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

diminish the number of the curious, amongst whom,
it is to be feared, there are some spies.
The firing was but feeble during this tOght and
this morning. We had only 20 wounded and se-
ven killed.

GIIEST, DEC. 17.

The Orleans Hussars, cantoned at Lokeren, keep
patrolling along the Dutch frontiers to Zelzaete,
near the Sas de Gand. It appears that the Dutch
are concentrating their forces on Breschens and
Terneuzen, where they have erected batteries, and
which they intend to fortify still more. It was a
mistake to say that Dutch embarkations could cross
the polder of Borgerwood, near the Tete de Flan-
dres, the cut near the Pipe de Tabac having been
stopped up, and besides the French have a battery
on the point.

(Front the Union.)
ARMY OF THE NORTH.

BERCHEM, t.)7:C. 17.

Every difficulty that arises is removed almost as
soon as it presents itself. The bad weather, which
has again rendered the communications almost im-
practicable, has, nevertheless, retarded the works
but in a slight degree. It has no doubt given more
trouble, and required a greater number of hands, •
but every thing is done at the time fixed. Thus,
Itwwithstanding the rain, the engineers finished a
-,vork last night against the left face of the lunette. •
This work, which is the invention of General Haxo, '
according to persons skilled in such matters,
have a very important effect on the feture operations
against the citadel.
On its side the artillery is indefatigable; it has
completed a battery, No. 13, on the glacis of the
Lunette St. Laurent, and has finished the conitruc-
tiou of the batteries in breach.

In its conveyance to its destined place one piece
was overturned, and all the efforts yet u,ed have not
Irien sufficient to recover it. If it should remain in
the fosse there will not be a shot the less fired, f:ir
its place w ll be supplied by another.
The firing having been but feeble during the
night, our loss was inconsiderable. We had since
esterday only 7 killed and 20 wounded.

NOON.

What I stated lo you yesterday is confirmed :
the Duke of Orleans, whose turn it was to command
in the trenches to-day, has, by a counter-order, been
directed to place himself at the head of his corp 4 on
the extreme frontier, as every thing indicates a
movement on the part of the enemy. It is said that
the Prince of Orange is at Bergen-op-Zoom, with
10,000 men ; but it is known that all the army is
on the same line which extends to E,ndhoven.

The 19th has come in full force to do duty in the
trenches. The mud which fills all the communica-
tions renders it necessary that the workmen should
be relieved at shorter intervals.

It was only yesterday that the Order of the Day
was published which noticed the taking of the Lu-
yiette St. Laurent. This important document, which
contains the names of those brave fellows who dis-
tinguished themselves on that occasion, is as fol-
lows :—[Here the order is given. Ido not send it,
as, though it is very long, it does not contain a single
matter which you had not already received some
days since. The chief interest in it (which it would
lose in England) is, that it gives the names of these
ctliceis and men who were most conspicuous in the
taking of the fort.]
[Here follow extracts from other Papers, for
which we have not room.]

BRUSSELS, 3 O'CLOCK.

The accounts which have come up since morning
fully bear roe out in the conjecture made then, that
the weather would hinder the commencement of the
batteries in breach to-day. It is now said that they
will not be ready before to-morrow, and even then
not very early. Of course they will not fire a shot
till the counter batteries destined to keep the garri-
son employed are all ready, for the fire of the garri-
son must as much as possible be diverted from the
batteries in breach.

The following is an extract from the second edi-
don of the Independant

" BERCHEM, NOON, DLu. 18.

" My announcement yesterday of the completion
of the breaching batteries, was premature; but the
works will be finished decidedly to-day, and to-
morrow the opening of the breach will be attempted.
" The cannonading has been brisker since 9 o'clock
this morning. Some persons assert that instead of
effecting a breach in the bastion of Toledo, it will
be sprung by mine. In either case the engineer
officers assure me that nothing important is likely to
take place for the next two or three days."
The King, accompanied by some of his aides-de-
camp, left this at a little after 12 to-day for Antwerp.
In the accompanying paper you will find the pro-
ceedings in the Chamber of yesterday, which are
worthy of notice from the very moderate tone of
M. Julien, one of the leaders of the Opposition, as
also of that of M. Lebeau, the Minister of Justice.
From what passed yesterday, it would appear that
the Ministers have gained in firmness, and chance
of permanence as a Government, by their late defeat
in the chamber, W.

FRENCH PAPERS.

(From the Moniteur of Monday, Dec. 17.)

The non-official pact contains a letter from Mar-
Ehal Gerard to the Minister of War, dated from his
head-quarters at Berchem, Dec. 11, giving the par-
ticulars of the taking of Fort St. Laurent. After
getting possession of it, measures were taken to se-
cure the position, by joining the gorge with the 4ih
parallel to the right :
" No more men have been left in the work than
the necessary number of sappers and workmen, with
a reserve. The fire of the citadel is directed with
considerable energy, but ours answers it, and I hope
that the advantage which has been gained to the
great satisfaction of our soldiers will continue with
us in the farther operations of the siege, which will
be now prosecuted to their close with increased
activity.
" The loss of the 65th consists of 3 killed and
about 30 wounded. Among the latter is Captain
Montigny.
" Tne taking of Fort St. Laurent, though it is
not in itself a considerable operation, will, however,
have a happy effect on the siege ; that of securing
my left in the attack on the citadel, by permitting
me to concentrate my means on the essential point,
and at the same time give confidence to our young
soldiers, while it must have a contrary effect on the
enemy.

(Signed) Count GERARD."
(From the Messager des Chumbres, dated Dec. IS.)
After some account of the taking of Fort St.
Laurent, the 411e:sager adds—
" Three days ago the King sent from Paris Ge-
nerals,Berthois and Gourgaud, his Aides-de- Camp,
to hasten as much as possible the operations of the
siege.
'• Hopes are entertained at the Chateau of seeing
the head of our columns, after the taking of the
citadel, re-enter France on the Ist of January.
" A certain fact is, that, relying on a success
which nothing seems likely to prevent, orders have
been despatched to suspend the movements which
had beer► very lately directed to our regiments for
the purpose of bringing them nearer to the frontiers,
and towards the Rhine and the Moselle.
" The accounts of the divisions of Achard and
Sebastiani are excellent. The unfavourable reports
that were circulated respecting Fort St. Marie are
not at all confirmed.
" The report that was circulated, and which the
National has this morning repeated, with an expres-
sion of doubt, of a severe wound received ley the
Duke of Orleans, is without foundation, according
to the accounts received at the Palace, where, of
course, the best information must be bad. Neither
is there any confirmation of the news that a dan-
gerous emulation in courage between the King's
sons had induced the Marshal to solicit the recall of
one of them. The Princes do their duty, as men of