The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a letter from Portsmouth, November 13.

"The account I have seen in the papers about the disorder on board the Dutch East-Indiaman being erroneous, and calculated to alarm the public, I think it necessary to acquaint you that, though it is true that the two tidesmen who came on shore sick from this ship have died of the fever they got on board her, yet it is equally true, that it has not been communicated to either of their families, or to any other person. It is rumoured that Mrs. Hayter, of Gosport, died with the same fever, but she really did not. The fever in question is, no doubt, a very bad one, but is nothing more than a fever, and such as is not uncommon on board a ship crowded with a number of men, many of whom, in the present case, were taken from the gaol in Holland."

Effectual precautions have been used to prevent a communication of the said fever to the crews of any of his Majesty's ships at this port, or to any of the inhabitants of this or the neighbouring towns. The ready and powerful assistance afforded by Admiral Geary to the proper officers of the customs, upon this occasion, is highly meritorious.