Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

Yesterday we gave reason to expect news by the Raleigh from Derry, but we find that the only paper containing later London dates than those we had before received, fell into the hands of a person who we are told sent it to another office—From an Irish paper of the 11th we extract the following.

Messina, (Sicily) January 23.

I arrived at this place on the 20th ult. having come hither from Malta in a fine transport, and found things here in the like unsettled state as when I left Messina in the latter end of October. If possible a greater degree of fear prevailed than at that time, as considerable bodies of French troops have been for some months past daily advancing towards the shores of Calabria—they are even advanced within four miles of Reggio, and occupy the town of Scylla, from which they frequently send out detachments, who are sometimes beaten by the mass, headed by an English officer. A few prisoners are now and then taken, and brought to Messina.

The castle Scylla is still garrisoned by English troops, and the commander has received orders, in case he should be attacked, to hold out to the last, and fresh supplies have been sent over of ball and every thing necessary in case of a siege. The intercourse with Calabria is at an end, and boats are hourly arriving, crowded with whole families quitting their houses, alarmed at the approach of the French. Some families, however, finding the difficulty of supporting themselves, have had passports given them to return to their former homes, altho' actually in the possession of the French.

The English troops in Sicily are very few, but are kept continually on the alert by the present commander general Sherbrooke, who is a very active officer.

The citadel here and all the forts round Messina, are put in the best possible state of defence, and although the number of effective men scarcely amount to five thousand men, there cannot be a doubt but that it is the intention of the English to retain possession of the island. Nothing but the firm belief of this, and consequently the hopes of a speedy reinforcement from Britain, of an army sufficient to protect the island, could have quieted the minds of the people friendly to the English in Messina, and the English themselves resident here.

For certainly the French do not relax in their exertions of sending troops in Calabria, as bodies are daily advancing. A detachment of gun-boats from this place, manned by Neapolitans, and one or two English seamen, scour the coast and endeavour to annoy them as much as possible. They have lately brought in one or two small boats that the French were attempting to get round. The French have managed to get one or two gun-boats round to a small town near Scylla, which they have hauled up on the beach.

The Calabrese who take shelter here are a dreadful set; they are all armed with sabres and pistols; and accustomed to plunder in their own mountains, they rob and commit murder here, almost every night. The inhabitants of Messina are endeavouring to get an order issued, that no more may be allowed to land.

The whole island of Sicily is filled with emissaries of the French, and when there is no active police, nor in fact hardly any police at all, without the English take this duty upon themselves, it will be possible either to prevent improper persons coming hither, assassinations, or any other crimes daily perpetrated with impunity, from being committed. The vessels laden in this port for Trieste, have already began to tranship their cargoes for England, in consequence of the determination of England to take all vessels bound to ports in amity with France.

No vessels have arrived direct from Trieste for some days; and the last accounts state, that Buonaparte was at Venice, and intended shortly to return to Milan. An American vessel from Smyrna was taken a few days ago by the Spartan frigate, and brought in here, She brings no news.

A vessel in 50 days from Constantinople, now in quarantine, brings nothing new from that place. Sebastian is still in that city, and all the forts are manned, and cannon mounted. French officers are every where; and the navy is to be commanded entirely by Frenchmen.—a new trade has been lately opened by some merchants at Malta, to the Greek islands and Levant, under the Jerusalem Flag.

The rainy season has commenced in Sicily, and a vast deal of snow has lately fallen; the mountains within two miles of the town are covered, but it does not continue long.

Articles of provisions since Calabria has been visited by the French, begin to be very extravagant here, as vast quantities of poultry and vegetables of all kinds were brought to Messina from that side.