The Sun.
London, England, 1804-01-04 00:00:00

LONDON, JANUARY 4,1804.

TH E idea of an immediate Invasion being at-
tempted, seems daily to gain ground in all places
along the Coast, and there were yesterday appear-
ances from the Heights of Dever, which fully jus-
tify the belief. The Signal for an Enemy being
out was flying at the Signal House at East Hill
until dark yesterday evening. Movements both
at Ca/gif and EJlii)gne were seen from the
Hills yesterday afternoon. In consequence, all the
Troops on that part of the Coast were on the
alert, and received orders to be in readiness for scr-

vice at a moment's notice.
A report likewise strongly prevailed yesterday
at Portsmouth, of the Enemy ha7ing embarked,
and early yesterday the Fleet at Sr. Helens was
ordered to be in readiness to start ; and it was
even said, that the West India Convoy had been
recalled. The same report prevailed in the Isle
of Wight, and all the Military, both Regulars and
Volunteers, were ordered to be in readiness.
The accounts from Dover arc so decisive with re_
sped to movements having been observed at CaLis
and Bou/opre, that little doubt can be entertained
of the Enemy very speedily making his long-threat-
ened attempt. Indeed, if it is not made now, it must
most likely be adjourned for the winter, as it is
natural to conclude that the Ports of Holland must
soon be closed by the ice, and we apprehend that
the Chief Consul depends very much, if not princi-
pally, upon the Armaments which are prepared in
the Ports of Flashitig, Rotterdam, &C. We seri.
ously thing that we may expert every day to hear
of the Invading Army being upon the Seas.
From the situation of the wind since Sunday, no
doubt can be entertained of Admiral C _ORNW ALLIS
having regainel his station off Brest. If the French
Sir..iron should have sailed during the short and
unavoidable suspension of the Blockade, there can
be little doubt of their being encountered by our
vigilant and experienced Admiral, or by some
of the Squadrons stationed for the prote6tion
,of Ireland. So sanguine indeed are we with re.
sped to the fate of the French Fleet, if it has ven-
tured out, that we are almost led to wish that it
may have done so.

,~~ k
•.

It was reported upon 'Change this Forenoon, that
the Brest Fleet was at Sea, but the report was not
generally 'credited.

Yesterday afternoon Dutch journals reached town
to the 18th oh. and last night we receiv_ed Illoniteurs
to the 14th. A Rotterdam Paper of the 24i11
however, is in town, as arc Aloiliteurs to the 221.
They contain nothing important, giving no insight
whatever into the plans of the Enemy. BONA.
PARTE, we believe, was still :It Paris on the loth.
• Letters from Genoa speak of considerable dis_

contents having arisen in the Ligurian Republic,
in 'consequence of the interruption their Com-
- niieree .experiences through the means of their con-
nexion with France. Extraordinary powers have
therelote been given to the Chief Magistrates to
punish the malcontents in a summary way. These
Letters express in strong terms the apprehensions
the Genoese labou: under from the neighbourhood
of the British Fleet.
- From the Hague of the z zth ult. we learn that orders
bad been issued by the Batavian Council of Marine to
the respeElive Naval Commanders to summon all Offi-
cers and others abseot on leave, to repair, without
loss of time, to their Ships, and to grant no furloughs
in future. The National Ships and Vessels were also
ordered to be kept in readiness to be employed on
aaual service at a moment's notice. It is likewise
`rated in Letters from the Hague, of the 16th, that
the Batavian Troops destined to aft against Eng.
land, were then about to march for the purpose of
being closer to the Ports of embarkation. Stiveral
Coro were to enter the province of Holland, and
to rennin at Delft, Leyden, Haarlem, and Amster.
darn, for the purpose of forming a line to embark
in succession, as soon as the requisite orders should
arrive.

American Papers of the 24th. November have
been received. A New-Y,rk Journal of the t 7th
of November states, on the authority of a
.passenger
in the &lip Piz'', from Cape Francois, that Port-de-
Paix, in St. Domingo, has been taken by storm by
the Briands, and soo soldiers made prisoners, hut
that till were well treated by the Negroes. Ro.
CHAIN/5 E Au was still at the Cape. The places sur-
rendered to the British have all been given up to
the Br e;:inds, the captors claiming merely the Ord.
nance qd Ships of War found in them. A Paper of
the 2lst of the same month, mentions the arrival of
a Captain READ at Charleston, in nineteen days

from Cape Francoie, who reported that that place •
was reduced to the most desperate situation ; 'that
tie Brigands were within three piles of the City,
and that in several skirmishes they had carried every
thing before them.
A letter intercepted by the British Ship the Van-
guard, mentions that R-OCHAMBEAII had not pro-
visions more than sufficient for the consumption of
eight or ten days ; the only meat they had was the
flesh of mules. There were three Frigates at the
Cape, which would of course immediately on the
evacuation; which was inevitable, fall into the
hands of our Blockading Squadron. The town
St. Domingo was in a situation nearly as disastrous,
and was almost wholly destitute of troops.
There are letters from St. Jago de Cuba, which
give a most afiliding piCture of the situation of Port-
au-Prince.

No less than eight hundred fugitives from that
place had arrived- in various vessels. Before their
departure DEssALINEs, the Black Chief, had sum.
mooed the Town to surrender, and in case of refusal
had determined to besiege it with ten thousand men.
There were about two thousand barrels of flour in
the stores ; and General LAVAL ET, who commanded,
was determined to hold out to the last extremity.
Before the surrender of St. Marc to our troops, a
great number of the inhabitants attempted to make
their escape to Port-au-Prince. On their way they
were assailed by the Blacks, and great numbers of
them were destroyed.

The fever has 'completely ceased its ravages in
all parts of the United States.
The American Papers are filled with documents
relative to the present state of Louisiana, which
have been presented to Congress by the President.
It appears that the motion for the produdion of the
Treaty between the French Republic and Spain,
and of the instrument chewing that the Spanish Go-
, vernment had ordered Louisiana to be delivered to
the Commissary or other Agent of France, was ne-
gatived, after several very animated discussions.
In one of these Journals a circumstance of rather a
curious nature is alluded to, but we are inclined to
think, from the manner in which it is mentioned,
that it is not entitled to credit. It is stated that
the President, a considerable time before the close
of the last Session, had in his possession a Treaty
negotiated by Mr. PINCKNEY with the Court of
Spain, by which it is stipulated that his Catholic
Majesty 'slfairilay the claim of American merchants
for variotts ads of outrage committed by Spanish
cruizers. It-is hardly to besupposed, that if such
a Treaty had existed, it would have been concealed
by the Executive Government.

In consequence of the frost yesterday, the Royal
Deer was not turned out.

His MAJESTY and PRINCESS SOPHIA, attended
by Lord W ALS INGHAM, Sir WM. and Lady PITT,
and .Generals MANNERS and SPENCER, took an air.
ing in Windsor Great Park.
HER MAJESTY and PRINCESS ELIZABETH took
an airing to Frogn4ore.
PRINCESSES AucusTA. and SOPHIA of GLOU.
C ESTER. rode to Cumberland Lodge, and viewed the
beautiful Piftures, &c. from Hanover.

PRINC ess AMELtA took an airing on the. Maiden.
head Road.

The account of the death of Generals GRINFI EL D
and CLEPHANE, brought by the last Leeward Island
Mail, will prove, we fear, to be perfeetly corred.
The Letters which state the melancholy fad add,
that Mrs. GR INY I LLD and her Niece had also fallen
victims to the yellow fever, and that a considerable
mortality prevailed among the Troops.
On Wednesday last the Rotherham Volunteer
Infantry, commanded by Colonel WALKER, parad-
ed in full uniform, and received their Colours at the
hands of the Countess of Err iNc4A.m, on the de_
livery of which, the Regiment was addressed in an
appropriate speech by their Colonel, in the course
of which he observed,'" at the close of the last
War these Colours were entrusted to my care by the
late Regiment of Rothetham Volunteers untarnish-
ed, unsullied ; they are now unfurled again as Ban-
ners under which we may probably soon fight in a
cause dearest to every Englishman, the defence of
our Country ; they are now placed under your pro-
teCtion, and I contilently trust, under Divine Pro-
vidence, that our determined exertions will ever
defend them unblemished."

The Regiment was inTeEted by Colonel GoucH,
who, with the Earl Of EFFINGHAM, BACON FRANK,
Esq. (Vice Lieutenants of the West Riding of the
County), and a numerous assemblage of Military
Officers, were pleased to express the most unquali.
fied approbation of the forwardness and discipline
of the Regiment. During the manoeuvres the
ground was kept by the Rotherham Troop of
Yeomanry Cavalry, who politely offered their ser-
vices on the occasion. After the business of the
day was finished, Lord and Lady EFFINGHAM, Mr.
FRANK, together with a number of Magistrates and
Officers, dined with the Colonel,- and a dinner was
provided at the several Inns in the Town for the
whole Corps, and the evening was spent in convi-
viality and good hunwur.
Yesterday, morning, at half past ten o'clock'
George Augustus Matthews, a Drummer of the 3d
Regiment of.the Royal East India Volunteers, was
tied up to the halberts, in the Company's yard, at
New Street Warehouse ; previous to which the Regi-
ment, Band, &c. and Officers, were drawn up in close
order, Mr. BUREAU, Surgeon to the Brigade, attend-
ing. The sentence of the Court Martial having
been read, the substance of which was, that though
the crime of desertion, heightened by several ag-
gravated circumstances, deserved the punishment
of Soo lashes, yet, in consideration of the extreme
youth of the offender, and in hopes of his good
condu& in future, the Court had mitigated it to jo
lashes, One of _the drummers then proceeded to in_
flit the lashes, when, after four strokes had been
given, Major SMITH ordered the boy to he untied,
and stated, that in compassion of his youth, and its
being his first offence, Colonel ROB SETS had been
pleased to remit the remainder of the sentence,
The lad's father is a grenadier in the brigade, and
expressed himself thoroughly satisfied with the jus,
lice of the sentence, and equally grateful for the
lenity shewn to his son,

N./111AL NEWS.

From the LOND9.2V GAZETTE, Tan. 3, 1803.

AdmiraltylCffice, Jan. 3, 1804.

Copy of a Letter from Commodore Hood, Com-
mander in cbicf of His Majesty's Ships and Ves-
sels in the Leeward Islands, to Sir E‘va,4
Ne-
pean, Bart. dated on board Mr Majesty's. Ship
Centaur, of Guadaloxpe, the 6th of No-umber,
1803.
silt,

I have the HOnour to inclose, for the information
of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, Copy
of a Letter I received from Captain Graves, of His
Majesty's Ship Blenheim, giving an account of the
capture of a Privateer by the Boats of that Ship, in
Fort Royal Bay, Martinique.
The capture• of two more of the Enemy's Pri-
vateers is set forth in a Letter from Captain Young.
husband, of the Osprey. The brave and handsome
condud of Lieutenant Henderson, and those in the
Boats under his Command, is truly meritorious;
and I trust such display of the gallantry of our
Officers and Men will soon make these Piccaroons
repent their temerity. On the 26th ult. between
Tobago and Grenada, the Centaur, after a chase
of seven hours, captured the Vigilante Schooner
Privateer, of two guns and forty men, well armed
with Musketry ; the capture of this Vessel is
particularly fortunate, as she has, from her supe-
rior sailing and management, done much injury to
the trade.

I have also the satisfaftion to acquaint you of the
re-capture of the Brig Earl Sr. Vincent, from Dub-
lin bound to Barhadoes, and a Swedish Schooner by
His Majesty's Sloop St. Lucia ; they had been cap-
tured three days before by the L'Harmonie Priva-
teer, of Martinique, and who only escaped the vigi-
lance of Captain Shipley, by throwing her guns
overboard, and sawing down her gunwales.
I have the Honor to be, &c.
SAM. HOOD.

Blenheim, of Martinique,
SIR, 16th Sept. 1803.
Yesterday at two P. M. I discovered a small
Schooner Privateer, apparently just returned from
her Cruize, and endeavouring to get into Port
Royal ; it :being nearly calm,• I diresled Lieute-
nant Furberl,' of His Majesty's Ship Benheim,
under my- Coitirnand, to take the Pinnace, and
Lieutenant' CamPbell, the Barge, and to cut her off;
she was rowing witty her sweeps, but the goats ne-
vertheless came up with her in about an hour and
a half, and in a • most spirited manner, under the
Fire of Grape and Musketry, boarded and carried
her.
I am happy to add, that no lives were lost ; the
Enemy had one man wounded; she is called the
Fortune::; mounts two carriage guns, and had 29
men on board.
I am, &c. Commodore Hood, &c. &c. &c.THO. GRAVES.

His Majesty's Sloop Ospre
SIR, y, of Martinique,
Otiober 31, 1803.
I beg-leave to aceptaint you, that on the 26th
instant I discovered a suspicious Sail under the
land of Trinidad, and immediately chaced ; but o arriving within about four miles of her it fell cairn n ;
and as I was now convinced she was an Enemy's
Privateer from the number of Sweeps she was row-
ing, and having no chance of coming up to her in
the Osprey, I sent three Boats to attack her, under
the command of Lieutenant Robert Henderson ; the
Cutter in which he was, rowing much faster than
the other Boats, he, without waiting to be joined
by them, in the most brave and determined manner,
and under a heavy fire from the guns and mus-
ketry of the Schooner, boarded and captured the
French Schooner Privateer La Resource, mounting
four four.pounders; and having on board Forty-
three men, two Of:'whom were killed and twelve
wounded.
Lieutenant Henderson, with three Seamen, are
slightly wounded, and one dangerously ; the Cutter
had only 17 Seamen in her, who all behaved with
the utmost bravery. •
I have further to inform you, that having put
Lieutenant Collier, and 16 Men on board the Prize,
he next day chaced and captured La Mimi French
Schooner Privateer, of one gun and 21 men.
I am, &c.
GEORGE YOUNGHUSBAND.

PLYMOUTH, JAN. 2..—Sailed the Neptune, Co.
lossus, and Dragon Men of War, to join the Chan-
_
nel Fleet.

Arrived the Atalanta Sloop of War from a Cruize,
in distress.

PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 3•--This day we have had
a strong report of the Enemy having really embark.
ed, and early in the morning the Fleet at St. He.
lens were ordered to be ready to start, and it was
said that an express had gone to order back the
outward,bound West.lndia Fleet which sailed yes.
terday morning.

The same alarm was entertained in the Isle of
Wight, where all the Regular Military and Vdun-
Leers were ordered to be in readiness at a moment's
warning.

The Hound Sloop of War is appointed Convoy to
the West Indies, to take the Ships which had re.
ceived damage, and could not he got ready.

FALMOUTH, JAR. I.—Sailed this day His Ma-
jesty's Brig Seagull, of -18 guns, Capt. BOURKE,
having under her convoy The following vessels, with
Troops on hoard for Ireland :

Lord Nelson, Comet, Mercury, Cockworth, Melpomene,
Tellicherry,Princess Royal, Grant, Aurora, Minorca, Nile,
and Canada; also sailed the American'Ships Suffolk., Moore,
for Bourdeaux ; Perseverance, Dixon, for lvortblk ; lemima
and Fanny, White, for Belfast ; and the Swedish Ships An.
rora, Dunberg, and Sarah, Dunberg, for Naples.

Arrived the Brig Swallow, Capt. BREDIDyI
from Newfoundland, with fish ; parted from the
Mari Stoop of War, with a40...kt 4o Sail under

her Convoy, fourtean days since, in a gale of wind,
and on the z3d ult. carried away her fore-mast,
main-top-mast, and bowsprit.
Yesterday arrived the Queen Charlotte Packet,
MUDGE, With Mails from Jamaica, 39 days pas.
sage ; sailed from thence under Convoy of His Ma.
jesty '5 Schooner Pickle, which took, on the.3.oth
of November off Cape ''fijaeroon, a French Ship.
rigged boar, having on board.a Captain and Lieu.
tenant in the French Army, making their escape
from cape Francois, and were bound to Cuba.
3oth ult. Scilly, bearing North-east three or four
leagues, the Packet spoke His Majesty's Brig
Penguin in great distress, having lost her fore.
mast and main-top-mast in the gale of zsth ult.
Also arrived last night, the Brig Susannah, of
and from Bristol, bound to Lisbon : sailed under
convoy of His Majesty's Ship Diana, 38 guns,
some time since : the whole Fleet were dispersed
in a heavy gale of wind ; the Susannah has been
beating about ever since off the coast of Spain, but
getting very leaky, was at last obliged to bear up;
the Brig Catharine, Capt. REAntJRN, from Dant.
zic, with wheat, very leaky, and must unload.

The Packets with outward Mails, are expefted
to sail to-morrow.

SHEERNESS,. J. 3.—This day a Court. Ma-
rtial was held on board of His Majesty's Bomb.ves.
sel the Fury, in this Harbour, consisting of the
following Members, viz. the Hon. ALLAN HYDE
GARDNER, President, Captains MITCHEL, BERES-
FORD, Lord PROSY, ATKINS, VESEY, Lord Wm.
STEWART, RENOV, BAYLEY, DICKSON, ARGLES,
and BOYS; when they proceeded to the trial of Mr.
James Nesbitt, Boatswain of His 'Majesty's Sloop
Dart, on the Charges exhibited against him by
Captain BROWNRIGG, of the said Sloop, "of being
" repeatedly,
,drunk, neglettful of his duty, but par-
" ticularly on the 26th of last month." The Court
was of opinion that the Charges were proved, and
sentenced the said Mr. James Nesbitt to be dismi!ised
his present employment as Boatswain of the Dare.
Mr. Roberts Master, and Mr. Driver Gunner of
the Dart, were reprimanded by the President, in
the name of the Courr,,for having given an incor.'
red evidence.

DEAL, JAN. 3.—Sailed L' Aintable, on a Cruizo
off West-Capel ; Merlin Sloop and jackal! Gun.
brig, on a Cruize off the Coast of France.
The Santa Margaritta came down from the Nara
last night, and remains.

The Ilindostan came down horn the- Nore this
afternoon, and sailed for Spithead.

In the Downs—Monarch, Utrecht, Leda, Santa Mar. 7
garitta, Perseus, Curlew, Harpy, Starling, Locust, Mariner-,
Basilisk, bloodhound, and Ariadne.

The ///uariosr, of 74 guns, Capt. Sir CHA.
MILTON, Bart. sailed from Woolwich a few days
since for Long Reach, to take in her guns.
On the tgth ult. His Majesty's Ship Ganges
sailed from the anchorage at Beerhaven, to reinforce
the Squadron ender Siren. PELLEW, off Ferrol.
The Britannia, Malta, and Ardent, are hourly ex-
peaed.

A Letter from Kingston, dated Ott. 22, says
" We understand that Admiral DUCtWORTH has
received intelligence that the Hercule, of 74 guns,
which unfortunately got on shore on a bank urf Cape
Francois, and was obliged to throw sixty of her
guns overboard, has been got off by great t xertion•
All the guns except three have been recovered, and
she has received so little damage that she will im-
mediately join the Squadron cruizing off the Caps
without refitting."

THE ROY AL MARINES.

PLYMOUTH, 1AN..2.

ON Saturday, Dec. 31, 1803, the Officers of the=
Royal Marines, at their Mess-roorn in the Barracks
here, gave a splendid Dinner to their late Corm.
manning Officer, Lieutenant-General BoWATE ar
whom His MA J ESTY has been graciously pleased to
permit, on his application, to retire on his Full
Pay.

• The dinner and wines were excellent, and the
company displayed that hilarity which good cheer
generally produces, though mixed with a regret that
they were parting with a Commanding Officer who
had fulfilled the duties of his office with firmness,
and integrity. After the King and Queen's health •
had been drank, the following toast was given by
the President Colonel ANDER.soN, with three times
three-4, General BOWATER, and may he in health
and happiness, long enjoy that retirement he has
solicited, and by his services merited from his coun-
try:" Several other loyal arid public toasts were
drank, as Earl ST. VINCENT and the Navy, &c. itc•
when General BOWATER begged to be permitted to
give a toast ; taking that opportunity to express
his approbation and thanks to the Officers he vl'as
parting with, for the honour they now did him, and
for the alacrity and zeal with ‘vhiCh they had at all
times executed his orders, and to.which must be
attributed incalculable benefit to_ His Majesty'a
Service ; that language faintly (old what he wished*
as language on this occasion was too weak to e%-
press what he felt : he then gave his Successor!
" Colonel BRIGHT, and Success to the Plymoutril
Division." The company sat till a late hour, an.o
then separated with the harmony in which they nnt!
each individual hoping his career of public life might
conclude with equal.ctedit and honour to himself, "...;
his Corps then markitig their approbation of 10" P
anti tied services,