25 



to got rid of it.' Not a little hurt at the absurd part the 

 gentleman had acted, and at his repeated importunity, I 

 replied, with some warmth, that I was very sorry to differ 

 so essentially in opinion from him, as to be obliged to tell 

 him that there was not the least appearance of malignity in 

 the disease under which the convicts laboured, but that it 

 wholly proceeded from the cold; and was nearly similar to a 

 complaint then prevalent, even among the better sort of 

 people, in and about Portsmouth. Notwithstanding this, he 

 still persisted so much in the propriety of their being landed, 

 and the necessity there was for an application to the Secretary 

 of State upon the occasion, that I could no longer keep my 

 temper : and I freely told him, that the idea of landing them 

 was as improper as it was absurd. And, in order to make 

 him perfectly easy on that head, I assured him, that when 

 any disease rendered it necessary to call in medical aid, he 

 might rest satisfied I would not trouble him; but would apply 

 to Dr. Lind, Physician to the Royal Hospital at Hasler, a 

 gentleman as eminently distinguished for his professional 

 abilities as his other amiable qualities ; or else to some of the 

 surgeons of His Majesty's ships at Portsmouth Harbour, or 

 at Spithead, most of whom I had the pleasure of knowing, 

 and on whose medical knowledge I was certain I could 

 depend." 



The Surgeon-General subsequently adds that notwith- 

 standing the salutary effect on the patients of a change of 

 diet to fresh beef and vegetables, with the addition of some wine 

 and other necessaries, 'the report of a most malignant disease 

 still prevailed; and so industriously was the report promul- 

 gated and kept alive by some evil-minded people, who either 

 wished to throw an odium on the humane promoters of the 

 plan, or to give uneasiness to the friends and relations of 

 those engaged in the expedition, that letters from all quarters 

 were pouring in upon us, commiserating our state. The 

 newspapers were daily filled with alarming accounts of the 

 fatality that prevailed among us; and the rumour became 

 general, notwithstanding every step was taken to remove 

 these fears, by assurances (which were strictly true) that the 

 whole fleet was in as good a state of health, and as few in it 

 would be found to be ill, at that cold season of the year, as 

 even in the most healthy situation on shore. The clearest 

 testimony that there was more malignity in the report than 

 in the disease, may be deduced from the very inconsiderable 

 number that have died since we left England; which I may 

 safely venture to say is much less than ever was known in 

 so long a voyage (the numbers being proportionate), even 

 though not labouring under the disadvantages we were sub- 

 ject to, and the crowded state we were in." , 



