Star.
London, England, 1807-12-12 00:00:00

SIR SIDNEY SMITH's SQUADRON.

It bas been pretty generally undertipod that this
fqaadron was deflined for the Taps. We learn,
however, from a refpeaable quarter, that its objea is
to take Ceuta from the Spaniards. This important
place is fituated on the African castfi, oppofite to
Gibraltar, and, occupied by us, if we can maintain;
good under (landing with the Emperor of Morocco,
will enable Gibraltar to be regularly fupplied with
frefh provifions. Our Readers may recollea fome
late billing and cooing between Narot.aom and the
Moorifh Emperor, when horfes, shawls, &c. were
exchanged, with mutual profeffions of friendfhip, and
that on that occafion the French papers boatted that
England was to have the Barbary Pirates added to
the number of her enemies. They did not mention,
however, fait, of which information has been re.
ceived here, that NAPOLEON had promifed to the
Emperor of Morocco, as a bonus for his friendfltip,
the renoration of Ceuta, which has been for a confi-
derable time in the occupation of Spain. It is row
hoped that bis Moerifit Majefiy will loon have to
treat with others, to gain the objet of his wilbes,
and it is believed that the poffeffion of Ceuta will be
promifed to him at the termination of the contell in
which we are now engaged, on condition that he re-
linguini all friendly intercourfe with France:

ROYAL Acasrmy.—Thorfday evening a Bnard
was held of the Prefident and Royal Academici.•ns
in the Council Room, Somerfet Houle, for the dif-

ribution of Prizes.

At nine o'clock the ballot for the adjudication of
premiums was doled, and the (Indents were called in.
The Prefident prefented to Mr. LASCE;.I.Fs a gold
medal for his judgment of a (down, which was decided
to be the bell dray in Hillorical Paining. A gold
medal was then prefented to Mr. C. A. Bossy, for
hit prodation in Arehiteaural Dcfgn.
Several other premiums were voted for Lanai ape
and Academic Fipers.
After the prefentation of the different rewards of
met it, the Prefident, addreffing himfelf to the Gentle-
men Students, declared briefly that he felt the stmoik
pleafure in obferving the progrefs which was daily
making in the Englith School of Arts; and he was
particularly happy to oblerve, that, en the prefent
occafion, fo many youthful candidates had been ad-
judged worthy of the prizes indifferent departments.
He had intended to deliver a formal difcourfe this
evening ; but, on acconnt of the eledions for officers,
and other hafinefs, which at prefent occupied a con-
fiderable portion of time, and created a good deal of
anxiety, he would poftpone the delivery of his dif-
comfe until Come future period, when it could he
done with a greater degree of convenience. He
offered, however, a few juft and pertinent remarks
on the value of charafter in all productions of at t ;
the neceffity of underllanding the proportions of the
human figure ; and the belt means of acquiring that
knowledge.
BRITISH INSTITUTION.—The School opened on
the 12th of Augnit, and one hundred and fix ltudents
were admitted. Of thefe about feventy gave their
perfunal attendance.
Among thofe, as will be teen by tilde names af.
fixed to their works a-c—Drummond, Garrard, the
junior Reinagle, Dawe, Milton, Green, Walker,
Irvine, Sharp, Agar, Dewint, Pogh, Arnald : with
the Junior Clafs, ct, lilting of Pcrrigal, Collins, At..
cher, Mulready, and Linnell
Bnt the excellence of this difplay of Thitifh talents
is not confined to the male Artifi, as many of
our fair country women have difplayed very great
abilities; aT:d we may fairly fay, that the female
Rodents, of whom twelve were admitted, have no
reafon to fear a comparilon with the produelions of
the other fez
Among there fair candidates for fame in the arts,
the following are particularly entitled to diftinflion
-and applaule. viz. the two Mils REINAGLIS, Mrr.
GREEN, mia Jacasoa, (an amateur surtifl ), mirs
Hay, and the Mutes SSIITH4 who have given ample
proof of how much importance it is to the true im
prov ement of genius to have =els to the higher
fourccs cf excellence, in order to f .rm their (ludic,
upon the belt principles and pradice of the arts—an
advantage the Britt& attifts bad never before at-
tained.
To this interefting affemblage of honourable exer-
tions are added the pictures of the vat iuusCandidates
for the premiums offered by the inilitution' for the
belt Companion Pidures to thofe of the old Mailers.
as related by the Committee of Dire6lors, of which
fix were chofen for that porpole. of the following
Mailers, via. Guido, Salva:nr Rola, Vandyke, Te•
niers, and two by Rubens. SL venteen pictures are
fent in by Rodents of the former feafon, as claims
for the premiums offered, which are three in number,
viz. tool. 601. and 401. which will be awarded to
the three belt performances, and difitibuted accor-
ding to the feveral degrees of merit.
Comsr.—On Sunday evening, the 6th infl. at fix
o'clock, the Comet was plainly Peen by the naked eye,
notwithßanding the moonlight: about z degrees florin
the Rat Delta of the Swan, nearly under it, but a little
more eafierly. On Thu: fday evening, loth intl. it had
got above Delta, and was nearly in the line patting
through Delta and Gamma of the Swan ; dittant
from the former about two degrees. It was not then
vifible to the naked eye, on account uf the brighter
moanlight ; but it was readily found by one of DOL.•
LONG'S fmalleft Military Pccket Telefcopes.
Died, on Saturday hall, at Apfley, near Woburn.
Bedfordlhire, after a lingering illnefs, which he en-
dured with more than common Chriflian fortitude,
Mr. WI c LI AM WRIGHT, fur many years Mailer of the
well known School there, which he concluded with
unfallied integrity, with confiderable ability, with
intenfe application, with the utmoil liberali T, and
with fuch dillinguifhed fuccefs, as to have raifed
that, which he found a private, almolt to the rank
and confederation of a public fchool. Mr. WRIGHT
has left a widow and (even children, and has died
fineerely lamented by his family, his friends, and by
thole whom he indeed always confidered his friends,
his fcholars. We underfland that the 'bufinefs of the
fchool will be continued, and that advertifements are
preparing, in which its arrangements Will be detailed.

THE ARMY.

•
General SPENCit has arrived at Portfmouth to
take the command of the Expedition, which however
tannqt fail before a fortnight yet. A foperior Officer
it is Paid, is to command, Come mention Sir ARTHUR
WILLISLIT, and fume Sir DAVID BAIRD.
1 Friday fe'nnight, the Eaftern Regiment of Ren.
frewfhire Volunteers, commanded by Lieutenant
1 Colonel BROWN, then Rationed on duty at Pollock•
thaws, was infpefted by Colonel Scour, Infpefting
Field Officer of the dial ift, and IV' Lct a Is 1414Dowa Ls ,
Efq. of Garthland, Lord Lieutenant of the county
of Renfrew ; when the corps performed the manual
and platoon exercifes, and went through the evolu•
tiona, to the entire fatibfaftion of theft officers,' who
were pleated to exyrefs th.:ir complete approbation o
1 the appearance and difcipline of the regiment. f
MILITIA.—The following information will no
doubt be acceptable to perfons who are liable to the
ballot for militiamen :

Tea pounds are admitted to be half the price cf a
Subilitute.

If any man who is not worth pool. fhall be drawn
and ferve erfonally, he will be entitled to ten pounds
from the parith.—lf he provides a fubllitute, he will
be eq Ally entitled to ten pounds towards paying for
a fuhl:tute.—lf he neither ferves perfonally, n^► by
fuhtlitute, he is not entitled to any thing from the
parith—he forfeits twenty pounds, and is liable to
be balloted for again at the end of fivr years.—lf he
pays twenty. five pounds for a fubilitute, he will re-
• ceive ten pounds from the pariih, and pay fifteen
I only out of his pocket, which is five pounds lefs than
the penalty, and he will be cleared from future
ballot.—lf he pays even thirty pounds for a fubfii.
tote, he will pay no more out of his own pocket.,
than the man who pays the fine of twenty pounds,
and will have the advarrage of being clear of future
ballot.

It is therefore the interefi of every man who is
drawn to endeavour to find R fubliitute, seen if the
price &mild be as high as thipy.pounds.
It is alto the jawed of the pat& to give every en.

conragernent and affiflance, to induce the balloted
men to Terre perfonally, or find Itthftitates, other.
wife, ultimately the parith will be liable to a penalty
of fiat), pounds for each man deficient.

A Correfpondent complains pf the bard/hips fa+
feted by our Military in being landed from tranfports.
and marched to great diflances crofs the Ifland to
ports to which, he thinks, they ought to have
been carried on thip.board. We cannot agree with
our correfpondent in this. Troops, we think, fhonld
always be landed at the &it Britills port they can
reach. The late lois of a number of our brave men
by attempting to carry them through the Downs, on
(hip board, and who might n)w have been laved to
t'teir relatives and their country, had they been landed
on the Ead coati, is a lamentable proof of the bad
policy of carrying turn; s by fea when they can be
marched over land. The hardships of even a long
march is nothing compared to the inconvenience and
danger of a coalling voyage at certain (Caroni.
The farnc Coarefpondent offers another fuggelliow
which deferves adoption. The Waggon Train, a
very expentive corps, andoften doing nothingwhatever,
might be profitably ernrloyed in conveying foldiers
and baggage from one place to another.—The preff-
ing of Farmers waggons, efpecially in Spring and
Autumn, often retards the agricultural labours of the
country.
• Brigadier General Bsrurnast has taken the flota-
tion at Somata Houfe appointed him by the Bard
of ftevifion: I,e is now placed between Sir W!LLIAM
Rui.a and Mr. Pearce, the Surveyors of the Navy,
at an income of t4ool. per annum, as Surveyor of
Civil Architalure in the Navy.
Teta TN BATR as.—The Inewijant was performed laft
night, at Drury lane, and Mrs papas; played Byerre
with exquitLe effect. All the other charaders were
excellently fupparted. An apology was made for
Mils Boyce, who was to have played Oriana, but was
abfent from indifpofition, and her part was very well
filled by Mifs RAY.—In the Drama of Tekeli, which
followed, there was alfo a change ' • Mrs. BLAND hay•
ing been f'iddenly taken ill, Mifs KELLY was fubfli-
tuted for her in the chatader of Uhrilline. Thus were
I there two apologies on the fame night.
COVINT GARDEN.—On account of Mrs. SIDDONS'S
performing yellerday evening, for the lag time, until
after Bader, the houfe was crowded at an early
hour. The play of 7be Winter's 'Tale, gave ample
(cope for the difplay of her majeltic powers, and that
exalted dignity which attends her aging—in the
Havre fcene the was enthufiallically applauded. Mr.
KEMILL'S Leontee was a maßer•piece of graceful
alion, and the judgment of the ator was never to
confpicuous in thole nice touches of nature, with
which this character is replete ; his performance at
the doting fcene, evinced the tendered feelings of
(inability, gradually expanding into tumultuous joy,
as he difcovers that Mermione is really living. Th 4
1 Melo Drama of 7he Blind Boy followed, and Teems
to excite new intereft, as its fuccefs encreafes. Mifs
NORTON'S Cakinating rept efentation of tiviaa, excited
, I
continued marks of applaufe. Mrs. C. KIMBLE,
1 FAWCZT, and the relt of the pertinmcis, were all
well received in their refpative parts.
GulLDHALL—Thurfday an warn tunate female was
charged with uttering a forged al. Bank of England
note, at the (hop of Mr. Johnfon, in Saiiibury.coutt,
Fleet-greet. The prifoner in her defence faid, that
a gentleman had accompanied her to her lodgings,
and on his leaving her in the morning, had given it
to her—the was completely ignorant of its being a
forgery, nor did the know any thing
of the perton
who gavd it her, the having accidentally met with
him in Fleet ltreet. Mr. J.,linion did not With to
profecute the prifoner,
as he really believed her
ltatement to be corral ; and the Magiftrate, atter
invetligating minutely every circumnance that could
in the lead attach criminality, and examining (nine
perfons who came forward is her beholf, (Wining'
the prifccer, after a frtious adimmiti9n.