might be well aware that he had created by his conduct at Prevesa, his recent connection with the English, and by other circumstances of less notoriety. Of the power of Russia, and the ultimate danger to the Turkish empire from this source, he was well informed; and he, as well as his sons, had felt and known the weight of the Russian armies pressing upon the Danube. He understood, too, that all foreign attempts at the restoration of Greece, whether with selfish or honourable motives, must of necessity imply a previous attack upon his power; and I believe he was fully sensible of his incapacity of resisting permanently the efforts of a regular European army. At various times I have heard him converse, more or less directly, on these topics; and in general there was an air of sound judgment in his remarks, which implied as well sagacity, as freedom from the prejudices of his nation.

I happened to be with him at the Seraglio on the evening of the day when he received information of the French having entered Moscow. He was evidently in low spirits, and discomposed by the intelligence. I spoke to him of the perseverance and resources of Russia, and of the evils that might arise to the French army from the burning of Moscow and the approach of winter. He was not satisfied by these arguments, but alluded in reply to the pacific temper of Alexander, to the mistakes which had been committed in the last Polish campaign, tothe treaty of Tilsit, and above all, tothe character of Bonaparte, which justly characterized as 66 one that the world had never before seen.". He spoke also of the errors the governments of Europe had committed in not uniting their strength, instead of coming singly to the contest; and in reference to this, told the story of the father who, on his death-bed, counselled his sons to union, by shewing that their united strength could

break a staff, which withstood the single strength of cach. He was animated and impressive on this subject; and spoke with little disguise of the probable designs of Napoleon, alluding to Turkey as one of the first jobjects of his future career. A story has been told of Bonaparte having offered to make Ali Pasha King of Greece, if he would engage to second the designs of France in this quarter. I cannot say what truth there may be in this; but for various reasons, I think it not impossible that some such offer may have been made. Considering the changes in the state of Europe, it is useless now to speculate upon the causes which led him to slight the French overtures, and to maintain his connection with England during the critical period of the last few years. The most obvious reasons were, his knowledge that we did not act upon a principle of conquest; the security of his trade; and perhaps the eventual security of his person and treasures, should there be any success. ful invasion of the country. More than once he has asked me what would be his reception in England, if circumstances ever led him thither? and though this was said with a jocose air, yet it might have reference to the possible contingency of his being obliged to quit Albania. This passed, however, in a moment of some alarm; and the progress of events soon after turned the tide into a new channel.

Once or twice I happened to be present when Ali Pasha was listening to different petitioners, who successively came before him. This was an interesting spectacle; each petitioner, as he approached, knelt, kissed his garment, and then proffered the matter of his request or complaint. The manner of Ali Pasha on these occasions was rapid and decisive. It was evident that he speedily formed a judgment, and was not easily turned aside from it. He spoke frequently and rapidly

*

himself, but obviously with a close attention to the subject, and a desire of obtaining truth. This promptitude is absolutely necessary, considering the multitude of affairs that come before him. He may be considered almost as the sole judge of his dominions; and though the absence of written law and precedent reduces all cases to the simple consideration of equity, yet it cannot be wondered that business should be retarded by its being committed so entirely to the labour and judgment of one man.It frequently happens that petitioners are detained several weeks in Ioannina, without being able to procure an audience, each day presenting themselves in the outer apartments of the Seraglio, and each day compelled to retire unsatisfied. I have several times been applied to, especially during my last residence at Ioannina, to interest the Vizier in behalf of different individuals; but my unwillingness to appear taking any part in such affairs, and the certainty that if I assisted one, it must be at the expence of another, obliged me to decline any interference in these cases.

This disposition to manage personally all his affairs, is a striking feature in the character of Ali Pasha, and influences all the concerns of his government. From it is derived that unity of system which extends through his dominions, which renders him individually an object of almost mysterious dread to his subjects, and makes his power formidable to his neighbours, and to the integrity of the Turkish empire. His ministers are such in the humblest sense of the word. In his relation with the great powers of Europe, it does not appear that he depends on any counsel but his own; and in the internal concerns of the country, it seems as if there were no will, impulse, or action, but from him. The physician Metaxa well illustrated, this by saying that there was a cord tied round every in

dividual in his dominions, longer or shorter, more or less fine; but every one of which cords went to him, and were held in his hand. He added, what I knew from my own observation to be true, that the rudest peasant of Albania, or the meanest page in his Seraglio, would better obtain either favours or justice, by coming directly to Ali Pasha himself, than through any circuitous channel of ministers or favourites.

It may further be noticed, that not an individual about him knows equally well as Ali, all the localities of his dominions, the habits, or even persons of his subjects, and the other circumstances which are important to the execution of justice. Born in Albania, and having scarcely ever quitted this country, in which nevertheless he has been exercised by a thousand various fortunes, his knowledge on these subjects is minutely accurate. Almost every Albanian has been in his presence, either as a soldier, or in some other capacity; and there are few of mature age whose names or persons do not come within his recollection. I have had various opportunities of remarking this fact. One day I was present at the time he was giving a sort of open audience to all classes of petitioners. I noticed several cases in which his local knowledge evidently directed the dicision, and probably was the means of arriving at the truth. Where his own interests or passions were unconcerned, it is probable that the judgments of Ali Pasha were generally impartial, and for the most part correct. It is doubtless an evil, that, by undertaking every thing himself, many things are neglected or delayed; but it is likewise a good, that he should thus extend his personal authority, since the subordinate ministers of a despotic system are ge nerally tyrannical or corrupt.

The assiduity with which he applies himself to all this business is very

great.

great. He rises commonly before six, and his officers and secretaries are expected to be with him at this hour. There are no pauses in business during the day, except at twelve o'clock, when he takes his dinner, sleeping afterwards for an hour; and again at eight in the evening, which is his hour of supper. I have found him as late as nine o'clock, with three secretaries on the ground before him, listening to the most minute details of that branch of expenditure which relates to the post-houses; each article of which accounts he separately approved. His hours of pleasure are also in part subservient to the further ance of business. I have seen him

in the gardens of his pavilion surround. ed by petitioners, and giving judgment on cases that were brought be fore him. Even when retiring to the Haram, he still preserves his public capacity; and in the petty discords of three hundred women secluded from the world, it is hot wonderful that his occupation and authority as a judge should still be required.

Report of the National Vaccine Estab

lishment for the year 1814.

To the Right Honourable Lord Viscount Sidmouth, Principal Secretary of Stute for the Home Department, &c.

National Vaccine Establishment,
Leicester-square, June 19, 1815.

MY LORD,

THE Board of the National Vaccine Establishment has the honour to report to your Lordship, that a greater number of individuals has been vaccinated in the course of last year than the preceding; that several thousand more charges of vaccine lymph* have been distributed to the

Large indeed is this melancholy catalogue, which is attributable to the dissemination of variolous matter by a few interested individuals, who, from sordid motives, continue the practice of inoculating with smail pox virus, and diffusing this fatal disease through the metropolis.

With the view of augmenting the benefits of this establishment, the Board has lately appointed a class of extraordinary vaccinators, in addition to the stationary surgeons of respecta bility, who have voluntarily stepped forward to contribute their assistance gratuitously, to compose this class, from which it is intended hereafter to elect the stationary vaccinators.

Another class, denominated corres ponding vaccinators, has also been established, from which a very material extension of the benefits to be

derived from the vaccine institution is confidently expected. Each person will, in his own neighbourhood, be a point, from which the practice will continually diverge, and through whom any communication of importance may at once be made to this Board.

The stationary and extraordinary vaccinators must reside in London or the suburbs; but the corresponding may live at any distance, or in any part of the world.

The official communications of the medical colleges of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dublin, evincing their confidence in vaccination, and the annihilation of small pox in the settlements of the Cape of Good Hope and

merly reported, have been insufficient

to

to convince some individuals of the security against the infection of small pox; but it is to be hoped, that the strong additional facts hereafter stated will produce the fullest conviction of its benefits in their minds.

From the official documents transmitted by the right honourable the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the Board, respecting the effects of vaccination in the islands of Mauritius and Bourbon, it appears that the inhabitants have been secured against the visitation of one of the severest scourges incident to the human race, as the sequel shews.

In the year 1728, the small pox swept off nearly one half of the population; in 1756, about one fourth; in 1771 and 1772, it occasioned a comparatively less, though very great mortality; and in 1792, it destroyed one-third and of those who survived the disease, one-third lingered out a short and miserable existence, afflicted with dropsy, marasmus, consumption, &c. It is worthy of remark, that in three times out of the four the disease was introduced by slave-ships. Let the contrast now be drawn between the introduction of variolous infection and vaccine inoculation.

In 1802, vaccination was introdueed from the British possessions in India; but its general use was prevented by the prejudices of the people, and the lymph, after a short time, could not be procured.

In 1805, it was re-introduced, and the French government, seeing the necessity of regulations, framed some accordingly; but vaccination was only partially adopted, for it did not exist in many parts of the island when the British took possession of it.

In 1811, the small pox re-appeared in the island, and about 220 persons became infected, of whom 30 died. The alarm excited by the progress of this disease prompted his excellency Governor Farquhar to issue his mandate, compelling all the inhabitants

to be immediately vaccinated, which energetic measure at once arrested the progress of small pox.

In 1813, an opportunity was offered of putting to the test the security of vaccination, by a slave (who came from the island of Madagascar, and was afflicted with the confluent form of small pox) having been landed and received into the hospital; many slaves and other vaccinated persons were exposed to the infection, but no one became the subject of the disease.

From the introduction of vaccination, in 1802, to the 8th February 1814, it is computed that 200,000 persons have been vaccinated: and the medical practitioners unanimously declared, that no instance has occurred of small pox being contracted after regular vaccination.

In the island of Bourbon, the calamitous effects of variolous disease, and the beneficial consequences of vaccination, though detailed in a more abridged form, as forcibly corroborate the utility of vaccine inoculation, from its having banished the small pox from that settlement.

The National Vaccine Board cannot omit to direct your Lordship's attention to the meritorious conduct and zealous exertions of individuals, not of the medical profession, who have not only vaccinated many hundreds every year, but who have studiously maintained a supply of lymph in their districts for the perpetual renewal of vaccination.

It has particularly noticed the ardent zeal of Mr Ellis, of hos Farm, who has vaccinated several thousands in North Wales, without a single failure; and also of the late Rev. Mr Holt, and the Rev. Mr Finch, two of the earliest friends to the practice, who resided, the one in Buckinghamshire, the other in a populous part of Lancashire, and who met with undeviating success-a success which puts to shame the negligent practice of some belonging to the medical profession;

profession; for, strange as it may appear, it is not the less true, but there are many places in the united kingdom where, though vaccination is professed, it is, in effect, never fairly practised.

Lymph, indeed, has been procured from the National Establishment, but it would seem only for present, and not prospective purposes, as no pains have been taken to preserve it by a succession of cases, and that, too, where the population, in many of the districts supplied, has exceeded some thousands, and even in some of those where county hospitals are established.

In many instances the Board has had reason to lament, that throughout entire districts the lymph has been lost altogether; and when thus suffered to be lost, there must surely be just grounds of suspicion, that interested motives have actuated individuals to throw serious impediments in the way of a general adoption of vaccination.

In confirmation of this conclusion, the Board adds the plain and unaffected narrative of a person who, humbly situated in life, has, in the true spirit of philanthropy, been the instrument of dispensing the benefits of vaccination to an extensive neighbourhood, and of preserving a regular supply of lymph, with which many medical practitioners have been liberally furnished.

Mr W. Jeffrey, of Cambus-baron, near Stirling, after reciting the history of his practice, which, from the purest motives of benevolence, he commenced under circumstances not necessary

to be detailed, thus proceeds in his communication to the Board-" Vaccine inoculation has acquired such a character for ten miles round where I dwell, that the small pox is not heard of. In this village there is not one child which has not been vaccinated (excepting in two families), so universal has the practice become, and it is remarked by the inhabitants of the

village, that the children are more numerous, owing to their being vac cinated; and among the children that I have vaccinated, I challenge all the country round to produce any instance in which the inoculation failed to preserve them from variolous contagion, notwithstanding their being exposed to lying in bed, eating and drinking, with those infected with the small pox. I am much surprised when I hear of such backwardness in and about London, to the performance of such a salutary benefit to the human race. If any one would speak against it in my village, or in the large parish of St. Ninians, he would expose himself to the contempt of all the people."

The National Vaccine Board has it in contemplation to enrol the names of such steady and exemplary friends, under the denomination of honorary vaccinators, as they cannot with propriety be included in the other orders; and it hopes to receive from this class a continuance of their valuable communications. Though it cannot be supposed that any stimulus is required, to incite the active labours of such highly commendable persons; yet the Board cannot in justice silently pass over such zeal, without giving some signal mark of its approbation.

Notwithstanding the accumulated and accumulating proofs of the utility of vaccination, there is reason to apprehend that variolous inoculation will be persisted in, whereby the baneful effects of small pox must be continually propagated.

The Board has with regret to observe, that although the punishment of three months imprisonment was awarded against Sophia Vantandillo, for carrying her child whilst under the influence of small pox through the public streets, (which infected many others, eight of whom died), the unwary and uninformed are still enticed, by the hand-bills of shameless empyrics, to submit their children to