45. Captain Thomson of the Success Frigate, in his Letter to me dated London, Sept. 25, 1749, says, “That during the Ventilation, the Lower-deck Hatches were commonly kept close shut; by which means the Air was drawn down into the Hold, from between Decks, thro’ the Seams of the Ceiling, along the Timbers of the Ship; by which means we found the foul Air soon drawn off from between Decks. Our Rule for ventilating was for half an Hour every four Hours; but when the Ventilating was sometimes neglected for eight Hours together, then we could perceive, especially in hot Weather, a very sensible Difference by that short Neglect of it; for it would then take a longer Time to draw off the foul Air. Our general Rule was, to work the Ventilators till we found the Air from them sweet. We all agreed that they were of great Service; the Men being so sensible of the Benefit of them, that they required no driving to work that which they received so much Benefit by. We found this good Effect from Ventilation, that tho’ there were near 200 Men on board, for almost a Year, yet I landed them all well in Georgia, notwithstanding they were pressed Men, and delivered me out of Goals, with Distempers upon them. This is what I believe but few Transports, or any other Ships, can brag of; nor did I ever meet the like Good-luck before; which, next to Providence, I impute to the Benefit received by the Ventilators. It is to be remarked, that we who lay wind-bound, for four Months, with our Expedition Fleet, which soon after invaded France, were very healthy all the time, when they were very sickly in all the Ships of that Expedition.
46. “This certainly occasioned all kind of Grain Provisions to keep better and longer from Weevels, than otherwise they would have done; and other Kinds of Provisions received Benefit from the Coolness and Freshness in the Air of the Ship, which was caused by Ventilation.”
47. Mr. Cramond also informs me, that he found the good Effect of Ventilators on board a Slave-Ship of his with 392 Slaves, twelve of which were taken on board, just before they sailed from Guinea, ill of a Flux, which twelve all died; but the rest, with all the Europeans in the Ship, arrived well at Buenos Ayres.
The following is a Letter to me from Captain ELLIS, viz.
“Sir,
48. “Could any thing increase the Pleasure I have in a literary Intercourse with you, it would be to find that it answered your End in promoting the public Good. The Vis-inertiæ of Mankind is not the only Difficulty you have had to encounter, but their Ignorance and Prejudices, which are almost insuperable. It is to your Perseverance and Resolution, that the little Progress you have made is due: Indeed I ought not to say little; for it is a great Step to have found the few that have Hearts good enough to relish your Plan, and Heads sufficiently clear to discern the most effectual Method of advancing it. It does Honour to those noble and other worthy Personages that join you in Acts of such extensive Humanity, as the Introduction of Ventilators to Hospitals, Prisons, Ships of War and Transport, &c. as they must necessarily render the Miseries of the first more supportable, and the close and constant Confinement of the others less prejudicial and fatal to their Health and Life. It is to be lamented that they are not more generally made use of; for, notwithstanding their Advantage is apparent and incontestable, it is scarce credible how few are to be found among the vast Number of Ships daily employed in carrying Passengers, Slaves, Cattle, and other perishable Commodities. Those of your Invention, which I had, were of singular Service to us; they kept the Inside of the Ship cool, sweet, dry, and healthy: The Number of Slaves I buried was only six, and not one white Man of our Crew, (which was thirty-four) during a Voyage of 15 Months; an Instance very uncommon. The 340 Negroes were very sensible of the Benefits of a constant Ventilation, and were always displeased when it was omitted: Even the Exercise had Advantages not to be despised among People so much confined. I must not, however, forget that Ventilation alone is insufficient to keep Disorders out of Ships; for often Infections are brought aboard by the Slaves, or others; and frequently Diseases are produced by feeding on bad or decayed Food, but oftener still by Insobriety; for I have ever remarked that the immoderate Use of spirituous Liquors in warm Climates, is more pernicious and fatal even than the Malignancy of the Air itself. In cold Countries too, where I have had Experience, those Sailors, or others, who accustomed themselves to hard drinking, especially of Drams, had the Scurvy in a terrible Degree; whereas those who were temperate or sober, either escaped it entirely, or had it but moderately. The Effects of Drunkenness was still more discernable among the Indians adjoining our Settlements in Hudson’s-Bay, who are a feeble, diminutive, chilly, indolent Set of People. On the contrary, those who come from the inland Parts (who are unused to drink Brandy) are brave, active, robust, and industrious. The same Difference is observable in the Africans, and perhaps among the Inhabitants of most other Nations, did we attend to it. It was to the unusual Sobriety of my Crew, that I ascribed, in some measure, their uncommon Healthiness; for Sailors breathe a purer Air, and enjoy more Exercise and Liberty, than Passengers or Slaves; wherefore their Ailments are owing to bad or disorderly Living, as well as to unwholsome Air.
“Could I but see the immoderate Use of spirituous Liquors less general, and the Benefits of Ventilators more known and experienced, I might then hope to see Mankind better and happier. I am,
“SIR,
“Your most obediens Servant,
HENRY ELLIS.”
Bristol, Dec.
26, 1753.
49. And, by the like good Conduct, in his next Voyage in the Year 1755, not one of 312 Slaves died; and all his 36 Sailors arrived alive and well at Bristol.