A.—2.

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a note from the German Ambassador with reference to the imposition of quarantine on arrivals from Hamburg. I shall be glad to receive at your earliest convenience an expression of the views of your Government on Count Hatzfeldt's communication. I have, &c, EIPON. Governor the Eight Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c.

Enclosure. Sic,— Foreign Office, 12th November, 1892. I am directed by the Earl of Eosebery to transmit herewith, for such action as the Marquis of Eipon may feel disposed to take in regard to the matter, a copy of a translation of a note from the German x\mbassador at this Court, representing that vessels arriving at Gibraltar, Malta, and Australia, from Hamburg, may be admitted to pratique on adducing evidence that they have undergone five days' quarantine and disinfection before leaving that port. I am to add in connection with this suggestion that, according to a telegram dated the Ist November, from Her Majesty's Acting Consul-General at Hamburg, there were no cases of cholera in that city on the 31st ultimo; and on the 2nd instant he telegraphed that the daily bulletins had been suspended. I am, &c, The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office. E. Geey.

Bub-enclosure. My Lobd, — German Embassy, London, 4th November, 1892. From the Proclamation issued by the Deputation for Commerce and Navigation at Hamburg on the 4th ultimo, a copy of which is enclosed, your Lordship will see that the arrangements made by the Imperial Commissioner for the Public Health in the Elbe Basin, in order to combat the danger of cholera, offers facilities to ships sailing from Hamburg to undergo in the port itself medical inspection and disinfection, and afterwards to proceed to the roadstead of Brunshausen, and perform a medical quarantine of observation of five days before leaving the Elbe. There should be no doubt that these arrangements, if made use of, would form the best safeguard against spreading the infection from Hamburg by sea, and that, consequently, it would cease to be necessary for foreign countries to make ships, bearing proofs that they have undergone five days' observation, besides inspection and disinfection, go through the usual quarantine at their port besides. This would be the case all the more if, according to the Hamburg proposal, the medical inspection had taken place in the presence of a consular officer belonging to the country in which the vessel's port of destination was situated. The Belgian Government have so far recognised these representations that, since the 22nd ultimo, arrivals from Hamburg at Antwerp have only been subjected to a medical visit. In consideration of the above, I am directed by my Government to express the request that a qualified free pratique may also be extended to Hamburg arrivals, who have fulfilled the above conditions, at Gibraltar, Valetta, and the ports of the Australian Colonies. My Government hope all the more to obtain the fulfilment of their wish, that since the 13th in the Port of Hamburg, and since the 23rd in the town, there have been no fresh cases of cholera. I venture to point out that the Imperial Government would be glad to obtain an answer as soon as possible. I have, &c, The Earl of Kosebery, Ac. . V. Hatzpeldt. Peoclamatiox Concbening Optional Medical Inspection of Ships. In pursuance of the provisions contained in section 3 of the Proclamations issued by the Senates of September 26th, 1892, relative to the medical superintendence of the Elbe navigation, and of September 28th, 1892, relative to the sanitary control of ships sailing from Hamburg for the German Protectorates in Africa, the undersigned Deputation brings the following to the public notice :— 1. Masters and shipowners of the vessels lying at this port, who may wish to have their ships medically examined by the Head of the Controlling Station No. 11, of the Imperial Commission for the Public Health in the Elbe Basin, must address their application for examination and disinfection in writing to Dr. Nocht, Naval Staff Physician and Head of Controlling Station No. 11, Wiezel's Hotel, Hamburg, at least twenty-four hours before the departure of the vessel. 2. In the application, the size of the vessel, according to cubic metres of net tonnage-capacity, and her length, must be stated, as well as the number of w T ater-tight bulk-heads, the number of the crew and of the passengers, if any, and whether the vessel is a steamer or sailing-vessel. 3. The master will have to provide for the transport of the doctor and his assistants, and of the materials for disinfecting, on board his vessel, according to instructions given to him by the Head of the Controlling Station. Any assistance necessary in the disinfection will have to be provided by the vessel. 4. At the time fixed for the examination and disinfection, the master, all the crew mentioned in the ship's articles, and the passengers who intend to start with the vessel, must be on board, where the medical inspection of the crew and passengers will take place. After the examination no person wishing to start by that vessel will be allowed to quit her while she is in this harbour or in the Elbe. 5. The doctor of the Controlling Station will decide according to each separate case how extensive the disinfection on board is to be, and how it is to be performed ; in particular, whether only the bilge-water, or also the cabins, or even the personal effects, shall be disinfected.