Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-07-01

for several Americans who we're ai,iious.
under the present circumstances, to leave
France.
Moy ).
a letter was received yesterday by a
gentleman OF the first rcspectabiiity, from
He!igoland, which states, that accounts
had reached that island from Paris of ain
action having taken place in the Mediter-
ranean, between the British and French
fleets, in which the latter was so complete
ly defeated, that not a single ship escaped.
1t would afford us the most sincere salts
faction to be able to confirm this intelli-
gence, but we fear il is unfoundcd. The
last accounts from the Paris stated, that
the Rochefort and Toulon souadrons had
returned TO Toulon, and this circumstance
rs mentioned from so many quaters. that
we have little doubt os the fact.---Our rea-
ders will find in the Hamburg PAPERS lee
ters from Venice ana NaDl"s. which GIVE
rather vague account ~ the operations
of the combined Squa1rons. But she Fnc,,
we have no doubt, will out 10 be, thar
the united squadrons did 20 into the Adria..
tic certainly for some more important our
pose than raising the blockade Ut Corfu
but receiving intelligence that the British
ffeetwas in pursuit OF them, they thought
II most prudent 10 make TIE best of their
way back to Tculon.
Accounts were yesterday received from
Bayonne, which, il true, mus. remove all
doubt as TO the intentions Of Bonaparte to-.
wards America they state that the French
Ruler issued y decree a. BOVINE or the
5th ult ordering the seizure and conteIn..
nation of all American vessels. This
statement does not appear by any means
improbable, though we cannot vouch for
the truth of it.
The accounts from Denmark are of a
curious and Interesting nature: Bonapar,e,
has, 1T appears, already begun to manifest
some symptoms Of displeasure against his
jealous ally the King of Denmark. &C.
neral Bernadotte has had frequent confer
enoes with his Danish majesty, in which,
he complained very bitterly that the Da-
n'si military force was not only in n condi-
ton 70 undertake the invasion Of Sweden.
0rt that 1t was not even in state "a defend
Zealand from the English aud Swcdes: and
indeed so convinced was General pc-na-
do'te of this fact, that he made Cas we
stated some time ago. Il mcst prccipita;t.
retreat from Zealand, upon the first an.
pearance oF a British force. That Ce-
neral, II IS stated, lately represented in
the strongest terms to BOnapar,e the i'm
praoucab'lity ot invading Sweden from
Zealand hut his CorsicaH master replied,
that he desired to have no more Dispatch
es from him upon that subject, unless they
were dated from Stockholm. The King
of Denmark has already received eptci-
men OF the treatment he is 20 expect from
his imperial ally. The Spanish troops,
which we;e lately QuarieTcd in Hamburg,
received orders 70 march to Altoona, ard
quarter themselves there. This order it
appears, was given without any previous
not fication to the Danish government, for
the Commandant at Altoona declared that
he had received no directions upNn the
subject. The Spanish troops, however,
entered Altoona by force and billetted them
selves upon the inhabitants.
Mr.. Nourst yesterday visited Lloyd's
coiiSe-house we have no doubt this gen.
tleman VIII, on his return to America, be
able TO bear testimony &C least to the more
courteous hospitality OF our Island, than
that he experienced in France. When at
L'Orient, a guard was stationed before
MS dwelling, and it was not without diff.
Guilty that he sue eedd in preventing the
ritiiug and inspection Of his papers. It is
not true- as was asserted in some of the
papers e YESTERDAY, that General ARM
strong had demanded passports FOR himself.
A4ay 8.
The Brazil and East india fleets sailed
from Portsmouth yesterday: the latter
VIII not touch at the Cape. Lord Strang-
lord, Sir James Gambler, and several OF.
licers, sailed in the Btizil fleet.
The expedition VIII Gin ,ately sailed froHJ
the Downcs, will rendezvous at Yarmouth.
Tho Mars, Admiral Keats, and the Au-
GaciouS, with several transports, arrived