.a: a UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WASHINGTON, D. C. GPO 16—67244-1 OCCASIONAL ESSAYS O N T H E Yellow Fever, Containing a number of remarkable relative fads, as well as some encouraging ideas, that those cities of America, which for more than ninety successive years, had been ge- nerally preserved from the dreadful evil, may by the divine blessing on wise and pru- dent measures, experience in future, a simi- lar preservation from the dire calamities of a mortal pestilence. Addressed to those who have not forgotten what has happened, within a few years, among their friends and fellow citizens. By A PHILADELPHIAN. Printed by John Ormrod, No. 41, Chesnut- street. 1800. PHILADELPHIA, December, 1799. A.N historical account of a great mortality in the capital of England in the last Century, be- ing truly affecting even to the present time, it is not to be wondered at, that wbat was certainly known to a resident in a large city in the Tear 1793, should attract a more particular attention : ___Some of the circumstances relating to those events, as well as others of different years, have been publichly noticed at various periods ; but as in the course of time it has appeared more and more necessary to investigate the causes of our late calamities a succession of occasional Essays have been offered to a Neza-fe?'sey Printer, which as they have met a friendly reception, and the statement of facts with no contradiction, I have believed it right to have them re-published in a pamphlet, in ibis City ; being on a mhject which i v 1 conceive, is of very great importance, to the numerous Inhabitants of the principal Cities in my native Country.—As to any pecuniary motives of gain with respedt to this publication, they are altogether out of the question on the part of the present writer, who freely offers all the profits, if any, to the Managers of the Pennsylvania Hos- pital, for the benefit of that noble Institution, having still in respectful remembrance, the hono- rable example, and charitable disposition of its' first Founders, of every rank and denomination. To investigate the truth on an important sub- ject I believe may be of very interesting conse- quence, Mid I can truly say I have wished to do it in tbe following Essays in such a manner, as to give no just occasion of offence to a single member of tbe whole community. A PHILADELPHIAN. Note......In case the neat profits which may pos- sibly accrue from this publication, should a- Jnoant to any thing worth attention, the writer expresses a wish, that they may be applied to V the purchase of shares of tbe Schuylkill perma* nent bridge, provided that work should be car* ried on in tbe manner publickly proposed, but as before agreed, those shares to be and remain, with all their produce, for the benefit of tbe Pennsylvania Hospital, without any reserve whatever. FOR THE FEDERALIST, OR NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE. AN the early part of the present week, I borrowed of a friend several of the latest pa- pers published in that remarkable city, which, however healthy and prosperous in former times, has lately been affliaed with a most grie- vous and mortal sickness. In one of those pa- pers, dated the 19th instant, was inserted a part of a letter from Philadelphia, mentioning that in that city and New-York, more than twenty printers " have fallen viaims to the " terrible calamity which has desolated those " places." On first seeing another paper, dat- ed the 23th instant, I observed it was surround- ed by a black mark, which I supposed was an indication of mourning for some remarkable ( < ) person, or perhaps a beloved friend of the prin- ters, who had made his exit; and among the deaths I soon read the respeaed name of " septimus claypoole, one of the Proprietors "• of the American Daily Advertiser." This to me was not like the transient tidings of a news- paper ; it fixed upon my mind, and occurred to me that the youth was dear to his relations and friends \ and as one of the Editors of a conspicuous paper, he is to be regretted as a public loss. That printer is the last of those, of whom I had any personal knowledge, who have fallen viaims to the mortal calamity in the present year. The number of that class in particular, has been very great, and even greater in proportion than the number of phy- sicians of the last year, concerning whom there was published a short memorial, dated in the month of Oaober, 1797, in the city of Phila- delphia. These things have been, and they cannot now be recalled ; but as I have taken notice of another observation in the letter al- luded to, I think there will be no impropriety ( 8 ) in continuing a few remarks. The writer of that letter, after mentioning some things relate ing to the business of printers, concludes with the following sentiment. <( As nothing but " flight can save, if the fever appears at ano- " ther season, I shall consider it as a bounden " duty to avoid it." Hard alternative ! Grie^ vious indeed will it be, if thousands and tens of thousands of the inhabitants of our great cities should be obliged to fly from them so frequently as has lately happened. For my part, I wish for better things, and hope my countrymen will consider the case as it really is. The people of Philadelphia and Kensing- ton do know, that the disorder there has been imported in the years 1793, 1797, and 1798, having had the most undeniable proofs of this truth, as well as of the melancholy and distress- ing consequences. To try to remove the cause then, appeals to be the important objeft, and the proper and reasonable means of such removal I wish to ( 9 ) see promoted, in order that, if it be the will of Providence, the effeas may cease ; and for this purpose, I am willing, in a candid and modefl manner, to give some of my sentiments, having no objeaion to hear the sentiments of others, on a subjea of so much consequence. If then it should be thought too much to sus- pend the trade altogether from the fickly Is- lands during the fummer months, I think at the very least, the vessels from those islands should be unloaded at a proper distance from the city, suppose 40 or 50 miles; and in this case, a proper range of stores should be erected to re- ceive their cargoes; which, after being suitably inspected, might in proper time be transported from thence in other smaller vessels, and in such a manner as probably to prevent all danger; and that for the same reason, the vessels from those Islands should not, on any account, ap- proach the city in the summer months, but should take in their loading, when outward bound, at the distance above alluded to- This ( lo ) appears to me to be quite practicable, and not very difficult; but some may say, it would be at- tended with a great expence. Be it so; but what would the expence be, in comparison of raising buildings on the commons for thousands of the inhabitants, and maintaining them with every necessary, under very disagreeable circumstan- ces, and at a distance from their homes. As to danger from the dire disorder; as to the loss of lives in consequence of' it; as to the immense risk of property by the general desertion of the city ; these are not included in the account relating to the expence before al- luded to; and in fact, such dangers and dis- tresses are at this time too well known to re- quire any further explanation. If these transient hints should be acceptable, they are freely offered, and I conclude this im- perfect essay with making a short remark on another subject. In another of the papers, elated the 20th in- stant, I saw ' a complaisant encomium on the ( 11 ) charity, and benevolence of the PhiladelphianS towards the " suffering poor ;" a benevolence, as the writer says, " disinterested, and un- checked by narrow prejudice." This enco- mium was under the New-York head; and although that writer has due credit for his in- tention, yet it is certainly just, to view this mat- ter in a more extensive light, for the liberality of numbers in different states, deserves to be acknowledged in a proper manner; and if I am rightly informed, the thanks of the public, on behalf of the distressed, are partly due, even to individuals of different nations, who, as well as others, have contributed voluntarily on the truly mournful occasion. New-Jersey, October 23d. 1798. POSTSCRIPT. The writer of the foregoing, apologises for making a short remark, on one of the subjects C I2 )- of the Essayj which was written at a time when the lists, of mortality were terrible, and although many thousands had deserted the city, no doubt, their sympathetic feelings were then alive on the truly melancholy occasion: At such a time, it might be well supposed, that a comparatively small sacrince of interest would be as nothing in the scale, and that therefore, it- was unworthy of such a cause to limit the sacrince in too precise a manner. But after a certain period, the contagion had ceased, and the danger was apparently over. After which, to talk of storing cargoes at a considerable dis- tance from the city, might appear to some, a frightful requisition, and the suggestion of such an idea, unreasonable and improper. Now, if such an objection should arise, I wish to obviate it by the following explanation. I believe, that almost every article contained in, pipes, hogsheads, barrels, or boxes, would re- quire but a short delay,with respect to trans- portation in shallops, or river vessels, to the C 13 ) city. - - - As to storage of dangerous articles of merchandize* they would be few in num^ ber, and I really apprehend, such storage, at a proper distance, would be attended with no great difficulty, in comparison with an occasion of such an extraordinary magni- tude. But with respect to the vessels from the sickly Islands, I am more and more con- firmed in the opinion, that if they approach a city in the summer months, we have much reason to dread, that a renewal of the causes of our late calamities, may again pro- duce the like effects, and increase the sorrow^ of thousands and tens of thousands, not only in one city, but possibly, at different times, in all the largest cities of America. I have not used the word " permitted," in the above para- graph, lest it should be liable to a misconstruc- tion, sincerely wishing that by the judicious and friendly conduct of owners of vessels, their Captains, and mariners, united with other be- nevolent exertions, we may have the joyful oc- ( 14 ) casion, to thank providence, in future time, for our preservation from the Yellow Fever, and all its dreadful concomitants." L' ( IB ) IN the New-Jersey Gazette, of September 23d. 1799, there were re-publisbed, a number of Observations on a pamphlet, wbicb appeared in tpe Summer of tbe present year, on the subject of the origin of tbe Tellow Fever. Tbe Writer of those " Observations'"professedly differs from tbe author of tbe pamphlet on that subject; but at the same time, shews a proper respect for " his be- nevolent intentions," as well as his acknowledged abilities; in regard to which, tbe present writer, hopes a similar disposition will be also manifested from another quarter, by a short expression in tbe latter part of tbe following request. For the FEDERALIST, O R NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE. vJne of the Refugees from the distresses of the city of Philadelphia, in the year 1798, conveyed a few thoughts on the origin of the C I* ) calamities of that period, to the printer of the Federalist, which were readily accepted and published in his paper, dated the 29th, of Oc- tober last year; and as the same writer has again experienced a friendly asylum on the Eastern side of the beloved Delaware, he be- lieves it right to request, as an additional favor, that the enclosed piece, (which he never saw, until it was printed in the Philadelphia Gazette of the 19th ultimo,) may be inserted in the Trenton paper, being a performance so modest- ly worded, and so well adapted to the senti- ments of a great number of his respectable fellow-citizens, that he doubts not, a much more extensive publicity, than has yet happened, will be very acceptable to them, as well as to. the present writer; who admires the EfTay, not only on account of the respect it shews to an eminent Physician, but also for its valuable contents and intrinsic merits* New-Jersey, September 12th, 1799% C 17 J- The " observations" then follow, Which were written by a " A Citizen," who, (whether I have any personal knowledge of him or not} agrees with me in a belief, that " from frequent and various considerations of the subject, the cloud may at length.be dispelled, and truth with all its important consequences may ap- pear." With respect to docks, gutters, com- mon-sewers, &c. they have been so long k* use in Philadelphia, that I omit all the remarks*' of that writer concerning them, not because I think them improper in his performance, but being well known in our city, the inhabitant* are left to judge of them without a comments As to the constitution of the atmosphere, it- may be briefly remarked, that some of our lat- ter summers, in which the fever has appeared, have been incomparably cooler than some of those of former years, so that what the writer says on that subject I believe is undeniable. He then proceeds to give his opinion of the origin of the disorder; this he does in a serious C 18 ) manner, and for which I refer to the " ObserVa* tions;" as well as for other particulars. The same writer approves of the use of a Ventila- tor, and_thinks that every vessel should carry one, though that would not be sufficient to pre- vent the introduction of putrid cargoes.: As to the contagious nature of the disorder, it appears to me, that when we read of thou- sands of victims in one city only, it is sufficient to convince us of that particular. I hope to be excused for this cursory man- ner of noticing the performance alluded to, but in order to do it a small degree of justice, and to shew some of the valuable sentiments of the writer, in his own language, I insert the two last paragraphs of the " Observations," viz. " Although I differ from the Doctor, with re- gard to the origin of the disorder, I neverthe- less am of opinion, that the state of the atmos- phere may be very much affected by local causes; and that one state of it may be much more favorable to its propagation than another: C 19 ) Prudence therefore certainly dictates, that we should diligently use every means that may have a tendency to purify the atmosphere of the city. For however great may be our precautions, &c. [Be it so yet the following is a good copy of the sentiments of the present writer.] For the FEDERALIST, O R NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE. If the unaccountable and difcouraging ideas of a small part of my fellow citizens, were any thing like realities, with respect to local causes of the late calamities, how mis- erably depreciated in my view, would be my native city : It would appear to me like a place unfit to be inhabited, and where its native sons could not expect a fettled residence. But as I have said before, I hope for better things; I hope my countrymen will at length consider the case as it really is, and know that proofs almost innumerable might be adduced, to fhew ( 20 ) that the mortal fever, which has often been the means of desolating our greatest cities^ has been imported. This is a sentiment expressed in the Ian* guage of encouragement by the writer, who calls himself, " A citizen-" That writer, in a sensible performance published in the Phila* delphia Gazette, of the i9th ult. aiid re-pub- lished in the Trenton Federalist, No. 64. has this opinion, " That if the sources of impor- tation were properly guarded, our happiness would neither be disturbed, nor our prosperity blighted by so awful and dreadful a pestilence as yellow fever;" That such a calamity has been permitted to afflia the once happy Phi- ladelphia, at divers periods, is now notorious even in distant countries; and the distresses thereby occasioned, have caused the feeling sympathy of many of their inhabitants ; some of whom (it appears, by British publications) have shewn themselves desirous to investigate the cause, as well as to consider the probable ( 21 > means of prevention, by a comparison with what has happened in other lands. I desire not at this time to enlarge on their recent observations on the subjea, nor to say much on those innumerable proofs of impor* tation, many of which I should think, must now be so manifest to every reflecting mind, that to enter on particularsof that sort, would be like attempting to inform others of what they already Icnew. I shall jufl mention that several inftances of persons who have been taken from different vessels, at several wharves, to the hospital, and dying there, are among the numerous striking evidences of importation. \Yhen I consider those indubitable facts, relative to the capital of England in the last century, I think them worthy of attention at this distant period. It appears that in the year 1665, there was a dreadful pestilence in the city of London, that in the year 1666, the fatal disorder extended to a small town in Derby- shire, that the origin of their calamities was in- C 22 ) cdntrovertable in both places; and that from those periods to the present time, nothing of the sort has happened in either of those situa- tions : I say, when I consider those cases, I am strongly induced to hope, that under the favour of a superintending providence, and such reasonoble exertions as may be made by iny fellow citizens, such calamities may be, likewise, averted in future from my native city; and that Philadelphia may again re as- sume its former character, as a place of health and safety, not only for those who may remain there, but for tens of thousands of the scatter- ed refugees, who to avoid the dangerous sick- ness, have thought it best to desert their pro- per dwellings, and leave them without inhabi- tants. These wifhes, I believe, are not incompati- ble with a friendly disposition, towards the trading part of my fellow citizens ; whose in- terests, I would desire should be properly con- sidered ; their disadvantages compensated, for ( 23 ) some inconveniences; and that the honor of endeavouring to save the city, in future time from a dire calamity, might be their best re- ward. To avoid prolixity, I shall just refer to a re- membrance of what happened in the year 1798, respecting Baltimore, Wilmington, &c. and conclude this essay with some of the circum- stances relating to the town in Derbyshire, be- fore alluded to, of which the following is an exa6l copy of what was written in Philadelphia, some time since, on that memorable occasion, viz : " In the European magazine for July 1793, there is a remarkable account of a pestilence in a town called Eyam, in Derbyshire ; some of the particulars relating to it, are as follow: In the year 1666, one year after the plague in London, " this fatal disease visited seventy-six families, out of which two hundred and fifty- six persons died" The disease broke out in the spring of 1666, and ceased at the begin- ( 2* ) ning of October in the same year. It was supposed to have been brought from the me- tropolis in some woollen cloths that were pur- chased in that city soon after the plague of 1665, and which had not been fufficiently ventilated and fumigated. By the persuasion and authority of the excellent rector, William Mompeson, the inhabitants were prevailed up- on to remain within a certain district; and to the lasting, honor of the earl of Devonshire, then resident at Chatsworth, six or seven miles from Eyam, it appears that he caused provisions and the necessaries of life, to be placed on the hills at regular times, and ap- pointed places, to which the inhabitants re- sorted and carried them away. M. Seward, the last rector, the father of the elegant poe- tess of his name, preached a centenary sermon upon the plague in 1766, in the parish church of Eyam, composed with surch power of des- cription, and such a pathetic appeal to the feelings of his auditors, (many of whom had ( 25 ) lost some of their ancestors by that dreadful visitation) that he was continually interrupted by the exclamations and tears of his audience." Such a sermon on so melancholy an occasi- on, the present writer believes to have been consistent with the christian character ; a cha- racter disposed (as it ought to be) to treat a very serious subject with due solemnity. The consideration that so dreadful a calami- ty had not been permitted to visit the nation for one hundred years, must have been a cause of admiration to the pathetic preacher, as well as to his much affected auditors; who, it is proba- ble, were struck with a benevolent sense of gratitude (on this account) to the all wise dis- poser of events, on behalf of their beloved country. New-Jersey, September 30, ( 26 ) f or the FEDERALIST, O R NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE. As ^ may appear by a late publication, that the present writer was born in the city of Phi- ladelphia, he presumes he has a right to know something of that city for a course of years, having actually resided there more than half a century. He again presents his respects to the New-Jersey Printer, and with an acknow- ledgment of his late civilities, is willing to offer him the following observations. In the early part of my time, I was inform- ed by history, that soon after the firft settle- ment of Pennsylvania, a terrible disorder, si- milar to that which has been experienced to be of a contagious nature, and of a mortal ten- dency, was truly dreadful to the inhabitants of the capital. That calamity happened in the year 1699, when the city was thinly settled; and I believe 110 m~r: ever suggested an idea, ( 27 > that the disease of that period Was occasioned, cither from the filthiness of the place, or the insalubrity of the air or climate. Very differ- ent from fuch an idea was the experience of my ancestors and of my cotemporaries, who had reason to know that Philadelphia was jufl- ly esteemed a healthy situation, and that it was frequently resorted to by numerous enfeebled foreigners, who knew its eftabliihed character and although strangers in the country, were Willing to acknowledge its due credit in that refpect. Until 1793, it is also well known, that the citizens were never much alarmed in the whole course of the present century, even, with an imported contagion. The calamity of that yeaf was so new to the people ; the sailors died so fast at the lodging houses near the river; and the terror was soon so great among the inhabi- tants, that any thing like a suitable enquiry appeared impracticable; such in fact was the * D ( 2*> ) rapidity of distress in the neighbourhood of a certain vessel, and such was the danger of communication in that infected part of the city, that it required the spirit of a Howard in any man to visit his nearest friend. The disorder proceeded, and it may be well remembered, that the deaths were from 80 to^LOO for many successive days: In that calamitous time it was my lot to dwell in different parts of the afflicted city, and I cannot but remember many of the mournful scenes of that awful period. Notwithstanding the dreadful mortality above hinted at, the city of Philadelphia was favoured to enjoy again its natural state of health and safety, in the years 1794. 95, and 96, although the imported fever prevailed in a terrible manner in the city of New-York in the year 1795; concerning which the moft ample proofs could be produc- ed, as well as that it again prevailed in Phila- delphia in the year 1797. Much has been ( a» ) written on those occasions ; and enough might be also said to prove in the clearest manner, that the disorder was again imported in the present year 1799. On the last occasion I shall avoid particulars at the present time ; but if the printer is willing to give his subscribers a copy of what was written as long since as last December, respecting the year. 1798, he is welcome to the following for that purpose, as it may serve, for one of the memorials on a, very important subject, videlicet. " When I consider the recent public loss of those respectable physicians Francis Bowes Sav- er, and Samuel Cooper, as well as many others of different professions and worthy characters in the grand community, it seems as if words were wanting to express a proper sense of that " immense mass of distress," which ne- ver fails to accompany a mortal epidemic. These words " immense mass of distress," I have taken the liberty to borrow from a (or-. ( 30 ) mer publication, as they appear to me to con- vey an extensive idea of the nature of a dis- ease, for the prevention of which, it ought to be the wish of every humane rqind that there may be an union with respect to the most im- portant object. To prevent, if possible, the importation, J. believe to be a consideration worthy of the first attention; arid in this line, I have now to rejoice in the success of the city of Baltimore in the prefent year, as it appears by the mosj; credible information to have escaped the gene- ral contagion. While several other cities were in a grievous state of affliction, the inhabitants of Baltimore were blessed with the enjoyment of health, and were pursuing their business without material interruption, under the pecu- liar favour of a well directed caution. I re- peat it, that I rejoice in their welfare, and con- gratulate them on the subject, that the yellow fever, that dire disease, has lately made no. progress within their borgers. ( 3! ) At City-Point, in Virginia, the case was dif- ferent; the disease was imported there; and some of the particulars of that importation are as follows: It appears that the ship Nestor, Capt. Ro- gers, arrived from Liverpool, about the mid- dle of July ; that she delivered her dry goods in excellent order; and that another part of her cargo being the article of salt, together with other circumstances, were the most evi- dent proofs of that vessel having arrived at the port of Philadelphia in the most wholsome state, and as free from every kind of suspicion of any disease as, perhaps, any vessel what- ever from other parts pf Britain. That ship, the Nestor, nevertheless, was so unfortunate as to lay in the neighbourhood of one or more of those vessels which were suspected to have brought the fever ; certain it is, that a young man who came in the Nes- tor and wTas said to have been on board one of the vessels, was taken sick and died, and a ( 32 ) material difficulty occured respecting his bu- rial, Not long after, when the captain was collecting his freight, he mentioned his diffi- culty to this purpose ; that his veffel was in- tended for Virginia to take in a load of tobac- co ; but observed, that he did not know what was the matter with his people ; they sickened in such a manner that he was afraid they could not proceed on the voyage. It so hap- pened, however, that the attempt was made ; that on the voyage there were three or four. deaths, and on their arrival at City-Point, in Virginia, about the number of ten men, who, Were employed on board, were taken sick and died; and by public accounts it appears that \he mortality spread in a very terrible manner at that unfortunate place, where if it had not been for the arrival of the Nestor with the yellow fever, it is very probable the inhabitants of City-Point might have been as free from, that calamity as the inhabitants of Baltimore^ or even of the moil northern climate. ( 33 ) Other particulars respecting that importation might be easily adduced, but the material facts in that case, as well as those respecting a number of other places, where the disorder has appeared, have been so evident and so notori- ous, that it may be thought almoft needlefs to mention them : Even the town of Lamberton is another proof of importation, and the more remarkable, as the situation is much higher than many other towns, yet when the disease was lately brought there, it is well known that there was a very considerable mortality among ihe inhabitants in comparison with the small- ness of their numbers. Such facts, it is believed, deserve to be pub- lished on a subject so truly interesting to the people of America. With respect to Philadelphia and Kensing- ton, so much has been said on the subjeet al- luded to, that it requires a caution to avoid a needless repetition; but it may be truly ob- served respecting those places, that the great ( 54 ) mortality which prevailed there, has not been secreted from the public knowledge, nor has it been wished by numbers of the moft sensible inhabitants to secret the manner of its intro- duction.- I shall just add, that notwithstanding my opinion is so fully manifested on the origin of our late calamities, yet I am so far from an unfriendly disposition towards well adapted water-works for public utility, that when my countrymen appeared disposed to proceed with an extensive canal, my wishes were united for their success, even from the river Delaware to Norris-Town on the river Schuylkill; and in fact, so much was I interested in that ex- pectation as to have believed, that a part' of that canal might have been brought into emi- nent public usefulness before this time. A PHILADELPHIA!*.' December 1, 1798. Note. It appears that Capt. Rogers left the ship Nestor at Philadelphia, and that she was ( 35 ) For the FEDERALIST, O R NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE. [Further remarks tending to prove the impor* tation of tbe Yellow-Fever.] A.t the time when the account was writ- ten relative to the ship Nestor, perhaps it waa hardly possible to ascertain many particulars concerning the young man, who came in that vessel, and was one of the earliest known vie- times of the mortal fever, which prevailed in Philadelphia in the year 1798 : But as I had occasion some time after to be at the Hospital- Island, I had an opportunity of conversing with the principal overseer at that place, and on asking him, whether he knew any thing of a young man who v/as said to have been brought there near the commencement of the E navigated by another captain from thence, in the disasterous voyage to City-Point in Virginia** ( 36 ) fever, he immediately recollected the circum stance, and complaisantly shewed me the ori- ginal order for the admission of " David Pe- rington, who had arrived in the ship Nestor, Captain Joshua Rogers, from the port of Li- verpool :*' The order' was dated the 30th of July, 1798 ;" and I was further infornied, that the ycning man was brought there a corpse; that the captain attended the burial with much affection £ and as it was understood they were brothers in law as well as fellow passengers, I doubt not, it was one of those scenes of sincere a'ffiiction, of which such extraordinary num- bers were soon exhibited to surviving friends. " The foregoing shews something of what happened as a commencement of the calamity of the year 1798 ; and what follows is equally certain with respect to the present year 1799. As early as the 9th of July last, I heard from a very respectable fellow-citizen, that there'was one or more vessels'from the Hava-: na, at the still-house wharf Soon after, it (. 37 ) was whispered that there were several suspi* cious cases of the yellow fever in that neigh- bourhood ; and soon the evidences became too manifest to be disputed by reaspnable men: Among other cases the following was so noto- rious, as early as the 19th of July, that it was thought worthy rf particular observation, viz* ; A pump maker (a man of property) whose place of residence was near the still-house. wharf, had been to New-York, and on his arrival from thence the 12th of the month, he heard that several of his family were sick j an wharf, at the same time, in unloading their car* goes. On the same day the owner of the\&hip Connecticut was siezed with the fever, "from Which he recovered; and about the same time one of the mates, the steward, and two ~o£ the hands, were siezed, in the same way and all died." Benjamin Paine, custom-house of- ficer, was likewise attacked on the 25th; lie died on the 30th. W. F's clerk, occupied in a store on the next wharf to where the Caro* line lay, was taken on the 26th and died a few days afterwards. A. Jenkins, at the head of the wharf was attacked on the 30th or 31st and died; a few days afterwards several of his family were taken sick, and the disorder be- gan to spread through the surrounding neigh- bourhood." I conclude this essay with believing, that af- ter such facts as those, which have been fairly exhibited, it might be thought entirely super- fluous to add another proof of importation, ( 42 ) especially as in the sultry weather of the year 1794, it is well known to the present writer, that the cities of Philadelphia and New-York, were then esteemed as places of health and safety, not only for their regular inhabitants, but also for passengers in general: and with respect to the city of New-York, it is not re- membered that asingle case_o£ sickness was heard of for several days, by one of those who at that particular period was an accidental and friendly visitor. A PHILADELPHIAN. New-Jersey, Nov. 22, 1799.