The Sun.
London, England, 1803-12-20 00:00:00

NAVAL NEWS.

ToyEa, DE c. r 9.7—The Centinel 'at the North
Pier Head heard, between eleven and twelve o'clock
last night, a faint noise from the sea, which appeared
to him to come from person. in distress, and on bail.
ing, he heard a shouting rather stronger, upon
which he. called the Guard, and a Gdley with two.
hands was immediately pout off. They soon reached
the spot whence
.the sound, proceeded, and had the
good fortune to save seven men, five
.English and
two French, who were nearly exhausted, and were
clinging to the .hull ora French Gun.boar, which
was taken yesterday by the Basilisk Gun.brig.
was one of nine Gun.boats which sailed from
Dunkirk for Boulogne yesterday morning, but
meeting with the Basilisk they separated, and
this Boat -being the farthest from land, was cut
off. The Bari/irk took her in tow, and when
close in with the South Foreland, she had made
so much water, being strained in towing, that
the Prize-master called to the Basiha's people to
cut her adrift ; a few minutes after which, she filled
and overset, and before they could receive any
.as.
sistance, eleven Frenchmen and two Englishmen,
exhausted with cold and fatigue, dropped .off, .and

were drowned, • •
One of she Frenchmen•saved is a 'Soldier of the
35:h Dettii.brigade, about.twenty.five of whom
were in the Boat when first captured. The Boat, is
now towing intb.:the Harbour:. she, is long, half.
decked, with three Masts, carries a brassy:m:oWe
astern, and a lung• z4,oobrider in her boft►, but does
nut appear at all calculatid to keep the Sea.

DEAL, DEc. r 9--Came in the liaillirk
brig, from a Crui;e of the Coast of Puke:

The Ship. iqexerkater, Capt. KING, 4 »ii 9 11011.01 k
in Virginia,' bound to London, coming iniO the
Downs on Saturday night, got on shore on a 'feet of
rocks near Wa!mer Castle, but was got of by. a
Deal Boat as soon as tie tide flowed, with little
damage ; and this morning sailed for the Riyer.
'Arrived last night the Ship iliexamier, Capt.
NORMAN, from Botany Bay, anti sailed this morn:
ing fur the River.

SIIVERNESS, •Dac, 19.=—A Court Matial Was
this day assembled and held on board of His Ma.
jesty's Ship L'ilimaL/r, at the Little Note, con.
silting of the following Members t Capt. R. Mfr.
clizt, President, Captains REN011) LARMoUR,
DICKSON, 1101. TON, ELPIIINSTONZ, BOYS, and
RATI 1309,NE, when they proceeded to try MP:
William Stewart, Master of His Majesty's Bomb.
vessel the Exlisfian, upon the charges of Disobtdi.
cncu of Orders, Negled of Duty, and for leaving
the Deck in his Watch, by which negled a boat
was taken from the Ship by four Seamen. The
Court was of opinion that the Charge of Die.
obedience of Orders was not proved, but that the
other Charges were proved) and did adjudge the
said Mr. William Siew'ait 'to be dismissed his
present employment, asMaster of the Explosio,
and mold of three months pay ; and he was hereby
sentenced accordingly.

-
• Arsi'ved the Li Altarauthe, and Fury with the.
loss of her bowsprit, fre, main, and mizen top.,

masts.

NAVAL PROWMlTitle—.Lielit. 'LAW it !MC I!, of
the Nerky,schootarri-.,,t0 command the Hornet, vier
1-Iv ; Lieat. • Wp tyc 6:,tae, of , the,.Centaur, to.
command the Hippomenes.;' Lieut. ANT DG I • of
the Centaur, to the Netkr ;_Captain I) Err, to
command the Sea Fencibles at Dublin, Ad- .
mirat ITSH ; Mr. W. DE A sr, Midshipman of
the Centaur, to he. Lientenant of the..llippomenes.
The Fisgard frigate,- Captain Lord M. KERR
which convoyed the- ships from Oporto, went on
shore near the Jack.in the.l4,ket, off' Lymington,
where ate 13ir tw,6 days, when she was got oif with
little &mime: •
•

The Inhabitants
.of Bristol, at Parochial:Meet.
ings which have been held in that City, haVe
pressed in very strong terms their disapprobation.6l
the Resolutions of a General Meeting held at the
Guildhall of that City on the bth inst. by which a
large sum was proposed to be levied upon the inha.
bitants fur the deivice of the Harbour. The Inha,
bitants very properly, think that it is the duty of
Government-to afford them,all necessary protection,
us theyroper defence of Bristol is not merely -a la;
cal,..liut a national concern.

One of .00r Cruisers lately arrived at Dover,
from off Boulogne, has brought intelligence that
the Enemy had fortified that Port towards the sea,
to make it So impregnable as that Ships of the Line
cannot get in near enough io do any execution ; they
have coosttuCted barracks and huts for the Troops
that lately were "inc:imp, and every night they are
at work by torch light in. constructing two formida.
ble batteries oh' the sand, which, it is said, are to
boinb•pro6f; and two or three thousand men are
busily employed in cutting a new channel to the
eastward 6f'the Harbour, which is to be big enough
to admit the Gurs.ksoats to go in and out, where,
by reason of the small draft of water, our Frigates
cannot annoy-them, it is said that the CHIEF Cox.
it:L, folly sensible or the importance of Boulogne,
by the attack made on It by Lord Nitt.sort, and by
Its vicinity to our coast, has determined to spare
with; pains nor expence to render this Dept for
their light Flotilla and Ro*.boats, quite secure
loin any attack from the water,