Star.
London, England, 1808-04-21 00:00:00

THE EXPEDiTION.

The squadron now ready to sail from the Downs
Will be commanded by Admirals KEATS and Sir
JAMLS SAUMAREL It consists of seven tail of the line,
the VICTORY; MINOTAUR, TIGRE, MARS, POLYPHE-
MUS, ArDACIOr!!, Sec. several frigates, gun brigs, and
some boats of a peculiar construction, built for the
particular purp'ose of one of the objects in view.
This expedition is deitined ultimately for SWeden,
but we understand will previously attempt in impor-
tant enterprize against Russia. It would be impru.
dent to state More respecting the project, than that it
will, if successful, prove a salutary lesson to the Im-
perial Atrxn,rbra, not to count too much on the ad-
vantages he promised to himself, by breaking with his
eld friends, and making common 'cause with the
tnemy of the old Governments.
The cOmmand of the laud troop's i's confided to the
gallant Sir Joitx Monne. The force will consist of
about 13,000 nien, British and Germans. The Bti-
tish Regiments are the 4th, `,..'Bth, 52d, 79th, 92d, and
05th. The German troops to be employed coMpre-
hend the whole Legion, which is now on its way to
Ramsgate, having marched yesterday niornrig, viz.
the I t, 2d, sth, and 7th battalions of the line from
Bexhill ; the Ist light battalion front Hastings ; and
the ,2d light battalion from Battle.
The trartsport's Which are to 'receive Ole German
troops at Ramsgate, are all ready ; so that they will
be embarked as 'soon as they arrive there. -
Two brigades of artillery, with a proportionate
*nnber of drivers, will accompany the expedition..
At Harwich there are transports ready for the
receptl&t of the British regiinents, and they are ex-
pecttd to be embarked with the utmost celerity.
Another Expedition is preparing, the destination
of which is rather distant. The number of men to
be embarked, it is said, will amount to 20,000. The
Contractors for Shipping have been publicly apprised
by the Transport Board, that a considerable number
of coppered vessels will be wanted, for whi-h they
are at liberty to make immediate tender►

Some French and Dutch Papers, and also private
letters from Holland, have arrived. The Papers
contain tlle details we have already been enabled to
lay before our Readers by the arrival of the Gotten-
burgh Mails, respecting the success of the Russians
in Finland.

The letters which are dated the 17th, mention a
report of the failure of an attack made by the British
on Corfu, but state no particulars. We do not un-
derstand that any attempt was likely to be made to
get possession of the Seven Islands, but in cdhcert
with the people, who arc represented as impatient to
relieve themselves from the domination of Fiance ;
and we therefore attach but little credit to the above

rumour.

Letters from Cadiz, received by the way of Hol-
land, state, that an embargo was expected to be im-
mediately laid oh that port, as the Spanish Fleet was
prepared to seize the first opportunity of sailing, which
the absence of our blockading squadron might afford.
A gentleman arrived yesterday from Amsterdam,
(on his way to America) which place he left a few
days ago, Ntates, that that place now suffers the
greatest commercial distress ; many warehouses and

shops are ,ntirely Shut 4ith i general buttri
prevails against the war. He turtheis states, Old
report of Our intending to Make Spanish America hi.;
dependent, hail caused the greatest aPprehetision hi
the French GOiernment; that its &ars for the success
of such a measure, though studiously concealed, were
yet 'obvious and that BomAiiiiare was deter:nine&
to use every effort for hurrying North AMerica into
a War With England, that he may be able to embody
the numerous French now in the United States, inv.)
an army for invading Mexico hi Conjunction with the
' AMericans, whence he could afterwards send troops
into different parts of South Azilerica:

PORTUGAL:

An English merchant is arrived in towA, who left
Lisbon about foUrteen days ago. He Made his
escape on board, Sir C. CoTTON'S Beet, having pre-
viously obtained his passport as, a SPaniarch He his
brought the Prices Current with him, both icto mer-
chandize and provisions. Bread and flour, indeed,
appear from it to be as scarce as was represented;
but mutton and beef are only about 4d. per lb. and
in great plenty, as are all sorts of tegeiables: . Some.
classes of the inhabitants suffer ciiitiess, those espe:
daily who depended on the COUrt for their subsist-'
ence, and who have loft their employment in conse-
quence of its emigration. The French, we are in-
formed, with their characteristic activity, have pro-
ceeded in Making great. impreveMents in the city,
more indeed than have been made . for many "'tart
before. The Governor hai ordered the cleansing and
new Wing of most of the streets, which were before
in a very bad condition. Other changes, however, have
been made of a less grateful'nature, and proceed from
Motives snore doubtful. General JcNoT haS ordered
that the images should be melted ddwn. A depu-
tation of Friars waited on the General to procure a
ratite for a Very large and favourite saint, which
they begged leave tb remove and preserve. His an-.
-sorer tir
if the statue is of wood, you may threw
itintO the Tagus; if brass, you may break it; but if
it is silvery, 'or gold, you must bring it to me, and
I' will Metit it."
The Queen of tratntrii, it Was reported, *as to
marry LUCIEN BONAPARTE. They were then tb go-
vern Portugal jointly. Loup; may perhaps now be
less obstinate than some years since; and he may
possibly be less adverse now to a divorce an when
he incurred the resentment bf his brother by Ms at:
tachment to his plebeian wife. -