NORTHERN FRONTIER. On the whole lines occupied by the troops on both fides, the progreflive arrangements for a vigorous conteft were going forward. The French made it their plan, after plundering the towns and villages in the Palatinate, to collect their booty and retire within their own frontier. They there occupy themfelves, with their whole industry, to strengthen the forts, and to repel the attack of the allies, from whatever quarter it fhould come. On other parts of the frontier, the allies beheld formidable preparations for offenfive war. At Dunkirk, and other places, about the middle of the month, confiderable movements were made in their armies, which occafioned the alarm to be given throughout the winter cantonments of the troops; with their ufual fpirit and alacrity, the Britifh anfwered to the charge, under the command of Sir William Eifkine, in abfence of the Duke of York, and were ready to repel the affault, or to take advantage of the pofition of the enemy. Their forces are in great numbers around Lifle, which will probably be the fire object of serious difpute. They difcover a determined refolation to recover the fortreffes taken from them by the allies laft campaign, and will probably alfo attempt the ficge of fome of the towns in Flanders. Öftend is not without its apprehenfions of an attack by fea and land. Their interior, for these fome weeks paft, appears not to have been in that complete flate of reduction to the Conventional authority Barrere announced in his report; the remnants of the Royalifts of Noirmoutier and La Vendee feem to have collected with a force and refpectability little imagined by the republican leaders. The emigrants, to attract Earl Moira to their coafts, may, perhaps, have exaggerated in the detail of their numbers, and of fome fucceffes they have got; yet their renovation at this time, after the prodigious flaughter they had experien. ced, manifefts a fteadiness of the principles of royalifm to have prevailed in that part of the kingdom to a confiderable Murmurs are daily heard in Paris, too, concerning the wants and extent. wretchedness of various parts of the country. Marseilles is not yet purged, to use their own language, neither hath the awful vengeance, inflicted on the unfortunate Lyonefe, been able to check the utterings of complaint, or to promote in their breafts an acquiefcence in the proceedings of the revolutionary tribunal, The Convention, mean while, with indefatigable diligence and energy, go on providing the military equipments for repelling the threatening holt of invaders, the property and the talents of every one being in a ftate of requifition for the fervice of the republic. To The incurfions made into the territories of the allies, by the French, seem to indicate, that they had abandoned the plan of fraternizing the inhabitants, of whofe treachery they loudly complain; and that for the purpofe of revenge, the acquifition of plunder, and the means neceffary for the fupport and equipment of their armies, the prefent deftructive operations, which mark their late conduct, have been planned and executed. wards the latter end of the laft, and the beginning of this month, preparations on both fides were carried forward with an unexampled activity for opening the campaign. The Duke of York, early in March, returned with his fuite to refume his command of the army in Flanders. The Imperial general, Count de Browne, arrived from Vienna to command on the Rhine; and the celebrated Austrian "engineer, Col. Mack, is to direct the operations of the artillery. The country around Nieuport was inundated to prevent the threatened invafion of the French force in that quarter. The Prince de Saxe Cobourg eftablished his head quarters at Valenciennes, which was threatened with a ficge by the French General Pichegru, who is appointed to the fupreme command of the army of the North, in the room of General Jourdan; but nothing had then taken place but fome fkirmishes between the outpofts and the reconnoitering parties, which were deci five on neither fide. The troops had quitted their cantonments, and had repaired to the frontiers. It is faid, that the allies intend not to divide their forces, X 2 but but to act in such a large body as fhall not incur the hazard of defeat. In the provinces of the French frontier, their example will be followed by the inhabitants rifing in a mafs to repel their predatical incurfions; in feveral places they have embodied themfelves in confiderable numbers. ; THE INTERIOR OF FRANCE, notwithstanding the defpotically decifive meafures of the prefent rulers, is disturbed by diffention and murmurs in various places. The dreadful infliction of vengeance at Lyons, Marseilles, and La Vendee, hath not been able to extinguifh the fpirit of counter-revolution, and of loyalty, inthefe places in the latter place, the Convention have not pretended to deny, that the royalifts have arifen and gained confiderable advantages over the republican forces. Defpair, (for they refufed quarter, and no penitence can atone for their guilt,) and a fimilar enthusiasm hath beftowed upon them a valour and enterprife, which may perhaps lead them to victory and fuccefs; even in their death and destruction it will render them formidable. The hopes of fuccour, held out by this nation, ftill fupports their fpirits. The practicability of affording it hath not yet appeared, the forces of the republic being in poffeffion of the places by which our troops could land on that coast. The fcarcity of provifions, especially of butcher-meat, hath excited clamour and fome disturbances in the capital; were thefe to increase, fuch convulfions might enfue as would aid the operations of the allies in a manner even impoffible to cal. culate. Thomas Payne has not yet been liberated from his confinement. His fpeech in favour of the King hath operated against the interference of his friends. The approach of the troops, from their cantonments, to the frontier, to occupy their posts around thofe important fortreffes, which will probably be the fubject of ferious contention between the hoftile armies, hath only been productive of fome fevere fkirmishes, in which the advantages on either fide, have not been decifive, but only the prelude to events more important. Since the beginning of this month, the Prince of Saxe Cobourg hath been vigorous in his preparations for the defence of Valenciennes and the conquered places, which are threa tened by the French commander, Genral Pichegru, who feems, in fome degree, by the late movements in his army, to have changed the plan of his operations, abandoning French Flanders, and concentrating his force about Landrecy and the foreft of Mormal. Billaud de Varennes hath been fent by the Convention to give energy to the execution of their plan. By the measures which the Convention hath adopted, amidst the general scarcity of provifions, their armies in the North are fupplied in abundance. AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTH. The preparations for war among the Italian ftates, against France, are carrying on with vigour, animated by the prefence of a very confiderable force which the Britifh have in that quarter. After Lord Hood quitted Hieres bay, his intention appears to have been directed against the enemy's force in the island of Corfica, where the intrepid valour of the British arms hath acquired fresh glory, vide Lon. Gazette, p. 167. The allied armies of Spain and Portugal have been receiving reinforcements to oppofe, with fuccefs, the additional troops the army of the republic will receive fince the evacuation of Toulon. Admiral Gell and Commodore Elphingftone are on their way home with two of the enemy's line of battle fhips brought from Toulon. The Swifs government has prohibited the circulation of Lord Robert Fitzgerald's declaration; and two bookfellers, who difregarded this prohibition, have been taken up and punished. General Ricardos, who commands the Spanish army in Rouffilon, hath received confiderable reinforcements; the French appearing in great force in that quarter, have fucceeded in fome attacks made on the Spanish batteries. The influence of the French feems to have gained completely the afcendant in the republic of Genoa. A revolution is even expected; a rupture with this ftat and and the allied powers will probably foon take place, as it hath declared its refolution not to depart from the system of neutrality. The Senate of Venice hath declared, that it should regulate its conduct by that of the Porte; and fhould the Porte be forced into a war, that power will obferve an armed neutrality. When Lord Hood left Hieres bay, he had on board, fick and wounded, about 4000. Capt. Hood, who narrowly efcaped from Toulon, is arrived at Leghorn in the Juno with the French of ficers on board. The Spanish fleet is returned to Carthagena. No fuccefs, decifive on either fide. has taken place on the Spanish frontier between the hostile armies. The difpofitions of the allies feems to be made in that quarter with the determined refolution of penetrating into France. GERMANY. The theatre of war becomes daily a more important object, the confederate Princes of Germany have lately adopted the fcheme of arming the peafantry of their respective countries, and enabling them to act with their regular troops. Such a proceeding muft either originate in the most perfect conviction of the purity of their respective governments, or in a perfuafion that the exceffes of the French have excited too general an abhorrence, to fu pofe that their example will be followed by any other European state, and that every one will join in arrefting the further diffufion of anarchy and confufion. But from whatever motives fuch a measure may have been adopted, it will, in its confequences, deftroy the unmitigated military defpotifin, under which fo many civilized kingdoms have groaned; and thus, after fupporting the prerogatives of fovereigns, and the peace and happiness of nations, against the anarchists of France, affift in establishing the genuine rights of the fubject on the bafis of true liberty. The Archduke Charles, will attend the Imperial army, and affift in opening the campaign. The Emperor hath teftified his approbation, to the Diet at Ratisbon, of the measures taken by the Duke of Wirtemberg to protect his eftates by raising a militia of 25,000 men. His Majefty, at the fame time, fent very ftrong memorials to those Princes of the Empire, who are very dilatory in furnishing their quotas of men and money; adding, that if they are not expedited in a fhort time, his Majefty would think himself authorized to withdraw his troops to his own frontiers, and leave the Empire to defend itself. At the Imperial Diet lately held, the Pruffian Envoy declared, that his master was not against the war being profecuted with vigour, and for that purpose would increase his army to near 80,000 men ; but, as the war was directed more against the Empire than against his estates, no more could be abfolutely required of him than his contingent; but if the Empire required the fuccours above named, they should be granted upon the following conditions: ft, That all the Princes of the Empire fhould, as foon as poffible, furnish their refpective quotas in men. 2dly, That care fhould be taken for the provifion of his army, for which purpofe there fhould be furnished daily 80,000 portions of bread, and 24,000 rations of oats and hay. 3dly, That, if the Empire did not chufe to agree to the above conditions, he not only could not give any farther affiftance to the Empire than his contingent, but that in fuch cafe he should be obliged to recall all his troops from the Rhine, except fuch contingent. PRUSSIA. The King of Pruffia has delivered a declaration to the States of the Germanic Circles, affembled at Franckfort, stating, that reports had gone abroad, imputing to him defigns of appropriating to himself certain cities of the Empire, in order to indemnify himself for the expences of the war. These his Majefty declares to be falfe and malicious; that no fuch defign was ever formed by his Majefty; that he is actuated by the pureft motives to fupport the caufe of the allies; and that he will be always willing and ready, to to guarantee to the Germanic Empire, its territory and conftitution, &c.. The Circles of the Empire are ferioufly occupied in their own defence. The Circle of Suabia has fet the example: However, his Pruffian Majefty has not diffembled his difapprobation of a general armament of the inhabitants of the Empire; but, on the contrary, has made the following Declaration by Count Soden, his Minifter: Declaration of the King of Pruffia against a general Armament of the Inhabitants of the Empire. 1. When the propofition for a general arma. ment of the fubjects of the Empire was made, at the affembly of the Diet, the King of Pruf fia reprefented fuch effential difficulties against this measure, that he could not have expected that the propofition would have been carried to a conclufum. II. For this reafon his Majefty finds himself under the neceffity of laying them again once more before the fix neareft Circles, with this obfervation, viz. “That if the faid Circles cannot determine among themfelves to withdraw the faid conclufum, and render it of none effect, he will be forced, however, contrary to his inclination, to withdraw his troops, as he cannot expofe them to the danger which muft neceffarily refult from this measure." III. The reafons that his Pruffian Majefty opposes to a general armament of the inhabitants of the Empire are the following, viz. 1. By employing the peafants against the enemy, agriculture will want hands. 2. That there are not arms fufficient to give to fuch a mass of people 3. That it is impoffible, in fo a short time, to teach the manual exercife to the inhabitants. 4. It has been found, by the experience of the two laft campaigns, that the foldiers opposed to the French, must be perfectly exercifed to make head against them. 5. Lastly, independent of the above reasons, it is infinitely dangerous, at a time like the prefent, when the French are watching every advantage to infinuate their principles, to af femble fuch a mafs of men, whofe ideas upon forms of government must be various, and among whom confequently diffentions might arife, difaftrous in their confeqences both to the armies and to the conftitution of the empire. RUSSIA. The armaments, by fea and land of this empire, are at prefent moft formidable, confiderable forces have been collected upon the frontiers of Turkey, and a rupture between these powers may be expected. Notwithstanding the late French revolution, in direct hoftility to monarchs, the influence which that nation poffeffed at the Porte, appears not to be obliterated. The Empress hath demanded a categorical anfwer of the Turks, concerning their immediately taking an active part with the Belligerent powers against the French; intimating, at the same time, to the Porte, that fhe fhall confider a refufal as a declaration of war against Russia. As there feems to be a good understand. ing between the Turks, the Swedes, the Danes, and the unhappy remains of the Poles, it is thought the Ottomans are prepared to give a fpirited answer to the Imperial demand. The negociations of the Turkish ambasfador, at the British Court, have not been attended with the defired fuccefs. There were two principal objects he had in view; to infift on the liberation of the Turks who were prisoners in the Ruffian territories; and that the Ruffians fhould fubmit to the payment of the new duties eftablished in all the Turkish dominions. The Turkish Divan have ordered the moft vigorous preparations for war, to be made both by fea and land, and the northern frontier to be ftrengthened along its whole extent. But as this empire is at prefent diftracted by internal divifions, it will oppofe but a feeble refiftance to the mighty power of the Ruffian monarchy. This Cabinet hath demanded of the Emperor a pofitive declaration of neutrality, if a war fhould take place between Ruffia and the Porte, and likewife an auxiliary force of 24,000 men. The Emprefs, in return, promifes, that unfortunate Poland fhall cede to Austria the way wodthips of Cracow, Lublin, and Chelm. The Turkish ambaffador left Peterf burgh the beginning of February, after leaving, a memorial relative to the differences exifting between the two Courts. Every circumftance corroborates the fufpicions entertained of the ambitious views of the Emprefs. der the guns of the Port of Genoa, gave great offence to that State, who complained to the English Conful, that their neutrality was infringed; the explanation that took place feems not altogether fatif factory to the Genoefe, who discover difpofitions not friendly at prefent to the allied powers. The republic of Genoa hath begun to arm, declaring, that it is with the defign of protecting their trade from the infults of any power whatever. The blockade of their harbour by the British is raised. An official note was prefented by the Secretary of State, to the British Conful, flating the difficulties and obftacles thrown in the way of their trade by the British vessels, and declaring the refolution of the Republic, to obferve a strict neutrality, and their determination, "that whenever any English veffels fhall endeavour to chafe any hips within the reach of the cannon of the forts, they will immediately be fired at, conformably to the edict of neutrality, and to the niverfally acknowledged rights of na tions.” LONDON. LONDON GAZETTE, FEB. 10. Admiralty Office, Feb. 18. (The following is an extract from the difpatches received from Vice-Admiral Lord Hood, giving an account of the fortunate prefervation of his Majefty's fhip Juno, owing to the great prefence of mind and exertions of Capt. Hood, his officers, and fhip's company). Juno, Hieres Bay, Jan. 13. On the 3d inftant I left the Ifland of Malta, having on board one hundred and fifty fupernumeraries, forty fix of whom are the officers and private marines of his Majesty's fhip Romney, the remainder Maltese, intended for the fleet. On the night of the 7th paffed the S. W. point of Sardinia, and fteered a courfe for Toulon. Not having a pilot on board, or any perfon acquainted with the Port, I placed two midshipmen to look out with night glaffes for the fleet; but not difcovering any fhips till We got near the entrance of the inner harbour, I fuppofed they had moored up there in the caftern gale; at the fame time, feeing one veffel, with feveral other lights, which I imagised to be the fleets, I entered the inner har bour under the topfails only; but finding I could not weather a brig, which lay a little way above the point called the Grand Tower, I ordered the forefail and driver to be fet, to be ready to tack when we were the other fide the brig. Soon after the brig hailed us, but I could not make out in what language: I fuppofed they wanted to know what thip it was. I told them it was an English frigate called the Juno. They answered, Viva; and after asking in English and French, for fome time, what brig fhe was, and where the British admiral lay, they appeared not to understand me, but called out, as we paffed under their ftern, Luff, which made me fuppofe there was fhoal water near. The helm was inftantly put a-lee, but we found the fhip was on fhore, before she got head to the wind. There being very little wind, and perfectly fmooth, I ordered the fails to be clued up and handed: At this time a boat dered the launch and cutter to be hoisted out, went from the brig towards the town. I orand to put the ketch anchor with two hawfers in them, to warp the fhip further off. By the time the boats were out, a boat came along-fide, after having been hailed, and we thought anfwered as if an officer had been in her; the people were all anxious to get out of her, two of which appeared to be the officers. One of them, he faid, came to inform me, it was the regula tion of the port, and the Commanding Officer's orders, that I must go into another branch of the harbour, to perform ten days quarantine. I kept afking him where Lord Hood's fhip lay; but his not giving me any fatisfactory answer, and one of the midshipmen having at the fame infant faid, "They wear national cockades," I locked at one of their hats more stedfaftly, and by the moonlight, clearly distinguished the three colours. Perceiving they were fufpected, and on my queftioning them again about Lord Hood, one of them replied, "Soyez tranquille, les Anglois font de braves gens, nous les traitons bien; l'Admiral Anglois eft forti il y a quelque It may be more easily conceived than any words can exprefs what I felt at the mo. ment. The circumftance of our situation, of courfe was known throughou: the fhip in an inftant, and faying we were all prifoners: the officers foon got near me, to know our fituation, At the fame time, a flaw of wind coming down the harbour, Lieut. Webly, the third Lieut. of the fhip faid to me, "I believe, Sir, we shall be able to fetch out, if we can get her under fail.” I immediately perceived we should have a chance of faving the fhip, at least, if we did not, we ought not to lofe his Majesty's fhip without fome contention. I ordered every perfon to their refpective ftations, and the Frenchmen to be fent below. They, perceiving fome bustle, two or three of them began to draw their fabres; on which I ordered fome of the marines to take tems.' the half fpikes, and force them below, which was foon done. I then ordered all the Maltefe bc |