A clean bill

A

ship has left, describing its state of health at the time of her clearing out. imports that at the time of her sailing, no infectious disorder was known to exist. suspected, or, as it is more commonly called, a touched bill, imports that rumours were afloat of an infectious disorder, but that it had not actually appeared. A foul bill, or the absence of clean bills, imports that the place was infected when the vessel sailed. · (See BILLS OF HEALTH.) The duration of the quarantine is regulated by the nature of these instruments. They seem to have been first issued in the Mediterranean ports in 1665, and are obviously of great importance.

Quarantine Regulations. —The existing quarantine regulations are embodied in the act 6 Geo. 4. c. 78., and the different orders in council issued under its authority. These orders specify what vessels are liable to perform quarantine; the places at which it is to be performed; and the various formalities and regulations to be complied with. The publication in the Gazette of any order in council with respect to quarantine is deemed sufficient notice to all concerned; and no excuse of ignorance is admitted for any infringement of the regulations. To obviate, as far as possible, any foundation for such plea, it is ordered that vessels clearing out for any port or place with respect to which there shall be at the time any order in council subjecting vessels from it to quarantine, are to be furnished with an abstract of the quarantine regulations; and are to furnish themselves with quarantine signal flags and lanterns, and with materials and instruments for fumigating and immersing goods. The following are the clauses in the act as to signals:

Every commander, master, or other person having the charge of any vessel liable to quarantine, shall, at all times, when such vessel shall meet with any other vessel at sea, or shall be within 2 leagues of the coast of the U. Kingdom, or the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, or Man, hoist a signal to denote that his vessel is liable to quarantine; which signal shall in the day time, if the vessel shall have a clean bill of health, be a large yellow flag, of 6 breadths of bunting, at the main-topmast-head; and if such vessel shall not have a clean bill of health, then a like yellow flag, with a circular mark or ball, entirely black, in the middle thereof, whose diameter shall be equal to 2 breadths of bunting; and in the night time, the signal shall in both cases be a large signal lantern with a light therein (such as is used on board his Majesty's ships of war), at the same mast-head: and such commander, master, or other person, shall keep such signals hoisted during such time as the said vessel shall continue within sight of such other vessel, or within 2 leagues of the said coast or islands, and while so in sight, or within such distance, until such vessel so liable to quarantine shall have arrived at the port where it is to perform quarantine, and until it shall have been legally discharged from the performance thereof; on failure whereof, such commander, master, or other person shall forfeit 1007.-8.

Every commander, master, or other person having the charge of any vessel on board whereof the plague or other infectious disease highly dangerous to the health of his Majesty's subjects shall actually be, shall at all times, when such vessel shall meet with any other vessel at sea, or shall be within 2 leagues of the coast of the U. Kingdom, or the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, or Man, hoist a signal, to denote that a vessel has the plague or other infectious disease; which signal shall be in the day time a flag of yellow and black, borne quarterly, of 8 breadths of bunting, at the main-topmast-head; and in the night time, the signal shall be 2 large signal lanterns, commonly used on board ships of war, one over the other, at the same mast-head; and such commander, master, or other person shall keep such signal hoisted during such time as the said vessel shall continue within sight of such other vessel, or within 2 leagues of the coast or islands aforesaid, while so in sight, or within such distance, until such vessel shall have arrived at the port where it is to perform quarantine, and until it shall have been legally discharged from the performance thereof; on failure whereof, such commander, master, or other person shall forfeit 1007.-9.

If any commander, master, or other person, knowing that the same is not liable to the performance of quarantine, shall hoist such signal, by day or night, such commander or other person shall forfeit 507. -$10.

But, instead of printing the act, and the various orders in council that have grown out of it, it will be sufficient to lay the following abstract of them before the reader. This abstract has been prepared by the Custom-house; and contains a distinct summary of the various rules and regulations to be complied with.

ABSTRACT OF QUARANTINE Regulations.

It is in the first place to be observed, that all persons are presumed to know and are bound to take notice, not only of the quarantine regulations established by act of parliament (as they are of any other public act), but likewise of every order in council made for the performance of quarantine, and published in the London Gazette, and as it is easily in their power to inform themselves of such regulations, and particular care is taken by this and other means to promulgate such of them as apply to their respective situations, previously to their being actually put under quarantine, when they will receive directions for their guidance from the quarantine officers, no plea of ignorance will be admitted as an excuse for any neglect, breach, or violation thereof; but, for the sake of example, and for the security of the public health, the pains, penalties, and punishments of the law will be enforced with the utmost severity."

Duty of Commanders and Masters of Vessels.

Upon arrival off the coast of the U. Kingdom, or the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, or Man,

To deliver to the pilot who shall go on board, a written paper, containing a true account of the name of the place at which his ship loaded, and of all the places at which he touched on the homeward voyage. Neglecting or refusing to deliver such papers, or making any false representation or wilful omission therein, subjects him to a penalty of 100%.

Upon entering or attempting to enter any port, and being spoke by any quarantine officers, To give a true answer in writing or otherwise, and upon oath or not upon oath (according as he shall be required), to the preliminary questions put to him by such quarantine officer, for the purpose of ascertaining whether his vessel is or is not liable to quarantine. Neglecting or refusing to bring his vessel to as soon as it can be done with safety, in obedience to the requisition of the quarantine officer, subjects him to a penalty of 1007.

Refusing to answer such questions, or giving any false answer thereto (if not upon oath), subjects him to a penalty of 2007.

If upon oath, to the punishment for wilful and corrupt perjury.

If any infectious disease shall appear on board, the master is to repair to such place as his Majesty shall direct, and make known his case to the officer of customs, and he is to remain at that place until directions are given by the Lords of the Privy Council. He is not to permit any of the crew or passengers on board to go on shore, and he, his crew and passengers, are to obey such directions as are received from the Lords of the Privy Council.

Not acting in conformity to the regulations herein directed, or acting in disobedience to such directions as shall be received from the privy council, he incurs the penalty of 1007.

If informed by the pilot that his vessel has become liable to quarantine, by reason of any proclamation made subsequent to his departure, to hoist and keep hoisted a like signal, under the same penalty of 1004.

To give to the pilot coming on board a written paper containing a true account of the different articles composing his cargo. Neglecting or refusing to do so, or making a false representation or wilful omission, subjects him to a penalty of 502.

Masters of vessels liable to quarantine, and other persons on board them or having communication with them, are to repair to the appointed quarantine stations, and may be compelled to do so by force.

The master of any vessel having disease on board, on meeting with any other vessel at sea, or within 2 leagues of the coast of the U. Kingdom, or the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, or Man, is to hoist a signal to denote that his vessel has such disease on board, and is to keep such signal hoisted during such time as he shall continue within sight of such vessel, or within 2 leagues of the coast or is,ands aforesaid, while so in sight or within such distance, until the vessel shall arrive at the port where she is to perform quarantine, and until she shall be legally discharged from the performance thereof. Failing herein, the master incurs the penalty of 1007.

If he shall refuse or omit to disclose the circumstances of such infection prevailing either at any place at which he has been, or on board his vessel, in his answers to the preliminary questions put to him by the quarantine officer, or if he shall wilfully omit to hoist, and to keep hoisted, the proper quarantine signal to denote that his ship is liable to quarantine, he incurs the penalty of 3007.

Upon attempting to enter any port, which is not the port at which he ought to perform quarantine, he may be compelled to desist therefrom, in order that he may proceed to the proper quarantine ports, by guns being fired upon the ship, or any other kind of force being used that may be necessary for the attainment of that object.

Quitting or knowingly suffering any seamen or passenger to quit his ship, by going on shore, or by going on board any other vessel or boat, before discharged from quarantine, or,

Not repairing to the proper quarantine station within a convenient time after due notice given, incurs a penalty of ICOL

To repair in all cases to the proper quarantine port, as herein-after stated in the Appendix, according as he shall or shall not be furnished with a clean bill of health, and according to the port or place to which he shall be bound, as herein stated.

But if through ignorance, or by stress of weather, damage, loss, or accidents of the seas, he shall have passed the proper quarantine port, he may (having a clean bill of health on board, and upon giving satisfactory proof thereof upon oath, and by the oath of the pilet, if any on board, and that the same was not wilfully or intentionally done or occasioned) be permitted to proceed to some other quarantine port, in the discretion of the quarantine officer, keeping the proper quarantine signal hoisted during the whole time.

Upon his arrival at the proper quarantine port, to give true answers upon oath to all the quarantine questions, and to make oath to the truth of his log-book, and the times at which the entries were therein made: failing herein, he incurs the penalty of wilful and corrupt perjury.

He is also to repair to the particular station which shall be appointed by the quarantine officer for the said ship or vessel

To deliver up to the quarantine officer his bill of health, manifest, log-book, and journal.

Wilfully refusing or neglecting so to do, subjects him to a penalty of 1004.

If not bound to any port of the U. Kingdom, or the islands aforesaid, and attempting to enter any port thereof (except to wait for orders, or in consequence of stress of weather or accidents of the seas), he shall give satisfactory proof thereof to the quarantine officer, and give true answers upon oath to the preliminary questions, and strictly conform to all such directions as he shall receive from the quarantine officer, touching his continuance at such port, or departure from thence, or repairing to any other; and also with respect to all other quarantine regulations; in default of which, he may be compelled to proceed to sea by any means or by any kind of force that shall be necessary for that purpose.

Having performed quarantine in any foreign lazaret, the vessel is to be put under quarantine at some of the ports herein-after appointed, until the master shall produce to the quarantine officer the proper documents in proof thereof; upon production whereof the said vessel shall not be obliged to perform quarantine, but shall remain at such station until released by order in council.

Unshipping, or moving in order to unship, any goods from on board any vessel liable to quarantine, subjects to a penalty of 5001.

Clandestinely conveying, or secreting or concealing for the purpose of conveying, any letter, goods, or other articles, from any vessel actually performing quarantine, subjects to a penalty of 1007.

Note. Every commander or master of any vessel clearing out or about to sail for any port or place in the Mediterranean, or in the West Barbary on the Atlantic Ocean, or for any port or place respecting which there shall at the time be any order of his Majesty in council in force, subjecting vessels coming from thence to quarantine, is to receive from the principal officer of the customs at such port or place, this printed Abstract of the Quarantine Regulations, which such commander or master is to cause to be affixed on some convenient and conspicuous part of his said vessel, and to remain so affixed until his return with his said vessel to some port or place in the U. Kingdom or the islands aforesaid.

And every such commander and master is likewise to provide and take on board 1 at least of each of the proper quarantine signal flags and lanterns, and likewise materials and instruments for fumigation and immersion, and to keep the same on board, to be used upon his return to the U. Kingdom or the islands aforesaid.

Duty of Pilots.

Pilots are strictly to observe the following directions:

To receive an account in writing from every commander or master of any vessel coming from foreign parts, of the places at which his vessel loaded, and at which he touched on his said homeward voyage. To give notice to such commander or master of any proclamation, or order in council, made after the departure of such vessel from the U. Kingdom or the islands aforesaid, and then in force, by which vessels coming from any place mentioned in such account shall be liable to quarantine. Neglecting or omitting to give such notice subjects them to a penalty of 1004.

To give a like notice of any proclamation then in force, by which vessels having on board any of the articles mentioned in the master's account shall be liable to quarantine. Neglecting or omitting to give such notice subjects them to a penalty of 100%.

To remain on board in the same manner as any of the officers, crew, or passengers, and not to quit the said vessel before or after the arrival, either by going on shore, or by going on board any other vessel or boat with intent to go on shore, until she is regularly discharged from quarantine; and they may be com pelled by any persons whatsoever, and by any kind of necessary force, to return on board the same. If they offend herein, they incur a penalty of 3001. and 6 months' imprisonment.

Not to bring any such vessel into any port or place other than the port or place appointed for the reception of vessels so liable to quarantine as stated in the Appendix, unless compelled by stress of weather, adverse winds, or accidents of the seas, of which the pilot, as well as the commander or master of the vessel, is to give satisfactory proof upon oath. If they offend herein, they incur a penalty of 2001 To bring the ship to, as soon as it can be done with safety, in obedience to the requisition of the quarantine officer. Failing herein subjects them to a penalty of 1007.

Duty of other Persons.

When any infectious disease actually appears on board any vessel, all persons on board are to obey the direction of the privy council, under a penalty of 100.

Not to quit such vessel, either by going on shore, or by going on board any other vessel or boat with intent to go on shore, until regularly discharged from quarantine; and if they quit the ship, they may be compelled by any persons whatsoever, and by any kind of necessary force, to return on board the same; and are also liable to a penalty of 3004. and 6 months' imprisonment.

Whether liable to quarantine, or actually performing quarantine, or having had any intercourse or communication with any such persons so liable to or under quarantine, all persons are to obey all such orders as they shall receive from the quarantine officer, and to repair to the lazaret, vessel, or place appointed for the performance of quarantine. Wilfully refusing or neglecting to repair forthwith, when required so to do by such officers, or escaping from or out of such lazaret, vessel, or place may be compelled to repair or return thereto by any kind of necessary force, and are subject to a penalty of 2001. Landing or unshipping, or moving in order to the landing or unshipping, of any goods, packets, packages, baggage, wearing apparel, books, letters, or any other articles whatever, from vessels liable to quarantine, are liable to a penalty of 5007.

Clandestinely conveying, or secreting or concealing for the purpose of conveying, any goods, letters, or other articles as aforesaid, from any vessel actually performing quarantine, or from the lazaret or other place where such goods or other articles shall be performing quarantine, are liable to a penalty of 1004. Having quitted or come on shore from any vessel liable to or under quarantine, or having escaped from any lazaret or other place appointed in that behalf, may be seized and apprehended by any constable or other peace officer, or by any other person whatever, and carried before a justice of the peace, who may grant his warrant for conveying such person to the vessel, lazaret, or other place from which he shall have escaped, or for confining him in any place of safe custody (not being a public gaol) until directions can be obtained from the privy council.

Knowingly and wilfully forging or counterfeiting, interlining, erasing, or altering, or procuring to be forged, &c., any certificate directed by any order in council touching quarantine, or publishing the same as true, or uttering any such certificate with intent to obtain the effect of a true certificate, knowing its contents to be false, are guilty of felony.

What Vessels are liable to Quarantine.

All vessels (as well ships of war as all others) with or without clean bills of health, coming

From or having touched at any place in the Mediterranean, or the West Barbary on the Atlantic Ocean. From any other place from which his Majesty shall from time to time adjudge it probable (and shall so declare by proclamation or order in council) that the plague, or any other infectious disease or distemper highly dangerous to the health of his Majesty's subjects, may be brought. Note.-They are considered as liable to quarantine from the time of their leaving any of the said places. All vessels having communication with any of the before-mentioned ships or vessels, or receiving -Any person whatever from or out of such vessel, whether such person shall have come from any of the said places, or shall have gone on board of such vessel, either in the course of her voyage, or upon her arrival off the coast of the U. Kingdom, &c. - Or,

Any goods, wares, or merchandise, packets, packages, baggage, wearing apparel, goods, letters, or any other articles whatever, from or out of such ship or vessel.

Note. They are liable to quarantine from the time of their receiving any such persons or goods. All vessels coming from any port or place in Europe without the Straits of Gibraltar, or on the continent of America, and having on board-

Any of the articles enumerated (a list of which articles see in the Appendix);

And not producing a declaration upon oath, made by the owner, proprietor, shipper, or consignee, stating either that such articles are not the growth, produce, or manufacture of Turkey, or of any place in Africa within the Straits of Gibraltar, or in the West Barbary on the Atlantic Ocean, or stating of what place they are the growth, produce, or manufacture.

All vessels and boats receiving -

Any of the said goods, wares, and merchandise, or other articles enumerated.

Signals.

For vessels with the plague or other highly infectious disease actually on board

In the day time-A flag of yellow and black, borne quarterly, of 8 breadths of bunting, at the main topmast-head.

In the night time-Two large signal lanterns, with a light therein, such as are commonly used on board his Majesty's ships of war, one over the other, at the same mast-head.

For vessels with clean bills of health

In the day time- A large yellow flag, of 6 breadths of bunting, at the main-topmast-head.

In the night time- A large signal lantern, with a light therein, such as is commonly used on board his Majesty's ships of war, at the same mast-head.

For vessels without clean bills of health

in the day time- A large yellow flag, with a circular mark or ball, entirely black, in the middle thereof, whose diameter shall be equal to 2 breadths of bunting, at the main-topmast-head.

In the night time- Same as for vessels with clean bills of health.

Note. Every commander or master of a vessel about to sail for the Mediterranean, or for any place respecting which an order in council shall be in force, subjecting vessels coming from thence to quaran tine, to be provided with the quarantine signals above mentioned, and to keep the same on board, to be used on his return to the U. Kingdom.

Any commander or master hoisting either of the said quarantine signals, by day or night, knowing that his vessel is not liable to quarantine, incurs a penalty of 504.

APPENDIX. A List of Articles enumerated considered as most liable to Infection.

QUARANTINE PORTS. For Vessels liable to Quarantine not coming from any Place actually infected, nor having any Infection actually on Board.

QUASSIA (Ger. Quassienholz; Fr. Bois de quassie; Sp. Leno de quassia), a beautiful tall tree (Quassia amara), growing in North and South America, and the West Indies. The wood is of a pale yellow colour, and inodorous; it, as well as the fruit and bark of the tree, has a place in the materia medica. Its taste is intensely bitter. It is said to have been sometimes used by the brewers in the preparation of beer, instead of hops; but the use of it for this purpose is prohibited, under severe penalties. — (See ALE AND BEER.) The price of quassia in bond varies from 11. 4s. to 11. 6s. The duty is 81. 178. 6d.; it is, of course, intended to be prohibitory; and is one of the few imposed for such a purpose, against which no good objection can be urged.

QUEBEC, the capital of Canada, and of the British possessions in North America. on the north-west bank of the river St. Lawrence, about 340 miles from its mouth, in lat. 46° 48' 49 N., lon. 71° 10′ 45" W. Population, in 1842, 31,809.

Quebec is situated on a ridge, or promontory, formed by the St. Lawrence on the S. and W., and the river St. Charles on the E. The extremity of this headland, called Cape Diamond, is about 345 feet above the level of the water, and on it the citadel is built. The town extends from the citadel, principally in a north-east direction, down to the water; and is, from the difference of elevation, divided into the upper and lower towns. The fortifications, which are very strong, extend across the peninsula; the circuit within them being about 2 miles. From their situation, many of