Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-10-09

As the disease has probably suosioed oy
this time, or uiH very soon, II would seem
advisable for the Missionaries TO take pas
sage in a fast sa,ling Desset, and il they
should incline to pursue their inquiries, IT
would be we'll Tor them to go next year
month earlier 10 the season. II the Mis.
sionary Surgeons had gone month ago.
should suppose they could have obtained
more information concerning the disease,
and moreover might have rendered the
estate some serv,ce." have somewhere
read of a celebrated General who was fond
OF contemplating the field OF battle alter
the engagement was over.
Although | wish every success to the
Mission in their very iaudable underta-
king. | am unable to toresee all the advan
tapes anticipated by the Editors oil the In
telligencer, notwithstanding the concen-
tralion of talents on the occasion, aud
their departure even from the Metropolis
| have injured OF those supposed TO know
something OF the subject, and have always
| understood, that the primary cause OF this
tropical lever is very obscure, or at least
imperfectly known, so lar as regards the
altered state OF the air on which ITS exis
| tence chiefly depends. 1t is said to be
the general opinion OF the most learned
| Physicians, Chymists, and Natural Phil.
osophsrs, whose ovince il is to Judge OF
this matter. that the state of the atmos-
phere which brings OH Endemic and Epi-
demic diseases, generally, is one oil the
things that it has pleased the Almighty to
conceal from the knowledge of man and
could we attain to further acquaintance
with the phenomena, we would, most
probably, no more be able 10 control the
! effects. than we can those Of an earth.
quake or hurricane.
If Com. Rodgers and the four old Sur.
geons. should be so fortunate in their re-
Searches, az to discover the viliated quail
ties of the air on which the disease mainly
| depends; il by the establishment OF a
! chymical laboratory at the Island they
should at last render tangible, grapple
with and totally annhilate thuse hidden
MAS mata so fatal to human lite, they will
unouestionably confer the greatest bless
| ing on mankind of physical nature, that
thew have ever received. But, believing
this to be not very easy thing to accom-
pish, land unless they can 90 1t they may
| as well remain al noibc,J a" po''SS'J
satisfied to wait with patience until Com.
Porter and his officers exhibit their state
nent.
With all due Difference IL the editors oil
the Intelligencer, | must declare, that
such mission, at such time, on this sub
iect; is in my view most ridiculous as to
its oblec $. and must prove visionary aud
abortive as TO its results particularly, as
no correct information could as yet have
been received, Tor want OF time.
1t is truly an suspicious event, as the
Editors observe, that the new Secretary
has acted on the case thus prompt -
Mnch is expected from him, and | hope
the country may not be Disappointed
have every reason TO be believe. and
dc sincerely hope, tina, be will pursue a
liberal and enlightened policy to the res
toration of confidence in the department !;
and not a compromising system OF disgust
ing expedents and palpable partially, d.
rected neither by common Justice nor COM
mon sense. HIN