The Sun.
London, England, 1832-12-20 00:00:00

12 O'CLOCK.
The trenches are now allowed to be traversed by
those officers who produce proper certificates of
►heir rank, &c., to the head of the French Staff.
The signature of Colonel Caradoc, as British Com-
missioner, has procured such permission for several
of hie brother officers. There were various attempts
made to prepare draughts and plans of the trenches,
which the French were bound to prevent. Hence
hitherto there was great difficulty to enter them, for
even some renegade Frenchmen, in order to gain
money, have published plans which, luckily for their
countrymen, have been very defective. _

_
1 O'CLOCK.
The Dutch army is stated to be tranquil in its
winter-quarters. The movement of some battalions
to the garrison at Bergen-op-Zoom was the ground
of the late rumour.

2 o'cr.ocK.
I have been to see the river, where the Dutch
ships remain quiet, between Liefkenshock and Lillo.
Some of the gun-boats near the citadel have been
placed in a line across the Scheldt, with the Tete
de Flandres. The mutilation of the Handelsblad,
to which I alluded in a former letter, is sated to
have had some reference to some Stock operations.

3 o'cLocx.

On the Exchange to-day there were no rumours
current respecting the Dutch army. The firing has
been slack during some hours. Some musketry has
been heard. The weather is clear, with a strong
drying wind. K.

BRUSSELS, TUESDAY NOON.
It was expected, as you will have seen by yester-
day's letters, as you will see by the subjoined ac-
counts, that the battery in breach would be ready
to commence to-day. For aught we yet have
learned from the head-quarters, it may have been
so; but, looking at the difficulties which a conti-
nuance of wet weather would create, and knowing
what a dreadful night last night was, I should not
be at all surprised if the battering were still further
deferred, if not till to-morrow, at least to a very
late period of this day. We shall, however, soon
have the fact.

The rumours of a movement along the Dutch
f'ontier are still current here, and are eagerly be.
lieved by persons whose opinions are diametrically
opposed to each other. Both parties believe these
rumours, because they wish they were true. Though
the motives for the wish at each side are quite con-
trary, the Orangeists wish for an invasion of the
country by Holland, because they see in it and the
train of events it would probably draw after it, the
only chance of realizing these darling schemes of a
restoration. The friends of Belgian independence,
and of the Government as it is, wish it, because
they believe that it would afford to the Belgian army
—now well armed, accoutred, and disciplined—an

SOON.
The gun-boats in the polders, which usually kept
eir full complement of 35 to 40 men, have now
only 2 men each. The others have been sent to
the citadel. Those gun-boats which arc still in the
river retain their full number of men.
On Sunday morning two lighters, laden with
powder and ball, left the basin here for those forts
occupied by the soldiers under Sebastiani. There
are three Prussian officers here—lieutenants belong-
ing to the garrison of Treves. They came provided
with Belgian passports.. They closely watch the
operations of the siege, but are themselves the ob-
jects of a strict surveillance.
On the night between Sunday and Monday the.:
French workmen had approached so near the ci-
tadel, that the Dutch, who hitherto used to throw
the grenades with a gunner's ladle, threw them with
their hands. Fortunately, most of them were ex-
tinguished by the wet,--not one in ten that I saw
thrown answered its purpose.
We arc going on as rapidly as we can with the
batteries in breach. The demi-bastions are finished,
and are 18 feet thick. The batteries will not be
more than 1.50 metres (about 187 yards) from the
Foledo bastion. It is against the left face of this
bastion that they will commence for the breach:
All the preparations for the descent into the fosse
are now nearly complete.
There are hourly arrivals of convoys of from le
to 15 waggons load, with immense fascines, intended
to fill up the fosse. We have made 800 lariders
for the assault. The regiments of infantry in the
vicinity of Antwerp are approaching to the scene of
action. On Saturday there arrived at Berchetr,
from Mechlin, the grenadier companies of three or
four regiments. They went on immediately to the
trenches, where they had a turn of 12 hours' woik,
which they performed with an activity and gayety
truly admirable. But for the bad weather, we should
!lave had the batteries in breach ready to begin to-
day, but beyond a doubt they will open their fire
on Tuesday..
Nothing can equal the patience, the firmness, and
the good humour of the French soldiers. In passing
through the ranks, you every moment hear lively
-allies of mirth, which attest their unalterable gayety.
About three hours ago, I met a sergeant, to
whom I said, " You are very fortunate. The
weather serves you admirably. You have a bright.
sunny day, and a thick fog at night." "Is that sur-
prising?" said he with amusing gravity. " The good
God is French."

Yesterday there was a movement in the Belgian
staff. It appears that intelligence had arrived that
the Dutch army was concentrating itself on Breda,
that another corps was marching towards Bergen-
op•Zoom, and a third to Eindoven.

3 O'CLOCK, P.M.
The besieged have replied to the French fire but
feebly to-day. They have, however, annoyed the
workmen by their fusilade.
I mentioned yesterday a movement of the Dutch
troops along the frontier. It is said that its object
is to throw back the division of Achard on Ant-
werp, that they might carry the forts which are
armed on the right bank of the Scheldt, in advance
of Lillo. Ido not mean to give a direct contradic-
tion to this report ; but I have conversed with a
person on whose statement I can place implicit re-
I ante. He arrived this morning from West WT zel,
and he assures me that he noticed no such move•
ment, and that no report of the kind was current
when he left.

Bombs and cannon-balls still continue to fall oc-
casionally in the city. One fell yesterday on the
Hospice St. Elizabeth, and another in Rue de Tu-
meurs, without doing any mischief.

5 O'CLOCK.
The batteries for the breach are at length finished.
They are carrying, and will continue during the
night to carry, thither the necessary bullets and
bombs. The battering will commence to-morrow.
Everything appears quiet on the Flanders side.
We can perceive no movement at either side of
the river.

A loud explosion has just been heard, I learn that
they have blown up the Blokhaus, which is situated
between St. Laurent and the citadel.
The order has again been issued to the Generals
who are stationed near the frontier, to remain at
the head of their respective corps, and the Duke of
Orleans, whose turn it was to have been in the
trenches to-day, has been replaced, as that Prince is
on his return to his head-quarters, which are on
the extreme frontier.

The 19th regiment is to-day to supply the work-
men. The whole regiment has gone into the
trenches.
Lieutenant Boutellier, of the gendarmerie, Com-
manding the civil power at the head-quarters, is
established at Berchern, to keep a strict surveillance
over those strangers who, without any authority,
endeavour to intrude themselves Imo ters '
to pick up information. Already-, by his care, sev,.
ral persons have been arrested, and sent ru
There is reason to believe that this surveillance v ill