"Saturday, the 26th inst., the sailors on board the _Sea Horse_ frigate, had 2800 dollars served out to them at Portsmouth, and leave of absence for 48 hours' recreation on shore. This ship shares the whole of the Spanish prizes taken by her, and carried into Portsmouth. Their cargoes consist principally of about 300,000 dollars and gold doubloons, and about 120,000 raw hides, tallow," &c.--(_Times, Dec. 2, 1796._) * * * * * "The Spanish prize, taken by the _Raven_ brig, one of Admiral Earl St. Vincent's squadron, which was sent home, now lies at Deptford, where she is strongly guarded, and no persons suffered to go on board, till she has gone through a complete search, as it is suspected some other valuables, besides the Platina, of which 4000 ounces have been taken out and sold, are hid. Platina is a metal of the colour of silver, and about one eighth heavier than gold. None has ever been seen in Europe, at least in any quantity, but in Spain where it is consigned to the Crown, from South America."--(_Times, Sept. 20, 1797._) * * * * * "We stated several days since, that it had been determined by Mr. Pitt to alter, very materially, the Bill now before the House of Commons, for manning the navy. The principal alteration will be the taking off the burthen on ship-owners, of finding men before their ships can clear out; instead of which they are to advance a certain proportion of money, and Commissioners are to be stationed, at the out-ports, to find men out of this fund. The measure proposed is as follows,--that each Port shall, according to the number of seamen belonging to it, raise a certain number of men--that these men shall be fixed by Ballot--that those who have enrolled themselves to be balloted, shall receive a certificate of having done so, which shall secure them against pressing--that no man shall be permitted to serve on board a merchant ship, under a very heavy penalty, without such a certificate, that no ship shall be suffered to proceed from any Port, till the number of men required from the Port shall be raised; and that those who do not enrol themselves, shall be liable to be apprehended."--(_Times, Feb. 18, 1795._) As we see by the following paragraphs, the parishes offered bounties to fill up their quota of sailors:--