The Express.
London, England, 1853-01-20 00:00:00

THE MORTALITY ON BOARD THE WEST

INDIA PACKETS.

Although the yellow fever is still very. bad in the
West Indies, it must certainly be decreasing in virulence.
In the Magdalena, which arrived at Southampton a fort-
night since, 10 had died on the homeward voyage, whereas
on board the Parana, which has just arrived at Southamp-
ton, although 30 had been ill of the fever, four deaths only
from that disease took place. It is therefore hoped that we
shall have better accounts in future, and that the inertality
on board the homeward bound packets will continue to
decrease. The anxiety and distress that this terrible pesti-
lence causes at Southampton is very afflicting; nor ow
this be wondered at when the hundreds of persons ea
board the mail-packets in the West Indies who how
i friends and relatives in the above-named town see KO-
adored. On Tuesday the gentleman who brought
the first news ashore from the Parana was beast by
a noiltitude of persons, all asking him questions. As he
INS escaping from them in a cab the latter was clung to by
a peer man, who earnestly asked if his son was alive. On
bodn told that he was act among the list of dead, he waited
until Dr. Webb., the health diner, landed, when he learnt
that his son (who is the Admiralty agent's servant on board
the Parana) was alive, but very ill from the yellow fever.
The poor man and his wife immediately hired • boat and
proceeded down Southampton Water to where the Parana
hirasueying. The Custom authorities guarding the packet
the arrival of the parents to be made known on
beard, and Lieutenant Brown, the Admiralty agent, and
Dr. Barton, the surgeon of the ship, very humanely caused
the sick son on board to be borne, enveloped in blankets, to
the sponson, where he exchanged • few words with his
rents, who were in the boat by the side of the ship, and
r father and mother had the pleasure of seeing and
speaking to their son wive. It is expected that the Parana
will be released from quarantine on Saturday.
The following important circular has been issued by the
Royal Mail Steam Packet Company :
"Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, 55, Moorgate-
street, London, Jan. 11, 1853.
"The managers consider it their duty to put each captain
and surgeon of the company's ships arriving at South-
ampton from the West Indies, upon their guard (previous
to being sworn on their examination by the officers of
quarantine) that nothing could operate more injuriously upon
the character of the company, than any attempt to mislead
or misinform those authorities as to the number of sick
during the voyage, the deaths that have occurred, or the
precis* diseases and dates of persons being taken ill or
dying on board ; and that the court of directors would
unite with her Majesty's government in bringing to pun-
ishment any of the company's officers endeavouring by
such unworthy means to escape from being placed in qua-
rantine. "E. Cuarrsx.s., Secretary.
- .

"To the Superintendents and Surgeons of the
Royal Mail Steam Packet Company."

MORE DEATHS PROX YELLOW FEVER.--The man
on board the Parana, who was so ill of the fever when the
ship arrived at Southampton, died on Wednesday evening.
His wife was allowed to come on board to attend on her
husband in his last moments. The poor man's name was
Baverstoek He was the baker of the ship. Intelligence
has reached Southampton that Mr. Thomas, a midshipman
on board the Conway, died at Navy Bay, of yellow fever,
on the 18th alt.