BRITISH AND FRENCH FLEETS

THE abstract, showing the state of the British navy at the commencement of the present year, * so nearly resembles the last, as to call for no additional remarks. †

The number-of commissioned officers and masters, belonging to the British navy at the beginning of the year 1812, was,

And the number of seamen and marines, voted for the service of the same year, was 145,000. ‡

With respect to the fleets of the powers at war, another inactive year passed ; and yet France continued adding to her already powerful navy new line-of-battle ships and frigates. On the 19th of March, Russia declared war against France ; and on the 18th of July a treaty of peace was signed at Orebo between Russia, Sweden, and Great Britain. The Scheldt fleet, of from

* See Appendix, Annual Abstract No. 20. † See Appendix, Nos. 1 and 2.      ‡ See Appendix, No. 3

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