The Virginia Gazette

WILLIAMSBURG, October 20.

Mess. Purdie & Dixon,

GENTLEMEN,

There is no certainty, in any place liable to the smallpox, who shall be first taken with it. If any of my family should have it first, some people might be malicious enough to assert I gave it to them on purpose to spread it for mercenary views. To prevent any thing of this sort, it has been a constant practice with me to inoculate my apprentice and servants whenever a convenient opportunity offered. This I have done in several places, not only without censure, but with approbation, until the last time. Partly on that account, but chiefly to secure the life of my late apprentice, Mr. Robert Bell, I inoculated him in my own house, and when it was certain the infection had taken effect sent him to the Pest-house then infected, there to remain until he should be clean and have leave from me to return. This I told in town the very next morning after he was sent up.

When I subscribed to the Pest-house Scheme I read the preamble, and took notice it was to be under the direction of the Mayor and Aldermen, but saw nothing pointing out any mode of application; in this therefore I might err, for want of proper guidance.

In June 1767 a white man, a traveller, had walked the streets in Norfolk with an eruption on his shin for several days; neither he nor his wife knew that it was the smallpox. He bathed himself in the river, and his wife applied domestic remedies to drive away the bumps and cure the soreness on his shin. Dr. Ramsay went to see him, and afterwards called me to go with him, and give my opinion whether it was the smallpox. Although the usual appearance of the pustules was very much altered by the applications, I could not convince myself that it was not the smallpox, therefore gave it as my opinion that it would be right, for the safety of the inhabitants, not to delay, but to send him immediately to a retired place. Next day I heard he was still in town, and went to see him; then I was convinced it was the smallpox. Dr. Taylor, Dr. Ramsay's partner, said he was convinced of it too. The man was then sent to the Pest-house. In conversation with Dr. Taylor, who was Mayor at that time, I told him my apprentice Bell begged earnestly to be inoculated, that he might be safe, and be permitted to visit my patients in the smallpox for his improvement, circumstances of the higher importance to him. As the white man at the Pest-house would be company for Bell, there was now a proper opportunity to inoculate him and send him to that house. I therefore asked Dr. Taylor if such a thing might be done; he said I believe such a thing may be done. I imagined there was nothing further necessary, in such a case as this, than letting the Mayor know my design in familiar conversation. If the Captain of a vessel indeed had applied to me about his crew, or a cargo of slaves, in the Smallpox, I should have applied in a more general and ceremonious manner. I paid Dr. Taylor the compliment of attending his apprentice at the same time, if it was agreeable to them. To this there was no reply made. Mr. Hansford, one of the Aldermen, knew nothing of my conversation with the Mayor when, as it is said, he "censured me severely." Captain George Abyvon, who in a few days succeeded Dr. Taylor as Mayor, gave Mr. Hansford a letter to deliver to an eminent Gentleman of the law at Williamsburg, when he went there on another occasion, and received an answer by him on his return. I have neither seen nor heard the contents of either, and am at a loss to know how I could "trespass" when no injury was intended, nor happened by my means to any body's person, house, land, or goods. My conscience acquits me to myself in the first case, and time elapsed proves the other. If it was owing to Mr. Paul Loyall that an action which would not lie, or a merely litigious suit, was prevented, I thank him for the kindness of his intention then.

The laudable action of doing such a kind office to my boy is a less "imprudent step" than the friends to the borough of Norfolk are aware of. His great eagerness to have the smallpox induced him in London, and more particularly in Glasgow, to go into infected houses; it is now evident he was susceptible of infection, and would have taken it unprepared some time or other.

The supposition that I intended "to introduce inoculation then" cannot be admitted as just; no body, excepting my apprentice Bell, applied to me for that purpose last year.

While I am sound in mind an honest intention will prevent me from any "union" to reap pounds where my proper harvest is shillings; that would be trespassing indeed, and enormously too, on my neighbour's property, to reap nineteen harvests more than my own!

"The Doctor's price in the "digression" may be set forth as a bugbear, but nobody, not even a poor inhabitant of Norfolk, or Tanner's creek neck, need be frightened at it; his leaky canoe, his tattered blanket, and little box of Indian meal, shall never be sold by any vendue master on my account.

Some years ago Dr. Archibald Campbell of Norfolk, from a laudable ambition to improve his fortune for the benefit of his growing family, entered into trade. About four years ago he intended to drop the practice of physic, and make a tour through Britain to enlarge his correspondence. At my desire he entered into partnership with me, until he should be ready to embark (supposing it to be twelve or eighteen months) circumstances occurred which made him delay his voyage. However, at his desire, our partnership terminated in March 1766. Since that time he has not been concerned in any branch of my business, directly or indirectly; nor inoculation in any other manner than the other Gentlemen concerned, for the safety of his family. Hence it is evident the proceeding against him and his house are founded on a mistake, or something else.

If ten years proof of successful care in preventing the smallpox and other contagious diseases from spreading, when I have been concerned with them, if the same humane disposition, and an improved capacity to continue care on every future occasion, can obtain the confidence of the people, it will not be withheld from me, nor diminished by any unreasonable influence whatsoever.

Be patient a little longer: I leave off writing egotisms, after expressing two more; one dictated by benevolence, the other by ceremony.

I am your well-wisher,

And I am, Gentlemen, your very humble servant,

JOHN DALGLEISH.

See Passenger List, No. 923.