The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-02-12 00:00:00

FRENCH INDEMNITY.

Lotd Caitt.eamatait prevented additional Papers
relative to the Indemnity to be paid by France to
the Combined Powers.—Ordered to be printed.
THE PLAGiiE.

. .
Sir JOHN JACtiON rose, pursuant to notice. to
move—" That a Select Committee be appointed to
inquire into the validity of the doctrine, that the
plague is a contagious disorder." As he did lot
anticipate any objection to his motiou„, he eliould
not offer any observations to the Holier.
Mr. W. WirSS thuoitht that a Committee of the
House of Commons could scorer!y be called to rets
port on a mere medical panel. It would he proper
to call on the College of Physicians for their
opinion—but, unless some Very strong OPIIIOII were
given for it, he did out think such a Committee
should he appointed.
Mr. Rontesoe said, there were very sufficient
Parliamentary grounds fur instituting this inquiry.
The quarantine laws of this citatory were very rigid.
and caused considerable incouvenience. They were
ertablialied in consequenceof an opielon, which hue,
been entertained for centuries, that the plague war
contagions iii its nature. D.scr;•sres had recently
hero made, mid elisetissine• hid'. aktil (:lace, which
threw considerable doubt on ii- ealirlitv of that
doctrine ; and therefnre. it woc 1 !,e est,c•iltly it,..
sirable that the best ma aore shoo:d rid take .., to in-
quire. as far as possible, Ito the with or fallacy ..f
this opulent. The subject hal come under the
coneideration of that branch of the Government
Kith which he was connected—and 1::: was non it
struck with the reasemiug adduced to prove that tile
doctrine was founded au error. The subject *AI
referred to the College of Physicians leer their
opiiiiute—/[dear, heur, from Mi.. Wrin.i—Theo;
body origitially advised the enactment of the Qua-
ratitme Laws—and they stated, that the doctiii:e
which gave rise to those laws remained perfectly
sound and untouched. At the same time, the
subject was of so much importance', that he cuu-
ceived eiery degree of light ought to he thrown
on it, that coo lit be elle:beat by acute aid zealous
investigation. It appeared, stn .t part of the evi-
dence given before a Counniitee of that House, op-
potuted kat year to inquire into the iiatuie of the
epidemic disease then prevailing in London, tenth d
to throw adept' I doubts cm the &chine of co,i.
tagion, which rendered inquiry mote iircessary.
Considering the of of the QlCifitlitllle Leas,
and as it would, in oilier po its of view, be of in-
finite importance to have the question settled, lie
trusted the Dims, would not refuse the Cottiiiiiitee.
31r. W. WYNN said, in the case of the Com-
mittee appointed last year, the matters submitted
to them were of a nature on which it Wag nut dif-
ficult to arrive at a correct jarlgtneet—hut he dad
not thick they were qualified to form au opiiiton oil
an abstract medical point.
Sir J. JACKSON laud, the main reason why he
troubled the House on this subject arose froth the
1
testimony of Dr. Roberts, bettor the Committee,
Last year, which quite astimished bon. Dr. Rt..
1. Inlay tended, that he had been '24 years attreolin
St. Bartholomew's I lospital, and, during the whole
if that period, met with scarcely true moaner of
fever being eontagious. Therefore. lie thought the
Comunttee ought to take the matter into console:m-
um'.
The motion watt then agreed te, and the Com-
mittee appointed.
HORSt DEA LERS.

Sir M. W. liini:e7rllOstpr7ll;J. till Tuesday
next, his motion fur a return of Ike number end
atnuunt of surcharges on fernier', as horseilealtrik.