Star.
London, England, 1804-04-21 00:00:00

FLOTILLA OFF BOULOGNE.

Mat.. APRIL 20.-12114WORTALITI arrived in the
Downs yefterday afternoon with the (lone fhips,which
gives us reafon to fuppofe, that the idea of finking
them is totally relinquifhed. It has indeed, been faid,
that they are going to Sherrnefs. The weather is
now fine, but exceedingly cold for this time of the
year.

DUNGENESS, APRIL 17.—We left this anchorage
for the fecond time on the 12th inll. for Boologne,
with the fione-fhips and their ufual efcort ; on the
evening of the fame day we anchored with an E.N.E.
gale off Ambleteufe, to prevent being driven from
the coati by the ebb tide. We were here informed.
that there were only fix gun-boats in the road. The
HARPY, Aacisza, LOCUST, and BLOODHOUND, were
ordered, with additional hands, on board the gun-
brigs, to run them nearly alongfide, in order to de.
(troy them ; and loon after the three block (hips, at-
tended by the Couwrass OF ELGIN, Acrtvo, and
ADMIRAL MITCHEL, were to go in for the purpofe of
being funk. Every thing being thus arranged, the
whole expedition were in motion at t t, agreeably to
fignal; but the gale, even while the clouds teemed to
threaten a continuance of it, loon fubfided into a
calm ; and as the flood was then making ftrong, the
annulling fignal was thrown out, and the expedition
again anchored at so minutes pall twelve. Very
Icon after a ftrong breeze came on from the North
Eaft, and next day, in the &Rant and imperfea view
we had, we counted in the road nine large brigs, one
fchoorer, and 33 other gun-boats, which could have
gOt out only by the tide, by which we approached
the coaft. On Sunday 14th, Lieut. DICKINSON, ac-
companied by Meffrs. ETCHES and MUMFORD, region.
noitred them, and counted moored on the outfide,
with fprings at Ambleteufe, t 4 lugger', at Vimereux
21, and at Boulogne, extending to the extreme of
Portay, 31 brigs, one pram, tuggers, three fchoo-
ners, a ketches and Hoops. Laft night the tides turn-
ing out tco late in the morning, and the enemy being
Rill outfide, our ftone-veffels cut from their anchors,
and arrived here, where they are now riding out a
hard gale at North Eaft with but one anchor.—
What will be the refult, I do not know ; but it is
the general opinion of the bell-informed Offi-
cers, that the enterprize will not fucceed.
Thole who planned this expedition were not
aware of the flrength of the place, and the difficulty
of placing unwieldy flips near the Dykerwork in
the night-time, without being annoyed ; but admit-
ting there were no gun boats to oppofe them, the
batteries on the pier-heads, and the guns planted on
the very fpot which they mull approach, would tear
them to pieces.

The Lords of the Admiralty have given notice,
that Seamen holding Sea Fencibles Certificates, de-
teeted in als of (snuggling, will be delivered over to
the Imprefs officers.
Lan Saturday an order was received at Newport,
in the Ille of Wight, for permit inn for the ad Batt*.
lion of the oth Regiment, compofed of Referve
men, to Volunteer for general fervice; when almnfl
the whole Battalion volunteered within twelve hours

The following yards have been hired into Govern-
ment fervice, and Officers appointed to the com-
mand, viz.
Captain BAR rt, ' to the Elegfing.
Captain DAVIS Charles.
Captain Ptaster, Endeavour.
Captain CHIT 11Alle, —. Sally.
Captain BAR r.La, Morrifon.
Captain Rye, —. Providence.
Captain MACKAY, Prince William.
Captain HAsYRINS, 13echaton.
Litutenant G. ALLO rt, King's Fag'.
I itutenaut D Nit, Glory.
I.kut,irint linar, Regulus.
LirlitrltAllt SAULSBURY, Neptune.

Letters received from our rquadror, off Havre'
dated the I 3th init. hate, that our boats had entered
that harbour in open day, and, notwithfianding a
kcavy tire from the batteries and gun boats, fucceeded
in burning one of the enemy's armed veffels. We had
but two men wounded very flightly.

Accounts were yefierday received at LLOYD'S
Coffee Houle, of the capture of a valuable London
veil-el, on the coaß of Africa, by a fquadron of five
French fhir, which have now the entire dominion
of thole feas, and which are likely to commit im-
menfe depredations on our trade.

A letter from Grenada, dated the :nth of Feb.
(lams, that the rft and :d of December packets,
from Ell/11011th, viz. the Pa incess ELIZABETH and
the 1.,)a0 CHARLES SPENCER were not arrived at Bar-
hadnes.

A Convoy is appoicted to fail from the port of
Hull the 3d of May, with the flips now loading for
Elfmore, Lubec, Wifmar, Stettin, Koninziberg,
DantTic, Mcmel, Riga, Pcterlburgh, hc.

Yefterday a Court of Dire/tors was held at the In•
dia Huufe, when the (hips Ocean, of 560 tons, and
the Travers, dm tcns, were taken up for the Corn-
patsy's fervice.
The EAR India flips Airly Cagle, Woreener, Lord
Hawke (b try, and Duke of Montrofe, are appointed
to f.. 11 to Gravefend the 24th infant, and to be in
the Downs the 24th of May.

A oral:ice prevails among fmugglers, of the mon
mitchievous tendency at this ctifis—that of blazing
nti fmuggling vac's by fires, from the coaß, where
Revenue officers happen to fix themfel%es for the
purpole of making I:rizures, which if mißaken, by
the perfon at a beacon, for an alurm that an enemy
is approaching, might throw the whole kingdom into
conftilion.

On Monday-, as Mifs MesteaLe, of Exeter, was
tiding a fpii ited boric, near Cleave, the .inimal tonic
frigh, aiiJ after runni:k• more than a mile, frrang
into the river Exc, ani!threw the lady into the Ricans.
Gom %%hie!' the was treedily tecavu.d, and is now
in a lair ay of doing well.