-
tunity make them.. repent of their rash under.

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