ply these circumstances to the inhabitants of Smyrna, and the other towns on the coast of Asia Minor. In those places the same want of cleanliness, the same disregard of wholesome habits, the same carelessness about diet, now prevailed as had formerly prevailed in Lon'don, and were in themselves sufficient to account for the prevalence of the plague among them. It was curious to observe that the manner in which the plague arose and disappeared was perfectly consistent with these causes. It generally broke out in the poorest and most confined parts of the town, in sultry weather, and began to disappear as the heat decreased. In

deed, if it were not dependent upon some such cause, it was evident that the plague, supposing it to be contagious, must long since have depopulated the globe. He would now say a few words upon the opinions of medical men upon this subject, and he would take them as he found them stated in two reports made upon it by select committees of their own appointing. In the year 1811, on the motion of an hon. baronet who then represented the town of Dover, but who was now no more, a committee was appointed to examine into the state of the quarantine laws, and that committee determined, with only one dissentient voice, that the plague was contagious. In looking over the evidence which was appended to their reports, he found that the physicians examined before it, were all, with two or three exceptions, in favour of the doctrine that the plague was contagious; and he believed that it was upon the opinions expressed by the physicians that the committee formed the re

port which they afterwards submitted to the house. Since that time another investigation had been instituted into the subject, and the last investigation differed from the first in this important particular-that on the first none but contagionists had been examined, and that on the second the anti-contagionists, if he might use such an expression, were also allowed to be heard. There was this remarkable circumstance in the evidence of the contagionists-they agreed with wonderful unanimity as to the existence of contagion, but differed most miraculously in their account of its nature, its symptoms, and its causes. The inference which he drew from that circumstance was this-that the question on which they gave such round and decided opinions was not properly understood; and his reason for making that statement was, a hope that the moment would be hastened by it when their former inquiries might be reviewed, and be brought by renewed exertions to a satisfactory conclusion. The existing system of quarantine law, unless it was justified by necessity, could be justified by no other reason. was prejudicial to the best interests of the country; it obstructed commerce; it impeded science; it was injurious to those who had travelled either for business or for pleasure; it was connected with many superstitious feelings; and with regard to the increasing commerce we were now carrying on with Egypt, he would say that it would be utterly destroyed, if some alterations were not made in our quarantine regulations. He again repeated, that he approved of the alterations

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alterations now proposed, but was sorry that the board of trade had not considered it right to carry them further. The system was capable of further improvement, and he trusted that it would not be long before such improvement was effected. Since the year 1819, he knew, from his own personal observation, that the number of medical men who had changed their opinion on the doctrine of contagion was very great indeed. Dr. Maclean had made many converts to his opinion, notwithstanding the professional jealousy by which he was originally assailed. To confute the extraordinary delusions which were abroad upon the subject, he referred to some statements which he had received from Dr. Armstrong, of Russellsquare, who was more conversant with cases of fever than any other physician in the metropolis. Dr. Armstrong stated, that not a year elapsed in which he did not visit some hundred cases of typhus fever, that the symptoms of it were the same as those of the plague in Egypt as described by Assereti, and yet that in no instance had he ever suffered by the contagion. It was the knowledge of these facts that led him to express his sorrow that government had not gone further in their improvement of the quarantine system than it had done. At the same time he must mention a fact as illustrative of its practical conduct on this point, which he considered as highly to its credit. A vessel had arrived at Liverpool with a foul bill of health. According to the quarantine regulations, it ought to have remained fifty or sixty days without unloading its cargo. Now this foul bill of

health had not arisen from any of the sailors having been sick on the voyage, but from a single old woman's having died of a fever, which some people called the plague, at the place from which this ship sailed. That circumstance made all the ships foul which sailed from that place, and the consequence was, that several of them, which had cargoes on board, did not sail at all. The vessel in question had, however, come to England, and on its owners making a suitable representation to the proper quarter, had been allowed to unload, and had since sailed on another voyage. He thought that government had acted very wisely in dispensing with the regulations upon that occasion, and he trusted that they would not hesitate to exercise a similar discretion whenever similar facts should seem to require it. In conclusion he called upon the house to review its former inquiry, either by praying the crown to appoint a commission, by forming a select committee, or by some other similar measure.

Mr. Wallace admitted that those individuals who were formerly most convinced of the existence of contagion, were now much inclined to doubt the correctness of their opinions. Still there were considerable difficulties to be overcome before a conclusion could be arrived at, like that at which the hon. member for Midhurst wished to arrive. It was evident, that no committee, whilst medical men stated that contagion was not only possible but probable, could bring themselves to recommend to the house to remove every safeguard which existed against it. It was incumbent upon the house, when

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the weight of such authority was against the removal of the quarantine laws, to act with peculiar caution, especially as a false step in this case might be attended with irreparable injury. For his own part, he must say, that without further inquiry, he should not feel satisfied in removing any more of the quarantine laws.

Mr. Hudson Gurney was of opinion that the regulations on this subject might safely be left to the discretion of the board of trade. Contagion was often capricious and unsettled in its operation, but there was no climate under heaven which was not susceptible of its ravages. It was inconceivable to him how any persons could be mad enough to wish to introduce the plague into England for the sake of the cottons of Egypt, Surely the health and welfare of the people of England were more dear to the house than the paltry lucre of a few merchants at Liverpool. Insanity was under any circumstances pregnant with mischief; but the worst and most mischievous insanity could not produce greater danger than would arise from the unqualified repeal of the quarantine laws.

Mr. Hobhouse had no doubt but that the house would come to an exactly opposite conclusion upon that subject from that of his hon. friend who spoke last. The circumstances connected with the plague of London flatly contradicted him. All the phenomena agreed with the character of epidemic, and not contagious disease. Different parts of the town were infected with it, while others were entirely exempt. It was generally fatal to new comers. These were precisely the phenomena which

accompanied the plague in Egypt; the increase of the plague was generally in proportion to the decrease of the Nile. A celebrated physician, Dr. Rush, had retained his belief in the theory of contagion, which experience with stricter observation had afterwards influenced him to recant, and he then said that he was afraid of having done much mischief by his former opinions. The great plague at Malta, in 1813, was marked by the same circumstances. In some parts the whole population was swept off-in others no one was infected. Dr. Maclean had entered the hospital at Constantinople, with nineteen other persons, to prove that the plague was not contagious. It was very true, that being more strange to the atmosphere, he took the infection- but the other nineteen persons went away unhurt. Upon the plague of Egypt, he believed that the house would have the testimony of his gallant friend near him, that the phenomena corresponded with all the other diseases of this nature. It was well known that there was a line of demarcation which cut off Upper Egypt, beyond which the plague never passed. The story about the Theseus, which took in five persons at sea infected with the plague, and by that means infected the crew, was wholly untrue. The fact was, that the five persons had the plague, but not a man of the crew became infected. The time would shortly arrive when his hon. friend near him, and all the old ladies in England, would go to bed and sleep without the least fear of having the plague introduced into the city by unpacking a bundle of rags or a bale of cot

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ton from the Levant. He took this opportunity of eulogizing Dr. Maclean as a man who had made very great and salutary improvements in science, and to whom future ages would point the finger as one of the chief lights and ornaments of his own profession.

Mr. Trant said, that in passing up the Red Sea, and travelling in Egypt, he had acquired some experience of facts connected with this subject, which he would deliver to the house. When he was in Cairo, he was given to understand that the plague generally broke out in June-the Christians believed, rather superstitiously, that it was always on St. John's day. But a fact which was less scrupulously believed was, that it generally broke out in the quarters of the Jews, and the reason given for that was, that those persons bought all the old clothes, and among them those of the parties who were the first infected. However that might be, the rage of the disorder among the Jews was attributed to their traffic in old clothes. The house would compare that fact with the arguments of the hon. member for Westminster, who seemed to consider it impossible that bales of cloth goods could communicate it. As to the fanciful line which prevented the march of the disease into Upper Egypt, it was his peculiar fortune to see that violated also. The line itself was purely imaginary, and the fact had no foundation but that of Mahometan superstition. The people of that religion asserted and believed that the plague could not pass beyond the latitude of Mecca, because that was the city of their prophet. Now, when he was making his

way through Upper Egypt, the plague was raging as far south as Mocha, though that was a circumstance which had not been known before within the memory of man. The plague prevailed at Alexandria while he was there. A surgeon with whom he was acquainted disbelieved the theory of contagion, and went among the patients in the hospital. He did not then take the infection; but wishing to push his experiments to the utmost, he got into a bed which had been occupied by one who had the infection. He did then become infected, and he died in consequence.

The general opinion, however, attributed the disease to atmospheric influence.

Sir R. Wilson said, that when he was in Egypt the army formed two divisions. The one which was stationed at Alexandria took the plague; the other, which was generally in motion, was not touched with it. The difference was attributed to atmospheric influence. The Turks had no hesitation in entering the infected places. The bodies of those who died of the plague were buried in their clothes, and were generally dug up and stripped by those who had less fear of the consequences, The moving division of the British army passed through villages infected with the plague without being touched with it. Still it was not the business of government to attempt to force public opinion upon a subject of this nature. They ought rather to endeavour to sooth apprehensions, however ill-grounded. He would, however, strongly recommend that the officers appointed to enforce the quarantine laws, should be placed under regula

HOUSE of Commons, April 15.

-Mr. Goulburn moved that the sum of 26,000l. be granted to defray the expense of the police and watch establishment of Dublin, for the year 1825.-Agreed to.

Mr. Herries moved for the sum of 8,000l. as compensation to the commissioners for inquiring into education in Ireland, for 1825.Agreed to.

Mr. Herries moved for the sum of 27,8711. 14s. 2d. to defray the expenses of the harbour of Howth, and the Holyhead roads, for the year 1825.-Agreed to.

Mr. W. Horton rose to propose that a certain sum should be granted to his Majesty for the removal of emigrants from the south of Ireland to the Cape of Good Hope and Canada.

The other orders of the day were disposed of, and the house adjourned at twelve o'clock till Monday next.

House of Commons, April 19. -Conversation took place in the house yesterday and to-day, upon the subject of very many petitions presented for and against the Roman-catholic relief bill. By some honourable members dissenters were much reflected upon, for petitioning against granting to others the relief which they desired for themselves.

Mr. Peel, followed by other members, defended them, stating that it was perfectly consistent in them to oppose any body which they judged dangerous to the country and the state, and that the history of this body fully bore

them