The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

November 30.

A private letter from Hamburg, dated November 16, contains the following interesting information:

Last Wednesday evening the French made another attempt at a coup de main, in violating the Altona territory, with the view, it is said, of seizing Messrs. Thornton and Prior, English merchants, whose country houses are at a village contiguous to Altona, called Orrenen. The French had intelligence from their spies, that, notwithstanding the advanced state of the season, those gentlemen still passed the night without the gates of their villa.

To effect their purpose, general Friere and some other French officers came over from Hamburgh, in coloured clothes, dined at a place called 'Slavenhof, from whence they proceeded early in the morning, when Sir George Rumbold was seized. The boatmen, however, who brought them over, judging from the circumstance of all the other vessels in Hamburgh being detained when the officers sailed, that the expedition was of a particular nature, gave information of what they had seen to the president of the government at Altona. The latter, after interrogating the men, made his report to the military commandant, major Ewald, who served in the Hessian legion in the American war. He immediately ordered a detachment of one hundred of his chasseurs, and a squadron of dragoons to occupy the village of Ortenen. All the burghers and the military garrison at Altona were also ordered to be in readiness to march.

About eight o'clock in the evening, it being then moon-light, four lighters, containing about 60 or 70 foot soldiers, completely armed, and having their officers with them, were descried approaching the Holstein shore. Upon this, the commanding officer of the Danish chasseurs, accompanied by the hussars and all his men, whom he ranged in a line along the beach, hailed the French officer in his own language, and informed him, 'that as the territory was neutral, and belonged to his Danish majesty, any violation that might be attempted, he had orders from his sovereign to repulse by force of arms.' The Frenchman, after muttering a confused short reply, which could not be understood, remained a few minutes longer, and with great difficulty obtained some refreshment in gin, brandy, bread, and cheese, for his men after which he sailed back to Hamburgh.

This occurrence was immediately reported to the court of Copenhagen, and an estafette was likewise sent to the commandant of Gluckstadt and the governor of Schleswig. Patrols of Danish troops will, it is said, henceforth guard the banks of the Elbe.

Hamburgh and Altona are infested with a host of French spies. The following anecdote may serve as a specimen of their zeal and vigilance:-

Senator G, a magistrate of one of the first families of this place, and universally respected by its inhabitants, about a week ago gave a supper, at which none but relatives were present. The seizure of Sir George Rumbold, the politics of the day, and Bonaparte's character, became the subject of conversation. The Senator made a variety of severe animadversions on Bonaparte, little suspecting that what he had said would go out of doors. Last week however, that gentleman received a letter from Reinhard, reproaching him with having been lavish of currilous abuse against his master; and cautioning him to beware of the consequences of a second offence of this kind against his Imperial Majesty, as other measures would certainly be taken, which he would have reason to repent.