Virginia Argus

NORFOLK, August 28.

It appears by the various newspapers from the neighbouring States, that considerable alarm has been excited respecting the alleged existence of the yellow fever in this borough. We feel it our duty to say something on the occasion, in order to calm the fears of our countrymen, which we find have been played upon in the most wanton manner, by some of our own fellow citizens.

That a fever prevails here, which has proved fatal in a variety of instances, is an undeniable fact; but whether it is the same fever which has so often ravaged our populous cities, or the common bilious fever incident to the season, is a question on which our physicians have not yet given an opinion. It is certain however, that it differs in many respects, from the fever which has prevailed in New York and Philadelphia. Here, those who are habituated to the climate, nay, who have lived but one or two years in the town, are very rarely attacked with it; there, the contagion is general, and the consequences the same. Hence it is reasonable to suppose that the disease is not so contagious as to alarm our neighbours; that it exists rather, as it may be expressed, in our atmosphere than among our citizens, and is not so easily transplanted as some have imagined.

Those strangers who have taken the proper precautions in regard to their habits have seldom taken the disease; nor is it by any means general, even with the most negligent. In most cases the aid of the physician proves successful, when called in time, and his injunctions obeyed.

In order to be more satisfactory, we have visited the several burying grounds, and by making the necessary enquiries, have found that there have been interred in the last 14 days ending this morning, 56 persons, about 15 of whom have died with diseases not particularly interesting to the public. It is observable that this period has been the most sickly of any that we have experienced this year.