The Sun.
London, England, 1825-04-02 00:00:00

l'iiV. LONDON JOURNALS.

DAILY

F.xt, acts franc the Morning Papers, Aprit, 2,

[rut TI rs.]
We are glad to see a Bill in progress for the
revision of the Quarantine Laws. , In their pre-
slept state, they are harassing and vexatious, and
...operate as a serious impediment to tn.de. Those
:who go the length of thinking strict regulations
necessary, allow that the existing regulations are
unnecessarily strict. In altering, however, these
laws, some deference is due to the very natural
prejudices and fears of the public ; and the most
sanguine theorists ought to pause while even the
remotest possibility exists that the result of
adopting their theory might be a revisitation of
the most frightful of all scourges—a general
plague. We are most ready to admit that the
old doctrine of contagion has been a great
deal shaken by modern inquiry and expe-
rience ; but neither men of science, nor general
observers, are yet agreed as to the exact na-
ture or cause of the disease. Some strong facts
have been adduced by the party opposed to the
theory of contagion, but strong facts also are
marshalled against them by the supporters of the
old system. We repeat, that the inclination of
our own opinion, formed, chiefly, on the perusal
of the evidence collected by the Committee of
the House of Commons, is that the plague is
not propagated by contagion : but considering the
immense risk connected with the subject, we must
say that it is not yet ripe for a peremptory
decision. More facts must be collected by
cool and accurate observers, not by men whose
minds are already made up, and who Lave already
. committed themselves unreservedly to the support
of a particular view. The opinions of most, if not
of all those qualified by medical science to judge,
should agree as to the main facts, and the deduc-
tions from-them, before the Legislature should
commit itself to a total repeal of the old laws.
OnP man's opinion, however eminent in his pro-
fession, is not a sufficient warranty for such an
important measure. Meanwhile, whatever is un-
necessarily inconvenient, or offensive, in the
existing rules, may be at once removed without
the slightest risk, and without alarming the most
apprehensive prejudice.

DIRITISM PRESS.]
he intelligence respecting the Greeks, in the
foreign Papers received yesterday, is decidly fa-
vourable to the cause of independence. The re-
ports of the fall of Patras seem to have been
premature, but that place is invested so closely
that the news of its surrender may be expected
every day. It is known to want provisions ; and
unless it can be relieved very shortly, it must ca-
pitulate through absolute distress. It was re-
ported at Constantinople, when the last advices
left that city, that the Greeks had carried the
outworks. The Anglo-lonian Government had
ordered the fugitive rebel Sissini to leave !ante,
where he had taken refuge. The Greek Go-
vernment had resolved to punish the insurgent
generals with severity. Loud() and the others
at Anatolie° were to be removed for trial to Na-
poli, where proceedings had been actually com-
menced against Colocotroni and Delejani. These
steps manif,.st vigour and firmness in the
Executive Authority of Greece ; and we ob-
serve with satisfaction that there is a corresponding
spirit of confidence and union among the people.
Great preparations, it is reported, are making by
the Turks for the approaching campaign ; but in
the very outset the Sultan finds himself unable to
procure proper seamen in sufficient abundance
for the projected expedition. How could it be
otherwise ? The Greeks formerly constituted
the strength of the Ttrikisil navy ; and the few
other seamen that remained in the imperial ser-
vice have been nearly all destroyed during the
four last campaigns. An open quarrel seems about
to break out between the Sultan and the Viceroy
of Egypt, who is suspected, and we dare say
justly, of having fomented the inF,urrection in
Syria.