The Sun.
London, England, 1810-09-21 00:00:00

MAILS.
Ait IV ED --I Dublin. Du E Cadiz, I Lisbon, 'Dublin,
3 Waterford.

F R

S U N.

3OLEM QUIS DICERL FALSUM AUDEAT ?

LONDON.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1810.

We have given at length an account of he Proceed-
ings yesterday at the Quarterly Meeting of the
Bank Proprietors. Some very interesting discus-
sion took place respeeting the Report of the Bullion
Committee; we refer particularly to the speer7h of
Mr. RANDALL JACKSON, which contained softie
very able observations on the present state of our
Paper Currency. He pointed out very successfully
some material distinctions between the Report of
the Committee of the House of Commons, and the
Evidence on which it was founded, and combatted
very argumentatively the popular but erroneous
idea, that our paper currency was depreciated.

-We yesterday stated that no intelligence had been
received from Portugal; but the absence of news
was amply supplied by reports of a most extraordi-
nary nature. According to one .account, Lord
WELLINGTON has sustained a severe defeat, and had
been compelled to retreat, with all possible expedition,
towards Lisbon : according to another, his Lordship
had advanced, retaken Almeida, and was -pursuing
MASSENA, whose army, by Sickness and desertion,
had b:en reduced to 25,000 Mert A third re-
port in circulation, and one which sheaved more
originality of invention, was that MASSENA bad re-
fused to surrender the command of the Army to. a
General who had been sent by .BUONArARTE to.
supersede him, and that he had actually expelled his
intended successor from the camp. The report
further went on to state, that MASSENA and his
whole Army were in a state of mutiny against Buo-
NAPARTE; and to' complete the whole, it . was. added,
that JOSEPH BUONAPARTE, finding his cause despe-
rate had fled from Spain !

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A SURGEON SERVING
IN THE BRITISH 'ARMY IN SICILY, TO HIS FATHER

IN LLITII.

' " near Mesina, zz.

" You must, before this time, have beard of the
situation of this Island. We look every moment for a
descent on the coast of the Faro of Messina, by Mu
RAT, He has assembled on the opposite coast of Cala-
bria 40,000 men, and an amazing n•amber of boats of
every description, for the transportation of his troops.
His army is encamped on the heights above the
Castle of Scylla, and his gun-boats and small craft
anchored under cover of numerous heavy batteries,
which constantly throw shot and shells into the Eng-
lish camp in Sicily.

" The narrowest part of the Straits is scarcely
two miles broad. MURAT can be plainly seen in the
front of his tent every morning, viewing our prepa-
rations to receive him. Sir JonN STUART has a fine
army encamped all along the Straits, from Messina
to what is called the Faro-point, a distance of ten
miles. Our batteries are very numerous, with many
breast-works to proted the infantry, and studded,
literally, with heavy cannon. These works have
been raised in less than a month.

" Our gun-boats have had several engagements
with those of the enemy, wherein the English have.
always been successful. Three actions took , Place
in full view of both armies ; the sight was noble,
but very galling to the French, to see their vessels
Carried off before. their eyes. Yesterday morning
and last night we „made a general attack on their
line of boats,.and did great mischief. We had riot
less than...l4 mortar-boats, with mortars of to inch
-.calibre, and on the
.Faro-point, two of
.131 inches,
which threW completely, .across, to their great an-
noyance. They, on their part, threw-..21b. shot in-
to our camp, but only one man .was killed. Two
sloops of i.var ran in amongst the enemy's craft,
'and made terrible havoc.

Four line-of-battle ships, and some frigates and
sloops, are moored within the Faro, tinder the com-
mand of Rear-Admiral MARTIN.—,.They are a great
tierror-to King MURATI4 Notwithstanding his vaunt-
ing, if be makes the attempt to laud, he will 'get a
warm reception. SIC JOHN STVAiIT has concentrat-
ed his whole force at the Straits, and curs is the
regiment not actively employed.
" We are left to garrison this place, and have thrown
ourselves into the citadel, in case of a siege. Every
thing is ready for a vigorous defence, should the
enemy efleet a landing. The place is strong, and,
will hold out a long tithe.. Should it. come to thiS,
affairs will be bad indeed. • Another month will de-
cide the fate of Sicily. That Munkr will attempt
it, not a doubt exists in any mind. He can do it
nowhere but- in the face of cannon ; dreadful will
Ise,the coniliq. We have the advantage of situa-