feemingly incapable of affecting others. The following obfervations ftrongly confirm the opinions we have already given.

'This is all I can fay pofitively in anfwer to the queries: concerning the third, I will add, that I have often obferved in inoculation, among various individuals, a great difference of their fufceptibility of infection, without being able to aflign the cause of it. In inoculating many children together, in the fame place, with the fame pus, with the fame lancet, and in all refpects in the fame manner, it has often happened, that fome of these children did not take the finall-pox from But thofe who the first inoculation, while others were infected. failed from the first operation, generally received it from the fecond. When fresh matter is employed, fucccefs is more certain. Dry and diluted matter is alfo lefs efficacious in proportion as it is older, fo that, at the conclufion of two months, it becomes totally inefficacious. Although it is impoffible accurately to afcertain the limits when it is abfolutely inert, I am convinced that there are different degrees of efficacy between the liquid and fresh, and the dry pus; fo that the driest matter only lofes its activity gradually, and can, before it be entirely loft, infect one or two in ten, or perhaps in a hundred. Whereas liquid frefn matter can infect nine out of ten, or in a greater proportion. But when many patients are inoculated together, it is impoffible for me to discover why fome are infected rather than others.'

Dr. Odier alfo fully fupports the opinion that, at different periods, the disease is more or lefs certainly and rapidly communicated.-When induced, as well as Dr. Waterhouse, to explain this fact, they seem to lean to Dr. Haygarth, in confidering the explanation difficult, and appear to abandon the fact, when they reflect on the improbability of every cause.

Dr. Curric's letter fuggefts another fubject of remark, how far the virulence of the infection is connected with the fmell. The finell of fmall-pox is peculiar; but, in the most violent cafes, it is highly probable that it extends beyond the sphere of infection, or that the matter is rendered effete, before the smell is destroyed. This is, however, a general opinion, and must be received with caution. In a mild fmall-pox, with few eruptions, the infection is probably flight; yet we know that caufes of fever will make all the difference between a cafe of this kind, and the most virulent confluent cafe. It is evident therefore, that caufe of fever will increafe the quantity of infection, and the smell is much connected with fever; fo that, within the fphere of the fmell, there must be danger. We find many, within this fphere, have efcaped; and many fufceptible of the disease have efcaped repeated inoculations; but, if negative facts were of confequence, inoculation is not a caufe of the difeafe.-Dr. Currie's obfervations, that dry variolous

variolous matter preferves its powers for a long period, or rather, that these powers are renewed when the dry matter is again moistened, we have already noticed.

We have thus examined Dr. Haygarth's opinions freely. If we had had the honour (we speak now in our individual capacities) to have been among the number of his friends, the fame fentiments would have been privately communicated. We trust they will not be received worse, on account of the medium by which they are conveyed, for this very respectable, author may be affured, that we have nothing extenuated, nor fet down aught in malice.'-Like himself, we are anxious for the discovery of truth, and, with thefe views, we have examined his work with accuracy, and fpoken with freedom: this privilege, indeed, criticism, if candid, has a right to demand; but we have a greater right, when we add,

Damufque viciffem.

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It would, perhaps, be unfair, if, after having faid so much in oppofition to the different progrefs of fmall-pox, at different feafons, we fuppreffed our author's obfervations on the fubject. With thefe we fhall conclude our article; for, as we reft on the fact, it would be unneceffary to reply to theoretical remarks.

That fome peculiar conftitutions of the atmosphere are requifite for the propagation of the plague, the fmali-pox, and other epide mical diftempers, is a doctrine which leads to fuch erroneous and pernicious confequences that, I hope, the reader will excuse a few additional remarks on this point. It is introduced on all convenient occafions as an answer to the plaineft facts. This invifible and incomprehenfible agent comes and goes, exactly as the cafe requires. It is a gratuitous fuppofition to folve all appearances, a mere hypothefis unfupported by any theoretical reafoning whatsoever, or even by a plaufible analogy deduced from chemistry or any other branch of natural philofophy. It cannot, by any modification, be made confiftent with facts. When an epidemic fpreads or ftops, the caufe of thefe events cannot be attributed with more reason, to a change of the atmosphere we breathe, than of the bread we eat, or of the water we drink. Twenty other hypothefes of equal or nearly equal plaufibility might be cafily invented. But all of them, as well as the illufion, which, for above a century, has led the medical world into the most pernicious errors, might be refuted by an impartial appeal to the progrefs of contagion,'

A com

A complete Account of the Settlement at Port Jackson, in New South Wales, including an accurate Defcription of the Situa tion of the Colony; of the Natives; and of its natural Productions. Taken on the Spot, by Captain Watkin Tench 4:0. 10s. 6d. Boards. Nicol. 1793.

A

Knowledge of the fettlement which government has thought proper to make in New South Wales, as a grand depot for irreclaimable convicts, is not merely a matter of curiolity. It being intended to act both as a mean of punishment and reformation, a philofopher will be anxious to know how far thefe have been combined to produce an effect adequate to public expectation; while a politician, fatisfied that the ftate has got rid of its most troublesome subjects, will think only of the coft. But notwithstanding the various accounts published fince the appearance of captain Tench's Narrative in 1789, the policy and utility of this new scheme cannot be determined with certainty. On the one hand, we have been told that Port Jackfon is a spot which may, in process of time, be cultivated to great advantage; that labour and perfeverance will indeed be neceffary, but that the neceflity thus imposed will be imposed on men, who have forfeited the privilege of being idle, whom it muft incite to diligence that they may exift at all, and to habits of honefty that they may live comfortably. In this view, the labour of the fettlement will be every year becoming lefs; what is neceflary will be foon provided, and the periodical returns of crop may be expected at little trouble to the cultivator: the convicts may then be employed to build ftreets and houses, to ornament gardens, and improve the arts of civil life, and the only punishment will be the removal from their country and friends.-On the other hand, we have been affured that the difficulties in the way of those who endeavour to render this fettlement productive, are almoft infuperable; that the foil and climate are alike unfavourable; that the labour which produces a trifle must be exceffive, and that to the punishment of expatriation is added a life of infupportable toil without ufefulnefs. Between thefe opinions, there are na doubt intermediate fhades; captain Tench, although inclining to the latter, gives fome hopes, not very encouraging indeed, that time and perfeverance may render the fettlers independent of affiftance from this county, but they have hitherto advanced fo flowly as to be almoft wholly indebted for provifions to the parent state, and have often beheld the ghaftly approach of famine, when any accident has delayed the arrival of fupplies.

The prefent account commences with a retrofpect of the colony of Port Jackfon, on the date of captain Tench's for

mer

mer Narrative in July 1788. This is followed by 2 Journal, or minutes of tranfactions, from that period to the 18th of December 1791, when he quitted the fettlement. In this Journal, we meet with a variety of curious anecdotes related in an entertaining manner, and enlivened by juft and natural observations. It is not our purpose to run over these in detail, and they cannot always be feparated without injury to the narrative. The hardfhips fuffered by the colony, on account of the fcarcity of provifions, was often ready to drive the settlers to defpair. After mentioning a fhort allowance ordered, in a cafe of this kind, captain Tench proceeds to remark,

that

It was fingularly unfortunate that these retrenchments should always happen when the gardens were moft deftitute of vegetables. A long drought had nearly exhaufted them. The hardships which we in conféquence fuffered, were great ; but not comparable to what had been formerly experienced. Befides, now we made fure of fhips arriving foon to difpel our diftrefs: whereas, heretofore, from having never heard from England, the hearts of men funk; and any had begun to doubt, whether it had not been refolved to try Low long mifery might be endured with refignation.

Notwithstanding the incompetency of fo diminished a pittance, the daily task of the foldier and convict continued unaltered. I never contemplated the labours of these men, without finding abundant cause of reflection on the miferies which our nature can overcome. Let me for a moment quit the cold track of narrative:-let ne not fritter away by fervile adaptation, thofe reflections, and the feelings they gave birth to let me tranfcribe them fresh as they arofe, ardent and generous, though hopelefs and romantic.-I every day fee wretches pale with difeafe and wafted with famine, struggle against the horrors of their fituation. How ftriking is the effect of fubordination; how dreadful is the fear of punishment!—The allotted task is still performed, even on the prefent reduced subsistence:-the blacksmith sweats at the fultry forge; the fawyer labours. pent up in his pit; and the hufbandman turns up the fterile glebe. -Shall I again hear arguments multiplied to violate truth, and infult humanity!--Shall I again be told that the fufferings of the wretched Africans are indifpenfable for the culture of our fugar colonies: that white men are incapable of fuftaining the heat of the climate!—I have been in the West Indies :-I have lived there.I know that it is a rare inftance for the mercury in the thermometer to mount there above 90°; and here I fcarcely pass a week in fummer without feeing it rife to 100°; fometimes to 105; nay, beyond even that burning altitude.

But toil cannot be long fupported without adequate refreshment. The first step in every community, which wifles to preferve honefty,

nefly, fhould be to fet the people above want. The throes of bun ger will ever prove too powerful for integrity to withstand.-Hence arofe a repetition of petty delinquencies, which no vigilance could detect, and no juftice reach. Gardens were plundered; provisions pilfered; and the Indian corn stolen from the fields, where it grew for public ufe. Various were the measures adopted to check this depredatory fpirit. Criminal courts, either from the tedioufnefs of their procefs, or from the frequent efcape of culprits from their decifion, were feldomer convened than formerly. The governor ordered convict-offenders either to be chained together, or to wear fingly a large iron collar, with two fpikes projecting from it, which effectually hindered the party from concealing it under his fhirt: and thus fhackled, they were compelled to perform their quota of work.'

This fcarcity returned fo often, that we are inclined to think, with the author, that the colony was forgotten at home, or that from milinformation, it had been fuppofed capable of maintaining itfelf.-The following anecdote is felected from the more amufing parts of this Journal:

The diftrefsful ftate of the colony for provifions, continued gradually to augment until the 9th of July, when the Mary Anne tranfport arrived from England. This fhip had failed from the Downs, fo lately as the 25th of February, having been only four months and twelve days on her paffage. She brought out convicts, by contract, at a specific fum for each perfon. But to demonstrate the effect of humanity and juftice, of one hundred and forty-four female convicts embarked on board, only three had died; and the reft were landed in perfect health, all loud in praise of their conductor. The mafter's name was Munro; and his fhip, after fulfilLing her engagement with government, was bound on the fouthern fhery. The reader must not conclude that I facrifice to dull detail, when he finds fuch benevolent conduct minutely narrated. The advocates of humanity are not yet become too numerous: but thofe who practife its divine precepts, however humble and unnoticed be their station, ought not to fink into obfcurity, unrecorded and unpraifed, with the vile monfters who deride mifery, and fatten on calamity.

July, 1791. If, however, the good people of this fhip delighted us with their benevolence, here gratification ended. I was of a party who had rowed in a boat fix miles out to fea, beyond the harbour's mouth, to meet them and what was our disappointment, on getting aboard, to find that they had not brought a letter (a few official ones for the governor excepted) to any perfon in the colony! Nor had they a fingle newspaper or magazine in their poffeffion; nor could they conceive that any perfon withed to hear news; being. as ignorant of every thing which had paffed in Europe for the last

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