The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-05-04 00:00:00

btt.

CONTAGIOUS FEVER.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JOHIN
NEWKIRT.*BART. M.P.

Stu—l haVe'read with much satisfaction in the
,Newspapers, that Committees have been appointed
tsy the House of Condhotis for the purpose of in-
quiring into the stale of 'the Contagious Fever in
this country and in 'lreland. In consequence of the
communication Is hichet have had the honour to hold
with you. and as you hive the praiseworthy merit
of being the mover of dna intpairy for lreland.l
feel much pleasure in addressing a IVvrliiisi to You
on the subject, as it relates to that cou► tly. ilthottgls
the obairvatious will be found applicable folhe
ileum! question. It may be right for ftte to pre•
wise. that during the time I had the hOssOur of ac-
i•ompanying his Grace the Duke of Bedford, as
Physicianjduring his Gap's Lieutemmtcy in Ire-
land, in 1146, I went several times, by his Grace'.
desire, over all the Hospitals end Disrensarit• in
Dublin, which afforded me ati oppoftunity of be-
coming professionally aAttainterf with the metropolis
of the Sister Island. With respect to the roots-
rgious disease, such as is usually denominated low.
Nervous, or typhus fever, there are serious causes,
rhiefly originating with the. nauetwisate pour, to'
soloich it is attributable.
Fauns the improvement which medical science ha
received within these few year'', these causes are
very well ascertainest, and are easily obviated when
*Means eau be procured 'for that isurpose'• and for-
should the causes, by not having barn reisniv-
ed. have proceeded to produce their effect in the
full formation of typhus fever, such ,4 now the
greatly increased knowledge and improved method
iit the treatment of fever, that it sill generally.
with no great difficulty. be subdued, provided
pains be taken to glee and to pursue the nieessary
directions, and provided fill and ample means be
possessed for carrying them into erect. The con-
tagious fever has much diminished in London,
thinks to the spirited subscriptions of the public
last year, to the seal sod judgment of the inures-
atonal gentlemen, and of the Managing Committee
of that valuable establishment, the Fever Institution.
Notwithstanding. Sir, eptally valuable and equally
well-conducted Isistitstious exist in Ireland (fur so
excellent is the one in Waterford, of which city vow
have been so long the distinguished and active lie-
presentative, that it was the model of the one in
and notwithstanding the sense intelli-
geoce pervades the Profession there, yet we do not
bear of a similar diminution of the fever which has
thinned the ranksof the warnt-hearted people of Ire-

.. . .
Ism! I believe we may attribute this not only to
the greater intensity of the local, but to the widely-
spreading and powerfully-operatiog general causes.,
which I submit to your enlightened consideration.
The prolific mums to which is justly attributed
the origiu of Typhus Fever are—
Filth--unwholesomeness and insuffi-iency of
food—• collection of numbers of people in a con-
fiued space—the want of free vesitilstiost of pere
our—fatigue—eximsure, without proper clothing, to
the incleurenciee of the weather—the constant wear.
lug of the same clothes uncheisged—and the depress-
lug p .ssions of the mind. II hen these causes cum•
bine and co-operate, they will most unquestionably
generate in the person. exposed to their influence
feverish excitement, which becomes the contagious
typhus: the permit or persons so affected communi-
cate it to the family—it thus spreads from house to
house, jam proximate ardetlegom, till a whole
district becomes infected, whether the whole of the
district have ix itself the original causes or not : for
the contagion, after being worked up, if 1 may so
express it, into a highly malignaut and infectious sta-
ture. by the disturbance and excitement of the
constitution, is Ito respecter of persons. and attacks
all (frith souse exceptions easily accounted for). the
rich as well as the poor. If motives of humanity,
therefore, did nut incite. motives of self-interest
would. to take the earliest and must efficacious
steps to check. in liatine, the ravaging progress of
infectious fever. These farts are so lolly verified
by daily experience. that it is not necessary to insist
_upon them, except to impress them with all their
Puree upon the minds of IN*. not in the habits of
bring usually acquainted with them—a motive,
Sir, fur this public address to you. I will there-
fore mention, that many years ago a fever of this
kind broke out in a village its • tnidlaud county of
England. It spread from the village to the
neighbouring hamlets, till some of the wealthier
farmers in more airy situations fell victims to
it. It attracted the notice of a late eminent
member of the House of Commons, who, with the
concurrence of the Magistrates at the Quarter Ses-
slims, sent a professional Gentleman to investigate
its nature and to check ins progress. Ile was fur-
nished with ample means and full authority, and
war therefore fortunate enough in preventing its fur.
ther advance, although he found above thirty per-
sons dispersed in the district labouring under the
disease. I beg to be troderstoosi as stating dos
with a view to shew that the moat ample meats., the
fullest 'directions, steadily followed up, should be
atfordedf ; for, if any deficiency in the management
1.1 Id occur, the contagion remains lurking, latent
sciatillala format, about the prison, habitation, or
clothes, continues a protracted disease, or breaks
out again, after it is supposed subdued, as it has
not been rendered effete or totally annihilated.
The greatest ',roof that can be adduced that the
causes enumerated are the prolific sources of fever
is, that they can lie always traced to their cont.
tneticemetst its situatious where these causes .bun.
dant!), exist.
In the Meath Liberty of Dublin, the St. Giles's
of that city. the noises above stated abound in their
fullest force, and I believe it will be generally
found, that whenever fever* prevail in Dublin, they
caw be traced to that or souse similar tlisttiot of the
metropolis of Ireland ; being that part of the city,
where, if I recollect rightly, the greatest number of
the poorest reside. there is slimy, a considerable
mass of filth, and from the want of money to put.
thaw warm clothing and feel, snore especially in

• The Peter Hospital and Howse of Recovery to Gott.
stirs 1, erected is 1114,d, derail Lunt Hardwick;• Adatini-
stiatioo. This Institutiou is Irv* mattaard by the seal mid
eliilitypf the Professional Gest!two who attend it, sod hos
provr4 of vouch service to the city. 11 has teen tumid tie-
empty,, since that period, however, to provide other similar
basmistmoss. _ _

t These threettooe Will be famed Ilele,leil in tin Reports of
tie London sod Rubhu Freer loutitsii Jill.

,OP7 LONDON,

MONDAY, MAY 4, 1818.

We hove received Paris Papers to the lst instant.
The debate upon the Budget was concluded in the
'Clessisber of Deputies on the 2911 e lest, when the
ipsestion on the whole 14w was carried by a tn►jo-
rity of 176 to 30. The report of the Committee,
relative to the creation of 16 millions of renter for
the payment in full of the claims of foreign in-
dividuals, mid en eventual credit of 24 millions,
to complete the payment of the sums due to the
Allitd.Powers, was then read, The Committee,
its their report, recos 00000 end the plan, with it slight
modification, and the debate opus, it was fixed fur
Friday. A report was presented in the Chamber of
Peers on the 26111 hot, upon a Petition from Lord
Kiss AIRD. dated Paris, 13th April, on behalf of e
Monsieur A/AKINET, who, his Lord,liip stated, had
conic from Brussels to Paris so snake li4fine import.
snit discoveries relative to the attempt on the
life of the Duke of Wxv.i.ittuTou, on a promise
of personal protection, lint which promise hod not
bees. fulfilled., the party having been led and
thrown into pt iron. 111. ALiniN ET bud been COW.
&imbed to death by is l'revutal ("out, and the offer
to make a discovery is stated in his Lordship's
Petition to have I►een u►:lde some slays before
the attempt on the Duke's life in F►lruary
Lsst. The 'gnat bilittd, that 1,0 sole conduct

wall given or promised to hJ. MatttNET—that
the guarantees were all coeditional. It adds. that
id. Maaastre had enjoyed his personal liberty for
serail days at Paris. end that he was at length
arrested. not for his old offence. but on suspicion
of being an accomplice in the plot which he pro,
mired to reveal.

The Duke of Wat.iisofoti joined the Princes
in the chase, at Rainhouillet, on the ggth.
The Five per Cent. Consols were ou Wrduesday
6 francs; Bank Actions 1,56 e.

A Dutch Mail, which arrived laot night. has
brought Papers to the Sid instant. The fallowing
is an extract •

tiewoa, arm 4.
Publit Papers ►ace relatsd„.tbat the passengers uu beard
the English ship Parthenope, who were wrecked on the coast
of 'Corsica, had been pin by the Inhabitants., Letters
hem Leghorn nut only this account to be fake, but
Airs t►at the passen and crew were extremely well
treated, sad all mensal .pittance afforded them.

A Flanders Mail halo iskilied;orith Papers to the
Ist instant. The followitii are extracts : •

itirtlttnites, await, lit.
To-rlay the Anal iletlaruthin was made made at Court of
the betrothing of our Moat Serewe Princess Adelaide to his
/loyal Highness the Duke of Clarence, brother 111 the Prince
Rest of England. Her Highness will depart foe Loudon
in the beginning oTtaly.
manna, Aram te.
Tbe Inst Mail front Turkey, which arrived here the slay
befdre 'yegterilay, has brought fauns Constantinople the
account that the Palace of the Swedish Embassy in that
city has been entirely mitten] to ashes by a dreadful eon-
lincratiou. Py the same mail accounts have also been re-
ceived, stating, that the Sardisk Ambassador, Count
Pal i a (celebrated fur his researches resperting hieroglyphical,
will immediately leave Constantinople, and return to Lis own
country by way of Vienna. It is said that a squadron of
Are ships of the lane and four fiicates is our arming at
Constantinople.

We have received Nu, (Meas. Payers to the hilt
of March. The following is Mn extract

3111LW °ALVAN', MAIRCII 2.

Capt. Morton, of the sloop Commodore 111;tiri Allll, (Win
the H Iq furuislies the following interesting inform*.
titsio:--Ou the dth and 7th of February, a fleet of Guinea.
roes and merchant vessels, under convoy of the Maria Its.
bells sloop of war, Ilia gnu-brig Campeadrr, and souther
brig name uukuuwn,.raihd from the Heivansish to the roast
of Oa the 12th or 13th fellio with a patriot spiadrou
of two brigs and a schemer: a revere action ensued, which
ended in the complete discomfiture of the Spaniards. TWO
of the theiarllWlNS had arrived at Mantmars,and brought the
wens. They left the squadron still ravaged, the sloop of war
in a disabled state; sad it was believed that she, as well as
the rest of the convoy, were captured.

The Lords of the Admiralty have directed all
the guard-ships of the United Kingdom, except
the Hag-ships at Portsmouth and Plymouth, to
asseutble at Plymouth by the hat of June, and
thence to proceed to cruise for two month.. The
ships that will assemble are—Rainilies, 74, Capt.
T. Boss ; Spenter, 74, Captain %V. It. Baoucti-
TON ; Rochefort. 80, Sir A. C. DICKSON ; Superb,
74, Captain C. Emus ; Vengewr, 74, Captain T.
ALEXANDER; Northumberland, 74, Captain J.
WALKER; Bulwark, 71, Captain T. GRAVES ;
and Toisimat, 80, Captain TAILOUR. It is said
they will be put under the command of Sir BEN-
JAMIN 1141.t.ovvEt.t. The Rochefort and Vex -
gear. at Portsmouth, will go out of harbour on the
17th instant ; their complement of men will be
increased, during the cruise, from men to he lent
from the (keen Charlotte. The period of three
years service fur the guard.ships• expires generally
about the Ist of September next I after which they
will be paid off and recotn 000 i o sioned.

The fate of Mt. Timm'', motion in the (louse
of Commons on Friday Hight is much to be re-
gretted ; for whatever may be the opinions either of
theorists or practical men respecting the propriety,
under the existing circutnatatices of the country, of
resuming cash payments by the Omsk of England,
the subject must be admitted by every man oat of
Parliament, to he worthy of the most serious inves-
tigation. Nothing can prove the necessity of oel'
an inquiry more satisfactorily than the extreme
contrariety of sentiment that we find among all
persons with whom we chance to converse ups► the
subject. It is difficult to meet with two persons
agreeing precisely is all tbst'considerations involved
in it, mid on residing the report of the debate on
Friday night, it will be remarked, that in the
House of Commons not two of the smoke's con-
curred in their mode of viewingthe question. Even
among the immediate, followers of the Ministers,
one was found to entertain principles different from
those of the CH•NCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER; but
even Mr. HUSK ISsoN's half-way speech, pronounced
with the most imposing gravity, and just sufficiently
enlightened to 'thew the danger of resting on imper-
fect knowledge, could not induce the (louse to ap►-
paint u Committee to inquire into a subject on
which, we will not hesitate to affirm, not ten men
in the (louse could fora► a consistent and rational
opinion.

The Ilea...obit y of continuing the Bank restriction
was, by the greater part of .the •peckers, kept to•
tally distinct from the view Of the currency of the'
country, with which Mr. TIERNEY, in his com-
mencing speech, moot judiciou.ly connected it.—
The high price of gold, and the fear of 44 con-
tinuance, is @vowed by the CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER as the sole cause for the °smote of
reeteict . Now we conceive that no man of any
practical or theoretical knowle►lge can deny the

. .
positior, that gold, although nominally the measure
of valise. is, lit this moments, in consegoenn of
the Bank restriction, . nothing else than an article
of commerce, and fat it. price as such must be
influenced by the state of the corroncy. Our sit-.
ter currency is depreciated six per cent. but how,'
touch our paper currency is depreciated it is im-
possible to cslculute. It might throw some light
on the subject to state, that the average amount of
Prink woes ill circulation from January to luot,
1797, was 10,821,574/. and from July to Decetn-
lters 1817, 49,5t10.0351. independent of the issues
of country Batiks, which, before the restriction,
were limited by the wants of the country, and sub-
sequently by no circumstance but the credit of in-
dividuals. The CitAXCELLOR of the Excnelsoktt
indeed asserts—but he is interested in the matter
too steeply to admit of an unreserved acquiescence
in his opinion-6, That the circulating' medium of
ti country ought to bear a proportion to its trade,
revenue, and resources;" and the net revenge of
Great Britain, which in the year ending the sth of
January, 1798, amounted only to about tweaet-
two milli 111 l s, amounted in the last year to something
about fort3-five millions,. But we wholly distiller/
the criterion of the CHANCEI.I.oR of the Elan.-
ut:Ett, and affirm, that the circulating medium of
u country should be proportioned almost exclusively
to it• Micron' commerce, and the amount of pro-
perty to be transferred in the ordinary dealings be-
tarsal subject and subject. These are no means
of estimating with accuracy how far this internal
trade has increased in Great Britain within the last
twenty years. The produce of the Excise hiss
increased within that period from ten millions to
twenty millions; but it requires no arguments to
shew, that a very small portion of the circulating
nodiuni is sufficient, by the frequent recurrence of
Trayments, to transfer an immense amount of capi-
tal; and that consequently the increase of the in-
ternal trade implied by this increase iii the produce
of the Excise, could not require an extension of
the circulutiOg medium by the Bank of England
alone, to the uniottnt of nineteen Millions, and by
country Wok* to the anfount itt least of from limn
to ten nit:litmus sterling.
If. however, so great an ificreale of the circulating
medium were required by the circutuatances of the
country, it would have been absorbed without alter-
ing the relative value of commodities ; but this has
notoriosely not been the case ; the prices of every
article of coneumption have been almost doubled
withits time last twenty yesri. And eats it be inia-
glued that such an effect could be so generally
produced without affecting the price of gold, which
must, under existing circumstances, be considered
solely an article of exchange ? This may be (testis,'
by the CHAiscect.oit of the EXcutausa, but it is
supported by experience mid the reason of things.
Might not the Right Hon. Gentleman, however,
mistrust his reasoning, when he finds the market price
of gold four shillings an ounce above the Mint
price ; when the balance of trade, properly so called,
1 that is, the actual balance between the exports and
impoits of Great Britain, is notoriously in favour
of this country; and might he not thence suspect
that the rate of foreign exchatigea are driven utitia-
turally against us, its a great degree, it' not altoge-
ther, by the disproportionate ainotitit of our paper
currency ?
Much weight is attached to the experiment lately
made by the Bank in issuing a small amount of
gold, which almost immediately disappeared from
circulation. But to Ui this argument appears ex-
tremely fallacious. it is oultuitted by the best
authorities on the subject of currency, that two
currencies of different values can never circulate
together, if both be at the same time useasnres of
valet. 'Cho depreciated currency must eventually
take place of the other. Such was precisely the
case with respect to our gold and paper when that
experiment was made, and it rested with the Bank
of England to determine its result. Paper was
issued to the same amount us before, and of course
thrust the geld out of the country. But we agree
with Mr. tiusaissou, that if the issue of cash, in-
stead of being partial had beets complete—'hat is,
if the restriction had at that time been totally re-
moval, the four millions of gold coined last year
would have been found sufficient, assisted by the
discretion of the Bank of England, to maintain
the cash circulation of the country.
These, its our opinion, are points worthy of the
most serious exaintitation, because it is very 'possi-
ble that though to our minds the arguments by
which they are supported appear irrefragable, many
person. might be found to question them. IVe
i look upon the matter as remaining altogether in
the power of the Bank Directors, who, unless re-
strained by Parliantent, may at any time alter the
!nicest( bullion, and vary the rates of the foreign
exchanges; and consequently us long as Par-
liament shall refuse to institute au inquiry, and
rest satisfied at seeing the CH VN cri.t.oit of the
Exctixous:a wholly under the control of the
Bank, either the country ono never expect to ob-
Itain a cash circulation, or will expertroce soma
severe and awful convols its is traskitoosi from the
I one currency to the usher.

Vesterchsy morning the Duke of %I:ELLINGTON
strived its town, and kid am audience of the illtifil‘g
REGENT fur nearly two hour,.

Yesterday the Loan CitAacti.ros had ari au-
dience of the Pat Ittiut.a t at Carlton flutist.

'Nt taap.l7;
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'IPASHIONARLS ARRIVALS and DEPARTURES•

ARRIVALS.

. The Dnke of Devonshire, at Devuushire House, from tor
seat Chntavrorth.
_ . . .

Curd Maynard, at Lis Lome in
Missal, &shin, Essex.

~ (.4iip

- .
Culunrl Richardson, at the Chitish Hotel, Jerittyli.strett,
from a War.

N. Dunker, Esq. from Canterbury.
Mr. and Mrs. North, at fit.tke's Hotel, Jermyn.street
hum their mat near Sunthampton; Mr. Georfe, f Amr
nt ditto; Mr. Webb, at ditto, from Paris, Bud Mr. sti,
trout bis seat is Yes ksbire.