I grant this Authority is very cogent; yet, on the other hand, if we either consider the Title Page of the Book, the great Accurateness and Veracity of Dr. _Mead_, as well as his signal _Humility_, I must crave leave to dissent, at this time, from the Reports of these Men, tho’ they carry his daily and hourly Orders: for how do such Reports sute all those his known good Qualities, the last more especially. Can any Man think it consistent with his singular Humility, to teach the Secretary of State, what has been practised in our own and other Countries for some hundred of Years: _Quarantines and Pest-Houses_, or if the Doctor pleases, _Lazarettoes_, are not unknown to English Lawyers, nor English Ministers. And therefore I think it much the fairest Course, to consider the Discourse well, because it is short, and from thence to draw the Sense of its Author. To do all imaginable Right to Dr. _Mead_, we will begin with the Title-Page, that nothing material may seem to be neglected. There we find it is to be a Discourse concerning _Pestilential_ Contagion, and Methods to prevent it. Turning next to the Dedication, he tells his Patron that he rather chuses to _put down the principal Heads of Caution, than a Set of Directions in Form_. This Head he seems to suggest chiefly to consist in performing Quarantines, and other things that may be collected from History. The next (Head I suppose) is concerning the _suppressing Infection here_; which he tells us is _very different from the Methods taken in former times among us, and from what they commonly do abroad; but_ (as he very modestly perswades himself) _will be found agreeable to Reason_. This Account differs very much from the Rumours and Opinions now prevailing in the World; for we are to be entertain’d with a preventing Method, as far as Physick and Politicks extend, and on that Account cannot fail to be very new when finished; because all former Accounts are very defective, the silent Attacks of the Pestilence having been hitherto undiscover’d by all former Physicians. And therefore is there any Person so hard-hearted, or so stupid, that does not rejoyce and prick up his Ears at those ravishing Expressions, who does not desire to be instructed in this Method of preventing this unmerciful Enemy to Mankind. Come on then, and listen to the Celebrated Dr. _Mead_, who brings Death to Pestilential Contagion; as he is said to have promis’d while he was composing this Work. But we will next follow Dr. _Mead_ into the Book it self, where we find that he thinks it _necessary to premise somewhat in general concerning Contagion, and the Manner by which it acts_. But alas! we are to meet with nothing but Disappointments, so soon are we fallen from all our Hopes and Expectations: Nothing to be found either of _Contagion_, or the manner of its acting, tho’ the Title of the Book promises it, and the first entring upon the Discourse declares it to be necessary; This