Star.
London, England, 1807-03-24 00:00:00

FRENCH EXPEDITIONS.

In con fequence of important difpatches which Go-
vernment have received from the Commanders of
the Squadrons off Breit, Boulogne, and Rochefort,
the Admiralty, it is faid, is about to change the fyf
tem of Blockade ; and. on the fuggeftion of Earl ST
VINCENT, to adopt a meafure of more efficacy, and
lefs peril. It has now been proved by experience, and
particularly by fome recent incidents, that the fyl-
tern of Blockade is not calculated to aufwer its pur-
pole ; and we underhand the firbilance of the dif
patches to be, that the Admirals and Commodores
on the feveral ltati..ns can no longer be refponfible
for the execution of their orders ; that his Majelly's
veffels, according to a late examination, have fuffered
the molt ferious injury on this fervice ; and that the
confequent expence to the country, and the extraor•
dinary wear and tear of the navy, were in value in.
finitely beyond any partial rellraint on the (hips of
the enemy.

It is farther tared, that the utm'ft vigilance of
our Commanders is unequal to prevent the cfcape of
the enemy ; that, in the long period of the Equinoc • •
tial Winds, duriag the whole of the Spring and
Winter, and the- greater part of the Autumn, th, y
entered and departed at their pleafure ; and that lus
Majefty's (hips had the frequent mortification to tee
them in the at of preparation, and with their fails
and yards fet, without any potlibility of preventing
their purpofe. So perfuaded were the enemy that
they poffeifed this full liberty of leaving their ports
at their difcretion, that a general failing order ap-
peared to have been Med to every public port in
France ; and that they were executing it as GU as the
opportunity prefented itfelf. A fquadron of three
(hips, two frigates, and five sloops of war, has efcaped
from Breit ; and a much ltronger fquadron had nearly
effeded the fame purpofe from Rochefort—they had
already cleared the harbour, when an eafterly wind
fuddenly arofe and compelled them to return. Thefe
are but two amorigft many fimilar inllances; but as
they have occurred at the fame time, they have im
paid themfelves very forcibly upon the conlidera-
lion of the Admiralty.
By the American (hip Highland Mary, FRAZER,
Matter, which has arrived at Falmouth in 47 days,
from Norfolk in the State of Virginia, we learn, that
two French fail of the line, and a frigate of 44 guns,
were lying in the Chefareak, and that it was report-
ed, in Richmond and Norfr.lk, that a confidetable
reinforcement was daily expected by them. The
fytlem of the enemy is ingenious—his veffels efcape
tingly, and run to a point of rendezvous in Come
Neutral Port. It is now generally believed, that
the French have Tome defign on the Weft Indies;
and the motions obfervablc in the Ports of France
may perhaps tend to that object. The affembling
in the Chefapeak is perhaps the &It flep. We
have the fatitfaCtion, however, to add, that the
fquadron in the Chefapeak is clofely watched
by his Majefty's (hips BELLONA, TRIUMPH and MER-
MAID. If the Englilh fquadron could maintain their
Ration fo as to come into contrat with the enemy,
we lhonld have no apprehenflon ; but it is unfortn.
nately in America, as on the coatis of France, one
and the fame wind brings the asemy ow, and drives
the Englifh off.
The Papers of the Dutch frigate, lately wrecked
in the Orkneys, have been forwarded to Government.
They are (aid to have led to Come moil important
difcoveries refpeding the defigns of our enemies ; a
difcovery which it is hoped will enable Government
to fruftrate their objed.