The New Hampshire Gazette

The situation of affairs in Europe becomes more and more critical. Every new arrival adds to our anxiety to learn the next news, so rapidly does the interest increase, as the political drama hastens to its denouement. The curtain seems now to be rising for the last act. France having completely humbled her continental enemies appears in good earnest to be turning her efforts towards proud Britain.

Three hundred French transports, according to the accounts by the Orlando, made their appearance off Beachy head on the 20th Feb. and then disappeared. We conjecture that this must have been the Brest fleet going up the channel to form a junction with the fleets at Dunkirk and in the Scheldt : thence to strike a blow at the heart of their enemies, in their very metropolis.

It must be observed that the Eastern coast of Britain is most open to an attack from the French. It does not contain a single harbor in which the English fleet can lay in wait for their enemies, or find refuge in case of disaster, but the open road of Deal which would give no protection to them except against the elements ; it offers various points at which a landing could be easily effected, and it is opposite and near to the French and Dutch coasts, which abound with secure harbors.

The Brest fleet which we suppose made part of the 300 sail seen off Beachy head, is said to consist of 33 sail of the line. The British force in the German ocean is about 10 sail, and their grand channel fleet, as it is called, consisted of 15 ships of the line. This channel fleet sailed on the 2d of March from St. Helens, but even if it was to form a junction with the North Sea fleet, in the way of which there are many obstacles, still the French would be an overmatch even without their Dunkirk and Flushing reinforcements.

The landing of 1900 men in Wales on the 24th February, most probably was intended to spread an alarm in a direction opposite to the points of real attack. It had produced more effect than they could possibly have hoped from it. It has given a mortal stab to the credit of the bank, and of consequence cuts off the monied resources of the government. The shock will be severely felt by the commerce of the country, and the confusion which the event must occasion, will greatly facilitate any operations which the French may undertake against the island.

A London ministerial paper, speaking of the fate of the Brest fleet, remarks that the elements have joined the confederacy against France. On this an opposition paper observes, that it is fortunate for John Bull that he has at last got an ally which the Minister cannot subsidize.