The Inquiry turns particularly upon, Whence the Vessel comes, and in what Length of Time; If from a healthy or suspected Part; What Kind of a Voyage she has had; What Places touched at; and Whether in them he had been admitted to Communication or not; If he met any Ships at Sea, and from whence, and Whether he had any Communication with them. The Number is demanded of his Crew and Passengers; If they have been always well in the Voyage, or if any of them are missing; What, and how much, is the Cargo he brings; If all from one Place, or from many; and lastly, Whether, in what regards the Health, he had observed in any Parts any _Risings_; and intimating to him, that he must exhibit all the Papers and Letters he has. The first of these to be examined on the Spot, are the Patents or Bills of Health, in order to compare with them the Facts delivered in the Examination, and particularly the Number of Persons who are on Board the Vessel. This is looked upon to be so essentially requisite, and of such Consequence, that if any Vessel should arrive without it, though it should be come from a Place absolutely free, and even in the Neighbourhood, it would either not be admitted at all, or not have any Communication granted it, unless after a most rigorous Quarantine. If by chance the Patents should be defective, and should denote a greater or less Number of Persons than are taken down in the Examination, the Captain must prove, in the clearest Manner, either the Flight or Death, and particularly the Condition of that Person who is wanting; and in the same Manner he is to produce particular Patents; and with Evidence upon Examination, and by other Proofs of the same Nature, he is to make it appear from what Place he took up the Person who happens to be one more than the Number set forth in the said Patents; since, in the first Case, there may remain a Doubt, that the Deficiency may have been owing to Death by Infection, or to Flight to Parts not named; and in the second Case, it is to be considered, that it is possible, that the Person, exceeding the Number mentioned in the Patent, may have been received from some suspected Vessel, or from some infected Place. Besides these Patents, the Captain is also to give a distinct Account of all his Cargo, both of its Quality and Quantity; which is called giving a _Manifest_; from whence is discovered, whether any of the Merchandizes may have been brought from suspected Countries; in which Case the Captain must prove, that in that Place they had undergone the necessary Purification. By Means of the Manifest, Lights also are gathered as to what Kind of Quarantine may be proper for infectious Ladings of different Kinds, and Orders given for taking out such as are of a Nature not to give Suspicion.