The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-18 00:00:00

Yellow Fever at Demerara.

The Demerara Royal Gazette of the 22d ult. says :
—" We regret to say that yellow fever has played
sad havoc among the troops in the garrison, particu-
larly among the men of the 16th Regiment. On the
10th inst. such of them as survived and were capable
of removal were shipped off to Barbadoes in a brig-
antine, as their only chance of safety. When the
disease first made its appearance, had the troops
begin at once removed to Berbice, the Arabian Coast,
or the neighbourhood of the Penal Settlement, the
probability is that they would now have been eu-
joying good health, as it is a remarkable fact that,
although yellow fever is among the shipping, not a
single case has occurred in Georgetown or the neigh-
bourhood, except at the garrison. Lieut. Platt was
attacked on the night of the 7th inst., died on the
10th, and was buried on the following afternoon
with military honours. The unfortunate outbreak of
yellow fever at the garrison has led to much discus-
sion, not only in the Court of Policy, but out of
doors. A committee was appointed to confer with
the military authorities, but in consequence of the
removal of the troops the action of the committee
has been practically checked. This is to be re-
gretted, as it is very desirable that the cause of the
prevalence of yellow fever at the garrison should, if
possible, be ascertained, with a view to prevent the
recurrence of the evil at some future day, and for
the credit of the colony, which will probably suffer.
When the great mortality among the troops comes
to be reported in England every one will at once
ascribe it to the climate, and British Guiana will be
looked upon as a soldier's grave,' because no proper
efforts have been made to investigate the matter.
Some of the members of the Court of Policy were
inclined to think that the fever was to be ascribed
to the flushing of the garrison trenches with salt
but,NNh'aavteer,fora long ithappens, as
of thetrenches in Kingston
time, probably always,
period
been flushed with salt water, and how comes it that
although there are streets to the westward and
south-westward of the garrison grounds, and the
district is well populated, the fever has not touched
a single victim in Kingston? The remarkable fact
that, while the troops were more than decimated by
yellow fever, not a solitary case occurred in George-
town, not even among those who live in the imme-
diate vicinity of the garrison, shows beyond all
doubt that the mortality is owing not to the climate
but to some special local cause which the military
authorities have not taken the trouble to investi-
gate, or have not had the keenness to discover. It
is hard that the sickness should be ascribed to the
climate, when there are strong facts to show that
the climate has nothing to do with it, beyond this,
perhaps, that European troops are brought from a
country where the cold is severe direct to a warm
country, instead of the change of their position being
gradual. It is said that the garrison doctor objected
at first to the men being removed to another locality;
if so, much of the blame of the mortality which fol-
lowed must be laid on his shoulders."

A number of French and Italian artists are con-
tinually engaged in painting and otherwise decorat-
ing the interior walls of the Prince Consort's
mausoleum at Frogmore. The Queen is much in-
terested in the progress of the works, which are
almost daily inspected by her Majesty, but it is
expected they will not be in a sufficient state of
completion for the next twelve months to allow of
the removal of the Prince's coffin from its temporary
abode to its final resting-place in the granite sar-
cophagus.
fromg
kept
alive by vengeful politicians, a see
utdshe, obledrcnouonritgriynahllays
ebfeetnheswuffaer,rianngd
AN INCIDENT—A LESSON FOR THE POLITICIANS.
—Whilst
scene was witnessed
at the great Horse Fair at Baltimore, which should
set these mischief breeders to • • thinking. It hap-
pened that General Grant was present at the fair,
and occupying one of the stands,
when his attention
was called to the fact that General Jo. Johnston
was upon the other--the question •
" Would he like to see hi •
m?" " Certainly," was
the reply of the
General. "There is no man on
the ground I would be more pleased to see !"
General Johnston was sent for, and a cordial
greeting took place betwixt the distinguished sol-
diers ; and whilst this was going on, Gen. Stone-
man also made his appearance, a like cordial meet-
ing occurring, the three occupying the stand for a
couple of hours in company. Now this may seem
a trifle ; but it nevertheless conveys a deep and
much-needed lesson; for until the masses of our
people can in like manner consent to bury old
antagonisms, none need ever expect that we shall
have a Union to be proud of and worth cherishing.
—Baltimore Weekly Commercial.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THIEL; DAY.—Morning, 10h. 25m.—Afternoon, 11h. Om.
ra-Monacm.-Morning, 11h. 36m.—Afternoon, h. in.