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A SHORT 
 ACCOUNT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MALIGNANT FEVER, 
 
 LATELY PREVALENT IN 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 WITH A STATEMENT OF THE 
 
 PROCEEDINGS 
 
 THAT TOOK PLACE ON THE SUBJECT IN DIFFERENT 
 PARTS OF THE 
 
 UNITED STATES. 
 
 BY MATHEW CAREY. 
 
 SECOND EDITION. 
 
 — J 4 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 PRINTED BY THE AUTHOR* 
 
 Nwember 23, 1793, 
 
£ > 
 
 3L7 5SA 
 
 To iht American Philofophical Sccicty. 
 
 G E N T L £ M E N, 
 
 WITH due deference, I pre- 
 fume to dedicate to you 
 the following pages, in which I 
 have endeavoured to give as faith- 
 ful an account as poffible, of the 
 dreadful calamity we havejuft ex- 
 perienced. 
 
 I am, gentlemen, 
 
 With efteem, 
 
 Your obedt. humble fervanr, 
 
 MATHEW CAREY. 
 
 345757 
 
Number XLVII. 
 
 Diftrict of Pennfylvania, to wit — 
 
 (L. S.) T)E it remembered, that on the four- 
 jl3 teenth day of November, in the eigh- 
 teenth year of the independence of the united Jiates 
 of America, Mathew Carey, of the faid dijlricl, 
 hath depofited in this office, the title of a book, the 
 right whereof he claims as author, in the words fol- 
 lowing, to wit : 
 
 " A short account of the malignant fever lately 
 Ci prevalent in Philadelphia, with a Jlatement of the 
 " proceedings that took place on the fubjeft in dif 
 " ferent parts of the united Jiates. By Mathew 
 " Carey." In conformity to the acl of the congrefs of 
 the united Jiates, intitided, " An acl for the encou- 
 " ragement of learning ; by fe curing the copies of 
 " maps, charts, and books, to the authors and pro- 
 " prietors of fuch copies, during the times therein 
 " mentioned." 
 
 SAMUEL CALDWELL, Clerk of 
 
 the dijtricl of Pennfylvania. 
 
WE FLOWERS COa:,rn^ 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Philadelphia, Nov. 14, 1793. 
 
 THE favourable reception given to the imper- 
 fect account of the fever which I lately pub- 
 limed, and the particular defire of fome of my 
 friends, have induced me to undertake a more 
 fatisfactory hiftory of it, in order to collecr, 
 together, while facts are recent, as many of the 
 moft interefting occurrences as I could, for the 
 information of the public. 
 
 I have not attempted any embelltfhment or 
 ornament of ftile ; but have alone aimed at tel- 
 ling plain truths in plain language. I have taken 
 every precaution to arrive at the truth ; and 
 hope the errors in the account, will not be found 
 numerous. 
 
 For the defultory plan of fome part of the 
 
 345757 
 
( vi ) 
 
 pamphlet, I have to offer the following apolo- 
 gy ; many of the circumftances and reflexions 
 towards the conclufion, which would have come 
 with more propriety in the beginning, did not 
 occur, until fome of the firft half meets were 
 not only written, but printed. I had no choice, 
 therefore, but either to omit them, or place 
 them fomewhat out of order. I preferred the 
 latter. 
 
 Moft of the facts mentioned have fallen un- 
 der my own obfervation. Thofe of a different 
 delcription I have been affiduous to collect from 
 every perfon of credibility, poffeffed of infor- 
 mation. 
 
 Defirous of having this account correct and 
 complete, I have printed off but a fmall num- 
 ber of copies of the prefent edition : and fhall 
 efteem myfelf moft particularly obliged to any 
 perfon who will be fo kind to point out errors, 
 to be corrected in, or fuggeft facts, to be added 
 to, a new edition, which I propofe to put to prefs 
 very foon, and which will, I hope, be found 
 ftill more ample than the prefent one. 
 
{ vii ) 
 
 November 23, 1793. 
 
 When I published the firft edition of this pam- 
 phlet, it was my intention to have greatly en- 
 larged it for a fecond one, and to have new 
 modelled it, to as to preferve a connexion be- 
 tween its feveral parts, in whkh it is extremely 
 deficient. But its lpeedy fale, and the demand 
 for more copies, renders it impofiible for me to 
 do more, atprefent, than make fuch corrections 
 as the kindnefs of a few friends has led them to 
 point out. 
 
 In giving an account of the proceedings that 
 took place on the fubject. throughout the union, 
 I have fupprefled many a harm, unkind com- 
 ment, which was forcing itfelf on me ; From 
 the reflexion, that in fimilar circumftances we 
 might perhaps have been equally fevere. And 
 to perpetuate animofities is performing a very 
 unfriendly office. They are ealily generated ; 
 but their extinction is a work of time and diffi- 
 culty. Let us, therefore, (efpecially when we 
 ;i hold the mirror up to nature" at home,) not 
 •only forgive, but even forget, if poflible, all the 
 unpleafant treatment our citizens have experi- 
 enced. 
 
C viii ) 
 
 I have heard more than one perfon object 
 to the account of the mocking circumftances 
 that occurred in Philadelphia, as pourtraying 
 the manners of the people in an unfavourable 
 light. If that be the cafe, the fault is not mine. 
 I am confcious I have not exaggerated the mat- 
 ter. But I do not conceive it can have that effect ; 
 for it would be as unjuft and injudicious to draw 
 the character of Philadelphia from the conduct 
 of a period of horror and affright, when all the 
 " mild charities of focial life" were fuppreued by 
 regard for fetf — as to ftamp eternal infamy on a 
 nation for the atrocities perpetrated in times of 
 civil broils, when all the " angry paflions" are 
 roufed into dreadful and ferocious activity. 
 
A SHORT A C C O U N T, &c. 
 
 BEFORE I enter on the confideration of this 
 diforder, it may not be improper to offer 
 a few introductory remarks on the fituation of 
 Philadelphia previous to its commencement, 
 which will reflect light on fome of the circum- 
 ftances mentioned in the courfe of the narra- 
 tive. 
 
 The manufactures, trade, and commerce of 
 Philadelphia had, for a confiderable time, been 
 improving and extending with great rapidity. 
 From the period of the adoption of the federal 
 government, at which time we were at the low- 
 eft ebb of diftrefs, our iituation had progref- 
 fively become more and more profperqus. Con- 
 fidence, formerly banifhed, was univerfally. re- 
 itored. Property of every kind, rofe to, and in 
 
 B 
 
( io ) 
 
 fome inftances beyond, its real value : and a 
 few revolving years exhibited the interefting 
 fpectacle of a young country, with a new form 
 of government, emerging from a flat e approach- 
 ing very near to anarchy, and acquiring all the 
 liability and nerve of the befl-toned and oldeft 
 nations. 
 
 In this profperity, which revived the hopes of 
 four millions of people, Philadelphia participa- 
 ted in an eminent degree. New houfes, in al- 
 mofl every ftreet, built in a very neat, elegant 
 flile, adorned, at the fame time that they en- 
 larged the city. Its population was extending 
 feft. Houfe rent had rifen to a moll extravagant 
 height ; it was in many cafes double, and in 
 fome treble what it had been a year or two be- 
 fore ; and, as is generally the cafe, when a city 
 is thriving, it went far beyond the real increafe 
 of trade. The number of applicants for houfes, 
 exceeding the number of houfes to be let, one 
 bid over another; and affairs were in fuch a fitua- 
 tion, that many people, though they had a tole- 
 rable run of bufmefs, could hardly do more than 
 clear their rents, and were, literally, toiling for 
 
( » ) 
 
 their landlords alone*. Luxury, theufual, and 
 perhaps inevitable concomitant of profperity, 
 was gaining ground in a manner very alarming 
 to thofe who confidered how far the virtue, the 
 liberty, and the happinefs of a nation depend on 
 their temperance and fobcr manners. Men had 
 been for fome time in the habit of regulating 
 their expenfes by profpects formed in fanguine 
 hours, when every probability was caught at as 
 a certainty, not by their actual profits, or in- 
 come. The number of coaches, coachees, chairs, 
 &c. lately fet up by men in the middle rank of 
 life, is hardly credible. And although there had 
 been a very great increafc of hackney chairs, yet 
 it was hardly ever pofliblc to procure one on a 
 Sunday, unlefs it was engaged two or three 
 days before. Extravagance, in various fhapes, 
 was gradually eradicating the plain and whole- 
 fome habits of the city. And although it were 
 prefumption to attempt to fcan the decrees of 
 heaven, yet few, I believe, will pretend to d : 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 * The diftreis arifing from this fource, was perhaps the 
 only exception to the general obfeVvation of the flourifti- 
 iug fituation of Philadelphia. 
 
( M ) 
 
 th.it fomething was wanting to humble the 
 pride of a city, which was running on in full ca- 
 reer, to the goal of prodigality and diffipation. 
 
 However, from November 1792, to the end 
 of laft June, the difficulties of Philadelphia were 
 extreme. The eftablifhment of the bank of 
 Pennsylvania, in embryo for the molt part of that 
 time, had arretted in the two other banks fuch 
 a quantity of the circulating fpecie, as embaraf- 
 fed almoft every kind of bufinefs ; to this was 
 added the diftrefs ariiing from the very nume- 
 rous failures in England, which had extremely 
 harraffed feveral of our capital merchants. Dur- 
 iug this period, many men experienced as great 
 difficulties as were ever known in this city§. 
 But the opening, in July, of the bank of Penn- 
 fylvania, conducted on the moft liberal princi- 
 ples, placed bufinefs on its former favourable 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 ' It is with great pleafure, I embrace this opportunity 
 of declaring, that the very liberal conduct of the bank 
 of the united ftates, at this trying feafbn, was the means 
 of raving many a deferving and indulhious man froa) 
 ruin. 
 
( '3 ) 
 
 footing. Every man looked forward to this fall 
 as likely to produce a vaft extenfion of trade, 
 But how fleeting are all humnn views ! how un- 
 certain all plans founded on earthly appearan- 
 ces ! All thefe flattering profpects vanifhed like 
 the bafelefs fabric of a vilion. 
 
 In July, arrived the unfortunate fugitives 
 from Cape Francois. And on this occafion, the 
 liberality of Philadelphia was difplayed in a moft 
 refpecbibie point of light. Nearly 12,000 dol- 
 lars were in a few days collected for their relief. 
 Little, alas! did many of the contributors, then 
 in eafy circumftances, imagine, that a few weeks 
 would leave their wives and children dependent 
 on public charity, as has fince unfortunate- 
 ly happened. An awful inftance of the rapid 
 and warning viciflitudes of affairs on this tran- 
 fitory ftage, 
 
 At this time, the deftroying fcourge crept in 
 among us, and nipped in the bud the faired: 
 bloffoms that imagination could form. And, 
 ©h ! what a dreadful contraft has fince taken 
 place ! Many of our firft commercial houfes are 
 duTolved, by the death of the parlies, 
 
( h ) 
 
 and their affairs are neceflarily left in fo derang- 
 ed a ftate that the lofies and diftrefTes which 
 tfraft take place, are beyond eftimation. The 
 protefts of notes for a few weeks paft, have 
 been beyond all former example ; for a great pro- 
 portion of the principal merchants having left 
 the city, and been totally unable, from the ftag- 
 nation of bufmefs, and diverhon of all their ex- 
 pected refourccs, to make any provilion for pay- 
 ment, moft of their notes have been protefted, 
 as they became due. The bank of the united 
 ftates, on the 1 5th of October, paffed a rcfolve, 
 empowering their cafliier to renew all difcount- 
 ed notes, when the fame drawers and indorfers 
 were offered, and declaring that no notes fhould 
 be protefted, when the indorfers bound them- 
 felves in writing, to be accountable in the fame 
 manner as in cafes of proteit. 
 
 Befides what we have already fuffered, we 
 are menaced with another evil, which proba- 
 bly at any other period, would not very mate- 
 rially injure the city ; but if it comes in addition 
 to our prefent diftrefs, will operate againft us a 
 verv Ions: time. I mean the removal of consrefs. 
 The meeting of this bodv is fixed for the firft 
 
( IJ ) 
 
 Monday in December ; and it is not improba- 
 ble that attempts will be made to prevent their 
 next feffion being held here. Appeals will be 
 made to their fears. Already the New York pa^ 
 pers announce, " that as congrefs cannot meet, 
 " agreeably to their adjournment, with any 
 " probability of fafety in Philadelphia, under its 
 " prefent calamitous vilitation, there can be no 
 " doubt of their adjourning to lit in New York, 
 " where the air is perfectly falubrious, the 
 " markets plentiful, and every conveniency 
 " ready for their accommodation*.'* If, at the 
 time of their meeting, any trace of the diforder 
 remains, the Philadelphians will not urge their 
 flay here. But if it be, as there is every 
 probability, abfolutely extinguifhed, we place 
 too much reliance on their juftice to fufpecl that 
 they will add to the ftroke we have felt. 
 
 For thefe prefatory obfervations I hope I mail 
 be pardoned. I now proceed to the melancholy 
 fubjecl I have undertaken. 
 
 NOTE. 
 * Columbian Gazetteer ; Odober 17, 179^- 
 
I « ) 
 
 The malignant fever, which has committed 
 fuch ravages in Philadelphia, made its appear- 
 ance here, about the end of July. Dr. Hodge's 
 Child, probably the firft victim, was taken ill on 
 the 26th or 27th of July, and died on the 6th or 
 7th of Auguft. A Mr. Moore*, in Mr. Denny's 
 lodging houfe, in Water ftreet, was feized on 
 Friday, the 2d of Auguft, and died on Sunday, 
 the fourth. Mrs. Parkinfon, who lodged in 
 the fame houfe, caught the diforder, on the 3d 
 of Auguft, and died on the 7th. 
 
 On the origin of the diforder, there prevails 
 a very great diverfity of opinion. Dr. Hutchin- 
 fon maintained that it was not imported, and 
 ftated, in a letter which he wrote on the fub- 
 je£t to Captain Falconer, the health officer of the 
 port of Philadelphia, that " the general opinion 
 " was, that the diforder originated fromfome 
 * damaged coffee, or other putrified vegeta- 
 " ble and animal matters.*' To this opinion, 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 * This man had been walking along the wharves, 
 where the coffee lay, and at which the Sans Culottes 
 was moored, in the morning ; and on his return home, 
 was To extremely ill, as to he obliged to go to bed, from 
 which he never role again. 
 
( '7 ) 
 
 though he did not give it abfolutely as his own, 
 he feemed ftrongly to incline ; and mentioned, 
 that at a wharf, a little above Arch-ftreet, 
 there was not only a quantity of damaged cof- 
 fee*, extremely ofFenfive, but alfo fome putrid 
 animal and vegetable fubftances. The doctor 
 refted his opinion, that the diforder was not 
 imported, on two circumftances, which prove 
 to be miftaken, viz. that no foreigners or failors 
 were infected on the 27th of Auguft, the time 
 of writing, and that it had not been found in 
 lodging houfes. This opinion was fo far from 
 being juft, that the fecond place in which it is 
 known to have made its appearance, was a lodg- 
 ing houfe, and fome of the earlieft patients 
 were French lads, 
 
 Dr. Rufh is of the fame opinion with dr. Hut- 
 chinfon, and fays he has in his poffeffion fufficient 
 documents to prove that the diforder is not an 
 imported one, but of native growth. As he has 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 * The ftench of this coffee was fo exceffively ofFenfive, 
 that! t-he people in the neighboarhood could hardly bear 
 to remam in the back part of their houfes. 
 
 G 
 
( i8 ) 
 
 not yet communicated his proofs to the public, 
 it is impoflible to decide on them. 
 
 That it is an imported diforder, "is the opini- 
 on ofalmoft all the inhabitants of Philadelphia. 
 However, there is much diverfity of fentiment, 
 as to the time and manner of its introduction. 
 I fhall ftate fome of the various reports current, 
 and let the reader judge for himfelf. 
 
 Some affert, that it was brought by II Cor- 
 ftante, capt. Fifcovifch, which arrived here from 
 Ragufa, after having touched at Mar tinico, about 
 the beginning of May. This is very unlikely, 
 as the lower part of the city, where me lay, was 
 free until the diforder fpread there from the up- 
 per part. 
 
 Another opinion is, that it was introduced by 
 the Mary, captain Rufh, which arrived here 
 on the 7th of Auguft, with fome of the French 
 emigrants from the cape. But the exiftence of 
 the diforder previous to her arrival, fets afide 
 this opinion at once. 
 
 Others again fay that a vefTel from Tobago, 
 
( >9 ) 
 
 which arrived here in July, loft nearly all her 
 hands with a malignant fever. In the river, me 
 mipped frefti hands, many of whom died. From 
 her they believe the diforder fpread. With re- 
 fpect to this report, I cannot aver any thing. 
 
 Another opinion is, that the privateer 
 Sans Culottes Marfeillois, with her prize, the 
 Flora, which arrived here the 2 2d of July, intro- 
 duced the fever. The privateer was in a foul, dirty 
 condition — her hold very fmall — and perhaps as 
 ill calculated for the accommodation of the great 
 number of people that were on board, as any 
 veffel that ever croffed the ocean. All her filth was 
 emptied at a wharf between Arch and Race-ftreet. 
 A dead body, covered with canvafs, lay on board 
 the Flora, for fome time, and was feen by mr. 
 Lemaigre and other gentlemen*. 
 
 Before I difmifs this part of the fubject, it 
 
 * Mr. Vanuxem*has publifhed a lengthy ftatement to 
 prove that the diforder was not brought here by either of 
 thefe veflels. Dr. Currie and Dr. Cathrall, who have ta- 
 ken great pains to elucidate the fubject, affert there were 
 fundry fick people on board, in oppofition to mr. Vanux- 
 em's declaration. To their refpeetive publications I beg 
 leave to refer the reader. 
 
( *• ; 
 
 may not be amifs to mention, that many believe 
 We have had two diforders in the city, introdu- 
 ced about the fame time, the yellow fever, from 
 the Weft Indies, and a fpecies of peftilence from 
 Marfeilles. 
 
 The mortality began about that part of Water- 
 ftreet, where the Mary, the Flora, and the Sans 
 Culottes lay. Forfome time it was entirely confin- 
 ed to that place and its neighbourhood. Almoft 
 every death which occurred in the early ftage of 
 the diforder could be without difficulty traced to 
 that ftreet. By degrees, it fpread, owing to 
 the want of precaution, and to communication 
 with the infected. It is faid, and generally be- 
 lieved, that the beds and bedding of thofe wh© 
 died of the diforder, at fir ft, before the alarm 
 went abroad, were fold, and fpread it among the 
 buyers. 
 
 Several perfons were fwept away before any 
 great alarm was excited. The firft deaths that 
 attracted public notice, and ftruck terror among 
 the citizens, were thofe of Peter Afton, On the 
 19th, of Mrs. Lemaigre, on the 20th, and of 
 Thomas Miller, on the 25th of Auguft. About 
 this time began the removals from the city, 
 which were for fome weeks fo general, that ak 
 
( «I ) 
 
 moft every hour in the day, carts, waggons, 
 coachees, and chairs, were to be feen tranfport- 
 ing families and furniture to the country in 
 every direction. Bufinefs then became extreme- 
 ly dull. Mechanics and artifts were unemployed ; 
 and the ftreets wore the appearance of gloom 
 and melancholy. 
 
 The firft official notice taken of the diforder, 
 was on the 2 2d of Auguft, on which day, the 
 mayor of Philadelphia, Matthew Clarkfon, efq. 
 wrote to the city commiffioners, and after ac- 
 quainting them with the ftate of the city, gave 
 them the moft peremptory orders, to have 
 the ftreets properly cleanfed and purified 
 by the fcavengers, and all the filth immedi- 
 ately hawled away. Thefe orders were re- 
 peated on the 27th, and fimilar ones given to 
 the clerks of the market. The 29th the gover- 
 nor of the ftate, in his addrefs to the legiflature, 
 acquainted them, that a contagious diforder 
 exifted in the city ; and that he had taken every 
 proper meafure to afcertain the origin, nature, 
 and extent of it. He likewife allured them that 
 the health * Officer and phyfician of the port, 
 would take every precaution to allay and re- 
 move the pubHc inquietude. 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 The 26th of the fame month, the college of 
 phyficians had a meeting, at which they took 
 into confideration the nature of the diforder, 
 and the means of prevention and of cure. 
 They publifhed an addrefs to the citizens, fign- 
 ed by the prelident and fecretary, recommend- 
 ing to avoid all unneceffary intercourfe with the 
 infected ; to place marks on the doors or win- 
 dows where they were ; to pay great attention 
 to cleanlinefs and airing the rooms of the lick ; 
 to provide a large and airy hofpital in the 
 neighbourhood of the city for their reception ; 
 to put a flop to the tolling of the bells ; to bury 
 thofe who died of the diforder in carriages and 
 2-3 privately as poflible ; to keep the ftreets and 
 wharves clean ; to avoid all fatigue of body and 
 mind, and {landing or fitting in the fun, or in 
 the open air ; to accommodate the drefs to the 
 weather, and to exceed rather in warm than 
 in cool clothing ; and to avoid intemperance, 
 but to ufe fermented liquors, fuch as wine, beer, 
 and cider, with moderation. They likewife de- 
 clared their opinion, that fires in the ftreets 
 were very dangerous, if not ineffectual means 
 of Hopping the progrefs of the fever, and that 
 they placed more dependence on the burning of 
 
( 2 3 ) 
 
 gunpowder. The benefits of vinegar and cam- 
 phor, they added, were confined chiefly to in- 
 fected rooms ; and they could not be too often 
 ufed on handkerchiefs, or in fmelling bottles, 
 by perfons who attended the lick. 
 
 In confequence of this addrefs, the bells were 
 immediately flopped from tolling. This was a 
 very expedient meafure ; as they had before 
 been kept pretty conftantly going the whole 
 day, fo as to terrify thofe in health, and drive 
 the lick, as far as the influence of imagination 
 could produce that effect, to their graves. An 
 idea had gone abroad, that the burning of fires 
 in the ftreets, would have a tendency to purify 
 the air, and arreft the progrefs of the diforder. 
 The people had, therefore, almoft every night 
 large fires lighted at the corners of the ftreets. 
 The 29th, the mayor publilhed a proclamation, 
 forbidding this practice. As a fubftitute, many 
 had recourfe to the firing of guns, which they 
 imagined was a certain preventative of the dif- 
 order. This was carried fo far, and attended 
 with fuch danger, that it was forbidden by the 
 mayor's order, of the 4th of September. 
 
 The number of the infected daily increafing. 
 
( 24 ) 
 
 and the cxiftence of an order againft the admit 
 lion of perfons labouring under infectious dif- 
 eafes into the alms houfe, precluding them from 
 a refuge there*, fome temporary place was re- 
 quifite, and three of the guardians of the poor 
 took poneffion of the circus, in which mr. Ric- 
 ketts had lately exhibited his equeftrian feats, 
 being the only place that could be procured for 
 the purpofe. Thither they fent feven perfons 
 afflicted with the malignant fever, where they 
 lay in the open air for fome time, and without 
 proper affiftancef. Of thefe, one crawled out on 
 the commons, where he died at a diftance from 
 any houfe. Two died in the circus, one of whom 
 was feafonably removed ; the other lay in a ft ate 
 of putrefaction for above forty eight hours,! 
 owing to the difficulty of procuring any perfon 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 * At this period, the number of paupers in the alms 
 houfe was between three and four hundred ; and the ma- 
 nagers, apprehensive of fpreading the diforder among 
 them, enforced the abovetuentioned order, which had 
 been entered into along time before. They, however, fup- 
 plied beds and bedding, and all the money in their trea- 
 fury, for their relief, out of that houfe. 
 
 f High wages were offered for nurfes for thcTe pcror 
 people — but none could be procured. 
 
( *5 ) 
 
 to remove him. On this occafion occurred an 
 inftance of courage in a fervant girl, of which 
 at that time few men were capable. The carter, 
 who finally undertook to remove the corpfe, 
 having no ailiftant, and being unable alone to 
 put it into the coffin, was on the point of relin- 
 quifhing his defign, and quitting the place. The 
 girl perceived him, and underftanding the dif- 
 ficulty he laboured under, offered her fervices, 
 provided he would not inform the family with 
 whom fhe lived. She accordingly helped him to 
 put the body into the coffin, which was by that 
 time crawling with maggots, and in fuch a ftate 
 as to be ready to fall in pieces. It gives me plea- 
 fure to add, that fhe ftill lives, notwithstanding 
 her very hazardous exploit. 
 
 The inhabitants of the neighbourhood of the 
 circus took the alarm, and threatened to burn or 
 deftroy it, unlefs the lick were removed ; and 
 it is believed they would have actually carried 
 their threats into execution, had a compliance 
 been delayed a day longer. 
 
 The 29th, feven of the guardians of the poor 
 had a conference with fome of the city magif* 
 D 
 
( 26 ) 
 
 trates on the fubjeft of the fever, at which it 
 was agreed to be indifpenfably neceffary that a 
 fuitable houfe, as an hofpital, fhould be provided 
 near the city for the reception of the infected 
 poor. 
 
 In confequence, the fame day, the guardians 
 of the poor refolved to ufe their utmoft exer- 
 tions to procure fuch a houfe out of town, and 
 as near thereto, as might be practicable, confift- 
 ent with the fafety of the inhabitants, for the 
 poor who were or might be afni&ed with conta- 
 gious diforders, and be deftitute of the means of 
 providing neceffary afliftance otherwife ; to en- 
 gage phylicians, nurfes, attendants, and all ne- 
 eeffaries for their relief in that houfe ; to ap- 
 point proper perfons in each diftrict, to enquire 
 after fuch poor as might be afflicted ; to adminif- 
 ter afliftance to them in their own houfes, and, 
 if neceffary, to remove them to the hofpital. 
 They referved to themfelves at the fame time, 
 the liberty of drawing on the mayor for fuch 
 fums as might be neceffary to carry their re- 
 folves into effect. 
 
 Conformably to thefe refolves, a committee of 
 
( $ ) 
 
 the guardians was appointed to make enquiry 
 for a fuitable place ; and after ftrict examina- 
 tion, they judged that a building adjacent to 
 Bulhhill, the manfion houfe of William Hamil- 
 ton, efq. was the beft calculated for the pur- 
 pofe. And that gentleman being abfent, and 
 having no agent in the city, and the great ur- 
 gency of the cafe admitting no delay, eight of 
 the guardians, accompanied by Hilary Baker, 
 efq. one of the city aldermen, with the concur- 
 rence of the governor, proceeded to the build- 
 ing they had fixed upon ; and meeting with 
 fome opposition from a tenant who occupied it, 
 they took poueflion of the manfion houfe itfelf, 
 tov/hich, on the fame evening, the 31ft of Au- 
 guft, they fent the four patients who remained 
 at the circus. 
 
 Shortly after this, the guardians of the poor 
 for the city, except James Wilfon, Jacob Tom- 
 kins, jun. and William Sanfom, ceafed the 
 performance of their duties, nearly the whole 
 of them having removed out of the city. Before 
 this virtual vacation of office, they paffed a re- 
 folve againft the admiffion of any paupers what- 
 ever into the alms-houfe during the prevalence 
 
( 2S ) 
 
 of the diforder. The caufe of entering into this 
 order, was, that fome paupers, who had been 
 admitted previous thereto, with a certificate 
 from the phyficians, of their being free from the 
 infection, had neverthelefs died of it. The whole 
 care of the poor of the city, the providing for 
 Bufh-hill, fending the fick there, and burying 
 the dead, devolved, therefore, on the above 
 three guardians. It muft give the reader great 
 forrow to hear, that two of them, James Wil- 
 fon, and Jacob Tomkins, excellent and indefati- 
 gable young men, whofe fervices were at that 
 time of very great importance, fell facrifices in 
 the caufe of humanity. The other, William San- 
 fom, was likewife, in the execution of his dange- 
 rous office, feized with the diforder, and on 
 the brink of the grave, but was fo fortunate as 
 to efcape. 
 
 The confirmation of the people of Philadel- 
 phia at this period was carried beyond all 
 bounds. Difmay and affright were vifible in 
 almoft every perfon's countenance. Moft peo- 
 ple who could by any means make it convenient, 
 fled from the city. Of thofe who remained, ma- 
 ny fliut themfelves up in their houfes, and were 
 
( 29 ) 
 
 afraid to walk the ftreets. The confumption of 
 gunpowder and nitre in houfes as a preventa- 
 tive, was inconceivable. Many were almoft in- 
 ceffantly purifying, fcowering, and whitewash- 
 ing their rooms. Thofe who ventured abroad, 
 had handkerchiefs or fponges impregnated with 
 vinegar or camphor, at their nofes, or elfe fmel- 
 ling bottles with the thieves' vinegar. Others 
 carried pieces of tar in their hands, or pockets, 
 or camphor bags tied round their necks. The 
 corpfes of the moft refpeclable citizens, even of 
 thofe who did not die of the epidemic, were 
 carried to the grave, on the fhafts of a chair, 
 the horfe driven by a negro, unattended by a 
 friend or relation, and without any fort of ce- 
 remony. People fhifted their courfe at the light 
 of a hearfe coming towards them. Many never 
 walked on the foot path, but went into the 
 middle of the ftreets, to avoid being infected in 
 palling by houfes wherein people had died. Ac- 
 quaintances and friends avoided each other in 
 the ftreets, and only fignified their regard by a 
 cold nod. The old cuftom of making hands fell 
 into fuch general difufe, that many were affront- 
 ed at even the offer of the hand. A perfon with 
 a crape, or any appearance of mourning, was 
 
( 3° ) 
 
 fhunned like a viper. And many valued them- 
 felves highly on the fkill and addrefs with which 
 they got to windward of every perfon they met. 
 Indeed it is not probable that London, at the 
 Jaft ftage of the plague, exhibited ftronger marks 
 of terror, than were to be feen in Philadelphia, 
 from the 26th or 27th of Auguft till pretty 
 late in September. When people fummoned up 
 refolution to walk abroad, and take the air, the 
 iick cart conveying patients to the hofpital, or 
 the hearfe carrying the dead to the grave, 
 which were travelling almoft the whole day, 
 foon damped their fpirits, and plunged them a- 
 gain into defpondency. 
 
 While affairs were in this deplorable ftate, 
 and people at the loweft ebb of defpair, we 
 cannot be aftonifhed at the frightful fcenes that 
 were acted, which feemed to indicate a total dif- 
 folution of the bonds of fociety in the neareft 
 and deareft connexions. Who, without horror, 
 can reflect on a hufband deferting his wife, 
 united to him perhaps for twenty years, in the 
 laft agony — a wife unfeelingly abandoning her 
 hufband on his death bed — parents forfaking 
 their only children— children ungratefully 
 
( 3' > 
 
 flying from their parents, and refigning 
 them to chance, often without an enquiry- 
 after their health or fafety — mailers hurrying 
 off their faithful fervants to Buftihill, even on 
 fufpicion of the fever, and that at a time, when, 
 like Tartarus, it was open to every vifitant, but 
 never returned any — fervants abandoning ten- 
 der and humane mafters, who only wanted a 
 little care to reftore them to health and ufeful- 
 nefs — who, I fay, can even now think of thefe 
 things without horror ? Yet fuch were daily 
 exhibited in every quarter of our city. 
 
 Thefe defertions produced fcenes of diftreis 
 and mifery, of which few parallels are to be met 
 with, and which nothing could palliate, but the 
 extraordinary public panic, and the great law 
 of felf prefer vation, the dominion of which ex- 
 tends over the whole animated world. Many- 
 men of affluent fortunes, who have given em- 
 ployment and fuftenance to hundreds every day 
 in the year, have been abandoned to the care of 
 a negro, after their wives, children, friends, 
 clerks, and fervants, had fled away, and left 
 them to their fate. In many cafes, no money 
 could procure proper attendance. With the 
 
( 3^ ) 
 
 poor, the cafe was, as might be expected, infi- 
 nitely worfe than with the rich. Many of thefc 
 have perifhed, without a human being to hand 
 them a drink of water, to adminifter medicines, 
 or to perform any charitable office for them. 
 Various inftances have occurred, of dead bodies 
 found lying in the ftreets, of perfons who had no 
 houfe or habitation, and could procure no fhelter. 
 
 A woman, whofe huiband had juft died of 
 the fever, was feized with the pains of labour, 
 and had nobody to aflift her, as the women in 
 the neighbourhood were afraid to go into the 
 houfe. She lay for a confiderable time in a de- 
 gree of anguifh that will not bear defcription. 
 At length, fhe ftruggled to reach the window, 
 and cried out for afliftance. Two men, pafling 
 by, went up ftairs ; but they came at too late 
 a ftage. — She was ftriving with death — and ac- 
 tually in a few minutes expired in their arms.- 
 
 A woman, whofe hufband and two children 
 
 lay dead in the room with her, was in the fame 
 
 iituation, without a midwife, or any other perfon 
 
 to aid her. Her cries at the window brought up 
 
 one of the carters employed by the committee 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 for the relief of the fick. With his afliftance, 
 Ihe was delivered of a child, which died in a few 
 minutes, as did the mother, who was utterly 
 exhausted by her labour, by the diforder, and 
 by the dreadful fpecfcacle before her. And thus 
 lay in one room, no lefs than five dead bodies, 
 an entire family, carried off in an hour or two. 
 Many inftances have occurred, of refpe&able 
 women, who, in their lying-in, have been oblig- 
 ed to depend on fervant women for afliftance 
 — and fome have had none but their hufbands. 
 Some of the midwives were dead — and others 
 had left the city. 
 
 A fervant girl, belonging to a family in this 
 city, in which the fever had prevailed, was ap- 
 prehenfive of danger, and refolved to remove 
 to a relation's houfe, in the country. She was, 
 however, taken lick on the road, and returned 
 to town, where Ihe could find no perfon to 
 receive her. One of the guardians of the poor 
 provided a cart, and took her to the alms houfe, 
 into which fne was refufed admittance. She was 
 brought back, and the guardian offered five dol- 
 lars to procure her a fingle night's lodging, but 
 in vain. And in fine, after every effort made to 
 
 E 
 
C 34 ) 
 
 provide her fhelter, Ike abfolutely expired in the 
 cart. 
 
 To relate all the frightful cafes of this nature 
 that occurred, would fill a volume. Let thefe 
 few fumce. But I muft obferve, that moil of 
 them happened in the firft ftage of the public 
 panic. Afterwards, when the citizens recovered a 
 little from their fright, they became rare. 
 
 Great as was the calamity of Philadelphia, it 
 was magnified in the moll extraordinary man- 
 ner. The hundred tongues of rumour were 
 never more fuccefsfully employed, than on this 
 melancholy occafion. The terror of the inhabi- 
 tants of all the neighbouring Hates was excited 
 by letters from Philadelphia,- diftributed by 
 every mail, many of which told tales of woej 
 whereof hardly a fingle circumftance was true, 
 but which were every where received with impli- 
 cit faith. The diftreffes of the city, and the fata- 
 lity of the diforder, were exaggerated as it 
 were to fee how far credulity could be carried. 
 The plague of London was, according to ru- 
 mour, hardly more fatal than our yellow fever. 
 Our citizens died fo fall, that there was hardly 
 
( 35 ) 
 
 enough of people to bury them. Ten, or fifteen, 
 or more were faid to be can: into one hole together, 
 like fo many dead beads*. One man, who could 
 find his feelings eafy enough, to be facetious on 
 the fubject., acquainted his correfpondent, that 
 the only bufinefs carrying on, was grave digging, 
 or rather pit digging^. And at a time when the 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 * The following extract appeared in a Norfolk paper 
 
 about the middle of September : 
 Extra-fl of a letter from Philadelphia, to a gentleman in 
 Norfolk, Sept. 9. 
 " Half the inhabitants of this city have already fled 
 *{ to different parts, on account of the peftilential diforder 
 f( that prevails here. The few citizens who remained in 
 " this place, die in abundance, fo faft that they drag them 
 u away, like dead beafls, and put ten, or fifteen, or more in a hole 
 (i together. All the /lores are fhut up. I am afraid this city 
 (< will be ruined : for nobody will come near it hereafter. 
 " I am this day removing niy family from this fatal 
 'f place." 
 
 + From a New York paper of October 2. 
 Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Philadelphia, dated 
 
 Sept 2?. 
 
 " The papers mud have amply informed you of the 
 
 <f melancholy lituation of this city for five or fix weeks 
 
 u pad. Grave- digging has been the only bufinefs carrying 
 
 - on ; and indeed I may fay of late, pit-digging, where 
 
( 35 ) 
 
 deaths did not exceed from forty to fifty daily, 
 many men had the modefty to write, and others, 
 throughout the continent, the credulity to be- 
 lieve, that we burie4 from one hundred to one 
 hundred and fifty*". Thoufands were fwept off 
 
 notes. 
 
 " people are interred indifcriminately in three tiers of 
 " coffins. From the nioft accurate obfervations I can make 
 " upon matters, 1 think I fpeak within bounds, when 
 " I fay, eighteen hundred perfonshave perifhed (I do not 
 " fay all of the yellow fever) fince its firft appearance." 
 
 # From the Maryland Journal, of Sept, 21th. 
 
 ExtracJ of a letter from Philadelphia, dated Sept. 20th, 
 "'The diforder feems to be much the fame in this 
 " place, as when I laft Wrote you : about 1500 have fal- 
 " len victims to it. Lalt Sunday, Monday, and Tuefilay, 
 ** there were not lefs than 550 died With this fevere difor- 
 "der ! ! ! As I informed you before, this is the moil dif- 
 ** treffed place I ever beheld. Whole families go in the dif- 
 " order, in the conrfe of twelve hours. For your own 
 " fakes, ufe all poffible means to keep it but of Baltir 
 f * more." = •■' : ,.:...-. 
 
 Extract of a letter from Philadelphia, of the fame date : 
 " The malignant fever which prevails here, is ftill in. 
 " cr'eafing.' Report fays, that' above one hundred have 
 "been buried per day for fome- time pad. It is now 
 "thought to be more in'fectious than ever. I think you 
 "ought to be very careful with refpecr: to admittinp 
 " perfoas from Philadelphia into your town." »* 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 in three or four weeks*. And the nature and 
 danger of the diforder, were as much mifreprc- 
 tented, as the number of the dead. It was faid, 
 in defiance of every day's experience, to be as 
 inevitable by all expofed to the contagion, as the 
 ftroke of fate. 
 
 The effects produced by thefe letters* were 
 uich as might be reasonably expected. The con- 
 sternation fpread though the feveral ftates like 
 wild-fire. The firft public act that took place on 
 the fubject, as far as I can learn, was at Chefter- ■ 
 town, in Maryland. At this place, a meeting was 
 held on the i oth of September, at which feverai 
 rsfolves were entered into, which, after fpecify- 
 
 N O T E. 
 
 * From aCheflertoivn paper, rf Srpt, 10. 
 
 F.xtraft of a letter from a refpetfable youn? 7/trchani/:, in. 
 Philadelphia, to his friend in this town, dated the $th in-p. 
 " It is now a very mortal time in this city. Theyellow 
 {t fever hath killed fovie thousands of the inhabitants. 
 "Eight thoufand mechanics, befides other people, have 
 ,f left the town. Every mailer in the city, of our branch 
 "of bufinefs, is gone." The " foms thoufands" that were 
 killed at that time did not amount to three hundred. 
 The authentic information in this letter, was circulated 
 in every ftate in the union, by the news papers. 
 
( 3» ) 
 
 ing that the diforder had extended to Trenton, 
 Princeton, Woodbridge, and Elizabeth-town, 
 on the poft road to New York, directed, that 
 notice fhould be fent to the owners of the ftages 
 not to allow them to pafs through the town, 
 while there mould be reafon to expect danger 
 therefrom ; that a committee of health and in- 
 spection mould be appointed, to provide for the 
 relief of fuch poor inhabitants as might take the 
 diforder, and likewife for fuch ftrangers as 
 might be infected with it. They at the fame ap- 
 pointed feven perfons as this committee, 
 with power to call a general meeting in par- 
 ticular Specified cafes. In confequence of 
 thefe refolves, the Eaftern more line of 
 ftages was ftopt in the courfe of a few days 
 afterwards. 
 
 The alarm in New York was firfl; officially 
 announced by a letter from the mayor to the 
 practifing phyficians, dated Sept. n, in which 
 he requested them to report to him in writing 
 the names of all fuch perfons as had arrived, 
 or mould arrive from Philadelphia, or any other 
 place, by land or water, and were or mould be 
 fick ; that fuch as mould be deemed fubjects of 
 
( 39 / 
 
 infectious difeafes, might be removed out of 
 the city. He notified them, that the corporation 
 had taken meafures to provide a proper place 
 for an hofpital, for fuch perfons as might un- 
 happily become fubjects of the fever in New 
 York. In this letter the mayor declared his opi- 
 nion clearly, that the intercourfe with Philadel- 
 phia, could not be lawfully interrupted by any 
 power in the ftate. The 1 2th appeared a procla- 
 mation from governor Clinton, which, refer- 
 ring to the " act to prevent the bringing in, and 
 4C fpreading of infectious diforders," prohibited, 
 in the terms of that act, all veffels from Phila- 
 delphia, to approach nearer to the city of New 
 York, than Bedlow's ifland, about two miles 
 diftant, till duly difcharged. The filence of this 
 proclamation, refpecting paffengers by land, 
 feemed to imply that the governor's opinion on 
 the fubject, was the fame as that of the mayor. 
 
 The fame day,, at a meeting of the citizens, 
 the neceftity of taking fome precautions was 
 unanimouily agreed upon, and a committee of 
 feven appointed to report a plan to a meet- 
 ing to be held next day. Their report, which 
 was unanimoufly agreed to, the 13th, recom- 
 
( 4° ) 
 
 mended to hire two phyficians, to ailift the 
 phyiician of the—port in his examinations of 
 veiTels ; to check, as much as poflible, the inter- 
 courfe by ftages ; to acquaint the proprietors 
 of the fouthern ftages, that it was the earneft 
 wifli of the inhabitants, that their carriages and 
 boats fhould not pafs during the prevalence of 
 the diforder in Philadelphia ; and to requeft the. 
 practitioners of phyfic to report, without fail, 
 every cafe of fever, to which they might be 
 called, occurring in any perfons that had or 
 might arrive from Philadelphia, or have inter- 
 courfe with them. Not fatisfied with thefe mea- 
 fures, the corporation, on the 17th, came to a 
 refolution to ftop all intercourfe between the 
 two cities ; and for this purpofe guards were 
 placed at the different landings, with orders to 
 fend back every perfon coming from Philadel- 
 phia ; and if any were difcovered to have 
 arrived after that date, they were to be 
 directly fent back. All perfons. taking in lodg- 
 ers, were called upon to give information of all 
 people of the above defcription, under pain of 
 being profecuted according to law. All good 
 citizens were required to give information to 
 the mayor, or any member of the committee, of 
 any breach in the premifes. 
 
( 41 ) 
 
 All thefe ftrict precautions being eluded by 
 the fears and the vigilance of the fugitives from 
 Philadelphia, on the 23d there was a meeting 
 held, of delegates from the feveral wards of the 
 city, in order to adopt more effectual meafures. 
 At this meeting, it was refolved to eftablifh a 
 night watch of not lefs than ten citizens in each 
 ward, to guard againft fuch as might efcape them 
 by day. Not yet eafe.oVof their fears, they next day 
 publifhed an addrefs, in which they mentioned, 
 that notwithstanding their utmoft vigilance, 
 many perfons had been clandeftinely landed 
 upon the Chores of New York ifland. They 
 therefore again called upon their fellow citizens 
 to be cautious how they received ftrangers into 
 their houfes ; not to fail to report all fuch to 
 the mayor immediately upon their arrival ; to 
 remember the importance of the occafion ; and 
 to confider what reply they mould make to the 
 juft refentment of their fellow citizens, whofe 
 lives tfyey might expofe by a criminal neglect, 
 or infidelity. They likewife declared their ex- 
 pectation, that thofe who kept the different 
 ferries on the mores of New Jerfey and Staten 
 ifland, would pay fuch attention to their ad- 
 drefs, as not to tranfport any perfon but to the 
 
 F 
 
 v 
 
( 4* ) 
 
 public landings, and that in the day time, be- 
 tween fun and fun. The 30th they publifhed a 
 lengthy addrefs, recapitulating the various pre- 
 cautions they had taken — the nature of the 
 diforder — and the numbers who had died out of 
 Philadelphia, without communicating it to any 
 one. They at the fame time refolved, that 
 goods, bedding, and clothing, packed up in 
 Philadelphia, Ihould, previous to their being 
 brought into New York, be unpacked and ex- 
 pofedto the open air in fome well-ventilated 
 place, for at leaft 48 hours ; that all linen or 
 cotton clothes, or bcdding,which had been ufed, 
 fhould be well warned in feveral waters ; and af- 
 terwards, that the whole, both fuch as had been, 
 and fuch as had not been ufed, mould be hung 
 up in a clofe room, and well fmoked with the 
 fumes of brimftone for one day, and after that 
 again expofed for at leaft twenty four hours to 
 the open air ; and that the boxes, trunks, or 
 xrhefts, in which they had been packed, fhould 
 be cleaned and aired in the fame manner ; after 
 which, being repacked, and fuch evidence given 
 of their purification, as the committee mould re- 
 quire, permiffion might be had to bring them 
 into the city. 
 
( 43 ) 
 
 The nth "of October, they likewife refolved, 
 that they would confider and publifh to the 
 world, as enemies to the welfare of the city, and 
 the lives of its inhabitants, all thofe who fhould 
 be fo felfifh and hardy, as to attempt to intro- 
 troduce any goods, wares, merchandize, bed- 
 ding, baggage, kc. imported from, or packed up 
 in Philadelphia, contrary to the rules prefcribed 
 by that body, who were, they faid, deputed 
 to exprefs the will of their fellow citizens. 
 They recommended to the inhabitants to 
 withftand any temptation of profit, which 
 might attend the purchafe of goods in Philadel- 
 phia, as no emolument to an individual, they 
 added, could warrant the hazard to which fuch 
 conduct might expofe the city. Befides all thefe 
 refolves, they publifhed daily ftatements of the 
 health of the city, to allay the fears of their fel- 
 low citizens. 
 
 I did not choofe to interrupt this account of 
 the proceedings of the committee of health, to 
 mention, in order of time, that the clersrv of 
 New York had a meeting, on the 16th of Sep- 
 tember, and unanimoufly agreed to fet apart 
 Friday, the 2.9th, as a day of humiliation, fail- 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 ing, and prayer to Almighty God, for the pre- 
 fervation of their city, from the fever, and for 
 the comfort and fupport of their brethren in 
 Philadelphia, in the feafon of their diitrefs. The 
 Dutch fynod of New York had a meeting the 
 firft week in October, at which they agreed that 
 thofe churches under their care, which had not 
 yet obferved a day of farting and prayer, mould 
 devote the fecond Wednefday in November to 
 that purpofe, 
 
 The inhabitants of Trenton and Lamberton af- 
 fociated on the 1 3th of Sept. and on the 1 7th 
 pafled feveral refolutions to guard themfelves 
 againft the contagion. They refolved that a total 
 flop mould be put to the landing of all perfons 
 from Philadelphia, at any ferry or place from 
 Lamberton to Howell's ferry, four miles above 
 Trenton; that the intercourfe by water mould be 
 prohibited between Lamberton, or the head of 
 tide water, and Philadelphia ; and that all boats 
 from Philadelphia, fhould be prevented from land- 
 ing either goods or paffengers any where between 
 Bordentown and the head of tide water ; that no 
 perfon whatever lhould be permitted to come 
 from Philadelphia, or Kenfmgton, while the fe- 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 ver continued ; that all perfons who fliould go 
 from within the limits of the aflbciation, to ei- 
 ther of thofe places, fhould be prevented from 
 returning during the continuance of the fever ; 
 and finally, that their ftanding committee fliould 
 enquire whether any perfons, not inhabitants, 
 who had lately come from places infected, and 
 were therefore likely to be infected themfelves, 
 were within the limits of the aflbciation, and if 
 fev that they fliould be obliged inftantly to leave 
 the laid limits. The people of Jerfey obferved 
 the i ft of October, as a day of fading and prayer, 
 for the fame purpofe as thofe of New York. 
 
 The 1 2th of September, the governor of Ma- 
 ryland publifhed a proclamation, fubjecting all 
 veffels from Philadelphia to the performance 
 of a quarantine, not exceeding forty days, or 
 as much lefs as might be judged fafe by the 
 health officers. It further ordered, that all per- 
 fons going to Baltimore, to Havre de Grace, 
 to the head of Elk, or, by any other route, 
 making their way into that ftate from Phila- 
 delphia, or any other place known to be infect- 
 ed with the malignant fever, fliould be fubject 
 to be examined, and prevented from proceed- 
 
( 46 ) 
 
 ing, by pcrfons to be appointed for. that pur- 
 pofe, and who were to take the advice and 
 opinion of the medical faculty in every cafe, in 
 order that private affairs and purfuits might 
 not be unneceiTarily impeded. This proclama- 
 tion appointed two health officers for Balti- 
 more. 
 
 The people of Baltimore met the 13th of 
 September, and refolved that none of their ci- 
 tizens fhould receive into their houfes any per- 
 fons coming from Philadelphia, or other in- 
 fected place, without producing a certil 
 from the health officer, or officer of patrole . 
 and that any perfon who violated that refolve, 
 fhould be held up to public view, as a proper 
 object for the refentment of the town. The 
 14th, a party of militia was difpatched to take 
 pofleffion of a pafs on the Philadelphia road* 
 about two miles from Baltimore, to prevent the 
 entrance of any paflengers from Philadelphia 
 without licenfc. Dr. Worthington, the health 
 officer ftationed at this pafs, was directed to re- 
 fufe permiffion to perfons afflicted with any 
 malignant complaint, or who had not been ab- 
 fent from Philadelphia, or other infected place, 
 
C 47 )' 
 
 at leaft feven days. The weflern more line of 
 Philadelphia ftages was flopped about the 18th 
 or 1 9th. 
 
 The 30th, the committee of health refolved 
 that no inhabitant of Baltimore, who fhould 
 vifit perfons from Philadelphia, while perform- 
 ing quarantine, mould be permitted to enter 
 the town, until the time of quarantine was ex- 
 pired, and until it was certainly known that the 
 perfons he had vilited were free from the infec- 
 tion ; and that thenceforward no goods capable 
 of conveying infection, that had been landed or 
 packed up in Philadelphia, or other infected 
 place, mould be permitted to enter the town — 
 nor mould any baggage of travellers be admit- 
 ted, until it had been expofed to the open air 
 iuch length of time as the health officer might 
 direct. 
 
 The 25th of September, the inhabitants of 
 Havre de Grace, refolved that no perfon mould 
 be allowed to crofs the Sufquehannah riveratthat 
 place, who did not bring a certificate of his not 
 having lately come from Philadelphia^- or any 
 other infected place ; and that the citizens of 
 
( 48 ; 
 
 Havre would embody themfelves to prevent any 
 one from crofling without fuch a certificate. 
 
 At Hagerftown, on the 3d of October, it 
 was refolved, that no citizen mould receive into 
 his houfe any perfon coming from Philadelphia, 
 fuppofed to be infected with the malignant fe- 
 ver, until he or flie produced a certificate from 
 a health officer ; that fliould any citizen contra- 
 vene the above refolution, he mould be profcrib- 
 ed from all fociety with his fellow citizens ; that 
 the clothing fent to the troops then in that town, 
 ihould not be received there, nor fufFered to 
 come within feven miles thereof ; that if any 
 perfon from Philadelphia, or other infected 
 place, ihould arrive there, he fliould be required 
 inftantly to depart, and in cafe of refufal or ne- 
 glect, be compelled to go without delay ; that 
 no merchant, or other perfon, Ihould be permit- 
 ted to bring into the town, or open therein, 
 any goods brought from Philadelphia, or other 
 infected place, until permitted by the com- 
 mittee ; and that the citizens of the town, and 
 its vicinity, fliould enrol themfelves as a guard, 
 and patrol^ fuch roads and paffes as the commit- 
 tee fliould direct. 
 
( 49 ) 
 
 The governor of Virginia, on the 17th of 
 September, iflued a proclamation, ordering all 
 veffds from Philadelphia, the Grenades, and the 
 ifland of Tobago, to perform a quarantine of 
 twenty days, at the anchorage ground, off Cra- 
 ney ifland, near the mouth of Elizabeth river. 
 
 The corporation of Alexandria ftationed a 
 look-out boat, to prevent all veflels bound to 
 that port, from approaching nearer than one 
 mile, until after examination by the health of- 
 ficer. 
 
 The people of Winchefter placed guards at 
 every avenue of the town leading from the Pa- 
 tomac, to flop all fufpecied perfons, packages, 
 &c. coming from Philadelphia till the health 
 officers fliould infpecl them, and either forbid 
 or allow them to pafs. 
 
 The legiilature of Maffachufetts happened to 
 be actually in feflion, at the time the alarm 
 fpread ; and they accordingly pafled an exprefs 
 act for guarding againft the impending danger. 
 This act directed that the felectmen in the dif- 
 ferent towns fliould be authorifed to flop and 
 
 G 
 
C 50 ) 
 
 examine any perfons, baggage, merchandize, 
 or effects, coming, or mppofed to be com- 
 ing into the towns reflectively, from Philadel- 
 phia, or other place infected, or mppofed to be 
 infected ; and mould it appear to them, or to 
 any officers whom they mould appoint, that 
 any danger of infection was to be apprehended 
 from fuch perfons, effects, baggage, or mer- 
 chandize, they were authorifed to detain or 
 remove the fame to fuch place as they might 
 fee proper, in order that they might be puri- 
 fied from infection ; or to place any perfons fo 
 coming, in fuch places, and under fuch regu- 
 lations as they might judge neceffary for the 
 public fafety. In purfuance of this act, the go- 
 vernor iffued a proclamation to carry it into ef- 
 fect, the 21ft of September. 
 
 The felectmen of Bofton, on the 24th, pub- 
 limed their regulations of quarantine, which 
 ordered, that on the arrival of any veffel from 
 Philadelphia, fhe mould be detained at, or near 
 Rainsford's Ifland, to perform a quarantine not 
 exceeding thirty days, during which time fhe 
 mould be cleanfed with vinegar, and the ex- 
 plofion of gunpowder between the decks and 
 
( 5' ) 
 
 in the cabin, even though there were no flck 
 perfons on board ; that in cafe there mould be 
 lick on board, they mould be removed to an 
 hofpital, where they mould be detained till 
 they recovered, or were long enough to afcer- 
 tain that they had not the infection ; that every 
 velfel, performing quarantine, fhould be de- 
 prived of its boat, and no boat fufFered to ap- 
 proach it, but by fpecial permiffion ; that if any 
 perfon fhould efcape, he mould be inftantly ad- 
 vertifed, in order that he might be apprehended ; 
 that any perfons coming by land from Philadel- 
 phia, mould not be allowed to enter Bofton, 
 until twenty-one days after their arrival, and 
 their effects, baggage, and merchandize mould 
 be opened, warned, and fumigated with vinegar 
 and repeated explofions of gunpowder. In the 
 conclufion, the felechnen called upon the inhabi- 
 tants " to ufe their utmoft vigilance and activity 
 to bring to condign punifhment any perfon who 
 mould be fo daring and loft to every idea of 
 humanity, as to come into the town from any 
 place fuppofed to be infected, thereby endanger- 
 ing the lives of their fellow men." 
 
 The governor of Rhode Ifland, the 2 ill of 
 
( S* ) 
 
 September, iffued a proclamation, directing the 
 town councils and other officers, to ufe their 
 utmoft vigilance to caufe the law to prevent 
 the fpreading of contagious diforders to be moft 
 ftricHy executed, more efpecially with refpect 
 to all veffels which mould arrive in that ftate 
 from the Weft Indies, Philadelphia, and New- 
 York ; the extenlion to the latter place was ow- 
 ing to the danger apprehended from the inter- 
 courfe between it and Philadelphia. 
 
 The 28 th of September, the governor of 
 North Carolina published his proclamation, re- 
 quiring the commiffioners of navigation in the 
 different ports, and the commiffioners of the 
 different towns in the faid ftate, to appoint cer- 
 tain places, where all veflels from the port of 
 Philadelphia, or any other place where the ma- 
 lignant fever might prevail, mould perform 
 quarantine for fuch number of days as they 
 might think proper. 
 
 The inhabitants of Charlefton do not feem to 
 have been far behind their neighbours, in their 
 apprehenfions or their cautions. The 8th of Oct. 
 they had a meeting, at which they refolved, 
 
( 53 ) 
 
 that no veficl from the river Delaware, either 
 directly or after having touched at any other 
 port of the united ftates, fhould be permitted 
 to pafs Charlefton bar, till the citizens have 
 again affembled, and declared themfelves fatis- 
 fied that the diforder has ceafed in Philadelphia. 
 If any veffel, contrary thereto, mould crofs the 
 bar, his excellency fhould be requefted to com- 
 pel it to quit the port, and return to fea. Be- 
 fore this meeting, veffels from Philadelphia had 
 been obliged to perform quarantine ; but by 
 what regulation, I cannot afcertain. 
 
 The governor of Georgia, on the 4th of 
 October, published a proclamation, ordering all 
 veffels from Philadelphia, which mould arrive 
 in Savannah river, to remain in Tybee creek, or 
 in other parts at like diftance from the town, 
 until the health officer of the port mould, on 
 examination, certify, that no malignant or con- 
 tagious difeafe was on board. All perfons con- 
 travening this proclamation, were to be profe- 
 cuted, and fubjeeled to the pains and penalties 
 by law pointed out. 
 
 The people of Augufta, in that ftate, were 
 
( 84 ) 
 
 as active and vigilant as their northern neigh- 
 bours, to guard againft the threatening dangers. 
 
 While our citizens were thus profcribed in fe- 
 veral cities and towns — hunted up like felons in 
 fome — and debarred admittance and turned 
 back in others, whether found or infected-— it 
 is with extreme fatisfaction I have to record a 
 conduct totally different, which cannot fail to 
 make an indelible impreflion on the minds of 
 the people of Philadelphia, and call forth the 
 moft lively emotions of gratitude. 
 
 A refpeclable number of the inhabitants of 
 Springfield, in New Jerfey, met the firft day 
 of October, and after a full confideration of the 
 diftreffes of our citizens, paffed a refolve, offer- 
 ing their town as an afylum to the people flying 
 from Philadelphia, and directing their commit- 
 tee to provide a fuitable place as an hofpital for 
 fuch of them as might be feized with the pre- 
 vailing malignant fever. 
 
 I have been informed, by a perfon of credit, 
 that the inhabitants of Elizabeth town have 
 purfued the fame liberal plan, as thofe of 
 Springfield ; but have not been able to procure 
 
( 55 ) 
 
 a copy of their refolves or proceedings on the 
 iubjecl. 
 
 An afylum has likewife been offered to Bhila- 
 delphians, by feveral of the inhabitants of Elk- 
 ton, in Maryland ; and the offer was couched 
 in terms of the utmoft fympathy for our fuf- 
 feringrs. 
 
 o 
 
 The inftances of this kind, through this ex- 
 tenfive country, have been very few ; but they 
 are therefore only the more precious, and 
 ought to be held up to public approbation. 
 May they operate on people, at a future day, 
 in fimilar cafes of dreadful calamity — and 
 teach them to temper their caution with as 
 much humanity and tendernefs to the diftreiTed 
 fugitives, as prudence will allow — and not in- 
 volve in one indifcriminate profcription the 
 healthy and infected. 
 
 In the mean time, the lituation of affairs in 
 Philadelphia, became daily more and more feri- 
 ous. The three guardians of the poor for the 
 city, who, as I have faid, continued to act, were 
 quite oppreffed with the labours of their office, 
 which increafed to fuch a degree, that they 
 
( 56 ) 
 
 were utterly unable to execute them. The num- 
 ber of difeafed perfons became very great. 
 Owing to the general terror, nurfes, carters, 
 and attendants could hardly be procured. Thus 
 circumHanced, the mayor of the city, on the 
 lothof September, publifhed an addrefs to the 
 citizens, announcing that the guardians of the 
 poor, who remained, were in diflrefs for want 
 of aflillance, and inviting fuch benevolent citi- 
 zens as felt for the general diflrefs, to lend their 
 aid. In confequence of this advertifement, a 
 meeting of the citizens was held at the city 
 hall, on the 1 2th of September, at which very 
 few attended, from the univeral confternation 
 that prevailed. The ftate of the poor was fully 
 confidered ; and ten citizens, Ifrael Ifrael, Sa- 
 muel Wetherill, Thomas Wiftar, Andrew Ad- 
 gatc, Caleb Lownes, Henry Deforeft, Thomas 
 Peters, Jofcph Inlkeep, Stephen Girard, and 
 John Mafon, offered themfelves to aflift the 
 guardians of the poor. At this meeting, a com- 
 mittee was appointed to confer with the phyfi- 
 clans who had the care of Bum-hill. This 
 committee reported next evening, that the 
 hofpital was in very bad order, and in want of 
 •almoft every thing. 
 
( 57 ) 
 
 Hie 14th, another meeting was held, when the 
 urgent neeeilities of the Tick being fully confide- 
 dered, it was refolved to borrow 1500 dollars of 
 the bank of North America, for the purpofe of 
 procuring fuitable accommodations for the ufe 
 of perfons afflicted with the prevailing malig- 
 nant fever. At this meeting, a committee was 
 appointed to tranfact the whole of the bufinefs 
 relative to the relief of the lick, and the procu- 
 ring of phyficians, nurfes, attendants, &c. This 
 is the committee, which, by virtue of that ap- 
 pointment, has from that day to the prefent 
 time, watched over the fick, the poor, the wi- 
 dow, and the orphan. It is worthy of remark, 
 and may encourage others in times of public ca- 
 lamity, that this committee confifted originally 
 of only twenty-fix perfons, men taken from 
 the middle walks of life, and of the moderate 
 pitch of abilities ; of thefe, four, Andrew Ad- 
 gate, Jonathan Dickinfon Sargeant, Daniel Ot- 
 lley, and Jofeph InpKeep, died, the two nrft at 
 an early period of their labours — and four ne- 
 ver attended to the appointment. " The heat 
 and burden of the day" have therefore been 
 borne by eighteen perfons, whofe exertions have 
 
 been fo highly favoured by providence, that 
 
 H 
 
( 5« ) 
 
 they have been the inftruments of averting the 
 progrefs of deftruction, eminently relieving the 
 diftreffed, and reftoring confidence to the ter- 
 rified inhabitants of Philadelphia. It is honoura- 
 ble to this committee, that from the time of 
 their organization to the prefent, they have li- 
 ved together in more harmony than is generally 
 to be met with in public bodies of equal num- 
 ber. 
 
 Never, perhaps, was there a city in the fitu- 
 ation of Philadelphia at this period. The prefi- 
 dent of the united ftates, according to his an- 
 nual culrom, had removed to Mount Vernon, 
 with his houfehold. Moft, if not all of the 
 other officers of the federal srovernment were 
 abfent. The governor, who had been fick, had 
 gone, by directions of his phylician, to his coun- 
 try feat near the falls of Schuylkill — and nearly 
 the whole of the officers of the ftate had likewile 
 retired. — The magiftrates of the city, except 
 the mayor, and John Barclay, efq. were away, as 
 were moft of thofe of the liberties. Of the fitua- 
 tion of the guardians of the poor I have already 
 made mention. In fact, government of every 
 kind was almoft wholly vacated, and feemed, bv 
 univerfal confent, to be veiled in the committee. 
 
( 59 ) 
 
 On the 15th, the committee refolved, that 
 three members of their board mould attend 
 daily at the city hall, to receive applications 
 for relief, to provide for the burial of the dead, 
 and the conveyance to Buflihill of all perfons la- 
 bouring under the fever, who might be willing 
 to go there. This order was foon refcinded, it 
 being found neceffary for all the members to at- 
 tend at the hall. 
 
 This day, a circumftance occurred, to which 
 the moft glowing pencil could hardly do juftice. 
 Stephen Girard, a wealthy merchant, a native of 
 France, touched with the wretched fituation of 
 the fufferers at Bufh hill, voluntarily and unex- 
 pectedly offered to fuperintend that hofpital. The 
 furprife and fatisfaction, excited by this extraor- 
 dinary effort of humanity, can be better con- 
 ceived than expreffed. Peter Helm, a native of 
 Pennfylvania, actuated by the like benevolent 
 motives, offered his fer vices in the fame depart- 
 ment. Their offers were accepted, and the fame 
 afternoon they entered on the execution of 
 their dangerous and praifeworthy office. 
 
 To form a juft eftimate of the value of the 
 offer of thefc men, it is neceffary to take into 
 
6o 
 
 full confideration the general confter nation, 
 which at that period pervaded every quarter of 
 the citv, and which made attendance on thefick 
 be regarded as little lefs than a certain facrifice. 
 Uninfluenced by any reflexions of this kind,with- 
 out anypoffible inducement but the pureft motives 
 of humanity, they came forward, and offered 
 themfelves as the forlorn hope of the committee, 
 I truft that the gratitude of their fellow citizens 
 will remain as long as the memory of their bene- 
 ficent condu<5L which I hope will not die with the 
 prefent generation. While I am on this fubject, 
 let me add, that from the time of undertaking 
 this office to the prefent, they have attended un- 
 interruptedly, for fix, feven, or eight hours a day, 
 renouncing almoft every care of private affairs. 
 They have had a laborious tour of duty to 
 perform— to encourage and comfort the fick — to 
 hand them neceffaries and medicines — to wipe 
 the fweat off their brows — and to perform 
 many difgufting offices of kindnefs for them, 
 which nothing could render tolerable, but the 
 exalted motives that impelled them to this 
 heroic conduct. 
 
 On the 1 6th, the managers of BufhhiJl, after 
 
( 6i ) 
 
 perfonal infpccrion of the ftate of affairs there, 
 made report of its fituatian, which was truly 
 deplorable. It exhibited as wretched a picture 
 of human mifery as ever exifted. A profligate, 
 abandoned fet of nurfes and attendants (hardly 
 any of good character could at that time be 
 procured,) rioted on the provilions and com- 
 forts, prepared for the fick, who (unlefs at the 
 hours when the doctors attended) were left al- 
 moft entirely deftitute of every afliftance. The 
 dying and dead were indifcriminately mingled 
 together. The ordure and other evacuations of 
 the fick, were allowed to remain in the moft 
 dffenfive ftate imaginable. Not the fmalleft ap- 
 pearance of order of regularity exifted. It was, 
 in fa<5t, a great human flausrhter houfe, where 
 numerous 'victims were immolated at the altar 
 of riot and intemperance. No wonder, then, 
 that a general dread of the place prevailed 
 through the city, and that a removal to it was 
 confidered as the feal of death. In confequence, 
 there were various inftances of fick perfons 
 locking their rooms, and refitting every attempt 
 to carry them away. At length, the poor were 
 fo much afraid of being fent to Bufhhill, that 
 they would not acknowledge their illnefs, 'till 
 
( 62 ) 
 
 it was no longer poflible to conceal it. For it is 
 to be obferved, that the fear of the contagion 
 was fo prevalent, that as foon as any one was 
 taken fick, an alarm was fpread among the 
 neighbours, and every effort was ufed to have 
 the fick perfon hurried off to Bufhhill, to avoid 
 fpreading the diforder. The cafes of poor peo- 
 ple forced in this way to that hofpital, 
 though labouring under only common colds, 
 and common fall fevers, are numerous and af- 
 flicting. There were not wanting inftances of 
 perfons, only flightly ill, being fent to Bufhhill, 
 by their panic-ftruck neighbours, and embra- 
 cing the firft opportunity of running back to 
 Philadelphia. But the cafe was foon altered un- 
 der the direction of the two managers, Girard 
 and Helm. They introduced fuch order and 
 regularity, and had the patients treated with fo 
 much care and tendernefs, that they retrieved 
 the character of the hofpital ; and in the courfe 
 of a week or two, numbers of fick people, who 
 had not at home proper perfons to nurfe them, 
 applied to be fent to Bufhhill. Indeed, in the end 
 fo many people, who were afHicted with other 
 diforders, procured admittance there, that it be- 
 came neceflary to pafs a refolve, that before an 
 
( «3 ) 
 
 order of admiffion Ihould be granted, a certifi- 
 cate mull be produced from a phylician, that 
 the patient laboured under the malignant fever. 
 
 The committee fat daily at the city hall, and 
 engaged a number of carts to convey the dead 
 to a place of interment, and the lick to the hof- 
 pital. From their organization to the prefent 
 time, they have mod unremittingly attended 
 to the difcharge of the trull repofed in them. 
 Neither the regular increafe of deaths till to- 
 wards the middle of October, nor the afflicting 
 lofs of four very active members, in quick fuc- 
 ceflion, appalled them. That the mortality would 
 have been incomparably greater, but for their 
 active interpolation, is beyond doubt ; as moll 
 of thofe who went to Bulhhill, and died there, 
 would have otherwife died in the city, and 
 fpread the contagion : and the dead bodies 
 would have remained putrifying in deferted 
 houfes in every part of the city, and operated 
 as dreadfully as the plague itfelf. In fact;, at the 
 time they entered on the execution of the dan- 
 gerous office they undertook, there were found 
 feveral bodies that had lain in this Hate for two, 
 three, and four days. 
 
( 64 ) 
 
 In the progreis of the diibrder, the committee 
 found the calls on their humanity increafe. The 
 numerous deaths of heads of families left a very- 
 large body of children in a moll abandoned, for- 
 lorn Rate. The bettering houfe, in which fuch 
 helplefs objects have been ufually placed hereto- 
 fore, was barred againft them, by the order which 
 I have already mentioned. Many of thefe little- 
 innocents were actually fuffering for want of 
 even common necefTaries. The deaths of their 
 parents and protectors, which fhouid have been 
 the ftrongeit recommendation to public charity, 
 was the very reafon of their diftrefs, and of their 
 being fhunned as a peftilence. The children of a 
 family once in eafy circumftances, were found 
 in a blackfmith's mop, fqualid, dirty, and half 
 ftarved, having; been for a confiderable time 
 without even bread to eat. Various inftanccs of 
 a fimilar nature occurred. This evil early caught 
 the attention of the committee ; and on the 1 9th 
 of September, they hired a houfe in Fifth-itreet, 
 in which they placed thirteen children. The 
 number increafmg, on the 3d of October, they 
 procured the Loganian library, which was ge« 
 neroufly given up by John Swanwick, Efq. for 
 the purpofe of an orphan houfe. A further in- 
 
( 6 S ) 
 
 creafe of their little charge, rendered it heceffary 
 to build fome additions to the library, which are 
 how finifhed, and are nearly half as large as that 
 building. At prefent, there are - in the houfe, un- 
 der the care of the orphan committee, above 
 eighty children, and about forty are out with 
 wet nurfes. From the origin of the inftitution, 
 One hundred and lixty children have fallen un- 
 der their care, of whom (even are dead, all of 
 Whom, except one, were fucking children ; and 
 about thirty have been delivered to their relati- 
 ons or friends. There are inftances of five and 
 fix children of a fingle family in the houfe. 
 
 Another duty foort attracted the attention of 
 the committee. The flight of fo many of our ci- 
 tizens, the confequent ftagnation of bulinefs, and 
 the almoft total ceflation of the labours of the 
 guardians of the poor, brought on among the 
 lower claifes of the people, a great degree of 
 diftrefs, which loudly demanded the interpofi- 
 tion of the humane. In confequence, on the 
 20th of September, a fub-committee of diftribu- 
 tion was appointed, to furnifh fuch afiiftance to 
 deferving objects as their refpeclive cafes might*. 
 
 I 
 
( <* ) 
 
 require, and the funds allow*. This was at firit 
 .idminiftered fparingly, owing to the confined 
 ftate of their finances. But the very extraordi- 
 nary liberality of our fugitive fellow citizens, of 
 the citizens of New York, and of thofe of va- 
 rious towns and townihips, encouraged the 
 committee to extend their views. And frequent 
 impolitions being attempted on them, they, on 
 the 14th of October, called to their affiftance a 
 number of refpect. able characters in the different 
 parts of the city and liberties, to feek out and 
 give recommendations to deferving objects in 
 diflrefs. Thefe gentlemen have undertaken this 
 troublefome office, which they execute with fo 
 much drcumfpection, as to defeat the arts of 
 impoftors. At prefent, there are about twelve 
 hundred people relieved weekly, moft of whom 
 have confiderable families, fome of four, fix, 
 and eight perfons. The number, therefore, de- 
 pending on the committee for affiftance, is pro- 
 bably above four thoufand. The -gradual revival 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 * They had, in addition to the firft loan from the bank 
 ofNrfrth America, borrowed jcoo dollars from thefatn*. 
 inftitutio-n, making in the whole 6500. 
 
 *» 
 
( G 7 ) 
 
 of bufinefs promifes to refcue fome of thefe peo- 
 ple fpeedily from the humiliation of a depen- 
 dence on public charity ; and the organization 
 of the guardians of the poor will make provifi- 
 on for the remainder. 
 
 From this time, the proceedings of the com- 
 mittee went on in a regular, uniform tenor, 
 every day like the paft, without any thing re- 
 markable occurring, worth recording. For above 
 five weeks of the time they have been employ- 
 ed, the moft dreary profpecb appeared before 
 them. The number of perfons to be removed to 
 Buihhill daily, was for a long time from twenty 
 to thirty — and the number to be buried by 
 their carters, was often equal. Thefe two cir- 
 cumftances, the removals to the hofpital, and 
 the perfons buried from the city-hall, were re- 
 garded as the barometer, by which to judge of 
 the ftate of the difeafe ; and in general they 
 were ajuft one. 
 
 The week, beginning Sunday the 27th of 
 October, proved for the moft part cold and raw. 
 Northerly winds generally prevailed. Thurfday 
 and Friday, there was a confiderable fall of rain 
 
( 68 ) 
 
 A vifible alteration has already taken place in 
 the ftate of affairs in the city. Our friends return 
 in crouds. Every hour, long-abfent and welcome 
 faces appear — rand in many inftances, thofe of 
 perfons, whom public fame has buried for weeks 
 paft. The ftores, fo long clofed, are opening f aft- 
 Some of the country merchants,, bolder than 
 others, are daily venturing in to their old place 
 of fupply. Market-ftreet is almqft as full of wag^ 
 sons as ufual. The cuftam houfe, for weeks near- 
 ly deferted by our mercantile people, is throng? 
 ed by citizens entering their veflels and goods 
 — the ftreets, too l° n g the abode of gloom and 
 defpair, have affumed the buftle fuitable to 
 the feafon. The arrival in the city of our be- 
 loved prefident gives us a flattering profpecl: 
 of the next feflion of congrefs being held 
 here. And, in fine, as every thing, in the 
 early ftage of the diforder, feemed calculated 
 to add to the general confirmation ; fo now, on 
 the contrary, every circumftance has a tendency 
 to revive the courage and hopes of our citizens. 
 But we have to lament, that the fame fpirit of 
 exaggeration and lying, that prevailed at a for- 
 mer period, and was the grand caufe of the 
 harm meafures adopted by our fifler flates ? has 
 
 *^ 
 
( 6 9 ) 
 
 not ceafed to operate ; for at the prefent mo* 
 .ment, when the danger is entirely done away, 
 the credulous of our own citizens Hill abfent, 
 and of the country people, are ftiil alarmed by 
 frightful rumours, of the diforder raging with 
 as much violence as ever ; of numbers carried 
 off, a few hours after their return ; and of new 
 cafes daily occurring. To what defign to attri- 
 bute thefe mameful tales, I know not. Were I to 
 regard them in a fpirit of refentment, I mould 
 be inclined to charge them to fome fecret, inter- 
 efted views of their authors, intent, if poffible, 
 to effect the entire deflruction of our city. But 
 I will not allow myfelf to confider them in this 
 point of light— r-and will even fuppofe they arife 
 from a pronenefs to terrific narration, natural 
 to fome men. But they mould confider, that we 
 are in the fituation of the frogs in the fable — 
 while thefe tales, which make the hair of the 
 country people ftand on end, are fport to the fa- 
 bricators, they are death to us. And I here affert, 
 and defy contradiction, that of the whole num- 
 ber of our fugitive citizens, who have already 
 returned, amounting to fome thoufands, not 
 above two are dead — and thefe owe their fate 
 to the moft fhameful neglect of airing and 
 
( 7° ) 
 
 cleanfing their houfes, notwithstanding the vari* 
 ous cautions publiftied by the committee. If peo- 
 ple will venture into houfes in which infected air 
 has been pent up for weeks together, without 
 any purification, we cannot be furprized at the 
 confequences, however fatal they may be. But 
 let not the cataftrophe of a few incautious per- 
 fons operate to bring difcredit on a city contain, 
 ing above fifty thoufand people. 
 
 At the time of writing thefe lines, the ioth of 
 November, the committee look forward with 
 pleafure to the moment of furrendering up their 
 truft to a town meeting of their fellow citizens, 
 the conftituents by whom they were called into 
 the extraordinary office they have filled. To 
 them they will give an account of their ftew- 
 ardftiip in a time of diftrefs, the like of which 
 heaven avert from the people of America for- 
 ever. They hope a candid conftruction will be 
 put upon their conduct — and that it will be be- 
 lieved that they have acted in every cafe that 
 has come under their cognizance, according 
 to the beft of their judgment. 
 
 The fympathy for our calamities difplayed in 
 
( 7' ) 
 
 various places, reflects the higheft honour 0*» 
 their inhabitants, and demands our warmeft 
 gratitude. The inhabitants of Gloucefter county 
 in New Jerfey, have the honour of being liril 
 in this laudable race. So early as the 30th of 
 September, they had a confiderable fum collect- 
 ed, with which they purchafed a quantity of 
 provifions for the ufe of the hofpital at Bufh- 
 hill. They have from that time regularly con-* 
 tinued copious fupplies twice a week* From a 
 few citizens of Philadelphia, near Germantown, 
 there have been received two thoufand dollars 5 
 from others near Darby, fourteen hundred j 
 from New York, five thoufand ; from a perfon 
 unknown, five hundred ; from Buck^.' county 
 fixteen hundred ; from Delaware county twelve 
 hundred - y from Franklin county nearly five hun- 
 dred ; from Bofton fundry articles, eftimated 
 . at twenty-five hundred ; and from fundry other 
 perfons and places, contributions equally libera 1 
 and honourable. 
 
 The diforder raged with increafed violence, as 
 the feafon advanced towards the mild fall 
 months. In the month of September, the mor- 
 tality was much greater than in Auguft ; and 
 ftill greater in October, to the 25th, than in Sep- 
 
( r- ) 
 
 tcinbcr. What is very particularly worthy of 
 attention, is, that though all the hopes of thd 
 citizens refted on cold and rain* efpecially thd 
 latter, yet the diforder was extinguiflied with 
 hardly any rain, and a very moderate degree of 
 cold. The 26th may be fet down as the day 
 when the virulence of the fever expired. The 
 deaths afterwards were moftly of thofe 
 long fick* Hardly any perfons have fince ta- 
 ken it. That day was as warm as many of the 
 mod fatal ones in the early part of the month. 
 To account for this is perhaps above our power. 
 In face, the whole of the diforder, from its firfl 
 appearance to its final clofe, has fet human wif- 
 dom and calculation at defiance. 
 
 Rarely has it happened, that fo large a pro* 
 portion of the gentlemen of the faculty have 
 funk beneath the labours of their very danger 
 rous profeilion, as on this occafion. In little more 
 than a month, exclufive of medical Undents, no" 
 lefs than ten phyficians have been fwept off, doc- 
 tors Hutchinfon, Morris, Linn, Pennington, 
 Dodds, Johnfon, Glentworth, Phile, Graham, 
 and Green. Hardly one of the practifing doctors 
 that remained in tne city, efcaped ficknefs — • 
 feme were three, four, and five times confined* 
 
( 73 ) 
 
 To the clergy it has likewife proved very 
 fatal. Expofed, in the exercife of the laft duties 
 to the dying, to equal danger with the phyfici- 
 ans, it is not furpriling that fo many of them 
 have fallen. Their names are, the rev. Alexander 
 Murry, of the proteftant epifcopal church — the 
 rev. F. A. Fleming and the rev. Laurence 
 Graefsl of the Roman catholic — the rev. John 
 Winkhaufe, of the German reformed — the rev. 
 James Sproat, of the prefoyterian — the rev. 
 William Dougherty, of the methodift church — 
 and five preachers of the Friends fociety, Da- 
 niel Offley, Hufon Langftroth, Michael Minier, 
 Rebecca Jones, and Charles Williams. Seven 
 clergymen have been in the greater! danger 
 from this diforder, the rev. R. Blackwell, rev. 
 Jofeph Pilmore, rev. William Rogers, rev. 
 Chriftopher V. Keating, rev. Frederic Schmidt, 
 the rev. Jofeph Turner, and the rev. Robert 
 Annan ; but they have all recovered. 
 
 Among the women, the mortality has not by 
 any means beenfo great, as among the men*. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 * In many congregations the deaths of men have been 
 twice as numerous as thofe of women. 
 
 K 
 
( 74 ) 
 
 nor among the old and infirm as among the mid- 
 dle-aged and robuft. 
 
 To tipplers and drunkards, and to men who 
 lived high, and were of a corpulent habit of 
 body, this diforder was very fatal. Of thefe, 
 many were feized, and the recoveries were very 
 rare. 
 
 To the jilles dejoie, it has been equally fatal. 
 The wretched debilitated ftate of their conftitu- 
 tions, rendered them an eafy prey to this dread- 
 ful diforder, which very foon terminated their 
 miferable career. 
 
 it has been dreadfully deftructive among the 
 poor. It is very probable, that at leaft feven 
 eighths of the number of the dead, were of 
 that clafs. The inhabitants of dirty houfes 
 have feverely expiated their neglect of cleanli- 
 nefs and decency, by the numbers of them that 
 have fallen facrifices. Whole families in fuch 
 houfes have funk into one filent, undiftinguifh- 
 ing grave. 
 
 The mortality in confined flreets, fmall al- 
 
( 75 ) 
 
 lies, and clofe houfes, debarred of a free circu- 
 lation of air, has exceeded, in a great proportion, 
 that in the large ftreets and well-aired houfes. In 
 fome of the allies, a third or fourth of the whole 
 of the inhabitants are no more. In 30 houfes, the 
 whole number in Pewter Platter alley, 32 peo- 
 ple died: and in Market-ftreet, in 170 houfes, 
 only 39. The ftreets in the fuburbs that had the 
 benefit of the country air, efpecially towards the 
 weft part of the city, have fuffered little. Of the 
 wide, airy flreets, none loft fo many people as 
 Arch, near Water-ftreet, which may be account- 
 ed for by its proximity to the original feat of the 
 diforder. It is to be particularly remarked, that 
 in general, the more remote the ftreets were 
 from Water ftreet, the lefs they experienced 
 of the calamity. 
 
 From the effects of this diforder, the French 
 fettled in Philadelphia, have been in a very re- 
 markable degree exempt. To what this may be 
 owing, is a fubject deferring particular inveftiga- 
 tion. By fome it has been afcribed to their de- 
 fpifing the danger. But, though this may have 
 had fome effect, it will not certainly account 
 for it altogether ; as it is well known that 
 
( 76 ) 
 
 many of the moft courageous perfons in Phila- 
 delphia, have been among its victims. By many 
 of the French, the prevalence and mortality of 
 the diforder have been attributed to the vaft 
 quantities of crude and unwholefome fruits 
 brought to Our markets, and confumed by all 
 piaffes of people. 
 
 The effect of fear in predifpofing the body 
 for this and other diforders, and increafing their 
 malignance, when taken, is well known. The 
 following exception to the general rule, for the 
 truth of which I pledge myfelf, is curious and 
 inter effing. A young woman, whofe fears were 
 fb very prevalent, as not only to render her un- 
 happy from the commencement of the diforder, 
 but even to interfere with the happinefs of the 
 family with whom ihe lived, had to attend on 
 feven perfons, all of whom were in a very dan- 
 gerous ftate, and one of whom died. Her at- 
 tendance was affiduous and unremitted for 
 nearly three weeks. Yet me has never been in 
 the ilighteft degree affected. 
 
 At an early Itage of the diforder, the elders 
 of the African church met, and offered their 
 
( 77 ) 
 
 fervices to the mayor, to procure mirfes for 
 the fick, and to aflift in burying the dead. 
 Their offers were accepted ; and Abfalom Jones 
 and Richard Allen undertook the former de- 
 partment, that of furniihing nurfes, and Wil- 
 liam Gray, the latter — the interment of the 
 dead. The great demand for nurfes afforded 
 an opportunity for impofition, which was eager- 
 ly feized by fome of the vileft of the blacks. 
 They extorted two; three, four, and even five 
 dollars a night for attendance, which would 
 have been well paid by a fingle dollar. Some of 
 them were even detected in plundering the 
 houfes of the fick. But it is wrong to caft a 
 cenfure on the whole for this fort of conduct, as 
 many people have done. The fervices of Jones, 
 Allen, and Gray, and others of their colour, 
 have been very great, and demand public grati- 
 tude. 
 
 When the yellow fever prevailed in South 
 Carolina, the negroes, according to that accu- 
 rate obferver, Dr. Lining, were wholly free 
 from it. " There is fomething very lingular 
 " in the constitution of the negroes," fays he, 
 " which renders them not liable to this fever : 
 
C 78 ) 
 
 ct for though many of them were as much ex- 
 " pofed as the nurfes to this infection ; yet I 
 " never knew one inftance of this fever among 
 /' them, though they are equally fubjecl with 
 a the white people to the bilious fever."* The 
 fame idea prevailed for a confiderable time in 
 Philadelphia ; but it was erroneous. They did 
 not efcape the diforder ; however, the number 
 of them that were feized with it, was not great 5 
 and, as I am informed by an eminent doctor, 
 cc it yielded to the power of medicine in them 
 IC more eafily than in the whites." 
 
 Thofe who reflect on the many revolting ca- 
 fes of cruelty and defertion of friends and re- 
 lations which occurred in Philadelphia, how- 
 ever they may regret, cannot be furprifed, that 
 in the country and in various towns and cities, 
 inhumanity mould be experienced by Philadel- 
 phians from ftrangers. The univerfal coniter- 
 nation extinguifhed in people's breads the 
 moft honourable feelings of human nature ; 
 and in this cafe, as in various others, the fuf- 
 
 N O T E. 
 * Efijvs and obfervations, \ol. II. page 407. 
 
( 79 ) 
 
 picion operated as injurioufly as the reality. 
 Many travellers from this city, exhaufted with 
 fatigue and with hunger, have been refufed 
 all fhelter and all fuftenance, and have fallen 
 victims to the fears, not to the want of cha- 
 rity, of thofe to whom they applied for re- 
 lief. Initances of this kind have occurred on 
 alrnoft: every road leading from Philadelphia. 
 People under fufpicion of having this diforder, 
 have been forced by their fellow travellers to 
 quit the ftages, and perifhed in the woods 
 without a poffibility of procuring any affiflance. 
 At Eafton, in Maryland, a waggon-load of 
 goods from Philadelphia, was actually burn- 
 ed ; and a woman, who came with it, was tar- 
 red and feathered*. 
 
 There is one fact refpecting this diforder, 
 which renders it probable, that the exercife of 
 the duties of humanity towards the fugitive 
 Philadelphians, would not have been attended 
 with the danger univerfally imagined. In defi- 
 
 n o T E. 
 
 * Through mifin formation, this atrocious circumftance 
 was ftatecl i-n the former edition to have happened aj 
 Milford, in Delaware ftate. 
 
( 8o ) 
 
 ance of all the refolutions entered into by the in- 
 habitants of various towns, many of our infect- 
 ed citizens evaded their vigilance, and took re- 
 fuge among them, and in only one or two ca- 
 fes is it known that they communicated the 
 infection — and even in thefe not mortally. 
 Three perfons from Philadelphia died of this 
 diforder, in one houfe at Woodbury, in New 
 Jerfey ; they had been attended during their 
 illnefs by the family, none of whom caught the 
 infection. Six or feven died at Darby, as ma- 
 ny at Germantown, and eight at Haddonfield, 
 without communicating it to any of the inhabi- 
 tants. A man from Philadelphia, of the name 
 of Cornell, died in New York, about two days 
 after his arrival. The place of his death was 
 a boarding houfe, in which were a number of 
 boarders, one of whom flept in the fame bed 
 with him. Two of the family only were {light- 
 ly affected — but not in fuch a degree as to re- 
 quire medical aid. Three other infected per- 
 fons from our city, who, when difcovered, 
 were removed to Governor's ifland, died there, 
 and no one took the diforder from them. A 
 man died at one of the principal taverns in Bal- 
 timore, of the fame diforder. Many people had 
 
( 8' ) 
 
 vifited and attended him during the whole of 
 his illnefs, without injury. No perfon was af- 
 fected but his doctor, whofe indifpofition was 
 not of long continuance. A great number of 
 fimilar inffcances have occurred at Burlington, 
 Bordenton, Lamberton, Princeton Brunfwic, 
 Woodbridge, Newark, Lancafter, and various 
 other places, and in no cafe, except thofe at Bal- 
 timore and New York, has the infection fpread. 
 
 The terror that prevailed in Philadelphia, 
 and which was fpread through the continent, 
 arofe from the fatality of the diforder at firft, 
 very few of thofe who took it then having efca- 
 ped. This, with all deference to the medical 
 gentlemen, arofe probably from their being un- 
 acquainted with it. That this Was the cafe, is 
 candidly acknowledged by feveral of the moll 
 eminent among them. The fact is, that the ter- 
 ror was at no time greater, than about the end 
 of Augufl, at which period, the deaths did not 
 very far exceed the ufual number in that month. 
 When the mortality raged mod dreadfully, 
 from the middle of September to the middle of 
 Olober, the public were much lefs alarmed, 
 owing to the occurrence of feveral recoveries, 
 
 L 
 
( »2 ) 
 
 and their becoming callous by the force of ha- 
 bit. During this time it was, that all the fpon- 
 ges, fmelling bottles, handkerchiefs fteeped in 
 vinegar, camphor bags, &c. difappeared. 
 
 The ftate of the police and of fociety in Phila- 
 delphia, appears to no fmall advantage, when 
 we confider one circumftance. Notwithftanding 
 the abfence of the magistrates, and the immenfe 
 value of property left unprotected through the 
 fears of the owners,, and the deaths of the per- 
 fons left to take care of it, we have as yet heard 
 of only one or two burglaries committed. — 
 Another was attempted, but the plunderers 
 were difcovered and taken. A hardened villain 
 from a neighbouring ftate, formed a plot with 
 fome negroes to plunder houfes. He was a mafter 
 rogue, had digefted- a complete fyftem, and 
 formed a large partnerfhip for the more fuccefs- 
 ful execution of his fchemes. However he was 
 foon feized, and; the company diffolved. 
 
 The jail of Philadelphia is under fuch excel- 
 lent regulation, that the diforder made its ap- 
 pearance there only in two or three inftances, 
 ^though fuch abodes of mifery are the place* 
 
( »3 ) 
 
 where contagious diforders are moft commonly 
 generated. When the yellow fever raged moft 
 violAtly in the city, there were in the jail one 
 hundred and fix French foldiers and failors, 
 confined by order of the French conful, be- 
 fides eighty convi&s, vagrants, and perfons 
 for trial ; all of whom, except two or three, 
 remained perfectly free from the complaint. 
 Several circumftances have confpired to pro- 
 duce this falutary effedl. The people confined 
 are frequently cleanfed and purified by the ufe 
 of the cold bath — they are kept conftantly em- 
 ployed—vegetables form a confiderable part of 
 their diet — in the yard, vegetation flourifiies 
 — and many of them being employed in flone 
 cutting, the water, conftantly running, keeps 
 the atmofphere in a moift flate, while the peo- 
 ple of Philadelphia have been uninterruptedly 
 parched up by unceafing heat. Elijah Weed, 
 the late jailor, caught the diforder in the city, 
 in the performance of the paternal duties to- 
 wards his daughter, and died in Jthe jail, 
 without communicating it to any of the people 
 confined. I hope I fhall be pardoned for pay- 
 ing a tribute to the memory of this valuable 
 citizen, under whofe government of the jail. 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 and with whofe hearty co-operation, moifc of 
 the regulations in that inflitution have* been 
 effected, which, with the fuccefsful e^eri- 
 ments made in England, prove that jails may- 
 be eafily converted from finks of human depra- 
 vity and wretchednefs, into places of reforma- 
 tion ; fo that, inftead of rendering the idle 
 vagrant, confined merely on fufpicion, or for 
 want of friends to protect • him, obdurate, 
 wicked, and ripe for rapine and fpoil, the 
 profligate and abandoned may leave them in a 
 Situation to become ufeful members of fociety. 
 For the honour of human nature, it ought to 
 be recorded, that fome of the convicts in the 
 jail, a part of the term of whofe confinement 
 had been remitted as a reward for their peace- 
 able, orderly behaviour, voluntarily offered 
 themfelves as nurfes to attend the fick at Bum- 
 hill, and have in that capacity conducted 
 themfelves with fo much fidelity and tender- 
 nefs, that they have had the repeated thanks 
 of the managers. Among them are {bine who 
 were formerly regarded, and withjuflice, ashar- 
 dened abandoned villains, which the old fyflem 
 was calculated to make every tenant of a jail, 
 who remained there a icw weeks. According 
 
( 8} ) 
 
 to the fame.fummary fyftem, thefe men's lives 
 would have been long fmce offered up as an 
 atonement to fociety for the injury they had 
 done it. That is, in plain Englifh, be cnufe fo- 
 ciety had fullered one injury by rapine, if 
 was neceffary it mould fuffer another by law- 
 But by the improved plan, they and great num- 
 bers of others are reflored to fociety and 
 ufefulnefs once more. So much better, although 
 not quite fo eafy, is it to reform men, than to 
 butcher them under colour of law and jufrice. 
 
 In the fumm-r of 179 1, the yellow fever pre- 
 vailed in New York, in a part of Water-ftreet ; 
 and in proportion to the iphere of its aftion 
 was as fatal there as it has been here. It began 
 in Auguft, and continued till the middle of 
 September, when it totally difappeared, and 
 has never (ince vifited that place. This fhould 
 eafe the fears of many among us, who, always 
 viewing the black fide of every thing, terrify 
 people with their prognoftications, that we 
 mail have it again next fpring or fummer. 
 All the fyrnptoms were full as dangerous and 
 alarming in New York, as in Philadelphia. 
 Many peribns died in three days ; u fhipor, 
 
( 86 ) 
 
 u delirium, yellownefs, the black .vomit, and 
 ct death', rapidly fucceeding each other. "$ Jt 
 fpread no farther at that time, than the one 
 ftreet, although no precautions, as far as I can 
 learn, were taken to prevent its extenfion. 
 The fame fpecies of diforder raged in this city 
 in 1762, with great violence. It difappearedin 
 the month of November, and has not from 
 that time until the prefent year vifited Phila- 
 delphia. 
 
 The fummer and fall of this year have been 
 unhealthy in many parts of the union, as well 
 as in Philadelphia. At Lynn, in MafTachufetts, 
 I have been informed, but have no means of 
 afcertaining the truth or falfehood of the re- 
 port, that a malignant fever, not unlike ours, 
 prevailed in Auguft. In many of the towns of 
 Virginia, fevers and agues have been much 
 more prevalent and dangerous then they have 
 been at former periods. Georgetown and its 
 vicinity, which are in general very healthy, loft, 
 
 note. 
 
 i Letter from a phyfician in New York, to his friend 
 in New Jerfey, Federal Gazette, Sept. 21, 1793. 
 
( 8 7 ) 
 
 in the courfe of a few weeks in fummer, an un- 
 exampled number of people by the flux, which 
 diforder has raged with great violence in many 
 other places. The influenza has fpread general- 
 ly through the union, and been very fatal. It 
 has been twice in Vermont, where likewife the 
 putrid fore throat has carried off numbers. At 
 Harrifburg and Middletown, in this ftate, the 
 flux and a putrid fever have been extremely 
 deftrudtive, and fwept away, I am credibly in- 
 formed, a fifteenth paTt of the inhabitants. De- 
 laware ftate, particularly Kent county, has fuffer- 
 ed much from fall fevers, which have produ- 
 ced a very great mortality. And various other 
 places have experienced a mortality, very un- 
 common, and which, but for the calamity of 
 Philadelphia abforbing public attention every- 
 where, would have created great alarms' and 
 uneafinefs. 
 
 Although the proceedings of many people in 
 Philadelphia have been ftrongly tinctured with 
 cruelty, and a total dereliction of every princi- 
 ple of humanity, yet the general conduct has not 
 been fo {hocking as in London during the 
 plague. In that city,when ahoufe was known t*. 
 
( 88 ) 
 
 have an infected perfon in it, it was fattened up, 
 andaguardplacedatthe door, topreventany one 
 from coming out, until after a quarantine of 40 
 days ; and if, during that time, any other was 
 infected, a new quarantine was impofed. Thus 
 entire families fell facrifices to an order, equal- 
 ly fenfelefs and cruel ; and by thefe means, dead 
 bodies lay often for weeks together in the moit 
 dreadful and noxious flate of putrefaction. 
 Such odious orders exifted not in Philadel- 
 phia. However, there have been various inftan- 
 ces of houfes being left to the care of a fervant 
 or two, who- fell (ick, and having no means of 
 communicating their diftrefTes to the neigh- 
 bours, peridied for want of affiftance. 
 
 I have learned with great pleafure, that a few 
 Jandlords, commiferating the diftrefles of their 
 tenants, have come to the very humane refo- 
 lution of remitting the payment of rents du- 
 ring the prevalence of the diforder. Were they 
 to enter into refolutions generally to do the 
 fame, it would reflect honour on them. But there 
 are fume whofe hardened hearts know no com- 
 panion, and who will have " the pound of 
 ". flefti — the penalty of the bond/' Indeed, 
 
( &9 ) 
 
 when the diforder was at the higheft flage, 
 fome landlords feized the fmall property of 
 poor roomkeepers, who were totally unable 
 to pay their rent. One man wrote to the com- 
 mittee, informing them that the poverty of his 
 tenants rendered it impoflible for them to 
 pay him ; he therefore begged the commit- 
 tee would, as they were appointed to relieve 
 the poor, pay the arrearages due him ! 
 Another perfon, a wealthy widow, produced 
 recommendations for fome poor roomkeepers, 
 her tenants ; and the committee gave them 
 each a fmall fum. As foon as they had received 
 it, flie feized the money and their clothes ! 
 
 As I have been obliged to note a variety 
 of horrid circumftances, which have a ten- 
 dency to throw a fhade over the human charac- 
 ter, it is proper to reflect a little light on the 
 fubjecl, wherever juftice and truth will per- 
 mit. Amidft the general defertion that prevail- 
 ed, there were to be found many illuurious 
 inftances of men and women, fome in the mid- 
 dle, others in the lower fpheres of life, who, 
 in the exercife of the duties, of humanity, 
 expofed themfelves to dangers, which te-xri- 
 M 
 
( 9° ) 
 
 fied men, who have hundreds of times faced 
 death without fear, in the field of battle. 
 Some of them, alas ! have fallen in the good 
 caufe ! But why mould they be regretted ! ne- 
 ver could they have fallen more glorioufly. 
 Foremoft in this noble groupe ftands Jofeph In- 
 fkeep, a moft excellent man in every of the fo» 
 cial relations, of citizen, brother, hufband, and 
 friend — To the fick and the fbrfakeu, whether 
 he was acquainted with them or not, has he 
 devoted his hours, to relieve and comfort them 
 in their tribulation. Numerous are the inftan- 
 ces of men reftored, by his kind cares and at- 
 tention, to their families from the very jaws of 
 death. — In various cafes has he been obliged 
 to put dead bodies into coffins, when no other 
 perfon could be had to perform that office. An- 
 drew Adgate's merit in the fame way, was 
 confpicuous, and of the laft importance to num- 
 bers of diftreffed creatures, bereft of every 
 other c6mfort. Of thofe worthy men, Wilfon, 
 and Tomkins, I have already fpoken. The rev. 
 jnr. Fleming and the rev. mr. Winkhaufe, 
 cxhaufted themfelves by a fucceffion of labours, 
 <lay and night, attending on the fick, and mi^ 
 niftering relief to their fpiritual -and temporal 
 
( 9' ) 
 
 wants. Of thofe who have happily fur vived their 
 dangers, and are preferved to their fellow citi- 
 zens, I fhall mention a few. They enjoy the fu- 
 jpreme reward of a felf-approving confciencej 
 and I readily believe, that in the moft fecret 
 receffes, remote from the public eye, they would 
 have done the fame. But next to the fenfe 
 of having done well, is the approbation 
 of our friends and fellow men ; and when the 
 debt is great, and the only payment that can be 
 made is applaufe, it is furely theworfl fpecies of 
 avarice, to withhold it. We are always ready, too 
 ready to beftow cenfure — and, as if anxious 
 left we mould not give enough, we generally 
 heap the meafure. When we are fo folicitous 
 to deter by reproach from folly, vice, and crime, 
 why not be equally difpofed to ftimulate to vir- 
 tue and heroifm, by freely beftowing the well, 
 earned plaudit? The rev. Henry Helmuth's 
 merits are of the moft exalted kind. His whole 
 time, during the prevalence of the diforder, 
 was fpent in the performance of the works of 
 mercy, vifiting and relieving the fick, comfort- 
 ing the afHicted, and feeding the hungry. Of 
 his congregation, fome hundreds have paid the 
 laftdebt to nature, fince the malignant fever 
 
( 9* ) 
 
 began ; and, I believe, he attended nearly the 
 whole of them. To fo many dangers was he 
 expofed, that he ftands a living miracle of pre- 
 fervation. The rev. C. V. Keating and the rev. 
 mr. Uftick have been in the fame career, and 
 performed their duties to the fick with equal 
 fidelity, and with equal danger. The venerable 
 eld citizen, Samuel Robefen, has been like a 
 good angel, indefatigably performing, in families 
 where there was not one perfon able, to ■ help 
 another, even the menial offices of the kitchen, 
 in every part of his neighbourhood. John Con- 
 nelly has fpent hours befide the fick, when their 
 own wives and children had abandoned them. 
 Twice did he catch the diforder— twice was he 
 on the brink of the grave, which was yawning 
 to receive him — yet, unappalled by the immi- 
 nent danger he had efcaped, he again returned 
 to. the charge. I feel myfelf affected at this part 
 of my fubjecr, with emotions, in which I hope 
 my reader will participate. And, as a human 
 being, I rejoice that it has fallen to my lot, to 
 be a witnefs and recorder of a magnanimity 
 which would alone be fufficient to refcue the 
 character of man from obloquy and reproach. 
 
( 93 ) 
 
 Shall I be pardoned tor palling a cenfure on 
 thole, whole miltaken zeal led them, during the 
 molt dreadful ilages of this calamity, to croud 
 fome of our churches, and aid this frightful ene- 
 my in his work of deftruction ? who, fearful 
 left their prayers and adoration at home would 
 not find acceptance before the Deity, reforted 
 to churches filled with bodies of contagious 
 air, where, with every breath, they inhaled 
 noxious miafmata ? To this lingle caufe I 
 am bold in afcribing a large proportion of the 
 mortality — And it is remarkable, that thole 
 congregations, whofe places of worlhip were 
 moft crouded, have fuffered the moll dreadful- 
 ly. Will men never acquire wifdom ? Are we 
 yet to learn that the Almighty architect of the 
 heavens and the earth does not require " tem- 
 " pies made with men's hands r" that going to 
 a place of worlhip, againlt the great law of felf 
 prefervation, implanted in indelible characters 
 by his divine hand, on the brealt of every one 
 of his creatures, conltitutes no part of the ado- 
 ration due to the maker and pi eferver of man-' 
 kind ? That a " meek and humble heart" is 
 the temple wherein he delights to be worlhip- 
 ped ? I hope not — I hope the awful leffon fome 
 
I 94 ) 
 
 of our congregations hold forth on this fubjec% 
 by a mortality out of all proportion to their 
 numbers, will ferve as a memento at all future 
 times, in the like critical emergencies ! 
 
 Of the number of citizens who fled away, it 
 is difficult to form any accurate eftimate. In 
 the city, from Vine to South ftreet, which has 
 been furveyed by a man employed by the com- 
 mittee, of 21,000 inhabitants, the number of 
 abfent people is dated to be 8600. But as this 
 bufinefs was feveral weeks performing, con- 
 fiderable variations mud neceffarily have taken 
 place. The emigration was not finifhed in thofe 
 ftreets examined in the early part of his pro- 
 grefs, — and towards the latter part, the immi- 
 gration had been already confiderable. Allow- 
 ing one to balance the other, and the remo- 
 vals in the liberties to have been equal to thofc 
 in the city, we (hall probably nor err much 
 when we eftimate the number who left the city at 
 about 17,000. This is not Co many as I fuppofed 
 when I laft wrote on the fubjedl*, at which time 
 
 NOTE. 
 * Independent Gazetteer, Ortober af. 
 
( 95 ) 
 
 I eftimated them at 23,000. Which of the two 
 is accurate, or whether either of them is fo, I 
 leave the reader to determine. 
 
 Some of thofe who remained in the city, 
 have, for reafons not very eafy to juftify, been 
 in the habit of reproaching thofe who fled, 
 with criminality, as deferters, who abandoned 
 their poftsf. I believe, on the contrary, that 
 as the nature of our government did not al- 
 low the arbitrary meafures to be purfued, which, 
 in defpotic countries would probably have ex- 
 tinguished the diforder at an early period 
 —it was the duty of every perfon to avoid the 
 danger, whofe circumfiances and fituation al- 
 lowed it. The effects of the defertion were, 
 
 note. 
 
 f If they were even guilty of a crime, it brought its owr. 
 punifhment ; ns I am fully convinced that thofe who 
 were abfent, and a prey to the anxiety caufed by the 
 frightful reports current, fufFered more than thofe who 
 remained. I fpeak from experience. In a few days abfence, 
 when the diforder had not reached its fummit, I heard 
 more terrific accounts of it, than in as many weeks in 
 Philadelphia, when it raged moft violently, and carried 
 off from eighty t« a hundred daily 
 
( 96 ) 
 
 moreover, faliitary*. The fphere of action of the 
 diforder was diminished. Two or three empty 
 houfes arrefted the difeafe in its progrefs, as it 
 was flowly, but furely travelling through a 
 ftreet, and probably refcued a neighbourhood 
 from its ravages. We fhall lonp- have to mourn 
 the fevere lofs our city has felt, in being bereft 
 of fo many valuable citizens : and had the 
 17,000 who retired, been in the city during the 
 prevalence of the diforder, and loft as large a 
 proportion of their number, as thofe did who re- 
 mained, we fhould, inftead of 4000 dead, have 
 loft nearly 6000 ; and perhaps had to deplore in 
 the number, another Clow, a Kay, a Lea, a 
 Sims, a Dunkin, a Strawbridge, men of exten- 
 five bufinefs, whofe lofs will be lonp; felt- — a Pen- 
 nington, a Glentworth, a Hutchinfon, a Sar- 
 jeant, a Howell, men endowed by heaven with 
 eminent abilities — a Fleming, a Graefsl, a 
 Sproat, men of exalted piety and virtue — a Wil- 
 
 N O T E. 
 
 * Perhaps had all our citizens remained, we fhould 
 have had famine added to our calamity ; whereas we had 
 plentiful markets during the whole time. The prices, too, 
 were in general not far beyond what they are ufually at 
 the fame feafon of the year. 
 
( 9? ) 
 
 Ion, an Adgate, a Baldwin, a Carroll, a Tom- 
 kins, citizens of moft eftimable chara&ers. Let 
 thofe, then, who have remained, regard their 
 long-abfent friends, as if preferved from death 
 by their flight, and rejoice at their return in 
 health and fafety — let thofe who have been ab- 
 fent, acknowledge the exertions of thofe who 
 maintained their ground. Let us all unite in 
 the utmoft vigilance to prevent the return of 
 this fell deftroyer, by the moft fcrupulous at- 
 tention to cleanfing and purifying our fcourged 
 city — and let us join in thankfgiving to that Su- 
 preme Being, who has, in his own time, flay- 
 ed the avenging ftorm, ready to devour us, 
 after it had laughed to fcorn all human efforts. 
 
 I omitted to inform the reader in the proper 
 
 place, that dr. Deveze and dr. Benjamin Duf- 
 
 field have gratuitoufly and with the utmoft 
 
 punctuality, attended at Bufhhill hofpital nearly 
 
 from the organization of the committee to the 
 
 prefent time. 
 
 N 
 
( 9» ) 
 
 Committee for relieving the feck and diflreJJ'ei, 
 appointed by a meeting of the citizens of Phi- 
 ladelphia, fummoned by advertifement in the 
 public papers, Sept. 13, 1793. 
 
 Prefident, 
 
 MATTHEW CLARKSON. 
 
 Secretary, 
 
 CALEB LOWNES. 
 
 Treafurer. 
 
 THOMAS WISTAR. 
 
 Managers of Bujhhill hofpital, 
 
 STEPHEN GIRARD. PETER HELM. 
 
 Orphan committee. 
 
 ISRAEL ISRAEL. JAMES KERR. 
 
 JOHN LETCHWORTH. J. SHARSWOOD. 
 
 Committee of diftribution. 
 
 ISRAEL ISRAEL. JAMES KERR. 
 
 JOHN HAWORTH. JACOB WITMAN. 
 
 JAMES SWAINE. J. LETCHWORTH. 
 
 MATHEW CAREY. J. SHARSWOOD. 
 
 THOMAS SAVERY. SAMUEL BENGE. 
 
( 99 ) 
 
 Supcrintendant of the burials of the dead, and 
 removal of tbefick. 
 
 SAMUEL BENGE. 
 
 Dijlributor of fupplies. 
 
 HENRY DEFOREST. 
 
 Committee of accounts. 
 
 JAMES SHARSWOOD. JOHN CONNELLY 
 
 Committee on the publication of letters, 
 
 CALEB LOWNES. MATHEW CAREY. 
 
 Decenfed members. 
 
 A. ADGATE. DANIEL OFFLEY. 
 
 J. D. SARGEANT, J O SEPH INSKEEP 
 
( ioo ) 
 
 Lift of a few of the inhabitants of Philadelphia, wh* 
 have died fince the jirjl of Augufl. 
 
 Andrevj Adgate, 
 Mrs. Adgate. 
 Robert AlUfon, Mt. 82. 
 fames Alder. 
 Mary Allen, Mt. 73. 
 
 Amand, 
 
 'Thomas P. Anthony. 
 Mrs. Annan. 
 Peter Ajlon, 
 Caleb Attmore, 
 George Baker. 
 Daniel Baldwin, 
 Edward Barrington, 
 J. J. De Barth, 
 Cornelius Barnes and two 
 
 fons. 
 Adam Baufch. 
 Mary Berry, Mt. J 5. 
 Claudius A. Bertier, 
 Samuel Bettel. 
 Nathaniel Blodgett. 
 Thomas Boone - , 
 Benjamin Bojlock, 
 Andrew Boshard, wife, 
 
 and mother. 
 Mr. Chace, 
 
 Thomas Carnes. 
 
 David Clark. 
 
 James Calbraith, jun. 
 
 Charles Carroll. 
 
 Joshua Creffon, 
 
 Thomas Clifford. 
 
 Matthew Conard. 
 
 Frederic Chriftian. 
 
 Andrew Clow, 
 
 Thomas Devonald, 
 
 Elizabeth Dickinfon, 
 
 John Davis, 
 
 John Dunkin, 
 
 Jofeph Dean, 
 
 F. X. Dupont, F. Con. 
 
 John Dickinfon. 
 
 Dr. John Dodds. 
 
 Rowland Evans. 
 
 Mr. Engle. 
 
 Francis Finlay, 
 
 Samuel Fisher. 
 
 David Flickwir, and 5 of 
 
 his family. 
 Nicholas Forsbcrg, Mt. jy 
 Mrs. Fergufon. 
 Barnabas Fearis. 
 
( .ioi ) 
 
 David Franks,, 
 
 Richard Gardiner. 
 
 Nathaniel Glover, 
 
 James Gilchrijt, 
 
 Dr. P. S.Glentzvorth, 
 
 Jofeph Gavcn, 
 
 "John Gucft,fcn. 
 
 Dr. Graham, 
 
 Jacob Graff. 
 
 John Hall, 
 
 Jacob R. Howell, 
 
 Jacob Howell. 
 
 Adam Hublcv, 
 
 Oliver C. Hull. 
 
 Michael Hay, wife, and 
 three children. 
 
 Parry Hall and ftfter-in- 
 law. 
 
 Mrs. Henfman, daughter, 
 
 fon-in-law, four grand 
 
 children, and a maid 
 
 fervant, all out of one 
 
 houfe. 
 
 Dr. James Hutchinfon. 
 
 J. D. Hamelin, 
 
 Reuben Haines, fen. 
 
 William Haffcl, 
 
 John Hockley. 
 
 William Hays. 
 
 H. Heathy. 
 
 Richard Humphreys, 
 
 Jofeph Infkcep. 
 
 Owen Jones, JEt. 84. 
 E. Jones, Mi. 64, 
 Mary Jones, 
 Samuel Johnfon, 
 Robert John/Ion, 
 Mrs. Keppele. 
 Ghrijhphcr Kv.cher. 
 Philip Kuchcr. 
 David Kay, 
 John H. Lombaert, 
 Catharine Lcmaigre, 
 Dr. John Lynn, 
 Abraham Lott, 
 Hufon Langflrcth. 
 James Lap/ley, 
 Samuel Lobdell, 
 Jfaac Lewis. 
 
 Alexander Lawrence, fen. 
 Alexander Lawrence, jwu 
 Thomas Lea, 
 Jofeph Mercier, 
 Anna Mercier, 
 Rev. Dr. Murray, 
 Sufan. Ali In or, at. 80, 
 Abigail Morris. 
 Benjamin M or re 11. 
 Jacob Morgan, 
 Hannah Morgan, 
 Jfaac Miller, 
 Richard Mafon, 
 Thomas M'Cormick, 
 Abraham Mafon. 
 
( 102 ) 
 
 John Morion, 
 Catharine Mullowney. 
 John Morrifon, 
 Elizabeth Morris, 
 Anne Mullen, 
 Peter Miercken. 
 Martin M'Dermot, 
 yohn Morgan. 
 'Thomas Miller. 
 Dr. yohn Morris. 
 W. Nicholls, JEt. 7$. 
 John M'Nair. 
 Thomas O'Hara, 
 Daniel Offiey. 
 Ja?nes Pickering. 
 Frederic Phile, 
 Sidney Paul. 
 
 Air. Peters and two J "oris. 
 Vincent M. Pelafi. 
 Matthew Parker, 
 Benjamin Pitfeld, 
 Elizabeth Pratt. 
 Samuel Penn, 
 Dr. John Pennington. 
 Benjamin Poultney. 
 Samuel Powell, 
 Alexander Penman. 
 Robert Patton, 
 George Rainsford, 
 Hannah Rogers. 
 James Read, JEt. y$. 
 John Richardfons 
 
 William Raj/ton, 
 Rachel Ralfton, 
 James Reid, 
 John Rudolph, 
 Jonathan Shoemaker* 
 John Todd, fen. 
 William Shipley, 
 Fred. W. Starman. 
 Woodrop Sims, 
 Jofeph Shoemaker^ 
 John Strawbridge y 
 John Stokes, 
 Samuel Swan. 
 Town/end Speakman. 
 Anna Sewell, JEt. 6j. 
 William Sellers, 
 Jonathan D. Sarjeanty 
 Rev. Dr. Sproat, 
 William Sproat, 
 Mary Sproat, 
 Nancy Sproat. 
 Rebecca Smith, 
 Philip Snyder. 
 Charles Syng and wife. 
 John Stuckard, wife, and 
 
 daughter. 
 Peter Stuckard, wife, and 
 
 daughter. 
 John Todd,jun. 
 Jofeph Tatem, 
 Peter Thomfon, fen. 
 Samuel Taylor, 
 
( I0 3 ) 
 
 Mr. Vanhorne. 
 John Wood, 
 Charles Williams, 
 James Worfkall, 
 Mrs. Webjier. 
 James Watkins* 
 John Wharton, 
 James Wilkinfon, 
 Eleanor Watfon, 
 Peter Webber. 
 
 William Whiiefidc, 
 Mrs. Willet, 
 William Waring, 
 Warner Washington. 
 John Wigton, and wife* 
 Mary Willing, 
 Jofeph Whitehead, 
 Mr. Wetherby and wife, 
 Agnes Toung. 
 
Lijl of all the Burials in the fevered grave yards of the city 
 and liberties of PhUacklpl.'ni, as taken from the Books 
 kept by Clergymen, Sextons f &C. from Avgufl \Jl to 
 November i^thy 1793. 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 
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OCTOBER, 
 
 S(£ 
 
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NOVEMBER. 
 
 
 .a >> u 
 
 & 
 
 H<= 
 
 £ tn ]o to 2 
 — — r-H 
 
 £ 
 
 w «• 
 
 £ I o 
 
 3 
 I 
 
 4 'A 
 
 
 to 3 
 
 Auguft _---.. » 325 
 
 September -.-.._ 1442- 
 
 O&ober - -» — c 1993 
 
 November - - - - - - - 118 
 
 Jews, returned in grofs - a 
 
 Baptifts, Do. • - - - - 50 
 
 Methodifts, - - - - - 32 
 
 free Quakers, Do. ----- --30. 
 
 German part of St. Mary's congregation - 30 
 
 Total 4031 
 
R 
 
 ("* Chrift Church - 1 73 
 
 Ftoteftant Epifcopalians < St. Peter's ... ic'9 
 
 C St. Paul's. ... 70 
 
 Tirft 73 
 
 Second _...-- 128 
 
 Prefbyterians 1 Third -- - - - - 107 
 
 1 Aflbciate - I a 
 
 (_Reformed - 33 
 
 r St. Mary's - - - »Jt 
 
 Roman Catholics < German part of do. - 30 
 
 C Trinity .... - 54 
 
 Friends 373 
 
 Free Quakers - - Returned in grofe. - 39 
 
 ^, {"Lutherans .----_ 641 
 
 ^ Calvinifts .----. 261 
 
 Moravians -------r 13 
 
 Swedes ---»---«. y_y 
 
 Baptifts - - Returned in grofs. - 50 
 
 Methodifts - - Do. - - 3» 
 
 TTniverfalifts' - 7, 
 
 Jews - - - - Do. % 
 
 Kenfingnn - 169 
 
 PottcYs field, including the new ground - - 1334 
 
 403* 
 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, 
 
 made in PHILADELPHIA, by 
 DAVID RITTENHOUSE, Efquire. 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 AUGUST, 179?. 
 
 
 t 
 
 Barometer. 
 
 Thermometer. 
 
 1 W 
 
 nd. 
 
 W 
 
 eather. 
 
 6 A. M. 
 
 3 p - M - 
 
 6 A. M. 
 
 3 P. M« 
 
 1 6 A. M. 
 
 3 P. M. 
 
 6 A. M. 
 
 3 p. M. 
 
 29 95 
 
 30 e 
 
 65 
 
 77 
 
 WNW 
 
 NW 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 fair, 
 
 30 1 
 
 30 1 
 
 63 
 
 81 
 
 NW 
 
 SW 
 
 fair, 
 
 far, 
 
 3° 5 
 
 29 95 
 
 6* 
 
 82 
 
 N 
 
 NNE 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 29 97 
 
 0° ° 
 
 65 
 
 8 7 
 
 S 
 
 SW 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 3° 5 
 
 30 1 
 
 -73 
 
 90 
 
 ssw 
 
 SW 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 30 2 
 
 30 
 
 77 
 
 87 
 
 sw 
 
 w 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 fair, 
 
 30 12 
 
 30 1 
 
 68 
 
 83 
 
 NW 
 
 w 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 3° * 
 
 2 9 95 
 
 69 
 
 86 
 
 SSE 
 
 SSE 
 
 fair,' 
 
 rain, 
 
 29 8 
 
 29 75 
 
 75 
 
 85 
 
 ssw 
 
 SW 
 
 iloudy, 
 
 fair, 
 
 29 9 
 
 29 9 
 
 6 7 
 
 82 
 
 w 
 
 sw 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 70 
 
 84 
 
 sw 
 
 wsw 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 8° ° 
 
 30 
 
 70 
 
 87 
 
 w 
 
 w 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 3 8 5 
 
 30 
 
 7i 
 
 89 
 
 sw 
 
 w 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 30 
 
 29 95 
 
 75 
 
 82 
 
 sw 
 
 sw 
 
 fair, 
 
 fain, 
 
 30 
 
 30 1 
 
 72 
 
 75 
 
 NNE 
 
 NE 
 
 rain, 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 30 1 
 
 30 i 
 
 70 
 
 83 
 
 NNE 
 
 NE 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 30 1 
 
 30 
 
 7i 
 
 86 
 
 SW 
 
 sw 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 30 1 
 
 30 
 
 73 
 
 89 
 
 calm 
 
 sw 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 30 1 
 
 30 1 
 
 72 
 
 82 
 
 N 
 
 N 
 
 fair, 
 
 cloudy/ 
 
 30 1 
 
 30 IE 
 
 69 
 
 82 
 
 NNE 
 
 NNE 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 3° i 5 
 
 30 2/ 
 
 62 
 
 83 
 
 N 
 
 NNE 
 
 'air, 
 
 fair, 
 
 3° 3 
 
 3° 3 
 
 63 
 
 86 
 
 NE 
 
 SE 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 3° 2 5 
 
 3° *b 
 
 63 
 
 85 
 
 calm 
 
 S 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 30 1 
 
 30 1 
 
 73 
 
 81 
 
 calm 
 
 calm 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 rain, 
 
 30 1 
 
 30 1 
 
 71 
 
 66 
 
 NE 
 
 NE 
 
 rain, 
 
 great rain,' 
 
 3° 1 5 
 
 30 i 
 
 59 
 
 69 
 
 NE 
 
 NE 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 30 2 
 
 S° s 
 
 65 
 
 73 
 
 NE 
 
 NE 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 30 2 
 
 30 1* 
 
 67 
 
 80 
 
 s 
 
 calm 
 
 cloudy» 
 
 clearing. 
 
 30 16 
 
 3° 1; 
 
 72 
 
 86 
 
 Calm 
 
 SW 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 fair, 
 
 30 1 
 
 30 1 
 
 74 
 
 87 
 
 calm 
 
 SW 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 74 
 
 84 1 
 
 sw 
 
 NW | 
 
 rain, 
 
 fair, 
 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, SEPTEMBER,! 795. 
 
 3 
 2 
 3 
 4 
 5 
 6 
 
 7 
 8 
 
 9 
 Jo 
 11 
 12 
 *3 
 
 35 
 36 
 
 a 9 
 
 20 
 
 21 
 
 22 
 S 3 
 
 £ 4 
 £5 
 26 
 
 «7 
 28 
 
 29 
 
 3° 
 
 Barome 
 a. m. 8 
 
 30 o 
 
 e 9 75 
 80 o 
 
 3° 15 
 30 15 
 
 29 97 
 3° ° 
 
 30 1 
 30 o 
 30 o 
 30 1 
 29 96 
 
 29 95 
 
 30 o 
 30 o 
 
 29 9 
 
 29 8 
 
 3° 3 
 
 3° 4 
 
 3° 3 
 
 30 o 
 30 o 
 30 1 
 
 30 2 
 
 3° *5 
 
 29 8 
 
 29 7 
 
 3° 5 
 3° 3 
 3° 35 
 
 ter. 
 p. M. 
 
 29 3° 
 
 29 8 
 
 3° J 5 
 
 30 1 
 
 29 95 
 
 30 o 
 30 1 
 30 o 
 30 o 
 30 o 
 
 29 9 
 
 30 o 
 3° 5 
 29 97 
 29 
 
 29 85 
 
 3° 35 
 3° 15 
 
 29 o 
 
 3° o 
 
 30 1 
 30 2 1 
 30 o 
 
 2 9 7 
 
 30 1.5! 
 3° 3 I 
 3o 3 
 
 6a. 
 
 rmometer. 
 m. 3 r . m. 
 71 85 
 73 86 
 60 
 
 55 
 62 
 
 70 
 
 65 
 64 
 66 
 
 64 
 62 
 
 58 
 
 57 
 58 
 
 65 
 
 70 
 
 66 
 44 
 45 
 54 
 59 
 63 
 62 
 
 65 
 
 61 
 
 58 
 64 
 
 54 
 56 
 57 
 
 75 
 80 
 
 89 
 
 77 
 70 
 80 
 72 
 72 
 76 
 72 
 
 79 
 80 
 84 
 67 
 
 70 
 69 
 78 
 83 
 81 
 
 7° 
 68 
 
 79 
 
 73 
 74 
 
 75 
 
 w 
 
 nds. 
 
 w 
 
 6 A. M. 
 
 3 p - M « 
 
 6 A. M. 
 
 Calm 
 
 SW 
 
 fog, 
 
 SW 
 
 SW 
 
 fair, 
 
 NW 
 
 N 
 
 fair, 
 
 w 
 
 W 
 
 fair, 
 
 SE 
 
 s 
 
 fair, 
 
 WSW 
 
 w 
 
 fair, 
 
 WNVV 
 
 NW 
 
 fair, 
 
 Calm 
 
 Calm 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 SE 
 
 NW 
 
 rain, 
 
 N 
 
 NNE 
 
 fair, 
 
 NNE 
 
 N 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 NW 
 
 NNW 
 
 fair, 
 
 NW 
 
 N 
 
 fair, 
 
 NW 
 
 NW 
 
 fair, 
 
 N 
 
 S 
 
 fair, 
 
 S 
 
 SW 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 N 
 
 N 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 N 
 
 
 fair, 
 
 Calm 
 
 SW 
 
 fair, 
 
 Calm 
 
 SE 
 
 hazey, 
 
 Calm 
 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 Calm 
 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 Calm 
 
 SE 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 NE 
 
 ENE 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 NE 
 
 NE 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 N 
 
 N 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 NW 
 
 NW 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 NW 
 
 NW 
 
 fair, 
 
 NE 
 
 ENE 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 Calm 
 
 SW j 
 
 foggy, 
 
 Weather. 
 
 3 P. M, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 cloud' 
 
 cloud' 
 
 fair 
 
 cloudy 
 
 fair, 
 
 cloud 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 cloud 
 
 fair, 
 
 hazey 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 cloudj 
 
 fair 
 
 cloudj 
 
 fair. 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair. 
 

 METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, OCTOBER, 1793. 
 
 Barometei 
 
 
 Thermometer. 
 
 7 A. M. 
 
 2 p. 
 
 M. 
 
 7 A. M. 
 
 2 r. M. 
 
 3° »5 
 
 3° 
 
 5 
 
 64 
 
 80 
 
 29 9 
 
 3° 
 
 5 
 
 70 
 
 72 
 
 30 2 
 
 3° 
 
 »5 
 
 50 
 
 72 
 
 2 9 75 
 
 29 
 
 7 
 
 59 
 
 72 
 
 30 
 
 3° 
 
 1 
 
 58 
 
 66 
 
 3° 3 
 
 3° 
 
 3 
 
 43 
 
 66 
 
 3° 45 
 
 
 
 46 
 
 
 3° 6 
 
 3° 
 
 6 
 
 53 
 
 68 
 
 3° 5 
 
 3° 
 
 4 
 
 53 
 
 70 
 
 30 2 
 
 3° 
 
 2 
 
 49 
 
 74 
 
 30 
 
 2 9 
 
 8.5 
 
 5» 
 
 74 
 
 26 6 
 
 29 
 
 55 
 
 58 
 
 64 
 
 29 s 5 
 
 29 
 
 (; 
 
 49 
 
 69 
 
 3© 5 
 
 3° 
 
 
 
 52 
 
 76 
 
 2 9 75 
 
 29 
 
 8 
 
 56 
 
 54 
 
 30 
 
 3» 
 
 
 
 37 
 
 53 
 
 30 1 
 
 30 
 
 1 
 
 37 
 
 60 
 
 30 1 
 
 3° 
 
 1 
 
 41 
 
 62 
 
 3o 
 
 29 
 
 9 
 
 5i 
 
 66 
 
 3o 
 
 30 
 
 c 
 
 44 
 
 54 
 
 3o 
 
 3° 
 
 2 
 
 49 
 
 59 
 
 2g 6 
 
 29 
 
 5 
 
 51 
 
 65 
 
 29 8 
 
 29 
 
 8 
 
 47 
 
 60 
 
 3o 3 
 
 3° 
 
 4 
 
 36 
 
 59 
 
 3o 4 
 
 3° 
 
 3 
 
 46 
 
 71 
 
 30 2 
 
 3° 
 
 2 
 
 60 
 
 72 
 
 So 3 
 
 3° 
 
 3 
 
 44 
 
 44 
 
 30 2 
 
 30 
 
 1 
 
 34 
 
 37 
 
 29 85 
 
 29 
 
 85 
 
 28 
 
 44 
 49 
 45 ' 
 
 3o 1 
 
 3° 
 
 j 
 
 28 
 
 3o 15 
 
 3° 
 
 2 
 
 42 
 
 Winds. 
 
 7 A. M. 
 
 sw 
 w 
 w 
 
 sw 
 
 N 
 
 NE 
 cairn 
 
 N 
 NW 
 
 E 
 
 W 
 SW 
 NW 
 SW 
 SW 
 NNW 
 NE 
 NW 
 
 N 
 NW 
 
 N 
 NW 
 
 W 
 
 w 
 
 s 
 
 calm 
 NNE 
 
 N 
 N N W 
 calm 
 calm 
 
 2 p. ;■[. 
 
 SW 
 NNW 
 
 SW 
 
 W 
 
 N 
 
 W 
 
 N 
 
 NW 
 
 NW 
 
 W 
 
 NW 
 
 NW 
 
 SW 
 
 N 
 
 N 
 
 NE 
 
 NW 
 
 N 
 
 N 
 
 NW 
 
 NW 
 
 W 
 
 NW 
 
 S 
 
 SW 
 
 NNE 
 
 N 
 
 NW 
 
 SW 
 
 NNE 
 
 Weather. 
 7A.M. 2 p. M, 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 fair, 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 rain, 
 
 fair, 
 
 calm, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 cUudy, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 ^air, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 rain, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 rain, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fa ; r, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 cloudy, fair,high w ? 
 
 loud} 
 cloudy, 
 cloudy, 
 fair, 
 
 liazy, 
 cloudy, 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 fair, 
 
 hazy, 
 
 rain, 
 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, NOVEMBER, 1793. 
 
 Barometer. 
 
 A. M. 2 P. M. 
 
 30 1 3° » 
 
 3° 3 30 2 5 
 30 1 30 o 
 
 29 8 29 9 
 
 3° *5 3o 1 
 
 29 8 29 65 
 
 29 8 29 8 
 
 29 8 29 8^ 
 
 29 9 2 9 95 
 
 Thermometer. 
 
 7 A.M. 2 
 
 P. M 
 
 40 
 
 4» 
 
 3 2 
 
 49 
 
 43 
 
 56 
 
 55 
 
 67 
 
 5 a 
 
 64 
 
 63 
 
 67 
 
 44 
 
 64 
 
 43 
 
 .56 
 
 4* 
 
 64 
 
 Wind. 
 
 A. M. 
 
 NNE 
 NNE 
 Calm 
 
 sw 
 
 NE 
 S 
 
 Calm 
 SSW 
 SW 
 
 2 P. M. 
 
 NE 
 NE 
 SW 
 SW 
 NE 
 S 
 
 sw 
 
 SW 
 SW 
 
 Wearier. 
 
 7 A- M. 4 P. 
 ain, cloudy 
 
 air, 
 
 loudy, 
 
 loudy, 
 rain, 
 
 loudy, 
 fair, 
 ■ c air, 
 fair. 
 
 fai . 
 
 cloudy^ 
 
 fair. 
 
 rain 
 
 cloudy, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 fair, 
 
 AIA 
 
Date Due 
 
 Jul! 
 
 
 
 
 ■p 
 
 
 
 
 JUL 5 ¥ 
 
 
 
 
 , • i 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Form 335— 15M— 7-36— S 
 
 
J. 
 
 616.928 C275S 345757