The New Hampshire Gazette

Naval Preparations.
Very far from the republic of France having given up the idea of any future efforts by sea, we are enabled to state from undoubted authority, that it has 24 ships of the line at present building, 9 of them first rates; and the exertions used to complete them, are unequalled in the history of that or any other nation. Every person who can use the axe or adze, and can be procured, though altogether unacquainted with ship building, is employed in the interior under proper directors, in cutting out, boiling and shaping the timber, and the whole is conveyed to the dock-yards entirely ready for the various uses required. As the timber made use of, however, is by no means properly seasoned, the duration of their ships must be short, and it appears improbable that they can man them; but that they are determined either to try their strength again on the ocean, or to attempt some expedition of the greatest consequence is past all doubt.
The admiralty have received certain information that the Toulon fleet is arrived at Brest. We have not learnt the number of ships that have stolen round and evaded the vigilance of our fleets; but the rumour is that they are 6 ships of the line. This must be that part of their fleet, therefore, which was left at Toulon when the expedition was made to the Adriatic sea; and the ships of that squadron are not included in the fleet that has come round to Brest.
This measure seems to indicate a serious design of a new armament at Brest. Accordingly, if we may give credit to rumour, the ships which had gone into the inner road have come again into the outer, where they are now lying at anchor, 17 sail in number.
In addition to the above intelligence relating to the naval preparations making by the French, we state, from the best authority, that the Spaniards have 33 or 34 ships of the line at Cadiz, equipped and ready for sea, besides 8 ships of the line equally equipped, lying in Algeciras Bay, near Gibraltar, and a pretty strong fleet fitted at Carthagena.
Advices have been received at the Admiralty from Sir John B. Warren, of the French meditating a descent upon the coast of Cornwall.