h harbour _Infection_, _Cotton_ in particular is the most dangerous,
and _Turky_ is almost a perpetual _Seminary_ of the _Plague_; I cannot
but think it highly reasonable, that whatever _Cotton_ is imported from
that part of the World, should at all Times be kept in _Quarantaine_:
Because it may have imbibed _Infection_ at the Time of its packing up,
notwithstanding no Mischief has been felt from it by the Ship's Company.
And the length of Time from its being pack'd up to its Arrival here, is
no certain Security that it is cleared from the _Infection_. At least,
it is found, that the Time employed by Ships in passing between _Turky_
and _Marseilles_, is not long enough for Goods to lose their
_Infection_: as appears not only from the late Instance, but also from
an Observation made in a certain _Memorial_, drawn up by the Deputy of
Trade at _Marseilles_[72]. _Marseilles_ is the only Port in _France_
allowed to receive Goods from the _Levant_, on Account of its singular
Convenience for _Quarantaines_, by Reason of several small _Islands_
situate about it. The _Ports_ of _France_ in the _Western Ocean_ having
had a Desire to be allowed the same Liberty, their Deputies presented,
in the Year 1701, a _Memorial_ to the _Royal Council of Trade_,
containing several Reasons for their Pretensions. To this the _Deputy_
at _Marseilles_ makes Reply in the _Memorial_ I am speaking of, in which
this Advantage of _Marseilles_ for _Quarantaines_ above the other
Ports, is much insisted upon: and, to evince the Importance thereof, it
is declared in express Words, that many Times Persons have been found in
that Place to die of the _Plague_ in their Attendance upon Goods under
_Quarantaine_. Now if it be certain, that Goods have retained Infection
during their Passage from _Turkey_ to _Marseilles_; it is too hardy a
Presumption to be admitted in an Affair so important as this, that they
must necessarily lose all Contagion in the Time of their coming to us,
because the Voyage is something longer. But besides this, there are some
few Instances of Goods, that have retained their Infection many Years.
In particular, _Alex. Benedictus_ gives a very distinct Relation of a
Feather Bed, that was laid by seven Years on Suspicion of its being
infected, which produced mischievous Effects at the End of that great
Length of Time[73]. And Sir _Theodore Mayerne_ relates, that some
Clothes fouled with Blood and Matter from _Plague_ Sores being lodged
betwee