Star.
London, England, 1805-10-25 00:00:00

LAUNCH OF HIS ALgESTrs SHIP OCEAN.

Yefterday, a fpeflacle was exhibited of uncommon
grandeur. The OCEAN. of 98 guns, which has been
is years building, was launched at the King's-yard,
Woolwich. At an early hour in the morning, the
roads were covered with vehicles of every defcriptioo,
full of company. The pedetbians were innumerable.
The anxiety which prevailed to witnefs the fcene was
unbounded ; and few who attended the launch, re-
turned difappointed. The Dock-yard was rendered
as convenient for the fpeftators as poffible. Stages
were erefted, and booths covered with canvas and
green cloth, for the reception of vifitants, who had
pi evioufly procured tickets of admiffion. The chips
in the River were decorated with the colours of their
nations, and every furrounding °Nett ftrnck the be-
holder with admiration. The OCEAN lay in a cradle
on the flips, and appeared, if the expreffion may be
used, like a town. The enormous bulk and atti•
tude of fo vall a mars of mechanifm, had a molt
linking elle& The beauty and lymmetry of all
the component parts excited admiration, and in-
duced the fpeelator to reverence the a' tills who could
projeft loch wooden walls for Old England. Her
head is adorned with a beautiful bull of Old Ocean,
finely carved, under which appears an urn, with the
water iffuing.—lt has a molt fpiiited effe&, and is
perfeßly in nniftin with the rake of the Item, which
cannot be excetled for neatnefs and %ern kmanfhip.—
She is rated at 98, but is the largelt fhip in the navy,
and can mount tzo guns: The (tore-rooms and ma-
gazines are made in a fuperior ftyle, and the meafures
no leis than t9O feet on her lower deck. The breadth
on the beam is proportionable; and, upon the whole,
fhe is confidered, by 'he belt judges, the molt roomy
and commodious fhip in the fervice. Her fides were
painted yellow, with black flreaks, and a white bot-,
tom. The Royal Standard was difplayed at the main
flag•flaff, the Navy Flag forward, and the Union'
Jack at the mizen. Her decks were crowded with
company, who had been fuffered to go on board, and
the furrounding multitude, thoufands of whom were
(landing in the moll perilous fttuations, waited, with
anxiety, the moment when the *Ned of their atten-
tion fhould be in motion.
At one o'clock, his Royal Highnefs the Duke of
SUSSEX arrived, and &only after her Royal High
nets the Princefs of Waxes, and the Princefs CHAR-
LOTTE. They were attended by the Port Admiral,
almoft all the naval and military officers at Wool-
saich, and a numerous affemblage of the Nobility.
The Royal Vilitors immediately took their feats
in a booth appropriated to their ufe, over which the
Royal Standard was hoilled. The Duke and the
Princefs walked from their booth to the head of the
thip, and there the ceremony of naming took place ;
previoufly to which the bottle of wine was by fome
means broken, and the party was detained fome mi-
nutes, waiting for another; after the ceremony, the
Royal party went back to their original Ration to
view the Launch. When the Turkifh Ambafrador
had arrived, the bands of mufic belonging to
the EaR London Militia and the Woolwich Vo-
lunteers played ' God fave the King,' and a
variety of martial mufic. About two o'clock, the
workmen had removed the principal chores, which
fupported the fhip in the flip, the tide had alfo flowed
high enough, and at fix minutes pall two fix guns
were fired from a cutter off the entrance of the dock,
as a fignal for the launch. The remaining fupport
was then taken away, an awful crath enfued, and the
OCEAN began to may:, amid ft the shouts of at leafti
30,000 fpeitators. It is impoffible to defcribe the
grandeur of the fcene at this period. She glided
with the molt majeflic cafe off the flips, and received
the embrace of Old Father Thames without the
fmalleft accident. Her immerfion occalioned the
water to fwell three feet above the ordinary mark
within the dock, and on coming to her beatings, the
drove with rapidity to the middle of the flream, and
dropped her anchor. The ceremony then ended.—
The acclamations of the multitude however continued
feveral minutes after fhe was off the clips, and the
mufic played' Rule Britannia.'
The Princefs of Watts, the Princes CHARLOTTE
of Wales, and his Royal Highnefs the Duke of
&ma:, expelled their approbation of the fcene,
and retired much gratified. We have not been able
to difcover that any accident occurred upon the
occalion. The Eaft London Militia and Dock
Volunteers prefetved the greateft order among the
populace.
Count D'Aavois and a large party of foreigners
of ciiiiinit:on wire prefent at the Launch.

Yefierday was launched the Titaatts (a fligate),
from Chatham Yard, into the Medway.

Wedncfday a barge lying off Fountain !lairs, in
the River, took fire, owing to Tome pitch being
melted in her. A tier of Chips, lying adjacent to her,
were with difficulty laved. A penalty of 51. is at-
tached to any perfon heating pitch in any vetrel in the
River, between London-bridge and Blackwall.
A tire broke out on Wednefday night in a houfe
in Maidenhead-court, St. Thomas Aponte's, gtieen-
ltreet, Cheapfide, which confumcd the ;metier of the
fame. and greatly damaged two adjoining.

2S-10-

RAMSG.4TE, OCT. 23.

Yefterday, in the afternoons four hundred and
eighty of the fira battalion oldie 9;th Rift:Regiment
marched in from Hythe, and were embarked in the
evening. Owing to the latenefs of high water, the
tranfports remained infide the Pier till eleven o'clock
this morning, when they failed with this 6ne corps for
the Downs, having a bribe wind at South Eatt, and
a heavy (well.
The experflation of feeing the Guards embark this
day, has atrradled a very numerous and motley all
femblage of fpeetators, whore curinfity was gratified
by the arrival of the t ft battalion of theColditreamand
the fira of the third regiment, at two o'clock, from
Deal, commanded by General FINCH. Having
halted half an hour, at the Barracks, and taken re-
frefhment, they were marched down three deep to
the Piers, cheered by the found of martial mufic, and
the acclamations of the people who lined the Greets
through which they had to pats. As the baggage,
ammunition, and every apparatus had been put or.
board in the morning, there was no impediment what-
ever
to their embarkation, which was etreeled in zo

minutes. They will not fail till the morning
The number of thefe battalions amounts to two thou-
fand three hundred, as young! lcoking, flout, and
foldier-like men as we have ever fern. The foul th,
fourteenth, and 23d regiments, arc alto to come in
for embarkation in the count of the week. It is
generally believed, that the force %%hick &all have
embarked here, in the whole, will be fifteen thoufand
effeftive men.

Yeflerday morning the wind Nita to the Eaft,
and is fixed in the South EaR point at prefent, hi con-
fequence of which the air s. keen and bracing. To
this favourable change we are likewife to attribute
the appearance of fome hundreds of the Nobility and
Gnu de Cenditiose among the multitude this day. Be-
tide our refidents of rank, whom I have mentioned
in my former letters, we obferved Sir SIDNEY Sutra
and feveral Naval Officers on the Pier when the
troops acre ercbarking. As the gallant Knight ap-
peared both alive and folicitous on the occafion, it
led many to think that be is to be employed in the
expedition. Four brigades of flying artillery, four
car brigades, and four of the train of artillery, are
expected in from Canterbury on Friday next, for em•
bar kati

Admiral Sir T. Duc [WORTH has been ordered with
fix fail of the line, Come frigates and brigs, in qnea
of the Rochefort fquadron.

A firing of wagons belonging to the Commit
fariat department, laden with flour, arrived in town
on Wednefday, from the magazines at Brentwood.
'The cavalcade reached near a quarter of a mile, and
is rupprded to be defined for the coaft of Kent.

Yeft erday, the Loyal Southwark Volunteers were
infpeded, for the Taft time this fummer, on Kenning-
ton Common ; they afterwards marched to their
Guard Room, in the Botough, where they depofited
their arms, and went into winter quarters.
Yefterday the Royal Berkthire Militia were to com-
mence their march in two divifions from Ipfwich, for
Taunton in Somerfetfhire. The firft diviGon will pafs
through London on Monday next. The Weft York,
from Chelmsford, is to occupy Stoke barracks, in the
room of the Berkthire.

Yefterday morning Colonel Twv infpebed the
Gillingham and Chatham Volunteer Artillery com-
manded by Captain Wittiest DRAWBRIDGE, alto the
Rocbefter and Chatham Volunteer Infantry, com-
manded by Colonel TWOP ENV, and the Rochefter
Volunteers commanded by Major THOM 'son.
The Royal Cornifh Miners, under the command
of Colonel L mow, marched yell erday morning from
theirßarracks, at Fort Pitt. near Chatham, for Dover. .
On Tuefday the Fifethire Regiment of Militia re-
ceived orders to march from Chatham for Afhford
this day; but yetterday morning a counter order
came down and another route, by which they are
directed to march on Monday for Deal.
The Denbigh Militia, encamped on ChathamLines,
arc to ftrike their tents in a day or two and to re-oc-
cupy the Barracks quitted by the Cornilh Miners.
The Cambridge Militia, encamped at Lymene, near
Hythe, are to be quartered at Ofpringe.
Wednefday the Duke of Gloncefter's Volunteers,
commanded by Lord CH ITWYND, had a field day
in Hyde Park.
Wednefday, at eleven o'clock, the Loyal North Bri-
tons muttered their effeCtive force in Gray'slnn Gar-
dens, for the purpofe of being infpeCted by his Royal
Highncfs the Duke of SUSS FX, who pievinufly figni-
fied his intention of taking commait I of the corps.
About twelve o'clock his Royal Highnefs arrived,
mounted on a beautiful chefnnt Arabian, elegantly
caparifoned. His Royal Highnefs wore the uniform
of the regiment. He was accompanied by Count
Illsoioto is, two Field Officers,and Colonel JIM KI
sow. On the approach of their Royal Commander,
the Corps made a falute. They were then infpefled
by Colonel jaw RINSON ; after which his Royal High-
offs gave the word of command daring a variety of
praftical manoeuvres. An important concern next
engaged attention. The Corps formed in a circle.
His Royal Highnefs and Officers flood in the centre,
and the Adjutant read the record of the proceedings
of a Court Martial, appointed to try the drummers
and fifers of the Corps. for difobedience of orders.
It appeared the latter had refufed to return to pa-
rade with the Corps, after receiving orders to that
effect, while out in the fields, a Ilion time fince, on
the firing of ball. In feveral other inftances they
had difobeyed the orders of their fuperior Officer,
and, being found guilty, the ringleader was fentenc-
ed to receive zoo lathes, others so, &c. in propor-
tion to the (hare they took in the crime. On being
ordered to Itand forward uncovered, to await their
punishment, his Royal Highnefs addreffed them
nearly as follows :
You have been guilty of difobedience and infubordination ;
_ _ . .

dffripline and good Ischiviour ought to be obferved In this corps
u ftridlly as in any regiment belonging to the King. If you had
been in A marching regiment you would have been tat ; and,
had you been brought out fur puniihment a few days earlier, your
fentenees would have been put in execution ; but as I underhand
this is the firft time you have offerded, I Mall forgive you all."
After his Royal Highnefs had expreffed his mercy
the Corps wheeled int, liue, and fitially paired in
review order, with their uand of mu tic playing, and
depoftted their arms in the orderly room. the Royal
Party then retired. A numerous afremblage of
genteel fpeaatots were in the Gardcns during the
inipeetion.