Star.
London, England, 1810-08-31 00:00:00

REGGIO, AUGUST S.

The English appear to be more than ever fright-
ned at our preparations. They have collected, be-
tween Messina and the Light House, all the naval
force they have got in the Tyrenian Sea. We lately
counted as many as five sail of the line, two of them
80. gun ships, anchored in the very straits, with•
springs on their cables. Four brigs of war, and a
' number of frigates and corvettes, are constantly
cruizing on the lookout, between Reggio and Pezzo.
But all these considerable measures of defence do
not quiet the fears of the English merchants settled
at Messina. Their merchandize there scarcely fetches
any price, and loaded vessels are almost daily leav-
ing it, to go in quest of a market less exposed.

Their Excellencies the Ministers of the Interior and
Finance are still at Reggio.

" Royal Camp of Pealo, August 5.

" Clur flotilla has this day obtained a fresh suc-
cess. It is impossible to conceive the timidity of the
enemy's flotilla, which, though so considerable as to
force, is daily beaten off by our gun-boats. Since
the affair of the 21st of July, 'the English no longer
dare to approach our batteries. They content them-
selves with sending over, from time to time, a few
bomb vessels, which uniformly sheer off upon seeing
any of our gun-boats standing towards them.
44 This m'rning, his Majesty having ordered a
junction of the divisions of Partonneaux and La-
marque, the enemy, who observed this movement,
sent forward three bomb vessels to the Strait, sup-
ported by SO gun-boats. His Majesty then sent to
attack them the division of Bansan and two other
divisions, from the right of our line. At the first
-shot the bomb vessels put about, and took shelter in
the line of anchorage in the rear of their heavy ships.
Our three divisions, however, continued to advance
towards tlaq enemy's coast, and in the best order.—
On their reaching about mid-channel, the enemy
opened a tremendous fire upon them. The flotilla
was so near, that the balls fell more than 100 toises
a-stern of our gun-boats. All the batteries of the coast
of Sicily played at the same time upon them. They, in
return, kept up a steady and well-directed file, with
this advantage, that not a shot was lost, as every one
struck either the batteries on shore or the enemy's
vessels. They silenced the fire of all the enemik,
gun.boats, though two frigates took part in the ac-
tion. The enemy must certainly have suffered much,
for we saw several of their gun-boats considerably
damaged, and taken in tow ; and, notwithstanding
this shower of balls and shells, not one of our vessels
was touched.

gs We know, that since the affair of the 21st, the
enemy's seamen are completely terrified : ours,,are
now become familiar with the parade and bustle
which the English make to no purpose. The crews
of our transports were, during the firing, tranquilly
amusing themselves at play in the caverns which
they have dug in the beach in the rear of their ves-
sels. They have covered the entrances to these ex-
cavations with branches of the aloe, and consider
themselves to be as secure there as in the best case-
mates.

" The state of check in which our flotilla holds so
large a force of the enemy is truly inconceivable on the
part of the English. They have from 25 to3o square rig.
ged vessels, upwards of 100 gun-boats or small arm-
ed vessels, and yet they dare not quit their anchorage
under cover of the coast. In Sicily commerce is to.
tally suspended."

BERLIN, AUGTIST 8.

The clamant King of Sweden has not made his
appearance at Berlin, It is not even certain that he
came this way. It is said that he took a circuitous
route to the banks of the Oder, whence he directed
his course towards Dantzic, from which place he
proceeds to Koningsberg, and thence into Russia,
through Courland. None of the Princes or great
Officers of State in the Prussian territories saw him
on his passage.
The report is revived, that his Majesty has come
to aresolution of effecting a reduction in his army.
The King, it is saie., will disband about 20,000 men,
thus leaving on foot a force of only 20,000, which,
joined to the national guards, whose services will be
rendered general, will be fully sufficient for the duty
of the interior of the country.

AuGus-r 9.—The King has at length renounced
the project of retiring finally to Sans Souci, and there
residing totally disengaged from business. Those
who had been invited to the presence of his Majesty,
have determined him, though not without much dif-
ficulty, to return to Berlin and Charlottenburgh, and
to place himself again at the head of affairs. Prince
William, the King's brother, who was at Hamburgh,
and Prince Augustus Ferdinand, who was some time
at Toplitz, have returned hither. •-•