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and more its peculiar character。 Facts appear to have established
that it is originated here by a local atmosphere； which is never
generated but in the lower； closer； and dirtier parts of our large
cities； in the neighborhood of the water； and that； to catch the
disease； you must enter the local atmosphere。 Persons having taken
the disease in the infected quarter； and going into the country； are
nursed and buried by their friends； without an example of
communicating it。 A vessel going from the infected quarter； and
carrying its atmosphere in its hold into another State； has given the
disease to every person who there entered her。 These have died in
the arms of their families without a single communication of the
disease。 It is certainly； therefore； an epidemic； not a contagious
disease； and calls on the chemists for some mode of purifying the
vessel by a decomposition of its atmosphere； if ventilation be found
insufficient。 In the long scale of bilious fevers； graduated by many
shades； this is probably the last and most mortal term。 It seizes
the native of the place equally with strangers。 It has not been long
known in any part of the United States。 The shade next above it；
called the stranger's fever； has been coeval with the settlement of
the larger cities in the southern parts； to wit； Norfolk； Charleston；
New Orleans。 Strangers going to these places in the months of July；
August or September； find this fever as mortal as the genuine yellow
fever。 But it rarely attacks those who have resided in them some
time。 Since we have known that kind of yellow fever which is no
respecter of persons； its name has been extended to the stranger's
fever； and every species of bilious fever which produces a black
vomit； that is to say； a discharge of very dark bile。 Hence we hear
of yellow fever on the Alleganey mountains； in Kentucky； &c。 This is
a matter of definition only： but it leads into error those who do not
know how loosely and how interestedly some physicians think and
speak。 So far as we have yet seen； I think we are correct insaying；
that the yellow fever which seizes on all indiscriminately； is an
ultimate degree of bilious fever never known in the United States
till lately； nor farther south； as yet； than Alexandria； and that
what they have recently called the yellow fever in New Orleans；
Charleston and Norfolk； is what has always been known in those places
as confined chiefly to strangers； and nearly as mortal _to them_； as
the other is to _all_ its subjects。 But both grades are local： the
stranger's fever less so； as it sometimes extends a little into the
neighborhood； but the yellow fever rigorously so； confined within
narrow and well defined limits； and not communicable out of those
limits。 Such a constitution of atmosphere being requisite to
originate this disease as is generated only in low； close； and
ill…cleansed parts of a town； I have supposed it practicable to
prevent its generation by building our cities on a more open plan。
Take； for instance； the chequer board for a plan。 Let the black
squares only be building squares； and the white ones be left open； in
turf and trees。 Every square of houses will be surrounded by four
open squares； and every house will front an open square。 The
atmosphere of such a town would be like that of the country；
insusceptible of the miasmata which produce yellow fever。 I have
accordingly proposed that the enlargements of the city of New
Orleans； which must immediately take place； shall be on this plan。
But it is only in case of enlargements to be made； or of cities to be
built； that this means of prevention can be employed。
The _genus irritabile vatum_ could not let the author of the
Ruins publish a new work； without seeking in it the means of
discrediting that puzzling composition。 Some one of those holy
calumniators has selected from your new work every scrap of a
sentence； which； detached from its context； could displease an
American reader。 A cento has been made of these； which has run
through a particular description of newspapers； and excited a
disapprobation even in friendly minds； which nothing but the reading
of the book will cure。 But time and truth will at length correct
error。
Our countrymen are so much occupied in the busy scenes of life；
that they have little time to write or invent。 A good invention
here； therefore； is such a rarity as it is lawful to offer to the
acceptance of a friend。 A Mr。 Hawkins of Frankford； near
Philadelphia； has invented a machine which he calls a polygraph； and
which carries two； three； or four pens。 That of two pens； with which
I am now writing； is best； and is so perfect that I have laid aside
the copying…press； for a twelve month past； and write always with the
polygraph。 I have directed one to be made； of which I ask your
acceptance。 By what conveyance I shall send it while Havre is
blockaded； I do not yet know。 I think you will be pleased with it；
and will use it habitually as I do； because it requires only that
degree of mechanical attention which I know you to possess。 I am
glad to hear that M。 Cabanis is engaged in writing on the reformation
of medicine。 It needs the hand of a reformer； and cannot be in
better hands than his。 Will you permit my rekspects to him and the
Abbe de la Roche to find a place here。
A word now on our political state。 The two parties which
prevailed with so much violence when you were here； are almost wholly
melted into one。 At the late Presidential election I have received
one hundred and sixty…two votes against fourteen only。 Connecticut
is still federal by a small majority； and Delaware on a poise； as she
has been since 1775； and will be till Anglomany with her yields to
Americanism。 Connecticut will be with us in a short time。 Though
the people in mass have joined us； their leaders had committed
themselves too far to retract。 Pride keeps them hostile； they brood
over their angry passions； and give them vent in the newspapers which
they maintain。 They still make as much noise as if they were the
whole nation。 Unfortunately； these being the mercantile papers；
published chiefly in the sea ports； are the only ones which find
their way to Europe； and make very false impressions there。 I am
happy to hear that the late derangement of your health is going
off；and that you are re…established。 I sincerely pray for the
continuance of that blessing； and with my affectionate salutations；
tender you assurances of great respect and attachment。
P。 S。 The sheets which you receive are those of the copying pen
of the polygraph； not of the one with which I have written。
NEWS OF CAPTAIN LEWIS
_To C。 F。 de C。 Volney_
_Washington； Feb。 11； 1806_
DEAR SIR； Since mine of Feb。 18 of the last year； I have
received yours of July 2。 I have been constantly looking out for an
opportunity of sending your Polygraph； but the blockade of Havre has
cut off that resource； and I have feared to send it to a port from
which there would be only land carriage。 A safe conveyance now
offering to Nantes； & under the particular care of Mr。 Skipwith； who
is returning to France； he will take care of it from Nantes by land
if an easy carriage is found； or if not； then by the canal of Briare。
Another year's constant use of a similar one attaches me more and
more to it as a most valuable convenience。 I send you also a
pamphlet published here against the English doctrine which denies to
neutrals a trade in war not open to them in peace in which you will
find it pulverized by a logic not to be controverted。
Our last news of Captn Lewis was that he had reached the upper
part of the Missouri； & had taken horses to cross the Highlands to
the Columbia river。 He passed the last winter among the Manians 1610
miles above the mouth of the river。 So far he had delineated it with
as great accuracy as will probably be ever applied to it； as his
courses & distances by mensuration were corrected by almost daily
observations of latitude and longitude。 With his map he sent us
specimens or information of the following animals not before known to
the northern continent of America。 1。 The horns of what is perhaps a
species of Ovis Ammon。 2。 A new variety of the deer having a black
tail。 3。 An antelope。 4。 The badger； not before known out of
Europe。 5。 A new species of marmotte。 6。 A white weasel。 7。 The
magpie。 8。 The Prairie hen； said to resemble the Guinea hen
（peintade）。 9。 A prickly lizard。 To these are added a considerable
collection of minerals； not yet analyzed。 He wintered in Lat。 47
degrees 20' and found the maximum of cold 43 degrees below the zero
of Fahrenheit。 We expect he has reached the Pacific； and is now
wintering on the head of the Missouri； and will be here next autumn。
Having been disa