The Sun.
London, England, 1818-04-23 00:00:00

FEVER IN IRELAND.

Sir JOHN NEWPORT said,. that the progress of a
,contagious disease in a country of such import..
lance as Ireland—a country which contained
19,000,000 of square acres, and not less than
6,000,000 of inhabitants, was a subject which
strongly called for the attention of Parliament.
The subject was not merely important with a
view to put an end to the progress of the disease
at present, but also to prevent its recurrence.
With this view, it was his -intention, pursuant
to his notice, to move for the appointment of a
Committee to inquire into the subject. It was
of impottance to observe the number of indivi-
duals admitted into Fever Hospitals. In the
Fever Hospital of Cork there had been 10,010
patients admitted—in that of Dublin 10,341.
Nor was the number so great in large cities only,
for in the small town of Boyle 801 pa'ients had
been admitted within five months. It gave him
much satisfactiou to reflect that he had been the
first person to propose to the Legislature the esta-

blishment of Fever Hospitals. He had no doubt
that the labours of the Coranittee wouldd' shoW
that one great and efficient cause of the extent of
the fever, among the lower orders, was the want
of employment regular and productive. It would
he for:the .Counnittee to consider what wery,the
best means of providing a permanent rem* for
this lrei•rnsnent evil. Our great !minis of relief
would be to extend the establishment of Fever
Hospitals. He could not omit to notice with
gratitude the great efforts made by the Govern-
ment of Ireland to restrain the ravages of this
dreadful calamity.--(Hear, hear !)—E-le did not
anticipate an►y opposition to the motion which he,
meant to propose. Ile concludvd by moving,

" That a Committee be appointed to inquire into the state
of Ireland, with reference to the prevalence of the Fever,
and to inquire into the hest means for the remedy and pre-
vention of this calamity."
Mr. l'Etit. did not rise to offer any oppoSition
to the motion, but for the more gratifying pur-
pose of seconding it. On a subject of . such im-
portance, he thought the House might he desirous
to have such information 'as his official situation
had put hint in possession of respecting the origin,
progreSs, and extent of this drerdful
Without going into those more mMute particulars
which would more properly be laid before the
Commit tee, be would content himself, in the facts
which he was now about to lay before the House,

evi!li referring to the Medical Report made to the

Government from those parts.of Ireland where the
disea.,e had been most prevalent. It was in the
nionth.of September last that the disease assumed
a peculiarly. alarming character, and attracted the
more close attention of the• Government. At that
peritid he thought it 'his duty to take the opinion
of the most eminent utedleal met] as to its origin,
extent and progress. Ill'Co9sequen6e, lie received
reports front the four prOvinCes of the 'state of the
fever in each. From
,these it appeared that it
prevailed to the greatest extent in Ulster. As to
the origin of the disease, all the medical men con-
curred in ascribing it to the following causes :
first, to the extreme poverty of thelower orders;
next, to the scarcity and bad quality of, the pro-
visions on which they subsisted; and then, to the
depression of mind occasioned by the want of em-
ploythent and the miserable prospect before thein.
In addition to these, there were other aggravating
circumstances. There had been a very wet season,
which had not only very much deteriorated the
quality of that species of food on which the lower
classes in Ireland principally depend, but also pre-
vented them from laying in fuel, which was almost
as essential to their health and subsistence as-

food. These causes all concurred to produce this
dreadful disease. Many of the accounts which he
had_received.„attriboted the spreading of the con-
tagion to two other causes, namely, the immense
quantity of wandering beggars, and the practice,
so universal in Ireland, of assembling in great
numbers at funerals, He- was sure the House
would feel that it was a lamentable—at least that
it was an affecting circumstance—that one of the
causes of the progress of this disease was that
hospitable and kindly disposition, which, unde-
terred by the danger of contagion, made them re-
fuse to shut their doors to the homeless wander-
ers, or tc withhold from those rites which super-
stition and the custom of their forefathers made
them regard as a pious duty to the dead.—(Hear,
bear, heat !)—lt reminded him of a passage where
the Roman Poet, (Lucretius) describing ths. pi.ene
at Athens, gave as the last and most conclusive

proof of the terrors and mortality of thedisense,
that among a people remarkable for the .super-
stitious regard with which they performed their
religious ceremonies for the dead, even these rites
were disregarded :

" Nec tilos isle septiltorre reininebnt in tube,
" Quo Arius hic poplin's selninir consueritt litunari."

The returns in his possession showed that the
month of September was the time when the fever
began to be,..most peCuliarly characterised by its
malignancy.• The number of patients -admitted
to the Fever Hospital Of Dublin, from the Ist of
September to the 28th of February, was 7,096.
The number of patients in 'that Hospital on the
28111 of February was 1,001, whereas the number

on the Ist of September was only 218. The num-
ber of admissions was greatly increased from the
28th of February to the 14th of March, and on
that latter day the number in the Hospital wits
1,074,
.The total number of deaths in the Hos-
pital of Dublin was 456 ; Ole proportion of the
deaths to the admissions being as 1 to 16. The
average of the daily admissions was 39.. The
proportion of the deaths to the adinissious varied
in different Hospitals : where greatest it was as
1 to 13 ; the smallest was in the proportion of 1
to 19. He thought he was not too sanguine
when he considered that the calamity had reached
its worst, and was now rapidly diminishiug. Since
the 14th of March there had been a very consi-
derable abatement both as to the extent and the
peculiar characteristics of the fever. The grounds
on which he hoped that there was now a great
ab a temen, were not only the returns which he had

received from carious parts of the country, but the
documents kept at Dublin, the authenticity of
which could not, be doubted. The number;of
patients in Dublin Hospital on the 14th March
was, as he had stated, 1074 ; but on the.l4th of
April (the present month) it was only 850, being
a diminution of 224. The proportion of deaths
as compared with the admissions had also dimi-
nished. In one Hospital the proportion was as

. .
low as I to 82, though the general average was
as I to '2O.- The total number of patietit3 cured
and discharged within the last month, in Dublin

ospitdl, was 1829, and the number of deaths

was 89. But it was not only in Dublin that the
abatement had taken place. In the North of
Ireland the lever was much subdUed, and in the

Western Districts the decrease was still more con-
siderable. He was in possession of returns from
the Medical Superintendents in the various towns
which proved this ; but he would not trouble the
House with-these documents, as it would be more
proper to produce them to the Committee. It
gave him much satisfaction that the Right Hon.
Baronet had not framed his motion so as to make

it in the first place point to any particular plan
for the employment of the-poor as a remedy foe
this calamity. He agreed with him, that a main
cause of the evil was this .want of employment.
But then, he much feared that the rrmovalrof
this cause was beyond the reach of any measure

which the Executive Government could adopt.
It • was therefore certainly much wiser, in
the present stage at least, to avoid all debate.
Upon that part of the subject. Many, proposals
had been made for the employment of the poor in
public works ; and, no doubt, in that way some
relief was to be afforded, But then, witlva view
to the 'extent of the evil, the utmost that could.be
done in that way was but little.. Other sugges-
tion,, of a nature still more objectionable, were
continually making to the Government, especially
by manufacturers, who, being distressed by the un-
favourable state of the market for the particular
sort of goods which they made, applied to Go-
vernment for loans to enable them to curry on
their manufactures, and continue in employment
the many persoies wlio wrought under them.—
With applications of this kind it was obviously
impossible to comply. For sinless there was a
consumption adequate to the supply of the parti-
cular species of manufacture, it was quite clear
that it would only he aggravating the difficulty'.
by increasing the supply from the manufacturer.
In short, the difficulties from the various retue-
dies proposed were endless. But this part of the
subject would, to a certain extent, fall within the
consideration of the .Cominittee. He would,:
therefore, not trouble,the HOuSe farther, but -Eon-.
tent himself with secpnding the- motion of the
Right Hon..Baroftet.—(Hearli hear, hear !).
Mr. BENNET wished to draw the attention of
the ITouse to the alarming progress Which Pever*
had lately made among the lowerorders in Lon--
don. 1r was certainly • matter of surprise, that
there was no institutiorOor the reception of pa;
dents labouring under..tke.variom's lands of fever.
The House would learn .With:surprise, that 800

patients had already been received into an institu-
tion lattly established in the Metropolis bytpri-
vate.subscription.
,Aby man acquainted with the
Hospitals in other' couittries., particularly in Paris
and Vienna, lutist Ve.aware of the infetimity of
the Hospitals of this country. He honed that the
attention of the Rouse would be particnlarly
called to the state of the Metropolis, with refer
ence to the prevalence of Fever. It was true, that
Government had ordered that 10001. should he ap-
plied to the establishment of a Fever Hospital ;
but this suns was quite insufficient. -

WILBERFORCE observed, that the sum of

10001. was certainly not stifficient. The subject
was one of great importance, and called for the
closest attention of Parliament and the Govern-
ment. The prevalence of fever in the metropolis
was a fit subject for the appointment of a sepa-
rate Committee.
Mr. BROUGHAM said, it was certainly true that
in foreign countries hospitals were much better
regulated than in this country, but then it was to
be considered - that in other countries hospitals
were supported by the GoVernments. This.tvas
the only country in which funds to a very large
extent were provided by private subscription for
the maintenance of public hospitals.
Mr. PHILLIPS gave an account of the good ef-
fects which had resulted .from the establishment

of Fever Hospitals at Manchester, by voltuitary
subscription. He thought it necessary that Go-
vernment should afford liberal assistance to form a
large establishment for the same purpose. With
a view to inquiry, he thought
.it would be much
more convenient that a separate COmmittee should
be appointed to inquire into the state of the Fever
in the Aietropolis.
Sir S. RomILLY thought it absolutely necessary
that a Committee should bcappointed to inquire
into the state of Fever in London. He could,
from his own knowledge, confirm all the state-
ments which had been made, relative to the 'pre-
valence of Fever
,in the Hospitals ; only that he
understood- it had very rarely been fatal to the
lower orderS. Several meetings had beets held for
the purpose of establishhig Fever Hospitals in
London, but they bad been found almost entirely
to fail. Government certaidly ought to extend
their aid on such an occasion to a much• greater
' extent than 10001.

fir JonN NEWPORT replied. He mentio►►ed
an instance of a horse in IVaterford,
for the last forty years, had not been free from
fever. -

The Motion was then agreed to.
FEVER IN THE METROPOLIS.

Mr. BENNKT moved that a Committee be ap-
pointed to examine into the state of Contagious
Fever in the Metropolis, and to inquire into.the
stare of Institutions established for the cure and
preventiod of that disease.---This motion was
,agreed to.

Lord STANLEY postponed till Tuesday his mo-
tionlor the appoimiment of a Committee to in-
quire into the state of. the Cotton Factories.

(For the Renzainder of the Debate in the House of
Commons, see the Last page.)

SIR RICHARD CROFT'S WILL.

The Will of the late Sir RICHARD CROFT, Bart.
was 'proved in Doctor's Coalitions on the 15th
instant, by the relict, 'Dr.' I.IAILL4II, 211 (1 JOHN
DENMAN,' Esq. the executors., The personal pro-
perty was sworn under sixteen thousand pounds.
A Freehold Estate at Somerford Keynes, in the
county of Wilts,• is devised to his eldest son,
THOMAS ELMSLEY CROFT, and heirs male, with
the• usual remainders ; out of which 2001. per an-
num is given to Lady CtioFT, diiring her life :
and power is also given to the Devisee to charge
the same with a sum of 60001:.for.•bis wile and
children by his Will. - Freehold Estates ,in the '
counties of Hereford, and Middlesex, and the
Leasehold house in Old Uurlintiton-street, (the.
Testator's residence) are directed be-sold, and
the produce to form part of the pursonality ; the
residue of which (after a bequest to the relict of
the household furniture, wine, -plate library,
carriage and horses, and the interest of a 51111: to
beet apart during her life, of between 5 and 60001.)
is given to the children, with au exception of the
one inheriting,the Wiltshire estate The Will is
dated the 14th Nov. 1811. There is one Codicil,
dated in 1816. • It declares the redemption of the
land tax of the estate at Sometford KeYnes, and
charges it 'With a stun Of 5.)001. to be added to the
residuary personal estate.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
" A Friend to Improvements" is informed, that ive 'la.e
ready inserted two articles on the subject of the New Mt":
brought into notice by that public-spirited Char
tszl4.
AcKE ; and, considering it as a highly beneficial dish,
covert', we shall be glad "to give it all the support in °°,
power. ,
We 'must pleatbC the piivilege-of Parliaaken?' for delgirig
the Favours of any of our valuable Correspondents'

*** FOr LITERARY REVIEW, and COUNTRY' BA, ..-P 81

First Page.

THEATRICAL REGISTER.
Performed Lust Night. -,•THEATRE ROYAL, DR Li RT-LANE.—thhello : Othello,.
Kean; Desdemona, Mrs. Robinson. After ht.
Amoroso. To %shish was added, The Sleein Drang--1;r4:
THEATRE ROYAL, COVENT-GA RHEN.—(Ist tine)., ikilaiiikiter
Montalto, Mr. Young- ; Bellamira, Miss O'Neill.
which (7th time), Who's-My Father ?
which fed Wi./.

• MAILS. •
ARRlvei)-1 Gottenburgb, 1 France. DUE-1 v"-
Waterford, 1 Guernsey aril Jersey, 1 Lisbon, 1 Hamberg

PRICE OF STOCKS

THIS DAY AT TWELVE o'CIA)CIC.
Bank Stock '
per Cent. Red....... 79 78i India 80nd5.... ...... 99
vs. VP
3 per Cent. Cons. 7914 i Exeli. Bills, 2d,.. 18s .r.
4 per Cents 97i 961 y Ditto, 2&d........ 193. ' ,„1,0 lyji
5 per Ct. N. Ann... 106 if 106 Cons. fur. May—.79i 8
Bank Long/Inn-20 7-16th
• •
HIGH WATER AT ,LONDON BRIDGE.To.mOA
Horning, '27 initiates afteT 4. 1 Evening, 54 miuu rs ofter
A•.• • ` .

TUE. .'.SUN.

BOLETI QUIs DICEEtE FALSUM Atillk:Ar?

LONDON,
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 1813.

We received this morning the Paris roPers•of
Monday last. The following are extracts
" PARIS, Aran 2b.—The Duke of ellingt°l;
proceeded yesterday at 2 o'clock to the
leries, to pay his respects to the King, the grilic-
and Princesses.
It has been stated within these few
to
that. Prince Jablonowsky, who was emPlq -1,4
obtain the remains of Koscuisko, had faacti
mission. On the contrary, the Lausanne tiuze
$
of the 14th instant announces, that the rem
sin
of the POlish General had been conveyed ,from
Soleure on their way to Poland, acComponied•il
Prince Jablonon'sky and M. Zeltner, of S43leureP
an intimate ft iend of the deceased.
‘-‘ MADRID, APRIL B.—lt is again said that 111 C
o•
King of Spain will attend the Congress of 1" cv
reigns. •
su
" The-general arming of the Provinces of -J
cay, Alava, and Guipuscoa, exists only in the beards
of Quidnuncs. These Provinces have were 4
raised some companies of soldiers in lieu of a a3v.
litia ballot, from which they are exempted'
d
;
" The report of the Infant Don froD" ro
being about to found a new dynasty 00 the ha"
-7.-i
of the Rio de la Plata is also a reverie.
" The Russian *hips, contrary to what
been said, only required some slight repairs, -
they are now ready for service. There i 8 nothtn&l
however, to indicate when the 'expeditioit
0
sail. The troops remain in their respective jj•
It 14
toutnents in Andalusia and Estretnadura•
Jac At
believed, however, that they will be asseto,u.l
Cadiz in the course of a few days. Of
" ARSAT APRIL 2.—At the first Sitting
the Diet, the Emperor of Russia, after • ileliverink
his opening speech, quitted the Throne, and to
his scat amongst the Deputies. He remaille(
rt
the latter place during the reading of the ItePt
„
respecting:he state of the Kingdom of r.°-IG,
made by Count MostOwski, Minister of the Pit
rior and of Police." . -

Lett"
We this day received a very interesting'
on the State of France from our valuabio6°—ye
.
s
i
spondent at Paris, but too late for insertion th
.
day. It shall certainly appear to-niorrow• •

e
We are extremely sorry to state that " h7lris
has obliged Mr. HILEY ADDINGTON to retire -I.°
for tbg
his situation as Under Secretary of Stpte for
Home Department, which he has so ably 6116(nlir.
above fire years. He is to be succeeded by -
HENRY CLIVE, M. P. for Ludlow. . _ ;11

. It will be gratifying to our. Readers t°
some degree relieved from the tiresome rertiu,
of Opposition clamours in Parliament, 013 d hack
Qir
ils
neyed abuse of Ministers, for measures widcb
Opponents would doubtless adopt themsel%:e-
they were in place, and influenced as much by
regard to the public interest as they would assuredilt
be to their own. The chief subject noticed, las'
night, in the House of Commons,
related to
contageous fever which has made such dreadfirl
havoc in Ireland, which was also in some degree
prevalent in this country, but which, ha 11
pPilY' '
both, is now in a fair way to be wholly subduetti
Mr. PeEL's Speech, on the subject, was marKcj
a.ti:
by that attention, humanity, sound reasoning, r
Lull information, which characterize whatever
sentiments that Gentleman delivers, and whoreYe
objects of public utility may at any
to his exettions. time give scoe

WATER Cori PANT Es.—;We earnestly hope I'
1e IY
Lord LaUDERDAU, Whose talents, prop

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