The National Register.
London, England, 1812-08-16 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

AUG. 16.

It would, perhaps, be too much to expect that this will be
attempted by Sir FRANCIS BURDETT and his friends, but we
nevertheless hope some etlbrts will be made ere long to re-
move this evil by thefriends of the people, and in the mean
time we must beg of those reforming tanners, patriotic cur-
riers, and public spirited shoemakers, who are sometimes
found in the train of the Honourable Baronet, to consider,
while they raise their voices against corruption and abuse,
if it is not possible for patriotism, like charity, properly le
begin at home, and if talents like theirs might not relieve
the country from some of its burdens, even without a Rer
form in Parliament.

MORTALITY BY THE SMALL-PDX.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

Sin—As your pages seem open to fair and impartial dis•
cussions on topics that atiect the interests, as well as the
amusement of the public, allow me to notice the alarming
increase of an evil, which would long since have been to.
tally eradicated in this country, had not illiberality worked
on the credulous ignorance of the lower classes, and induced
them to reject, as poisonous, the most powerful antidote
against the most terrible disorder that afflicts humanity.
You will easily comprehend, that I allude to the revival
of the Small-pox in this metropolis, through the obstinacy
of a few interested practitioners, who, fearful Jest Vaccina-
tion should deprive them of a number of their patients, con-
tinue to perpetrate by inoculation the venom of that plague,
which has, at various periods, depopulated whole provinces.
When I contrast their conduct with that of the rest of the
Faculty at home, and in every surrounding nation : when I
see, not only the practice of Vaccination adopted, but its
efficiency openly acknowledged by every other people where
it has yet penetrated under Heaven, 1 cannot help consider-
ing those men as traitors to mankind, who wish to keep in
this country the spring of universal contamination open.
A blessing sprung on our shores, and extended over the
world, spreading health and gratitude every where. Rulers
and subjects felt, and owned its value; it was embraced with
avidity, and all prejudices melted away before it every
where, save on its native soil, whence egotism, ignorance,
and illiberality, still unite to uproot it, armed with the ima-
ginary terrors which they excite in the minds of the multi-
tude. It is time that the Press, lately become the organ of
their delusion, should also serve in the great cause of huma-
nity. This is a period when war sweeps away too many thou-
sands, not to render population the true strength of States,
and every endeavour to increase it politic. Can it, there-
fore, be seen without alarm by Government, that in conse-
quence of the revival of the Small-pox by inoculation, the
deaths lately occasioned by that malady within the bills of
mortality, have been twenty-five a week, and comprising
London and its vicinity 150 weekly, a number more than
double that which took place when the opponents of Vacci-
nation were less active, and that practice consequently more
general among the lower classes ? When it has been proved,
that furlong children inoculated with the Small-pox one died
in ten, among those Vaccinated, not one in a hundred, it is
astonishing 'tat the misrepresentations of interested practi•
tioners should prevail among the people over the evidence
of their SWIM. More diligence perhaps may be required
from 'the supporters of Vaccination. They may already share
the inertness of established and authorised bodies, and this
appeal -may not be unnecessary to rouse them. I trust it will
have that affect, and when I contemplate the late liberal exer-
tions, and the donation of one hundred pounds made by the

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