In countries where the plague generally prevails, and the Europeans are _united_ in the opinion that it is necessary to separate themselves from the natives, the method of shutting up is attended with the most salutary effects, as has been attested by almost every traveller who has resided there for any time. Accidents among them are very rare, though not altogether without example. At Alexandria in Egypt, M. Volney tells us, that as soon as the plague makes its appearance the European merchants shut themselves up in their _khans_ and have no communication with the rest of the city. Their provisions are deposited at the gate of the khan, and received there by the porter, who takes them up with iron tongs, and plunges them into a barrel of water provided for the purpose. If it is necessary to speak to any one, they keep at such a distance as to prevent touching with their clothes, or breathing on one another; by which means they preserve themselves from this dreadful calamity, unless by some accidental neglect of these precautions. Some years ago a cat, which passed by one of the terraces into the houses of the French merchants at Cairo, conveyed the plague to two of them, one of whom died. This state of imprisonment continues for three or four months, during which time they have no other amusement than walking in the evening on the terraces, or playing at cards. The doctrine of predestination, and still more the barbarism of the government, have hitherto prevented the Turks from attempting to guard against this destructive disease: the success, however, of the precautions taken by the French, has of late begun to make some impression upon many of them. The Christians of the country who traffic with the French merchants, would shut themselves up like them; but this cannot be done without permission from the Porte. A lazaretto was some years ago established at Tunis; but the Turkish police is every where so wretched, that little can be hoped for from those establishments, notwithstanding their extreme importance to commerce and the safety to the Mediterranean states. The very last year afforded a proof of this; for as violent a plague as ever was known broke out there. It was brought by vessels coming from Constantinople, the masters of which corrupted the guards, and came into port without performing quarantine. Water carriers have never been attacked by it.