The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-08-16 00:00:00

THE PLAGUE.

The Superior College of Medicine and Health, of
the King of Prussia, has published tlse Prospeetus
for a Prize Composition upou the tubjea of the con-
tagion of the yellow fever.
Experience having indubitably proved, that the
yellow fever is of the number of those contagious
maladies, which ate communicated from persons af-
lilacd with them, to those who are in health, by
the diet% of contagion, it is to be admitted, that
there exists a contagious matter, which reproduces,
and which must be considered as the cause of the
propagation of this malady.
It is not, however, at all proved, in any satisfac-
tory manner, in what way the contagious virus a4ls ;
and whether it be produced in case of an immediate
contaft with the sick ? or whether it be capable of
being transferred by the atmosphere to persons in
health ? or, in short, whether it resembles the virus
of the plague, and other disorders equally conta-
gious • whether it attaches itself to inanimate sub-
stances, and infelts them in such a way, that the
touch of these bodies is sufficient to produce this
contagious disease ?
It is very important to resolve in an evident man-
ner the last of these questions, as weans of precau-
tion taken to avoid the contagion, and restriCtions
that must necessarily he put upon commerce, de-
pend principally upon the solution cf this question.
It appears, nevertheless, that the attention of skil-
ful men has not yet been sufficiently attraCted to this
objeA—and this circumstance has engaged His Ma-
jesty the King of Prussia to order his Superior Cal- ;
lege of Medicine and Health to propose to the Phy-
sicians who have had, or may yet have, occasion to
observe an epiJemy of the yellow fever, a premium
relative to this objett, and to engage them by this
means to enlighten, by experience and positive faits,
the doubts which still hang over it. According to
this order, the Superior College of Medicine and
Health invite those persons who, by their local situ-
ation, have an opportia.ity of applying themselves
to these interesting labours, and to reply to the fol-
lowing questions:
I. Do there exist indubitable proofs and con-
vincing experiments to induce the belief that the
contagious Matter produced by the yellow fever,
attaches itself to inanimate bodies, becomes an in-

!went cf the substlnce without losing its conta4
genus propertie,, and may be in a state to comn:u-
nicate this rria!ady to persons who permit diem-
selves to touch or make use of those infea d sub-
stances; and can the contagion be thus extended?
.2. In a case which admits the possibility of this
mode of contagion, they ask, which are the expe-
riments and the fans that render this opinion pro-
bable or certain ; in the opposite, they demand the
same proofs to contradiet the assertion.
3. May it be regarded as probable, or can it be
proved with certainty, that the mrasw, which occa-
sions the contagion of the yellow fever, is produced
front the yellow fever? and is the virus particu-
lady, of ar least principally inherent in some one of
the animal excretions, and in which ?
4. Have they any notions of the chemical pro-
perties of the contagious virus, and can they find
upon them the means of employing a chemical
agent capable of naturalising ordestroying it ? have
they discovered other preservatives against the in-
feClion, and what are they ? Are there amongst
them any whose efficacy is evident ? How must
they be used to disinto% by their means, the infra-
ed substances, in such a manner as to render then'
entirely incapable of aCting in a manner dangerous
or obnoxious ?
5. Can there be ascertained a space of time after
which the contagious virus loses in general its
efficacy, and its deleterious properties? Is there a
term, at the end of which the substances which have
been infe&ed are no longer in a state to re-produce
the malady ; after which, the infection may bc con-
sidered as destroyed, and the contagion impossible ?
ti. Does there exist a difference between the sills-
stances susceptible of infeCtion 'dative to the facility
with which they are impregnated, more or less easily
with the contagious disease, and of retaining it a
shorter or longer period ? Are these substances in-
capable of being inteCted or retaining the infection,
whilst others are so much more susceptible of this
vicious impregnation, arid which are the several sub-
stances ?

( they require a table of the principal merchan-
dises, classed according to the experimeats relative
to these last questions.)
7. As to the yellow fever which rages in North
America, in the Southern parts of Spain and Leg-
horn, has it been always the same malady, or has
there been observed any diff•u-ence in the symptoms
and course of the disorder, the mortality it has oc-
casioned, and the progress of the contagion, caused
by the differen6e of the countries, which have been
the theatres of this pestilence ?
In what consists the supposed difference, and by
what proofs can the assertion he supposed ?
8. Is the yellow fever a malady confined to the
coasts, or does it effeftively rage at any considerable
distance from the sea, and has the distance a..y in-
fluence on the course and progress of this scourge ?
They offer, accor ling to the orders of His Prussian
Majesty, a premium of COO milled ducats to the
person who replies in the mast evident and compkte
manner to those questions proposed, and supports
his assertions on unequivocal fans and satist.Ocry

experiments.
The answer which appraaeles nearest to that
which obtains the prize will be as!.adged a present
of 100 milled ducats.
The answers are to be written legibly in French,
German, or Latin, arc to be addressed and sent to
the Supreme College of MNlsciae and Health at
Berlin, and are to be er:sc.sc.l before the Ist of
January 14107. The attzwers which will arrive after
that will nr,t be adrakted by the Committee.
They request the aothots not to lift: their names,
but to inclose in a Pealed Eillet, chstineished at the
outside by a device, their names, situation, aid
place of residence.
The same device must he placed sat the head a;
the writing presented to the Committee.
The Supreme College of Medicine and Health
will judge impartially the answers of the authors,
end will decide the premium to him whe gives the
most perfect satisfaetien to the questions proposed,
and whose Memoir contains fascis the best established,
and explanations the most complete.
They will adjudge the second best premittrh to
him whose Memoir approaches nearest to the ca-
pital prize. The billets containing the names of
theothcr Candidates will be burned without opening
them.
lierua, 1 7as April, 1805.

NAV4L INTELLIGENCE.

DIAL, AVG. 14.
Arrived the Hrbs frigate, from a cruise, and re-
mains in the Downs with the ships as per last.
This afternoon the Right lion. Admiral Led
Keith shifted his flag from the Agincourt to the
1....1,g0r man of war.
towrsmotivn. •VGOST 14.
Sailed the Rear cutter nn a cruise, and the Es.
counter gun-vessel, with a convoy for Guernsey and
Jersey. _

PLYNOUTII. •tioust 13.
Sailed the earths.. Plover, Cheerly, stud .4itari
gun-brigs; also the Latvia frigate. and Naosides
sloop.
Arrived the harlequin hired armed ship; the Area,
sloop ; Bell cutter ; and Inusle-roi run-bt ig
Remain in Cawsand Bay, His Majesty's ships
Wisiftiir Cavite, Trispi,e6, and Ciirais.
The San .fistepA was with some difficulty got into
dock on Sunday evening, and wiil be completed this
evening, and be undocked ; she is one of the largest
ships in His Majesty's navy.
EALMOVTM, auousr 12.
Arrived the Led, Hobart packet. Captain Deake,
from Salcornbe ; Sophia, and tne Hurni‘r sloops of
war, from a cruis.• • Harrioti. Greenwood. from Li-
verpool, bound to ilerbice; also several vesseis with
provisions, from Plymouth.—Vs'ind S.W.
Haewicer, sun. 15.
The Akupased packet, Capt. Bridge, arrived thi;
day from Hesum, with the Mails and several pas-
sengers; also the Lady Nrpeaa, George Deane, with
the Mails from Gottenburgli.
The Lady Franics, Capt. Elyn, and the Kist(
Georg', Capt. Saunders, will sail with the first fair
wind with tie Mails of the 13th.
YARMOUTH, AUGUST

The Adrlptlia armed ship, with the outward-bound
Bsitic fleet, are now or this town, and are joined
by .;:e J, o, Siromi, tnr Dantaic ; Triton, Oughton,
for Merncl ; Gardner; and Tass-..ss, Mai tui,
fn. Elsinore —'V;nd N. W.

, .
MEETING OF ctr_nrrons, AT OtTILDIIAT.L.,
TO. Moo Row.
Charlet Glover Alhemarle.street, At George, kr.i. ".
diesex, mph:titterer . .
Henry Jrannrr Ittimphris and William liosphrli:
Fleme-atreet„ Loudon, drtig 4 Mir
'.% .
Benjamin Hardman, brew/rem, Suffolk, thoolreerier 8
Thema.. Read, Wridemmirstkmt, Channe crow, JewcPer 8
George T,I,Jul, Walton enioti-Tltaines, Surrey, plimilln 3
Richard Hublal, Oland°. street, Middlesex, liquor.
merchant . . • • 3
Thomas Rodwell, !' zcidOly, St. James, IVestininwer,
hoot-maker . . .
• 3 William Gardner, Luton, Bedfurdaliira. .4ack-naanu.,
tat% mar . . . . • 3
William Stour, formerly of fin:ll-wee% Southwark,
but Into of Norwood Cot utnvii, SurreY, hop met.
chant . •
George Dugan% Upper Groesvenor-place, Nl.dellelex,
victualler . . 2
F... 1 ward Way, lie•trierta .tweet, Catund!,h ,piart., wine.•
merchant . . . • .
JoMi Ilentirm, Lune Chia, Greenwich, tient, corn
asul CUJI-d a3l er . . . . 2
Ciatles I.urreluck, Durksoa sheet, Stean,l, de tler in
wine . • • • • 2
Williasn Smith, Raaing.lanr,l.milluti, warehnuaernan 4
Thomas Haunt :ate of Prnlicra...pl.R.”, Midel:es:x, hr,ck.
layer . . . . . 2
G surge Pletelser, Worksopp, Nottingliamqhire, dealer
and cha,maii • . • 2
Jusenh RlChillde. PI iliCeS 3tairt, Rotherbithr, Surrey,
• •ielnaller
John Blunt and Ruben Sc Allay, Coal Exchai•xe, Lou.
doer, roal.fatturs
St
Anthony Berk, o.fitrel-strect, Middlesex, aadler , 1
Henry flays...id, Itainsigate, tale of *fli,met, Kent,
butcher • . .
Jame' Dawson, Ciptlealt.hui%linge, Loodrri,wareboutr.
man . . . . 1
Thomas Freetna•t, St. Mono's-Ic-Grand, Lawton,
antra-merchant . . . . I
I,Villtam Nl•Cann, Blackmail, Middleger • . I
John Lodge litrobersty, Lincoln's-inn, Middlesex,
barriater.at-law . . . . .
Johtt Sanderwiti, St. James-s•reet, Middlesex, goldsmith
Jr hit Slaymaker, Redermii,treet, I.oradon, tarluw.
e!.Analler

• 119

DIVIDEND'S.
John Burrough, Red Lion-str:et, Spits Melds, 11J:Jcl:e.
sex, bakes . . .
Jame; Benson, G.eville-street, limo's-garden, painter
John Taylor, Chatham, KOH. winc-merchant
Thurna, Barkley, Cornhill, Lonrin•t, merchant
Thomas Mitchell, I latton-cuorr, Threadnecils-street,
Lwidnii, merchant . . .
Joseph Spraggon and William Spraggrm, G:ay.:strol,
Kent, slop,e!lers . . . .
John Townsend, Lu:•pte-hill, London, and Lain Seth,
Surrey, lacetwast . . .
Anthony Peck, Grsvi•sesd, Kent, earpeine-
Edward Merson, Doi is..tcr, Sogner.et.loire, nine,
Asraltana Houldsworth and Henry Gravenos, Bas'-t.
hall-,treet, London, wa•eliousetnest •
Denial Cnx the &der, awl Daniel Cox, the young •r,
Mark-lane, lAnion, bratul)-mer. hams .

CFRT I;GATES.
Nathaniel Denham, of Litne.stree:, in the city of Load.,
merchant.
William Acklam, of Severley, in the county of York,
dealer and chapuian.
Jeffery Scrape, formerly of Queen-street, Cheapside, ••
city of London, afteawards cf Beaumontestreet,
bonne, and now of Red-Lion-at:cot, Holborn, in tlio
of Middlesex, atocir-nrokcr, dealer and chapirian.
William Elliot, of Beveriey, in the county of York, tanner,
dealer and cliiipman.
Themes Newberry, of Great Coram-street, Brunswick
in the county of Middlesex, builder.

PRICE OP STOCKS. YESTERDAY.
Runk Stock llloill
3 per Cent P eleceri 3n iii
3 per Cent. Coneols.
4 per Cedt.
5 per OWL %Airy . ..e.... ........ 69,4
5 per C.•nt. Loyalty
16 13 16 ri

. . .
I.ertg A:lilaybe< -
Short Annuities
Imperial Anne!, les .. ......9 7 IG
Iron! pet Cent. . 89
curteur,
iodi.a St,elt. . lBO4
. .

Vish L. Awry T.ckets
C...a01s for . .
T. SISII, So)ck • Mtnkr,
No 4, Carrthill, ant 9, Chan
PRICK Oi IRISH STOCKS—Auo. 9.

Gem Deb. si c..-ne.
Gov. Stock Si .per -

• 93/4
Gov. Debentures. per Cent. 91'
Diu," Srozlc, 5 per cent 9l}
Grand Canal Laan, 6 per ...... 7n:

BIRTHS.
Intel-, Mrs .1. A. Cotton, al El!tame-, of
Sunday, at %Vatthaon Lodge, Fa ex, the Lady Of Cal::VO
Watkins, of am Royal Navy, of a son.