The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-12-24 00:00:00

OXFORD. Dic. 19.

Th, following subjees are proposed for the
Chance Prizes, for the year ensuing, viz

For Laqpi Versos-I)ophi.
t.:Ay—Heredigary /tank,

The Vice-Chanceller has received a donation of
f2C‘l. to be given to the auth ,r of the best compo.
sinon in English Verse, on the following subjed,
viz —9labi•u.t•

Thr Init and last of the shove Intijeffs are in-
tended lor those Gentlemen of the University who
have not exceeded tour years trom the time rof their
matriculation ; and the other for such as /save ez-
ceediLd tour, but not completed seven years.
"1 he Exercises are to he sent under a sealed cover,
to the Registrar of the University, on or before the
9:h day of May, 1808. None will be received after
that day. The author is required to conceal his
name, and to distiognish his composition by what
motto he pleases ; sending, at the IMO time, his
nanie, sealed up under anut:ter cover, with the same
motto inscribed upon it. The Exercises to which
the Prizes shall be adjudged, are to be repeated
(after a previsus rehearsal) in the Theatre, upon
the Commemoration-day, immediately after the
Public Orator's Creweian Oration.
COURTS MARTIAL 4T PORTSUOUIII.

Tuesday sennight, Captain Short, late of
His Majesty's ship Porpoise, was tried by a Court
Martial, on charges brought against hits by Lieut.
J. S. Tetley, tor cruel, oppressive, and unofficerlike
beh.,vinur to him, on the quarter-deck, when in the
execution of his duty; degrading him before the
ship's company ; making use of threats tending to
put him in fear of his lite ; and for a misappli.
cau inn of the ship's stores, to private purposes, and
making false entries in the shiii's log-book. The
charges not being proved, Capt. Short was arquii.
d On Toes Jay Rich. Lee and John Matthews,
seamen of the Sioveillesiiir, were tried for desertion.
They were sentenced to receive 300 lashes each.
The same day Barney Lavery, a marine beliinging
to the Lavinia, was tried for drunkenness and inso-
lence towards his Officer.--In consideration of Lis
long confinement, with both legs in irons, he was
sentenced to receive only 50 lashes. Mr. James
*l'aylor, raan., and Joseph Burridge, seaman of his
Mojesty's ship Coquette, were tried for p!undering
the Aitwon, re-taken merchantman. Mr. Taylor
wa-, sentenced to be disrated, to receive 400 Lashes,
to lose his share of prize-money, and rendered in-
capable of serving as anAtficer, but to serve in such
c toac'ty as the Commander in Chief should dire &
ll:atti,lge was sentenced to receive 300 lashes, and
to kr:eit his Ariz money. Wednesday. the sur-
:iving officers and men of His Majesty's late ship
Ifc,••,* we-. tried for ber loss, ow the ilamhois
k 'No blame was foamd imputable to any,
rici.or to tLosi men who d sorted from the boat.,
attio- 'ls .y bid reached the shore.—That the con-
dua in the Goofier and Boatswoin, and tat the ter-
men who endeavoured to regain the ship, in the
h i.its, to rescue othesss of the crew, was highly
pr i.e-worthy, The Cow t did adjudge them to be

annuLr.fa. NoTAU'S' fl

Manuel Parquale, mate and clerk of the Russian
ship Agerstrmnoa, -G eorgio Demetrfo, master, left
Algesiras last night, and Malaga three days ago,
states, that previous to his departure from Malaga,
authentic advice, had been received of the entrance
of eleven thousand French troops into Madrid. That
on their arrival about twelve days ago, the people,
ignorant of the party which these French troops
came to support, immediately rose upon them ; but
being unprepared, and not sufficiently armed, they
were obliged to give way. The French at Malaga.
state il.e loss on the side of the Spaniads at three
thousand, their owes at thirt:-six only. The Spa-
niards stated the loss to have been considera.sle on
both sides, hot confess that the Freticit had got the
better; but on explaining that it was hi. Royal
Highness the Prince of Asturias they went to 911::.
port, tranquillity was restored. Th.c the Prince of
Peace was naturally eapefted to tall. That the
nuo.ber of Frond) troops its Spain amounted to
ninety thousand. That six thousand were expeCted
at Malega ; and French troops were to garrison all
the Spanish ports, while the Spanish troops were sent
to garrison Portuguese poets. that oar his arrival
at Algeciras, he bad heard those accounts nearly
confirmed. That there were several reperts about
the tate of the• Prince of Peace, all contradidory.
—That wheat has bees sold at 95 rs. vn. per
fanegue, at Algesitas ; that it was very retiree
in all the provinces. 'that having applied for
permission to come to Gibraltar by land or water,
lie was refused. That being sent to solicit a pro-
teEtion for his vessel, which he left at Malaga,
where they told their cargo of wheat. and hav-
ing orders to come to this port (from whence
their vessel sailed some months ago for Sicily),
in order to purchase cochineal, indigo, coffee,
&c. he went on board one of the vessels its the Bay of
Algeciras, and in her boat came over. That it was
publicly mentioned in Spain, that the French were
corning to attack Gibraltar, and that the assertion
received credit, from the French having entered
Madrid, which they said was not the road to Por-
tugal.
That, independent of every letter from Madrid,
which he had heard read, mentioning the entrance
of the French troops, he had seen one of his coun-
trymen, who had lett Madrid after their arrival, in
consequence of the disturbance, at which he was
present.

That there are 1200 prisoners and malefaeors at
Malaga, who were making rejoicings at the expeft-
ed approach of the French troops ; that they all ex-
peeled to be aet at liberty.