Star.
London, England, 1805-01-23 00:00:00

S ?AIL

MADRID, Nov. 10.—Since the appearance di .rxra—,
retiral Nst.soor's fleet before .Bercenona, great fearsl
are entertained for Minorca. This ifland, whore
means of defence art not very formidable, would be
an important acquifition to the linglifh ; the works of
Mahon lire in a very wretched condition, and the
garrifon does not contilt of mere than tcsso men.

part of the garrifon of this me•
tropolis, has received marching orders, but their
declination is not known.

Eight regiments of infantry, and feyeral Com-
panies of Artillerifts, are on their march to the camp
of St. Roth, which, added to other formidable move-
ments, cave; no room to doubt of its being the
fixed determination of our Government to make an
attack on Gibraltar : this important place, in the
hands of the Englilh, has long enough been a mo-
nument of our weaknefs ; and it is now time to wipe
away the foul difgrace. Every thing announces an
unalterablerefolution not to fpare our enemy in a Tin-
gle inflance.
DECEMBER 17—No fooner did the Manifefto of
His Catholic Majetly againti England, addreffed on
the 12th cf this month, to the Royal Councils, by
the principal Secretary of State, appear on the lath
in the Court Gazette, than all the Foreign Miniiters
hafiened to difpatch Copies of it by Extraordinary
Couriers to their refpetlive Governments. This pre.
liminary notice of the hoffile intentions of the King,
and of their motives, will be followed in all the Con-
tinental Courts, by a formal communication in the
name of his Nlajelty, the order for which has already
been difpatched by the principal Secretary of State,
to the different Diplomatic Minillers of his Majear
abroad.

Since thetpublic Declaration of War here againft
Great Britain, the greaten activity has prevailed both
in the Naval and Military Departments. Several corps
of cavalry and infantry are already on their march
from the interior for the Camp of St. Roch, before
Gibraltar. More confiderable forces, compofed in
part of the garrifon of Madrid, are ready to move on
the firft fignal. The garrifons of the principal fea-
ports are to be augmented ; and it will be attempted
to throw reinforcements into the 10ands of Majorca
and Minorca. The attic& which at prefent demands
moil particular attention, is the putting Port Mahon
into the bell Rate of defence.

To encourage at the fame time, as much as poßi-
ble, the fy!lem of privateering, the King has Rill far-
ther extended the privileges already granted by his
Manifello to veffels of this defcription. His Majefly
has not only permitted the bringing of Englifh prizes
into his ports, free of all impolitions; but alfo fur-
nifhes. gratuitnufly, the arms and ammunition necef-
fary for privateering. Thefe flares will be deilivered
from the Royal Arfenals, and no reflitution will be
required from the owners of the privateers until the
end of the war, in cafe any of them (hall then remain.
To conclude,public prayers are immediately to be
offered up in all the churches of the capital, and
throughout the kingdom, invoking die dfitiance of
Heaven towards the Spani(h arms.

VZTRACT OF A LETTER FROM CADIZ, DATED THE
11TH OF DMA MISER, PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL
FRENCH JOURNAL.

" His Catholic Majefty's (hip Amphitrite, which
failed from this port Nov. :9, has been taken off
Cape Cantin. After a chace of twenty-four hours,
(he unfortunately loft her top-gallant matt, and on
the sth init. was brought into Gibraltar as a prize by
the DOSIEGALL, an Englifh man of war, of 130" guns.
This veffel was accompanied by a frigate and a brig.
After having fpoken the Captain of the Amphitrite,
Don Joac HIM DE VERELA, on the fubjeCt of the or-
ders given by the Englifh Admiral, refpeEting Spa.
nub veffels, the Captain of the DOMEGALL 'com-
menced a fire, of which the Captain of the Amphi-
trite, an Officer juftly efteemed, and whole death has
canfed infinite regret, fell one of the firtl victims.
" The Captain of the Englifh velfel, on arriving at
Gibraltar, now almoft deftitute of provifions, re.
quelled the Spanifh Commander of the Camp of St.
Roch to furnifh him with refrefttments for his crew.
Immediately after having committed fo barbarous
an aelion, and inCided the molt horrible outrage on
the Spann nation, he dared to cover his demand
with the hope of an approach* accommodation
between the two Governments. This audacious ef-
frontery was replied with the indignation it natu-
rally excited."

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM CADIZ. OF THE SAME

OATS, ALSO FROM THE FRENCH PAPERS.

" We have kill received the afflirting news of the
eapture of the Ihip la Fuente Hermofa, by an Englifh
(hip of the line, off Lagos. She was bound from Lima,
having on board 780,000 great piaftres (14.0,000 of
which were Royal property) 70orherls of quinquina, ,
and shout 4500 fanegos, meafure equal to four
bawls) of cocoa of Guayaquil, a very fenfible lots
to this port. This is anorher inflance of the execu-
tion of the moll aiolent and hotlile ;matures during
a profound peace, and amid( aloft infidions nego-
ciations only adapted to enfnare the good faith of our
Government. The Notre Dame du Bel Air, from
Vera Cruz, has alto teen captured by a (hip of .the
line, which in the following night, fell foul of, and
run her down, through an unfkilful manccuvre.

" A report has ju'll been fpread here of the cap-
tute of Mahnn by the Englifh, but we do no believe
a rumour which is nut authenticated, and appears to
us at leall improbable.
" Our contblation, under fo many misfortunes, is
to find ourfclves almoft entirely delivered from the
cruel contagion which has made loch ravages to this
town. There are now, thank GOD, no fymptoms of
it remaining, either afhore or among the leamen in
the port and road. IVe learn alfo from Malaga, that
epidemic diforder there has totally ceafed, and
that all the velfels in the road have again been per-
mitted to anchor in the port. The epidemical fymp-
toms have alto difappeared at Alicant, and in the
towns of the kingdom of Grenada, where they bad
begun to thew themfelves.
" By a decree of the 29th 011ober lart, the King
of Spain grants a general amnefly to all deferters from
his army, who !hall furrender themfelves, within fix
months from that date,to the nearel commanding of-
ficer of the frontier, who will enrol them in the corps
in which they AA choofe to continue to ferve."
LATRACF OF A LETTER FROM CADIZ, DATED
ntc,, Mita IS.

. .
I.Vithin there few days feverat regiments of
cant; y, two of dragoons, Rime companies of artil-

bOrdhardieft, and miners, as well asa train. 4'l
Iminy, artalery, and warlike stores of all kinds,.have
Anima 'here for the camp of St. Roil). Thefe
etinfamentents are immediately to be followed by
many more troops, among whom are to arrive fc-
veral battalions of the regiment of Spanifh guards,
and that of Walloon 5-uards, as well:is fome Swifs
corps. All thefe difpolitions give us ware founda-
tion for prefuming, that it is intended to commence
an open attack on the fortrefs of Gibraltar. The
Garrifon of that place is very weak at the prefent
moment ; but we cape& to fee it loon reinforced by
numerous detachments of troops to arrive from Eng-
land. Neverthelefs, the General in Chief, command.
ing the Camp of St. Roch, has forhidJen all com-
munication with the enemy, and duty is done there
with equal feverity and exaetnefs. The Englith, who
are in fear of a furprife, light fires or flambeaux
every night to guard againa them. Such is the pre-
fent fituation of affairs before Gibraltar.

" Admiral GRAVINA, as well a, !eventl other
principal Officers of our Navy, are expalcd every
moment here, for the porpole of accelerating the
arming and equipment of all the fhips of war ready
for fervice. Similar difpofitions are making at car-
thagena. We are afrembling there as many feamen
as can be got together. The celTation of the epide-
mical diftemper in this unfortunate neighbourhood
will alfo contribute to reader preparations for the war
more adive in our ports.

"Our naval intelligence continues to wear a difmal
face for our commerce. We are ccntinuall y receiving
information of the capture of our richtit velfels, from
Mexico, Peru, and the bland of Cuba. The enemy
are cruizing in great force in the Streights, and em-
ploy every kind of deceitful manceuvres to make
prizes of our merchantmen."

A LETTER F•tOM MADRID, DECEMBER 20, A. NOTICED

IN ONE OF THE SMALLER PARIS PAPERS.

" It appears from the annual Cenfits that has been
lately made of the population of this kingdom, that
during the laft twelve months it has diminithed a
million, which diminution is attributed to epidemic
diforders, earthquakes, and want. In the town of
Malaga alone, 56,000 perfons were bnried in the
courfe of four weeks. Notwithilanding thefc great
loffes, it is hoped, with energy and aftivity, a fleet
may be loon fitted out that will be able to Gght the
English fquadron in the Mediterranean."