Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-10-09
FEVER At TuoMPsoN's ISLAND.

friendly terms.
FEVER At TuOMPsoN's IsLAN3.
| To the Editors of the Norfolk Beacon:
By the arrival OF the u 5, ships foacoeK
and John Adams, we are in possession oil
additional and interesting information res
Meeting the fever prevalent on the West
India station.
Com. Porter finding the disease bad
made its appearance among the ohcer'
and crews of those vessels which had been
much employed on shore, very properly
and promptly determined to arrest the pro-
gress Of the fever, by sending them home
II is the opinion of the most enlightened
persons have seen, and VINO have had an
opportunity OF being acquainted WIN tne
| circumstances attending II, that there Is
| nothing singular or anomalous IN the dis.
ease, or IN ITS appearance at the season OF
the year when it did, among those employ
( cd al work OH shore. Indeed, no body can
be at all surprised, except such as are TO-
tally ignorant OF the effects Of the climate
ON persons not Injured TO its banelul amos-
phere during the autumnal months From
the first discovery, or al least from The first
attempts TO people this part OF the West
ern hemisphere, the disease has made its
annuaIjravages; and The experience OF eve
nv nation holding colonies IN the West In
dies, and that OF the people on our own
coast furnish ample facts on which to es-
l. blish precautions that may be eminently
useful, il not entirely adequate to preserve
the health Of those on the station, even
during the sickly season, Com. Porter has
availed himself OF these so Tar as was con-
sistent With the interests of our co Nmerce.
and Jealous prosecution OF the duties OF
his appointment; and it will not surprise
the public, il he, who always was ready
to give his life for bis country, should not
BIZ very pasilv ipfimihaied nasfii
lence, Ii is understood that ne nas good
correspondence with those about hun on
these subjects; that he was perfectly ap.
nr;;seJ of the necessity of not remaining tor
anv length of time in ,ickly ports. and con.
stantIy forbade il, that there has not been
sickly ship as yet on the station since he
took command, and. that the fever was
confined TO those who were most exposed
~ the atmosphere Of Attention and to the
exciting causes.
He knew that by keeping the vessels
cruising during he months OF August, Sep.
TENDER and October, they would no; be-
come sckly; but 1t IS certain that no course
OF police could save those no were on The
Island. or no had been much exposed at
lbe own 1t is very evident, that, in the
nreseat year, nothing could act as pre-
yeptive, bu, sending The men OFT the ISL
and m due season; causing the mechanics
and aborers TO desist from work altoge-
Their, for it was done as soon as II appear
Ell necessary would not answer.
The fever, as we have beisre observed.
;s nothing more than the regular Endemic
Of the eighborbood, and may be annually
expectei there among people from Inc
northern and middle States, during the
months of August, September and October
II will seldom commence before me mio-
die of August, and seldom terminate before
the middle OF DC ober or lst November,
The practicabilty Of keeping up the
establishment at Thompson's Island, and
the utility of the station, canno, be ques'
toned, and ii will be healthy station tor
nine or ten months OF the year. Our yes.
sells of war can always find safe harbor
there and can be provisioned, repaired,
and supplied with wood
From IFS proximity 10 the coast OF Cuoa,
force can always be dispatched IN lew
hours, that will overtake any pirate mat
may make his appearance; and those VINO
suppose that piracy is at an end IN those
waters are egr.griously mistaken. Nolh'ng
bu, the constant dread of punishment, at
present restrains them within their lars;
nothing out continuance OF it, can make
them abandon their old habits, and em"
brace an honest occupation.
The moment our force is Withdrawn, our
e,rs will again be daily pierced =" hh shock
ing narratives of their unparalleled cruel
ties and rapine. -,
As TO the fuliiment OF the objects of the
expedition by Com. Porter, il IS unneces.
sary for me to speak. refer 10 all the Of
6cers who were associated with him, for
the ability with which il was conducted oy
him. in sickness and in health. Never
was there a sqadron more happy and con.
6ding under similar circumstances; anu
Newer was more activity aud zeal manifest.
ed. liza pirate was not caught DAILY, u
was because he did not venture out.
These remarks have been elected, not
less by the importance of the subject, than
by A most extraordinary article IN the Na-
t,enai Intelligencer a few days ago, stating
the great satisfaction Of the Editors OF that
paper, at the appointment OF SPECIAL mas
s,oa to proceed TO Key West. to examine
into the causes OF the disease SAID 10 De
,iI,nr tharo iGc