OLD FAMILY LETTERS 
RELATING TO 
THE YELLOW EEVER 
Miseris succurrere disco. 
2Eneid. 
PRESS OF 
J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY, 
PHILADELPHIA. 
1892. Copyright, 1892, by Alexander Biddle. OLD FAMILY LETTERS 
RELATING TO 
THE YELLOW FEVER 
Philada : Aug: 21. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-To prevent your being deceived 
by reports respecting the sickliness of our city, I sit 
down at a late hour, and much fatigued, to inform you 
that a malignant fever has broken out in Water Street 
between Arch and Race Streets which has already 
carried off twelve persons within the space which has 
been mentioned. It is supposed to have been produced 
by some damaged coffee which had putrified on one of 
the wharves near the middle of the above district. The 
disease is violent and of short duration. In one case it 
killed in twelve hours, and in no case has it lasted more 
than four days. Among its victims is Mrs. LeMaigre. 
I have attended three of the persons who have died 
with it, and seven or eight who have survived, or who 
are I hope recovering from it. 
As yet it has not spread thro' any parts of the city 
which are beyond the reach of the putrid exhalation 
which first produced it. If it should, I shall give you 
notice, that you may remain where you are till you 
receive further advice and information from me. The 
3 4 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
influenza continues to spread, and with more violent 
symptoms than when it made its first appearance. I 
did more business in 1780 than I do at present, but with 
much less anxiety, for few of the diseases of that year 
were attended with any danger, whereas now, most of 
the cases I attend are acute and alarming, and require 
an uncommon degree of vigilance and attention. 
Aug: 22. 
Marcus has been ill with the influenza, but is now 
better. Rich'd: Ben, and all the rest of the family are 
in good health. 
I have just rec'd: a letter from Dr. * * * in which 
he has the following paragraph : " I have just seen Mr. 
Woolstonecraft. He does not like your lands, and 
that for the most childish reasons. He says that he 
saw but one flight of pheasants, three fishy ducks and 
not one woodcock on the whole creek, and that he will 
never settle anywhere where he cannot support himself 
by his gun." 
So much the better ! I have received since you left 
town conveyances for nearly all the lands I sold to the 
New Eng'd. men. They adjoin the lands sold by 
Rob't. Morris to the French Company who are about 
to improve them in the most extensive manner next 
Spring. All is for the best and all will end well. 
A son of Dr. Priestley has just arrived in this city 
from France. He gives a most distressing account of 
the affairs of that country. But let us not despair. 
Chaos existed before the order and beauty of the uni- 
verse. The devil who is the present tenant of our 
world, will not quit his hold of it till he has done the OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
5 
premises all the mischief that lies in his power, but go 
he must sooner or later, with all his family of nobles 
and kings. 
Adieu : with love as usual I am my dear Julia, 
Yours affect'y, 
Benjn Rush. 
P.S.-John should come home as soon as his vaca 
tion expires. 
Philadelphia, Aug: 25. 1793.. 
My dear Julia,-Since my letter to you of Friday, 
the fever has assumed a most alarming appearance. 
It not only mocks in most instances the power of 
medicine, but it has spread thro' several parts of the 
city remote from the spot where it originated. Water 
Street between Arch and Race Streets is nearly deso- 
lated by it. This morning I witnessed a scene there, 
which reminded me of the histories I had read of the 
plague. In one house I lost two patients last night, a 
respectable young merchant and his only child. His 
wife is frantic this evening with grief. Five other 
persons died in the neighbourhood yesterday afternoon 
and four more last night at Kensington. The College 
of Physicians met this afternoon to consult upon the 
means of checking the progress of this dreadful dis- 
ease. They appointed a Committee to draw up di- 
rections for that purpose. The Committee imposed 
this business upon me, and I have just finished them. 
They will be handed to the Mayor when adopted by 6 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
the College and published by him in a day or two. I 
hope, and believe that they will be useful. 
After this detail of the state of the fever, I need 
hardly request you to remain for a while with all the 
children where you are. Many people are flying from 
the city, and some by my advice. Continue to commit 
me by your prayers to the protection of that Being who 
has so often manifested his goodness to our family by 
the preservation of my life, and I hope I shall do well. 
I endeavour to have no will of my own. I enjoy good 
health and uncommon tranquility of mind. While I 
depend upon divine protection, and feel that at present 
I live, move, and have my being in a more especial 
manner in God alone, I do not neglect to use every 
precaution that experience has discovered, to prevent 
taking the infection. I even strive to subdue my sym- 
pathy for my patients, otherwise I should sink under 
the accumulated loads of misery I am obliged to con- 
template. You can recollect how much the loss of a 
single patient once in a month used to affect me. Judge 
then how I must feel, in hearing every morning of the 
death of three or four ! 
I shall confine John and Richard to the house, and 
oblige them to use precautions against the disorder. 
My mother and sister are so kind and attentive as to 
prevent all our wants and wishes. 
My love to your uncle and aunt and all the children. 
I am afraid you will burden our good relations, No- 
this cannot be. They love you, and they love to do 
offices of kindness and humanity. 
Adieu ; from your 
sincere and affectionate 
Benjn Rush. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
7 
P.S.-"Seeking thou great things? Seek them not, 
for behold I bring evil on all flesh." What powerful 
antidotes are war and pestilence to pride, vanity and 
ambition ! 
Aug: 26: I am still preserved, and in good health. 
What a blessing ! 
Philada Aug : 26th 1793. 
My dear Julia,-The boys have discovered so much 
apprehension of being infected by my clothes, and I 
think so justly, that I have concluded to send them to 
Trenton. If our uncles house is too crowded already 
to receive them, perhaps they may be accommodated 
at Mr. Armstrong's. Do attend to their reading some- 
thing useful every day, during their absence from town. 
I dread very much their contracting habits of idleness. 
All the schools in town are either broken up by design, 
or mouldering away by the daily desertion of scholars 
into the country. It is indeed a serious time. Dejec- 
tion sits upon every countenance. Tomorrow the direc- 
tions of the College of Physicians will be published. I 
hope they will do good, but I fear no efforts will totally sub- 
due the fever before the heavy rains or frosts of October. 
Five persons died this morning in Water Street, and 
five more are expected to die tonight among whom is 
Mrs. Duncan's son, the merchant. He lies in 2nd. 
Street near the corner of Walnut Street. 
After a busy day, I continue to enjoy good health. 
Help me to thank the divine Preserver of Men for it. 
Adieu. From my dear Julia 
yours sincerely, 
Benjn Rush. 8 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
P.S.-August 27th. Still in good health, tho' called 
out of bed at y2 after five o'clock. Keep the boys 
from exposing themselves to heat, cold, dampness and 
fatigue. Again adieu. The boys will give many anec- 
dotes of Ben. He is in fine health, and every body 
says has grown handsome. He is as much devoted to 
Aunty Wallace, as he used to be to his Marne Teen. I 
enclose you a half Joe for contingent expenses. 
Aug: 27, 93. 
Tuesday night, io o'clock. 
My dear Julia,-I feel very much for the safety of 
both the boys. They are both indisposed with the 
headache, and by no means in a condition to travel in 
the night, but of two dangers I believe they have 
chosen the least. I have advised them to go to bed as 
soon as they reach Trenton, and by no means to expose 
themselves to cold, heat or fatigue during their absence 
from town. 
The disease spreads, and a most alarming apathy as 
to exertion prevails among our citizens. Our neigh- 
bourhood will be desolate in a day or two. Dr. * * *, 
Mr. Chew and Mr. Lewis's families are all on the wing. 
Young Mr. Duncan died this afternoon, much beloved 
and lamented by all who knew him. 
Adieu. In mercy to my fellow citizens and family, 
my life so long and so often forfeited to divine justice, 
is 5/zZZ preserved. My love to each of the children. 
For some days past, my mind has been so occupied 
with the immense objects now before me, that I had 
almost forgotten them. Tell them all that the best OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
9 
proof they can give of their affection for their Papa is 
to pray for his health and life, and to be dutiful to their 
Mama and kind to each other. 
From your affectionate 
Benjn Rush. 
My dear Julia,-Your letter dated yesterday came 
safe to hand. 
I am pleased with your situation at your good aunts. 
Be assured that I will send for you, if I should be seized 
with the disorder, for I conceive that it would be as 
much your duty not to desert me in that situation, as it 
is now mine not to desert my patients. I have sent 
Becky with Ben to Mr. Bradford's farm this afternoon. 
They were most affectionately received by Betsey John- 
son. Mrs. Wallace furnished them with tea, coffee, 
sugar and sundry other things to render them less 
burdensome to our good friends. The disease has 
raged with great virulence this day. Among the dead 
are Woodruf Sims, and Mr. Stiles the stone cutter. 
The last exhibited signs of the plague before he died. 
I have seen the same symptoms in the hospital fever 
during the late war. They have however greatly in- 
creased the terror of our citizens, and have excited an 
apprehension that it is in reality the Plague, but this I 
am sure is not the case, altho' it comes nearer to it in 
violence and mortality than any disease we have ever 
before had in this country. Its symptoms are very 
different in different people. Sometimes it comes on 
with a chilly fit, and a high fever, but more frequently 
Philad* Aug: 29th 1793. 10 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
it steals on with headache, languor and sick stomach. 
These symptoms are followed by stupor, delirium, 
vomiting, a dry skin, cool or cold hands and feet, a 
feeble slow pulse, sometimes below in frequency the 
pulse of health. The eyes are at first suffused with 
blood, they afterwards become yellow, and in most 
cases a yellowness covers the whole skin on the 3rd. 
or 4th. day. Few survive the 5th. day, but more die 
on the 2nd. and 3rd. days. In some cases the patients 
possess their reason to the last, and discover much less 
weakness than in the last stage of common fevers. 
One of my patients stood up and shaved himself on 
the morning of the day he died. Livid spots on the 
body, a bleeding at the nose, from the gums and from 
the bowels, and a vomiting of black matter in some 
instances close the scenes of life. The common reme- 
dies for malignant fevers have all failed. Bark, wine 
and blisters make no impression upon it. Baths of hot 
vinegar applied by means of blankets, and the cold 
bath have relieved and saved some. Mrs. Chalmer 
owes her life to the former remedy. She caught it 
from her husband, who caught it in Water Street near 
the place where it originated. He too is upon the re- 
covery. This day I have given mercury, and I think 
with some advantage. Dr. * * * and myself consult 
much together, and I derive great support and assist- 
ance from him in all my attempts to stop the progress 
of this terrible malady. He is an excellent man, and 
rises in his humanity and activity with the danger and 
distress of his fellow citizens. I have advised all the 
families that I attend, that can move, to quit the city. 
There is but one preventative of it that is certain, and 
that is " to fly from it." OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
11 
Johnny Stall sleeps and eats with us, and thereby 
relieves me very much. My mother and sister are a 
part of the means that providence employs to preserve 
me from the infection. . They are very kind. Mrs. 
Wallace has contrived a small mattress on some chairs 
on which I rest myself by lying down every time I come 
into the house. Adieu, with love to your Mama, your 
aunts, the children, and all friends, I am my Dear Julia 
Your faithful and affectionate 
Benjn Rush. 
Aug : 30th. Another night and morning have been 
added to my life. I am preparing to set off for my 
daily round of duty, and feel heartily disposed to say 
with Jabez, " O that the hand of the Lord may be with 
me" not only to preserve my life, but to heal my poor 
patients. Betsey's relations are all well. 
My dear Julia,-In the language of good old Dr. 
Sproats prayer I am enabled yet to thank God " that I 
am alive, while others are dead." Two persons have 
died at Mrs. Lewis', next door to Peter Bayntons with 
the malignant fever, viz : Two of the Misses Mifflins. 
A woman has died with the same disorder in Dock 
Street near and her husband will probably 
follow her before tomorrow morning. Thirty eight 
persons have died in eleven families in nine days in 
Water Street, and many more in different parts of the 
city. Funerals are conducted agreeably to the advice 
of the College of Physicians. It is indeed truly affect- 
Philada Septem : i. 1793. 12 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
ing to see a solitary corpse, on the shafts and wheels 
of a chair, conducted thro' our streets without a single 
attendant in some cases, and with only 8 or io in any 
instance, and they at a small distance from it on the 
foot pavement. 
This evening I fear I shall lose a son of Joseph 
Stansbury, a sweet youth, a little older than our Rich- 
ard. It has been peculiarly fatal to young people. I 
rejoice that our boys escaped from the city. I hope 
they avoid fatigue, heat and cold, for if they carried 
the smallest portion of the infection out of town with 
them, it may be excited into action by either of the 
above mentioned means. 
I have rec'd. a kind letter from Miss Rachel Brad- 
ford, full of inquiries after the state of the disease, and 
of solicitude for my preservation. May her unmerited 
goodness return fourfold into her own bosom! It is 
painful to look back upon what we have seen, but more 
distressing to look forward. I fear we have seen only 
the beginning of the awful visitation. I find in a small 
record which I kept when an apprentice of the yellow 
fever in the year 1761, the following paragraph which I 
read with anticipating horror, " It began in August and 
prevailed in September, October, November and De- 
cember, carrying off for some time twenty persons in a 
day." In confirmation of this note, Mr. Duche tells 
me, that he frequently at that time buried twelve per- 
sons in a day in Christs and St. Peter's Church yards. 
But I fear I shall tire you with tales of woe. I cannot 
help it. " Of comfort now let no man speak, Let's talk 
of graves-of tombs-of epitaphs, Make dust our 
paper, and with rainy eyes, write sorrow on the bosom 
of the earth." OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
13 
No part of your last letter pleased me more than 
your determination to be more thankful for the mercies 
of God hereafter, and more faithful in improving them 
to the purposes of his glory, and your eternal happi- 
ness. O the littleness of greatness ! Thrones-titles 
-splendid and even commodious houses-wealth- 
friends-what are they all when viewed thro' the 
medium of a relentless and desolating fever? Help 
me my dear Julia by your prayers to " be always ready." 
I have cut out much work for my divine master to be 
performed in months or years to come, but if he means 
to have it completed by other hands, " His will be 
done." I can truly say I am more anxious to be par- 
doned, and to be delivered from the guilt, dominion and 
punishment of my sins, than to be preserved from the 
present pestilential fever. If I survive the present dan- 
gers to which I am exposed, what offering of gratitude 
will ever equal the infinite weight of my obligations to 
my gracious deliverer? You must help me to be more 
humble, more patient, more devout, and more self- 
denied in everything. 
Adieu : with love as usual I am 
my Dr. Julia 
yours sincerely 
Benjn Rush. 
Sep. 2. I have just received your letter and am satis- 
fied with all your arrangements. I enclose you 20 
dollars. Do write to the boys to take care of them- 
selves, and to avoid the worst of all infections-the 
vices of the College. I have been four times interrupted 
by different calls since I sat down to write this postscript. 
Adieu. Love to dear Mrs. Cox and all your uncles 
family. 14 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
Philada Sep. 3. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-Another day thro' divine goodness 
has been added to my life, and I feel as if I had sur- 
vived a battle. I have had five new cases today, all to 
patients in the yellow fever. Of the twelve to whom I 
was called yesterday, eight are out of danger, from the 
powerful operation of the medicine I mentioned in my 
letter of yesterday. I have sent an account of it to Dr. 
* * *. Mr. Lewis is in a safe way, but our neighbour 
Mr. Hawkins is infected. His boy, who yesterday and 
last night was in the delirium of a fever, today is down 
stairs, and entirely free of danger. But this success 
has been checkered, for I have lost two patients whom 
I attended in consultation, one of them Stevens the 
sadler, who makes the 6th. of his family that has fallen 
a victim to this disease. 
Sept. 4th. I am still alive and in health. " Thy mer- 
cies are new unto me O Lord every morning," great 
is thy goodness to me and to my dear family. I am 
now waiting with great anxiety for my breakfast, having 
had a call from my bed. I was too much fatigued to fill 
my paper last night, and too much hurried this morning. 
I lose not a moment. The bed my kind sister pro- 
vided for me in the back room lies unoccupied all day. 
Adieu. Love to all. " Brethren pray for us." Hark ! a 
knock at the door ! Alas, it is called to Mrs. Boggs at 
Bishop White. Again adieu. The delay of a minute 
seems a year to a patient after a physician is sent for. 
From yours sincerely 
Benjn Rush. 
P.S.-Keep the boys out of the College and impose 
a system of reading on them. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
15 
My dear Julia,-The post is on the wing. I can 
only inform you that I put a letter into the post office 
for you directed to Princeton-this morning. I shall, 
if well, write to you again this evening. After a busy 
morning, I am, thank God, still in good health. Dr. 
* * * is not dead, but in great danger. The disease 
spreads, but its mortality is much less in proportion to 
the number who are affected. The jalap and mercury 
cures 9 out of 10, of all who take it on the day of the 
attack. Adieu. 
Wed. Sept. 4. 1793. 
Benjn Rush. 
Philad4 Septem. 5 : 1793. 
My dear Julia,-Still alive and in good health, after 
having visited and prescribed for nearly one hundred 
patients. The disease continues to spread, but with 
no more mortality than a common bilious fever in the 
hands of those physicians who use the mercurial anti- 
dote. I now save 29 out of 30 of all to whom I am 
called on the first day, and many to whom I am called 
after it. Fewer deaths have occurred I believe this day 
than on several days last week, and yet many hundred 
people more have the fever now than had it last week. 
Some of my brethren rail at my new remedy, but they 
have seen little of the disease, and some of them not a 
single patient. Most of the publications in the papers 
come from those gentlemen. They abound in absurdi- 
ties and falsehoods. This night will probably end the 
busy life of Dr. * * *. He continued to object to 
taking my medicine and was supported in his obstinacy 
by two young Doctors who had obtruded themselves 16 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
upon him. Dr. * * * is better. Dr. * * * is well, and 
my invaluable friend * * * is out of danger. Poor Bill 
Bache was almost heart broken during his masters in- 
disposition. Pet. Baynton is infected, Mrs. Baynton, 
Kitty and Mrs. Bullock are all in a safe way. I have 
had 12 new calls today, and have not lost a single 
patient since the night before last. I have found lately 
I hope a preventative of the disease, as well as a cure. 
It consists [not in drenching the stomach with wine, 
bark and bitters] but in keeping the bowels gently 
open, for in them the disease first fixes its poison. I 
owe these discoveries, as well as my preservation, to 
the prayers of my friends. 
Septem. 6th.-6 o'clock in the morning. Blessed be 
God, my life, health and reason are still preserved to 
me. I forgot to mention that one of my pupils Wash- 
ington has got the disease. He lies at Mrs. a 
mile from town, where he is so much ashamed of being 
visited by me, that I heard of his illness by accident 
only from Johnny Stall. I shall try to see him, tho' I 
fear from the violence of his symptoms, and the prog- 
ress of the disease that he will not recover. John 
Cox has become active and useful to me. He is very 
intelligent on the subject of the disorder, and knows 
no fear. Dr. * * * has taken charge of all Dr. * * * 
public patients, and is to divide the profits of attending 
them equally. If the Dr. survives, the partnership is to 
be perpetual. But this is improbable, for tho' I have 
just heard that he is still alive, yet I hear that he has a 
symptom which none [at least of my patients] have sur- 
vived. Adieu. The box of clothes, with a letter from 
my sister were sent this morning by the stage committed 
to the care of Mr. Sayre. I paid the freight of the OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
17 
box here. Adieu ; my love to all the family at Morven. 
Do oblige the boys to read systematically, and to avoid 
cold, fatigue and heat, also intemperance in eating, for 
each of those existing causes has produced the disease 
when the body has been infected. There is no cer- 
tainty that they did not carry the infection from town. 
It lies from 1 to 16 days in the body, and the fever 
may be excited at any time within those days. 
Adieu, again ; yours, yrs-yrs 
Benjn Rush. 
My dear Julia,-This day my new calls have been 
only six or seven. I hope the disease is not pausing to 
take breath. The new medicine bears down nearly all 
opposition. Out of 100 persons who have taken it 
from me on the first day, not one has died. The deaths 
which now occur are chiefly of poor people who have 
no Doctor, or of respectable people who are in the 
hands of quacks, or of the enemies of mercury. Your 
letter of today would have alarmed me more did I not 
know you were in possession of the new and success- 
ful mode of treating the disorder. Should it spread 
among you I shall send John Cox to carry into execu- 
tion my mode of treating it. He is master of the 
symptoms of the disorder, as well as of the remedy, 
and has cured several persons whom I have never seen. 
Still however keep out of the way of it. The contagion 
affects across a street, and perhaps much further. This 
evening Dr. * * * breathed his last. It is remarkable 
that he denied the existence of a contagious fever in 
our city for above a week after it appeared among us, 
Philada Septem. 6. 1793. 18 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
and even treated the report of it with contempt and 
ridicule. The reason I fear was, the first acct, of it 
came from me. 
I shall write a few lines to Emily this evening. 
My friend * * * is not so well tonight as last night. 
Upon my mentioning my surviving the present epidemic 
as a conditional event, he kindly said last evening, 
"You cannot die now, Dr., the pleasure of your dis- 
covery must like a cordial keep you alive." Indeed it 
has infused a vigor into my body and mind, which has 
contributed very much to support me under my present 
great exertions. Dr. * * * has adopted mercury in his 
practice, and is popular and successful. We consult 
together every day. Dr. * * * is appointed one of 
the Inspectors of sickly vessels in the room of Dr. * * *. 
He thinks his fortune made for life. 
Several of our physicians are said to lie by under 
various excuses to avoid infection. But I hope it is 
not true. Dr. * * * is certainly indisposed. Dr. * * * 
attends him. Dr. * * * in Pear Street is ill. A Mr. 
Hayes died opposite to him this afternoon. 
I have found hundreds to be infected who have used 
bark, wine, vinegar, etc. as preventatives. I rely chiefly 
upon cleanliness, a temperate and chiefly vegetable diet, 
and a very small portion of porter, and I have observed 
people who live most simply, and who avoid fatigue, 
heat and cold to escape more generally than others who 
pursue a contrary mode of living. I have been called 
to many in whom the disorder was bro't on after a full 
meal. This was the case in Dr. * * * after dining with 
Mr. Jefferson in the open air on the Banks of 
For the first week of the prevalence of the disease I 
advised my patients and friends to fly from the city. I OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
19 
now advise them to remain where they are, to avoid 
going out of their houses, and to send for a mercurial 
physician as soon as they are affected : no other metal 
in a physician's head will do any good now, not even 
gold any more than lead. My medicine has got the 
name of an inoculating powder, for it as certainly and as 
universally deprives the yellow fever of its mortality, as 
inoculation does the smallpox. 
Septem. 7th. Still a debtor to divine goodness for 
another day of health and life. I have offered you all 
up to God this morning in my prayers, before 6 o'clock. 
The psalm I read in order was the 52nd. I could not 
help connecting it with the melancholly event of Dr. 
* * * death. Poor fellow ! He died as well as lived 
my enemy. But this between ourselves. Adieu. Love 
to all friends. Dr. * * * must not be forgotten. 
Your ever affectionate 
Benjn Rush. 
P.S.-Let me know how your influenza is. The yel- 
low fever has chased it and nearly all other diseases 
from our city. It is a monarchical disorder. You will 
see by this days paper what my African brethren have 
done for the city. No one of them has died with it, 
and I suspect none have been infected. They furnish 
nurses to most of my patients. I enclose you 20 dollars. 
My dear Julia,-It is indeed as I expected. The 
disease has awakened like a giant refreshed by wine. 
I have this day been called to more new cases than I 
Philad* Sep. 8th. 1793. 20 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
have time to count. Two more of our Doctors are 
sick, and Dr. * * * is numbered among the dead. I 
entered his room this morning just as he expired. His 
excellent mother rushed from his bed into my arms, fell 
upon my neck, and in this position gave vent to the 
most pathetic and eloquent exclamations of grief that 
I have ever heard. I was dumb, and finding myself 
sinking into sympathy, tore myself from her arms, and 
ran to other scenes of distress. Among my new 
patients are Mrs. Seargeant, Mr. Ed: and Mrs. Fox, 
and two women in Mr. Hammond's family, one of the 
two last is highly infected. My chair was arrested in 
Arch and 3rd. Streets and I was dragged in the two 
places to six different and new applications. 
Meredith I suspect has a spice of the infection, but 
she is not confined. The blessings and good wishes 
that I received from the whole family last evening were 
very acceptable. Hamilton is ill. A Dr. * * * of St. 
Croix is his physician. Dr. * * * continues by his ad- 
vice to oppose mercury, and jalap, but he stands now 
nearly alone, for its most bitter enemy and calumniator 
has this day adopted it. 99 out of an 100 who take it 
on the first day recover, and all would recover probably 
had I time to attend closely to them after the expulsion 
or extinction of the poison by the mercury. 
I find I am remembered by more than my Princeton 
friends in their addresses to the throne of grace. Mr. 
Connelly the master took me by the hand this 
day in the street, and with a faltering voice and eyes over- 
flowing with tears told me that he carried me on his 
heart to the footstool of his maker. It was a cordial to 
my soul. Thro' infinite goodness I am preserved not 
only in health, but in uncommon tranquility of mind, OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
21 
never elevated, and never but twice depressed, and each 
time by a sudden paroxysm of sympathy with the dis- 
tressed. The fear of death from the disease has been 
taken from me, and I possess perfect composure in the 
rooms of my patients. Help me to praise God for this, 
and all his other inestimable blessings to me. Let it 
be the business of our future lives [if we should be 
reunited here] to record and to celebrate the goodness 
of our God. 
Septem. 9th. Still alive and in good health after five 
hours comfortable sleep. "Be merciful unto me O 
God ! be merciful unto me, for my soul trusteth in thee, 
yea in the shadow of thy wings do I make my refuge, 
until these calamities be overpast." Psalm 57th. Adieu, 
my dear Julia. I almost forget in the distresses of my 
fellow citizens, my dear children and friends. 
The colds taken at the great fire on Saturday has 
helped very much to increase the number of sick. It 
is remarkable that those who have it mildly rarely in- 
fect others, and this is the case with all who take 
mercury. Since the cool weather, the disease has put 
on in some cases an inflammatory appearance. I 
yesterday bled two patients, but not till they had been 
thoroughly purged. The medicine does not cure un- 
less it produces large, black or dark coloured evacua- 
tions from the bowels. Sweating generally follows 
these evacuations. Communicate this to Dr.-* * *. 
and Becky are well. Our whole family has been 
preserved in the very heart of infection. Washington is 
well. Fisher complains, and I fear Jno. Cox will by 
this day, but they have seen so much of the efficacy of 
mercury in the disorder, that they treat their complaints 
with as much indifference as a common cold. When I 22 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
am called on the first day, I endeavour to compose the 
fears of my patients, by telling them that they have 
" nothing but a yellow fever," and that mercury and 
jalap are as certain a cure for it, as bark is for an inter- 
mittent. I have this moment been called to Thos. 
Willing, who believes himself to be infected. 
Philada Septem. 10th. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-Hereafter my name should be 
Shadrach, Meshach or Abednego, for I am sure the 
preservation of those men from death by fire was not 
a greater miracle than my preservation from infection 
of the prevailing disorder. I have lived to see the close 
of another day, more awful than any I have yet seen. 
Forty persons it is said have been buried this day, and 
I have visited and prescribed for more than 100 pa- 
tients. Mr. Willing is better, and Jno. Barclay is out 
of danger. Amidst my numerous calls to the wealthy 
and powerful, I do not forget the poor, well remember- 
ing my dream in the Autumn of 1780. Dr. * * * 
Dr. * * * the two * * * and Dr. * * * have all adopted 
my mode of treating the disorder, and are all alike 
successful with me. Dr. * * * has set his face against 
it, and many follow him, and hence the continuance 
and mortality of the disorder. You will easily believe 
this, when you recollect that my mode of treating the 
Locked Jaw has not to this day been adopted by many 
of the practitioners in this city. But all will be right 
bye and bye. Septem. 10th. O! that it were October 
or November 10th. ! for I despair under present cir- OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
23 
cumstances of the disease being checked till we have 
frost or heavy rains. Thank God, I am still in good 
health. " I will sing of thy power, O Lord, yea I will 
sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning, for thou hast 
been and thou art still my defence and refuge in the 
day of trouble." Psalm 59th. 16. It is now a little 
after 6 o'clock, and the knocker is in motion. My 
African brethren are extremely useful in attending the 
sick. I met a good woman of their society a few days 
ago at the foot of a pair of stairs. " Hah ! Mama said 
we black folks have come into demand at last." She 
squeezed my hand, and we parted. Billy Grey and 
Ab. Jones have been very active and useful in pro- 
curing nurses. It is remarkable that none of the 
French exiles have taken the disorder. Adieu. Con- 
tinue to love and pray for your affectionate friend 
Benjn Rush. 
P.S.-I have found bleeding very useful since the 
weather has become cool, after the bowels are well 
cleansed, provided the pulse be full and tense. 
My dear Julia,-The pleasure of the Lord con- 
tinues to prosper in my hands. I have this day visited 
and prescribed for upwards of 100 patients, and have 
not had a single death among them. Four persons in 
the British minister's family will swell the triumphs of 
mercury, jalap and blood letting. This evening I have 
been called to Mr. Genet's. Dr. * * * continues to op- 
Philada Sep' ii. 1793. 24 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
pose my method of treating the disorder, but it will not 
do. The increasing number of my patients every hour 
refutes his objections to it. My health improves, and I 
endure labor with less fatigue now than I did three 
weeks ago. This is the more extraordinary, as I am 
unable to drink wine or malt liquors or to eat meat, 
and now live wholly upon milk and vegetables, and 
drink nothing but water. Sep. n-Alive, and in good 
health, after a most comfortable nights rest. "O ! bless 
our God ye people, and make the voice of his praise 
to be heard, which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth 
not our feet to be moved." Psalm 66, 8, 9. 
It is not yet five o'clock, and I have had seven calls 
already. This day my directions for curing and pre- 
venting the disease will be published in the newspapers. 
They will save me much trouble in writing to country 
practitioners, and will moreover help the people to 
cure themselves not only without, but in spite of physi- 
cians who know nothing of the disorder. Adieu. My 
letters I fear will be shorter hereafter than they have 
been. Where are the children ? I almost forget in 
public duties all my private ones. Again adieu. From 
my dear Julia, your 
ever affectionate 
Benjn Rush. 
P.S.-Write to me often. Dont mind postage. 
What pleasure can money give hereafter equal to that 
which arises from hearing from friends under present 
circumstances. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
25 
Sepr 12th 1793. 6 o'clock in the mornff. 
My dear Julia,-After a restless night I am still 
alive, and preparing for the awful duties of the day. 
Yesterday exceeded any of the days I have seen, for 
distress, and death in our city. Two more of our 
physicians are laid up. Poor Washington is no more. 
I send you these few lines only to let you know that I 
am still wonderfully supported in mind and body, but 
that I stand in greater need than ever of the prayers 
of all good people. Adieu. Adieu. 
Yours affectionately 
Benjn Rush. 
My dear Julia,-Alive ! and tho' I slept but three 
or four hours last night am still thro' divine goodness 
in perfect health. Yesterday was a day of triumph to 
mercury, jalap and bleeding. I am satisfied that they 
saved in my hands only nearly one hundred lives. The 
disease has been said to have become more mild, but 
this is not true, for where the above medicines are not 
used, death follows more certainly than in the beginning 
of the disease, on the 3rd, 5th, or 7th, days. Besides 
combatting with the yellow fever, I have been obliged 
to contend with the prejudices, fears, and falsehoods of 
several of my brethren, all of which retard the prog- 
ress of truth and daily cost our city many lives. 
You had better go on to your uncle Elisha's. I do 
not believe it will be prudent for you to come to town 
for a month or six weeks to come. Every room in our 
Philada Septemr 13. 1793. 26 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
house is infected, and rrjy body is full of it. My breath 
and perspiration smell so strongly of it that a lady with 
more truth than delicacy complained to me of it a few 
days ago. My eyes are tinged of a yellow color. 
This is not peculiar to myself. It is universal in the 
city. Even the negroes who do not take the disease 
discover that mark of infection in their eyes. On one 
day my face had for a few hours a yellow hue. Yet 
under all these circumstances, and upon a diet consist- 
ing wholly of milk and vegetables I enjoy as to my 
feelings, and activity, a perfect state of health. 
" Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth us with 
benefits, even the God of our salvation. He that is 
our God is the God of salvation, and unto the God the 
Lord belong the issues from death." 
Adieu. With love as usual I am my dear Julia 
yours sincerely 
Benjn Rush. 
P.S.-I had forty or fifty new calls yesterday and 
the day before. Dr. Mease is ill. Griffiths, Gibbons, 
Wistar and Leib are well or mending. Scarcely a 
family now escapes the disease. 
Philadelphia Septem1 15. 1793 
My dear Julia,-Life and health become every day 
more and more a miracle in persons who are constantly 
exposed to it. The disease spreads. Scarcely a fam- 
ily escapes it. I have this day visited above twenty 
families which have all from two to six persons in it 
confined to their beds, and many which have one. Poor OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
27 
Mr. ! After dismissing me and sending for a 
French physician, sent for me again this morning ; but 
alas ! it was too late to help him. He was yellow, cold 
and puking blood. " O Doctor" said he wringing his 
hands, " I was persuaded by my friends to employ the 
French physician. But help me, help me." I told him 
I would do my utmost for him, and with a heart wrung 
with anguish I hurried from his room. Many, many 
such scenes do I witness daily. For several days past 
I have sent 50 and 60 patients to other doctors. My 
old patients are constantly preferred by me. 
publication has done immense mischief. Many doctors 
still follow him, and scores are daily sacrificed to bark 
and wine. My method is too simple for them. They 
forget that a stone from the sling of David effected 
what the whole armoury of Saul could not do. Many 
hundreds of my patients now walk the streets and 
follow their ordinary business. Could our physicians 
be persuaded to adopt the new mode of treating the 
disorder, the contagion might be eradicated from our 
city in a few weeks. But they not only refuse to adopt 
it but they persecute and slander the author of it. 
Sep. 16. Since writing the above I have had an attack 
of the disorder, but in consequence of losing blood and 
taking one of my purges I am now perfectly well-so 
much so that I rested better last night than I have done 
for a week past. Thus you see that I have proved upon 
my own body that the yellow fever when treated in the 
new way, is no more than a common cold. I tho't it 
proper to give you this information to prevent your 
being alarmed by reports concerning me. Dont think 
of coming to see me. Our city is a great mass of con- 
tagion. The very air in it is now offensive to the smell. 28 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
If I should relapse you shall hear from me. Mr. Stall 
and Mr. Cox are doing wonders in our city. They 
visit and cure all my patients. Adieu. Continue not 
only to pray for, but to give thanks for my dear Julia 
your 
ever affectionate 
Benjn Rush. 
P.S.-I have sent to hire a hack with wh. I expect in 
a day or two to visit my patients. Converse with 
nobody now who comes from Philada. Everything is 
infected in our city. Love as usual. 
P.S.-I have just received your letter. By all means 
go to Mr. Boudinots. 
My dear Julia,-Thro' divine goodness I passed a 
most comfortable night, and was the first white person 
that rose in the family this morning. My young men 
are out among my patients, and like old General Harke- 
mar I am fighting the disease thro' them, upon my 
stumps. Tomorrow I expect to go out in a close 
carriage to visit such as are in most danger. Having 
past thro' the disorder, I shall be less liable to take it 
hereafter than before, for tho' some have relapsed, none 
have taken it twice. By all means hasten to your uncle 
Elisha's with all the children. Our city, and above all 
our house, will not be pure till after frost or heavy rains. 
Bear up my dear child under the pain of our long sepa- 
Philada Sepr 17. 1793. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
29 
ration, and be thankful that we are not separated for- 
ever. O ! the dismal tales of dissolved unions of hus- 
bands and wives, and parents and children you will 
hear when you come to town !-nay more-you will 
hear of whole families being swept away by the present 
disorder, and the West India remedies which have been 
used to cure it. Wigton and his wife, Thos. Anthony 
and young Mr. Walker all in our neighbourhood are 
no more. Mr. and Mrs. Boulay, Dr. * * *, a son of 
Robt. Bridges, Jos. Coates and many hundred others, 
owe their lives to the new remedies. Mr. Stall is just 
now gone out to see Mrs. Meredith who is now cer- 
tainly infected. Forty and fifty now die every day. 
Adieu ; my love to the dear boys. I rejoice to hear 
that they behave so well. My love, my tenderest love 
to your mama, sisters, and brother. My room is full. 
Yours, yours, yours, 
Benjn Rush. 
P.S.-Betsey Stern's cloathes were sent by Betsy 
Currie to Sami. Stockton's. Her sister at Mr. F 
has had the fever violently, but is now perfectly re- 
covered. 
Philada Sepr 18th 1793. 
My dear Julia,-I began this letter in the back par- 
lour, with a patient sitting by my side waiting for ad- 
vice. You cannot doubt therefore of my perfect re- 
covery from my late indisposition. A worthy friend of 
mine is now gone for a chariot for me in which 1 ex- 30 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
pect to visit a few of my patients in the middle of the 
day. Dont be uneasy about me. I shall run no un- 
necessary risks by undertaking too much business 
before I have regained my former strength. Poor 
Johnny Stall gave way last night, and he is now under 
the operation of the physic in our house. Fisher and 
Cox are faithful and attentive. The former attends 
Mr. Jos: Swift's family ten miles from town, where the 
infection was carried to them by one of his sons. Mr. 
Meredith is well after three bleedings. Thinking peo- 
ple submit to my method of treating the disorder, but 
many, very many follow that which was dictated by Dr. 
* * *'s learned and sagacious friend Dr. * * * A son 
of Sami. Morris in 2nd. Street has died under it. Two 
other of his sons have recovered under my care by 
bleeding and purging. 
Last nights cold, I hope will give a check to the dis- 
order. The heat of Sunday and Monday was very 
fatal to the sick. It aided the disease and the Doctors 
in destroying not less than 100 people. 
Dr. * * * is fled to Bethlehem, Dr. * * * to New 
York, and Dr. * * * is nobody knows where. None 
of the Doctors who have been ill are so far recovered 
as to be able to attend the sick, except your husband. 
I am thankful for this great priviledge. It is meat and 
drink to me to do my Master's will. He loved human 
life, and among other errands into our world, he came 
"not to destroy men's lives but to save them." Adieu. 
Love as usual. 
Yours very affectionately 
Benjn Rush. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
31 
Philadelphia, Sepr 18th 1793. 
My dear Julia,-I have this day visited one family 
in the neighbourhood on foot, and four ata distance in a 
carriage, and feel so well after it, that to-morrow I ex- 
pect to visit a dozen or twenty. My pupils have been 
very busy for me, and have in general been successful. 
One or two have dropped off from the want of sufficient 
bleeding. Our house continues to be crowded at all 
hours. For some days before my confinement, I refused 
from 50 to 60 patients a day. This was a most painful 
task. Many of them left me in tears. One man a 
sailor offered me to visit his wife, but I declined 
it. In riding thro' town I was often stopped by half a 
dozen people all imploring me to visit a wife-a hus- 
band-a brother or a child. Judge how I must have 
felt in tearing myself from them! for I could only visit 
a certain number, and by undertaking more than I 
could attend, some I knew would die from neglect. So 
great is the apprehension of death from the disorder, 
that I have seldom visited a patient the first time with- 
out being met at the head of the stairs by some mem- 
ber of the family in tears. Good Mrs. Meare took me 
by the hand the first time I visited her son, and was 
dumb for some time with fear and distress. Another 
lady whom you do not know, fell upon my neck, and 
wept aloud for several minutes before she would let me 
enter her husband's room. They were patients of 
* * *. They proposed a consultation, but I objected to 
it. I said I had a confidence in my remedies, and that 
I must attend him alone or not at all. They consented 
to my proposal and after three bleedings he recovered. 
On Sunday last, while I was under the first attack of 32 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
my fever, Miss Morris, daughter of Sami. Morris, came 
weeping to me. She could not speak for some time. 
At last said she " O Dr. come and see my brother Cas- 
per, my brother is dying in the next room to him 
under Dr. * * * direction." I endeavoured to comfort 
her by smiling in her face, " You see me here just 
taking the disorder, and yet I have no fear as to its 
issue. I hope I shall be able to cure your brother." I 
sent Mr. Stall to see him and he cured him in two days. 
But this is only the background of the distress which 
pervades our city. Many die without nurses. Some 
perish from the want of a draught of water. Parents 
desert their children as soon as they are infected, and 
in every room you enter, you see no person but a soli- 
tary black man or woman near the sick. Many people 
thrust their parents into the streets, as soon as they 
complain of a headache. Two such exiles have taken 
sanctuary for half a day in our kitchen and shop. These 
scenes now cease to move me, but-the last dying look of 
good Mr. Menin threw me back to more sympathizing 
times. I shall never forget the motion of his hands, 
and his pathetic cries for " help-help !" To support 
me under these awful events which hourly pass before 
me, I hear from all quarters that the new remedies 
begin to force themselves into use. Mr. called 
upon me this morning, and informed me that he had 
found in visiting his congregation many people cured 
by following my printed directions without the advice 
of a physician. Mr. Helmuth called upon me soon 
afterwards, and told me nearly the same thing. So uni- 
versal is the contagion in our city, that you meet no 
one in the street who has not a yellow eye, and a dilated 
pupil. Nay more, there is scarcely any person in town OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
33 
who has not a preternaturally quick pulse. I have 
counted many this day in our back room in the wrists 
of persons who appeared to be in good health, and 
found them all except one to beat above 80 instead of 
about 66 strokes in a minute. My mother's pulse [tho' 
in good health] is 96. I ascribe my freedom from fatigue, 
and my sleepless nights wholly to the stimulus of the 
contagion on my system, for I am so full of it, that it is 
now become part of myself. It is not dangerous unless 
excited into action by heat, cold, fatigue or high living. 
It takes 16 days to discharge it from the body after 
being removed from its action. I have kept faithful 
notes of every symptom and change in the disorder, 
which [if it should please God to preserve me thro' my 
present scenes of danger] I shall give to the world, 
together with the history of the rise, progress, persecu- 
tion, and final efficacy of the new remedies. Such is 
my opinion of them, that I think properly managed, 
they might be directed to cure the plague as certainly 
as the yellow fever. 
Thus have I given you a long letter, which I hope 
will make up for my late short ones. Tomorrow my 
hurry will begin again, after which my letters will be 
shorter. I recd. a most affectionate letter from Polly 
this morning, and sent her a short answer to it. Do 
copy the facts relative to the contagion, and send them 
to her, but no means to be made public, or even 
copied by anybody. 
I have not heard of the death of Mr. Hare. Among 
the late dead, are our neighbour Thos. Anthony, Mr. 
Walker, Mr. Ketland's friend, all Ross the blacksmith's 
family, Corn : Barnes, Henry Pratt's wife, Mrs. Wigton, 
and Emily Bullock. Near twenty persons have died 34 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
in Pear Street alone. Mr. Helmuth told me that 22 
persons were buried yesterday in the Lutheran grave 
yard alone. It is said there are 191 new graves in the 
Roman Catholic grave yard. 
Sep. 19th. In good health-blessed be God ! Upon 
second thought you had better take Richd. with you to 
Newark. He will be out of the line of hearing from 
any of us at Bordentown and exposed to the contagion 
from our city. If he reads history at his uncle's his 
time will not be misspent. 
We lead a camp or wilderness life in our family. 
Mr. Cox slept with us last night as well as Mr. Fisher. 
I have had many new calls already this morning, but I 
now decline all except my old patients, to whom I con- 
sider myself as under a contract not to leave, in the day 
of their adversity. It is the only line I have drawn in 
my duties to my fellow citizens. 
Provisions have risen very much and many people 
begin to dread the calamity of famine, in addition to 
that of the pestilence. 
I have hired Frederick to attend me every day with a 
chariot. This will protect me from the sun and night air 
both of which are strong exciting causes of the disease. 
Adieu, my dearest and kindest friend. You lie near 
my heart, and I shall never forget your great solicitude 
for me. Continue to "pray without ceasing" not only 
for me, but for a distressed and desolating city. Some 
of the rich suffer, but the weight of the distress and 
mortality falls upon the poor. May God recompense 
to them double hereafter for their unparallelled suffer- 
ings here. Adieu. Love as usual. 
Yours most affectionately 
P.S.-I enclose you 30 dollrs. 
Benjn Rush. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
35 
Philada Sep. 20th 1793. 
My dear Julia,-The distress of our city increases, 
and the shafts of death fly closer and closer to us every 
day. Poor Dr. is no more. His death was oc- 
casioned by his going out too soon after his recovery. 
Mr. Strawbridge likewise our old neighbour is dead. 
Mrs. Mervin has followed her husband to the grave. 
Johnny Stall continues ill, and Fisher is poorly, and 
confined in our house. Johnny Alston is abed at Mrs. 
Wilson, and Jno. Cox is drooping. Thro' the prayers 
of my friends, purified and accepted thro' the mediation 
of a gracious Redeemer, I am again in good health, and 
possess my usual tone of mind. Be thankful that you 
are alive and out of town. Be thankful that you are 
in health. Be thankful that death has as yet made no 
break in our little flock-nay, be thankful that you are 
not called to witness the distress which passes between 
8 and 9 o'clock in our entry every morning, exclusive 
of the still more accumulated distress from pain, fear, 
grief, poverty, solitude, famine, despair, and death, 
which pervades nearly every house in the city. Adieu. 
Fly to Newark with all the children. There patiently 
and humbly wait for the deliverance of our city, and 
the life and health of your affectionate husband, 
Benjn Rush. 
Philada SeptenY 21: 1793. 
My dear Julia,-I continue thro' divine goodness 
perfectly well of the fever, but I suffer a little from a 
sore throat brought on by the mercury I took to cure 36 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
the fever. I yesterday paid 25 visits in Frederick's 
chariot, and was rather invigorated than fatigued by the 
ride. I prescribed besides for above 25 more patients 
chiefly poor people in my back room, and I am sorry to 
add was forced to decline 38 fresh applications. I sent 
them all to Drs. * * *, * * *, and * * * [my old pupils] 
who are the only physicians [Dr. * * * and perhaps one 
more excepted], who have adopted the new mode of 
practice. The rest continue to murder by rule,-nor is 
this all, they have confederated against me in the most 
cruel manner, and are propagating calumnies against 
me in every part of the city. Dr. * * * [my old 
friend] is now the weak instrument of their malice and 
prejudices. If I outlive the present calamity, I know 
not when I shall be safe from their persecutions. Never 
did I before witness such a mass of ignorance and 
wickedness as our profession has exhibited in the course 
of the present calamity. I almost wish to renounce 
the name of physician. Even the nod of Dr. * * * in 
his lurking hole at Bethlehem, commands more respect 
and credit from my brethren than nearly 1000 persons 
in different parts of the city who ascribe their lives to 
the new remedies. Our neighbour Davidson died yes- 
terday under the use of bark, laud and the cold bath, 
administered by the hands of Dr. * * *. Indeed the 
principal mortality of the disease now is from the doc- 
tors. Our house continues to be a hospital. Jno. Stall 
is stationary after 5 bleedings. Fisher was so ill as to 
require a 3rd. bleeding in the middle of the night. My 
sister is drooping. Cox is better and does duty with a 
spirit that he never showed before. Marcus has not 
like Briareus a hundred hands, but he can turn his two 
hands to a hundred different things. He puts up pow- OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
37 
ders, spreads blisters and gives clysters equal to any 
apothecary in town. Adieu. Take care of yourself, 
and continue to pray for our poor devoted and deso- 
lating city. Indeed I have thought that all good Chris- 
tians should sit, walk, eat and even sleep with one hand 
constantly lifted up in a praying attitude to the Father 
of mercies to avert his judgements from us. O ! that 
for his elect's sake he would cause the time of our suf- 
ferings to be shortened. Tell the whole village of 
Princeton to pray fervently and constantly for us. I 
have just now been sent for to visit a woman who has 
lost a husband, two children, and three apprentices with 
the fever. Adieu. 
Yours sincerely 
Benjn Rush. 
Love as usual. Ben and Betsy are well. 
Philadelphia, Septem' 22. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-Hitherto I have suffered by sympa- 
thy only with the distresses of my fellow citizens. But 
sickness and distress have at last reached our family. 
Jny. Stall is almost below hope. From the beginning of 
his disorder he has objected to taking medicine, and has 
deceived all around him in his accounts of its operation. 
Fisher who lies in the front room is I hope a little 
better, but he has been in extreme danger. But our 
afflictions do not cease here. This morning Marcus 
yielded to the disease. He has been twice bled and 38 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
well purged. The disease altho' it occurs frequently 
among the blacks has not proved fatal in a single in- 
stance under my care. Marcus lies in the shop. Jno. 
Alston is very ill at Mrs. Wilson's. My mother and 
sister both complain. We have two black nurses in the 
house who attend the apprentices. Peter is to us now 
a little host. He is not only useful to us in the family, 
but has this evening visited two patients for me. I pre- 
dicted this two weeks ago to Mr. Meade when he called 
upon me to consult with two other physicians, I told 
him that one doctor was eno' for one patient now, for 
" that the time I feared would come, when the people 
would be glad to receive a visit from my little black boy 
Peter." I expected this evening to have made my own 
bed, but my mother has relieved me from that trouble. 
In this afflicting situation I hope I have not sinned, nor 
charged God foolishly.- 
"If to correct me, be his will, 
" I'll bear it, with submission still, 
"A tender father, sure he proves, 
"And but corrects, because he loves," 
Two of Mrs. Hamilton's maids are dead next door. 
Two persons will probably die at Jno. Hawkin's to-night. 
His wife is one of them. Mr. Lea Mr. Shippen's son in 
law, and Major James Moore my universal friend died 
this day. Dr. Johnson of the Dispensary died two days 
ago. Three and thirty were buried in the Potters Field 
before 3 o'clock this afternoon. Thus you see that the 
striking passage of the funeral service of the Episcopal 
Church is reversed in me. In the midst of death, I am 
in life. But O ! by how tender a thread do I now hold 
it. I feel as if I were in a storm at sea in an open boat OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
39 
without helm or compass. My only hope and refuge 
thou knowest O God is in thee! Miss Sprout the 
younger is said to be dying. Mrs. Hutchinson and 
child are both living. She recovered under my care, 
deserted by all her husbands political and medical 
friends. Her expressions of gratitude to me for 
attending her, indicated a strong and delicate mind. 
I have this day kept the house owing to the extreme 
heat of the weather, for I have no complaint but weak- 
ness, and a little sore mouth from the mercury. But I 
have not been idle, having prescribed in the back par- 
lour for crowds of sick people. Tomorrow I expect if 
the weather be cool, to visit a few patients. Betsey 
Steen's sister was very ill but is now well. I have 
heard nothing of Isaac Wihoff's son lately. Hundreds 
die that we do not hear of for days afterwards. Sep. 
23. Johnny Stall is still alive and Mr. Fisher and 
Marcus are better. Alston is very ill at his lodgings. 
Deaths since yesterday. Miss Hartley, sister to Mrs. 
Burdeaux; B. Poultney; Mrs. Heatley, and Mrs. 
Young the booksellers wife. The two last killed by 
bark and laudanum. All my old medical friends, ex- 
cept * * * have deserted me in my practice. * * *, 
* **,***, anj even » * * and * * * [of the £)is- 
pensary] are disciples of Dr. * * *. 
Adieu. I am in perfect health thro' unmerited divine 
goodness, and am preparing to visit Alston and one or 
two more patients in the neighbourhood. Mrs. Clymer 
has been confined but is better. Love as usual. 
Yours-yours- 
Benjn Rush. 40 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
My dear Julia,-This day at half after 12 o'clock 
my dear, and amiable pupil Johnny Stall breathed his 
last. His mind for weeks before he died seemed to be 
prepared and composed for his fate. Upon my telling 
him at breakfast a few days before he was taken sick, 
that I did not forget him in my prayers, he modestly 
said, " nor do I you sir in mine." He died in the high- 
est acts of benevolence to his fellow creatures, doinor 
his Master's work-healing the sick, and relieving the 
distressed. Thousands who witnessed his zeal and 
boldness in rushing into danger,lament his death. You 
may conceive of my opinion of his and Coxe's judge- 
ment in the present disease, when I add, that as soon as 
I was seized with the fever, I committed myself wholly 
to their care, and charged them if I should be unable to 
prescribe for myself, to prescribe exclusively for me. 
Dr. Griffitts was at this time confined, for he is fully in 
the new opinions and practice in the prevailing epi- 
demic. Mr. Fisher is I hope out of danger. He is as 
patient in sickness, as he is pleasant and kind in health. 
Marcus is well. I have this day visited about a dozen 
patients in Frederick's carriage, two of them were Mr. 
B. and Mrs. Sims in the country, who are infected by a 
maid that went out to them from their town house. 
They both met me in tears. Mr. Sims fell on my neck 
and cried aloud like a child. I soon composed their 
fears, by assuring them that they were in no danger, 
and by concealing from them as far as was prudent, 
that they were tinctured with the disorder. Another 
scene of much more tenderness passed between me 
and a respectable quaker family this afternoon. I 
Philadelphia, Sep' 23. 1793. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
41 
passed thro' from the front door up stairs to the bed 
room of the master of this family thro' a train of chil- 
dren weeping, and blessing me as I went along. I 
found him on the 4th. day of the disease and in great 
danger. He had been bled by Dr. * * * only three 
times, and purged but once or twice. I ordered a 4th. 
bleeding, and gave him some strong mercurial purging 
pills which I carry with me in my pocket. I left the 
family with a hope only of his recovery. This at that 
time was eno'. They seized the word, as if it conveyed 
a kingdom to them. 
Septem. 24th. Thank God not only for my life and 
health this morning, but for the appearances of the 
weather. An equinoctial gale with rain would do more 
for our city than a thousand physicians. The disease 
spreads. Tho' all our citizens are not ill, yet no one 
now is well, for they all breathe an air nearly alike 
charged with the contagion. A giddiness in the head, 
sickness at stomach once or twice a day, pain in the 
back or sides are almost universal complaints in people 
who walk the streets, or follow their usual work. O ! 
that the time of our calamity might be shortened ! The 
poor-the poor are everywhere the principal sufferers. 
I dare not complain, for all I suffer from weakness, 
labour, sympathy, persecution, etc. is trifling compared 
with what others suffer, and with what I have merited. 
In all things, at all times and in all places, I endeavour 
to give thanks. Miss Sprout is no more. Jos. Tatem 
died in the Jerseys a few days ago. He carried the in- 
fection with him from town. Mrs. Hawkins has revived 
and may recover. Jno. Alston is in great danger. 
Dr. * * * has come forward with a long publication 
on the prevailing disorder, reprobating my practice, and 42 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
thereby weakening the confidence of the public in the 
new remedies that are generally successful, for no more 
die who use them, than die of pleurasis who use bleed- 
ing, or of the smallpox who submit to inoculation. It is 
strange that the essays upon our disorder should have 
come chiefly from itinerant and fugitive doctors, or 
from a dull and profligate usurer who has not seen a 
sick man these seven years. 
Adieu. Love as usual. I am my dear Julia 
Yours affectionately 
Benjn Rush. 
P.S.-I have just heard that my dear friend Dr. Grif- 
fitts is again confined. Alas! our devoted city! The 
followers of * * * still live to administer poison to our 
citizens. Dr. * * * was a Joab in the present disease. 
Philada Septemr 24. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-The post which bro't your letter 
left town too soon after I received it to admit of my 
answering it by him. Since I have heard of the pre- 
cautions taken at Trenton to cut off an intercourse with 
our city, I feel less anxious to have you at Newark. 
Take lodgings at Princeton or Trenton or where you 
please for yourself and the children. I can advise you 
no further, but be assured I shall be satisfied with 
whatever you do. To direct your conduct, situated as 
we both are, would be like ****** and * * * 
writing treatises on the yellow fever in their closets for 
the instruction of men who have gained a knowledge OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
43 
of it at the hourly risk of their lives for four or five 
weeks. 
This day at 2 o'clock my dear boy Alston expired. 
I saw him but three times in a disease which required 
three and thirty visits. He refused to be bled for 
nearly a whole day, because I was unable to visit him, 
and life and death often turn upon the application of a 
remedy at an hour or a moment in this ferocious dis- 
ease. He caught it at his lodgings, chiefly in attend- 
ing Miss Wilson to whom he was attached. He had 
visited but four or five patients for me in the whole, 
course of the prevalence of the disease. 
Sep. 25. Thro' divine goodness I slept more last 
night than I have slept any one night for six weeks, and 
am in as good health as is, compatible with the weakness 
of the most extreme old age. Alas ! our hopes of an 
equinoctial storm are blasted. The sun shines and the 
weather has again become warm. But God's will is 
done on earth as much by pestilential contagion, and 
ignorant physicians as it is by the songs and praises of 
saints and angels in heaven. 
Richd. must go to Mr. Frazier's, and submit to all 
the rules of his house and school. The disease in- 
creases, but as the help of man is now at an end, it is 
to be hoped that the hour is not distant when God will 
make bare his arm for our deliverance. Many die now 
from the want of bleeders as well as doctors. Even 
the apothecaries begin to shut up their shops, and many 
are unable to procure the mercurial purges when they 
are prescribed as soon as is necessary. I visited a few 
patients yesterday, and expect to visit a few this day, 
but O ! you cannot conceive with what difficulty I climb 
a pair of stairs. I carry a vial of Lisbon wine with me 44 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
in my pocket, and when I am faint wash my mouth with 
a spoonful of it. It acts as powerfully on my whole 
system in that way as a pint of wine in my stomach 
would have done at any other time. Adieu. With 
love as usual I am yours sincerely 
Deaths. 
Dr. * * *'s widow. 
Mrs. Clow. 
Mr. Ehe, our neighbour. 
Mr. Jno. Smith, and two children in Chestnut Street 
next to Sami. Howells. 
Mr. Christ. Kucher and son. 
Dr. * * * is supposed to be dying. Upwards of 
too it is now believed are buried every day. Despair, 
now as well as the want of doctors, bleeders, nurses, 
and necessaries, carry off many. 
Benjn Rush. 
Philadelphia, Septem. 25. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-Another day has been added to 
my life, for which I desire to be thankful, I have tot- 
tered up about a dozen pairs of stairs, and prescribed 
for a great number of people in our back parlour. 
After answering letters and emptying my memorandums 
into my diary or journal of the disorder, I have sat 
down for two evenings past, and employed an hour or 
two before bedtime in putting up medicines for the poor. 
This is a new and humble employment for me, consider- 
ing how many more important duties I am called to per- 
form, but I take great delight in it. " The poor [said 
Dr. Boerhaave] are my best patients, because God is OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
45 
their paymaster." I wish at all times to be under the 
influence of this heavenly and benevolent sentiment. 
Septem. 26th. The day lowers. O ! that the win- 
dows of heaven might be opened, and floods of rain be 
poured upon our city. It would at least weaken the 
contagion of the fever which now fills every street in 
the city. Perhaps nothing but frost [without an extra- 
ordinary interposition of divine power] will finally and 
totally destroy it. I received a most comfortable letter 
from our uncle Elias Boudinot yesterday, to which I 
have written an answer to be sent to this days post. 
One praying and believing friend at the present junct- 
ure is worth a city full of friends who know not God, 
and obey not the gospel. I am just preparing to set 
off for Mr. Meredith's who is alarmed with the fear of 
a relapse. I shall take Mr. Vanbuhle in on my way, 
who is very ill. He neglected himself till the 5th. day 
believing from * * * and * * *'s publications that he 
had nothing but a common fever. Hundreds have been 
sacrificed by this mistake. We have but one, we cannot 
have but one fever in town. The contagion of the yel- 
low fever like Aaron's rod swallows up the seeds of all 
other diseases. We might as well,talk of two suns or 
two moons shining upon our globe, as of two different 
kinds of fevers now in our city. Young Cattle from the 
Jersey college is very ill at Mrs. McCall's. It is unfor- 
tunate for him that he left the Jersey college to come 
into one of the most infected streets in town. Good 
Dr. White stands to his post, as does Dr. Blackwell. 
Mr. Pilmore is everywhere, where there is sickness or 
distress. Old Mr. Cottringer died this morning. Few 
old people survive the disease even with the best at- 
tendance from nurses and physicians. Dr. * * * died 46 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
yesterday, under the care of bark and wine doctors. 
James' master Mr. Chandler who lived in the house 
with him is infected. I prescribed for him last night in 
my back parlour, but if the first remedies do not cure 
him, I fear he will be very ill, and I cannot attend him 
at his lodgings. Mr. Fisher continues to mend. He 
was five days in the maw of the lion. Five copious 
bleedings, and large doses of the purging medicine 
saved him. I have heard since the death of Alston that 
the puking which terminated his life, was occasioned by 
his drinking a pint of cold water immediately after 
taking a dose of medicine. Before this Mr. Coxe says 
he was in little danger. Such accidents must often 
happen where the sick are nursed by blacks ignorant 
of their business, and frequently asleep or out of the 
room. Marcus continues to mend. I have just seen 
the sexton of the quaker meeting, who assures me 
that he thinks upwards of an 100 have been buried 
daily for some time past throughout the city and that 
the mortality increases. 
O ! that God would rend the heavens and come down, 
and save our guilty city from utter desolation ! for vain 
-vain now is the help of man. The negroes are every 
where submitting to the disorder. Richd. Allen who 
has led their van is very ill. If the disorder should con- 
tinue to spread among them, then will the measure of 
our sufferings be full. Adieu. Continue to pray for 
us, and for none more earnestly than 
your ever faithful friend 
Benjn Rush. 
P.S.-Love-love-love as usual to friends, relations 
and the dear children. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
47 
Philada SeptenY 26. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-This day at 12 o'clock my last ap- 
prentice Jno. Coxe went home with the prevailing fever, 
and at 2 my poor dear sister overcome with fatigue and 
anxiety retreated to her bed where she is very ill. My 
mother cannot long keep up. She left me early in the 
evening, to pass three or four gloomy hours in the back 
parlour by myself. Marcus is now sitting dull and 
silent with me. I take up my pen to chase away melan- 
choly, but O ! a thousand distressing scenes crowd upon 
me, and offer themselves as subjects for my letter. O 
my!- But I will not infect you with any portion of 
the gloom which now oppresses every power of my 
soul. It is the Lord-let him do what seemeth him 
right. Shall a living man complain for the punishment 
of his sins. 
Dr. * * * this day yielded to the disorder. He had 
adopted the new remedies, and used them with success 
in one of his old families. I paid him a visit this morn- 
ing, and think him in great danger. 
Mr. Powel is ill over Skuilkill. I visited him this 
afternoon. Mrs. Powel is at her brother Richard's from 
whence she sends expresses twice a day to inquire after 
her husband. This is but one of many, many instances 
in which this savage disease has separated man and 
wife. Mr. Vanbuhle is I hope better. 
Sep. 27. The sky again lowers, and a few drops of rain 
have fallen. Thousands revive at the sight. I have been 
much comforted by reading the 121 psalm this morning, 
and hope I shall be strengthened by it for the labors of the 
day. My poor dear sister continues very ill. I now see 
clearly the reason why providence has confined me so 48 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
much by sickness and weakness to my house. Hun- 
dreds more especially of the poor, have been relieved 
by my advice at home whom I could not have visited, 
and who would otherwise probably have died. Dr. * * * 
has published a history of his recovery. It is [if not 
designed] yet certainly calculated to injure me and to 
create doubts as to the efficacy of the new remedies. 
You see I am in the situation of the French Republic 
surrounded and invaded by new as well as old enemies, 
without any other allies than a few of my old pupils, 
who are too little known to give credit to any innova- 
tion in medicine. But I am unmoved by the dull and 
wicked confederacy, having resolved to stick to my 
principles, my practice, and my patients, thro' divine 
support, to the last extremity. It is possible they may 
drive me from the city, if I survive the present calam- 
ity, but I hope I can now be happy anywhere, or in any 
employment, wielding the plough with as much com- 
posure of mind as I now wield the lancet, or teaching a 
country school with as much pleasure as I have formerly 
taught medicine. Love as usual. I am my dear Julia 
Yours sincerely 
Benjn Rush. 
Philada Sep' 29. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-I fear you have suffered some anx- 
iety in consequence of not hearing from me by yester- 
days post. It was occasioned by my being hurried over 
Skuilkill to see poor Mr. Powel early in the morning- 
the time I had allotted to write to you. I found him 
very ill. The neglect of a 4th. bleeding by the young OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
49 
Dr. who attended him, had produced delirium, and a 
train of alarming symptoms. Yesterday was spent in 
trying to recover him by Dr. * * * and myself-but 
alas, to no purpose. This morning at 6 o'clock he ex- 
pired, in a small room, in a small farm house with no- 
body with him but Dr. * * * the young Dr. who staid 
constantly with him, and an old negro coachman of 
Mr. Hills. Mrs. Powel is at her brother Richard's. 
My poor dear sister continues in extreme danger. 
She had the disease three days before she would take 
a dose of medicine, or submit to be bled. This infatu- 
ation with respect to the existence or danger of the 
disorder seems to be one of its most characteristic 
symptoms. I fear the issue of this night. She is per- 
fectly composed, and prepared for her dissolution. O ! 
the pain which attends under all circumstances the 
rupture of the ties of nature ! I hope I shall be sup- 
ported under this heavy affliction, if it should please 
God to try me with it. My mother I fear would not 
survive it. 
I have this day paid one and thirty visits, and feel 
myself no ways weakened by them. On the contrary, 
the exercise of my body and mind in the duties of my 
profession adds daily to the vigor and activity of both. 
Never was the healing art so truly delightful to me, and 
never had I more reason to be thankful than I now 
have, for the honor God has done me in giving me 
health eno' to renew my intercourse with my patients. 
Dr. * * * is better. He has been cured by the new 
remedies. John Cox after two bleedings and two 
purges, this day visited several patients for me. Ed. 
Fisher has taken his seat at our table, and in a day or 
two expects to enter upon duty. He is perfectly well, 50 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
and in good spirits. Dr. * * * is still in danger, but 
with some favourable symptoms. Dr. * * * and Dr. 
* * * are confined. The former uses the new, the 
latter Dr. * * *'s remedies. 
Mr. Vanbuhle I hope is in a safe way, after seven 
bleedings. Young Cattle is still ill, but has no bad 
symptoms. I have bled him twice this day. 
The mortality on friday and Saturday last was less 
by one half than it had been for ten days before, owing 
I believe partly to the more general use of the new 
remedies. The people rule here in medicine as well as 
government. They have by their clamors forced even 
* * * to adopt them. This man has spent whole weeks 
in abusing those remedies and their advocates in every 
part of the town. He is Dr. * * *'s principal train 
bearer. Dr. * * * has adopted the new remedies, and 
has since saved many lives. The most unkind attacks 
I have had from my brethren however have come from 
Dr. * * * and Dr. * * *, formerly my most cordial 
friends. 
Sep. 30th. My poor sister is still alive, and I hope 
with some symptoms which are favourable. The dis- 
ease is indeed a most formidable one in all its forms. 
No wonder it requires medicines that possess the 
strength of Hercules to subdue it. I continue to mend, 
and thro' divine goodness, even to thrive upon labor, 
care, persecution, and a milk and vegetable diet. The 
sky again lowers. O ! that that God who created winds, 
rain, and hoar frost would send them among us to chase 
away or destroy the pestilential contagion. Adieu. Love 
as usual. 
Yours sincerely 
Benjn Rush. 51 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
Philadelphia Septemr 30. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-You write like a spectator only of 
the distresses of our city. What is a little furniture- 
a few cloathes-a whole city-or even the globe itself, 
compared with one human life ? Had I believed that 
certain death would have been the consequence to my- 
self and the whole family, of taking Johnny Stall and 
Ed. Fisher into the house, it would have been my duty 
to have done it. Neither of them had any other home, 
for Mr. Stall [where Fisher lodged] had fled into the 
country, and had I shut my doors upon them, they 
must have perished in the streets. Remember my 
dear creature the difference between the law and the 
gospel. The former only commands us "to love our 
neighbours as ourselves," but the latter bids us love 
them better than ourselves, " A new commandment I 
give unto you, that ye love one another, even as I 
have loved you." Had I not believed in the full import 
of that divine and sublime text of Scripture, I could 
not have exposed myself with so little concern, nay 
with so much pleasure for five weeks past to the con- 
tagion of the prevailing fever. I did not dare to 
desert my post, and I believed even fear for a moment 
to be an act of disobedience to the gospel of Jesus 
Christ. 
My poor dear sister, after having hung over the 
grave by the single thread of a cobweb for twenty four 
hours, is I hope this evening a little better, but far, 
very far from being out of danger. My mother still 
complains, but will not be bled or take the mercurial 
purges. John Cox is well and has visited several 
patients for me this day. Ed. Fisher expects to take 52 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
the field again in two or three days. Dr. * * * is out 
of danger, and my much beloved and tried friend Dr. 
* * * after lying for two days nearly as low as my 
sister, this day has exhibited very hopeful signs of 
recovery. Wm. Hall's only son has escaped death by 
six, and Master Jno. Adams at Mr. Ketland's by seven 
bleedings. The latter asked politely two days ago for 
you, and John and Richard, and concluded by saying 
that " he should always love me like a father." Four of 
our neighbour Crepon's family owe their lives under 
God to the free use of the new remedies. They are 
full of affection and gratitude to our family. In short 
to tell you of all the people who have been bled and 
purged out of the grave in our city, would require a 
book nearly as large as the Philada. directory. Two 
of Thos. Bradford's sons are ill, and will to use a 
Scotch phrase swim for life. His father in law Mr. 
Fisher is no more. Jno. Hawkins died this evening 
suffocated with the noxious effluvia of a small room in 
which four persons besides himself were ill with the 
fever at the same time with himself. His wife who 
was ill under more favourable circumstances of air and 
nursing, recovered. 
I have this day paid three and thirty visits, one of 
them was to Ed. Hazard, who is very ill, but I hope in 
no immediate danger. I gain strength every day, but 
I use it with caution. I walk to no patients but to 
those who are in the neighbourhood. October ist. 
My dear sister is still alive. Her recovery is barely 
possible. The sky again lowers, but alas, I fear we 
shall have no rain. The mortality yesterday was very 
great. O that God would arise, and for his great, 
great names sake shorten the days of our calamity. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
53 
What a bitter thing must sin be, to deserve even such 
a punishment as a destroying pestilence ! But how 
many more awful punishments have been inflicted 
upon, and await it. Adieu. Love as usual. 
Yours affectionately 
Benjn Rush. 
Philadelphia Octobr 1. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-This day at 3 o'clock my dear 
sister breathed her last. She spoke yesterday with 
great joy of the love and goodness of God, and re- 
peated several passages from the psalms suitable to 
her situation. Her last words to me last night at 10 
o'clock were "a thousand and a thousand thanks to 
you my dear brother." Soon after this she became 
delirious, and said little that could be connected or 
heard. She has died a martyr to the cause of hu- 
manity. Hundreds will remember her zeal, her sym- 
pathy and her tears who have come to me for relief. 
A few weeks ago it was proposed to her to leave town. 
" No [said she] my life is of no consequence to me or 
the public. I will stay here and take care of my 
brother. His life may be useful to many." Never 
did kindness, affection or friendship rise higher than 
hers have done to me during- the whole of our late 
connection with each other. She invigorated me by 
her conversation, and rendered my evenings a contrast 
to the gloomy labors of the day. The separation was 
indeed a most painful one. But it has pleased God to 
support me under it. In half an hour after she died, 
I got into my carriage, and visited several patients, for 54 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
the King's business requires fidelity as well as haste. 
She was buried this evening in Dr. Sproat's church 
yard near her two children. Marcus and Peter, with I 
believe Billy Grey, followed the hearse to the grave. 
The coffin was a very plain one, for we had all agreed 
in case of our deaths to be buried without expense, 
and to give the difference between a plain and a 
mahogany coffin to the poor. 
Hereafter [if I survive the present calamity] when 
we have less distress from poverty in our city and I 
have the command of more cash, I will preserve her 
name and her virtues by a handsome tombstone. In 
mentioning the name of cash, I cannot help adding 
that great distress pervades our city from the want of 
it. Provisions are high, and no service can be pro- 
cured for the sick, but at an immense expense. The 
price of bleeding is 7/6 and of nursing three dollars, 
and three and a half a day. A man of an handsome 
income whom I advised a few days ago to send to the 
apothecaries for a dose of the mercurial medicine, told 
me that he could not do it, from the want of money, 
and begged I would send him a dose of it from my 
shop. Friendship is nearly banished from our city. 
A few [quakers chiefly] act upon a forlorn hope as 
Committee men to provide for the poor at Bushkill. 
They have performed wonderful exploits of fortitude 
and humanity, and hitherto, none of them that I have 
heard of, have submitted to the disease. 
My mother droops, but not so much as she did 
yesterday. She bears the death of my dear, dear 
sister with great resignation and fortitude. Ah! why 
did I mention her name again ? My heart has flown 
into the coffin with her. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
55 
October 2nd. 1793. Thro' divine mercy, I am in 
good health, after a comfortable and refreshing nights 
sleep. The sky lowers, and the wind blows. My 
heart revives at the prospect of a change in the 
weather. Yesterday was a very mortal day. Pray 
now my dear Julia not only for my life, but that I may 
be firm, unshaken, immoveable, and always abounding 
in the work of the Lord. I enjoy uncommon peace 
and composure of mind, for which I desire to be very 
thankful. Adieu. God reigns, let the earth rejoice 
is an administration of love and mercy 
for it and died for all the in 
My dear Julia,-From the derangement of the post 
office, I do not receive your letters now until two or 
three days after they are written. Yours of the 27th. 
comforted me very much, as it discovered a mind re- 
signed to the divine will, and faith in God's promises. 
Your account of my dear John gave me great pleasure. 
Give my love to him and tell him to continue to merit 
the character you have given of him. I dare not think 
much of the children; hence I seldom mention their 
names. At present they have no property in me, and 
I scarcely dare to call them mine. Ah ! will the time 
ever come? But I am done. To me belongs now 
nothing but the present moment. Nor do I repine at 
it. On the contrary I wish to rejoice in the honor God 
has conferred upon me in making me in any degree 
useful to my fellow creatures. My acct, of the efficacy 
of the new remedies is strictly true, where patients are 
Philadelphia Octobr 2nd 1793. 56 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
well attended, nursed, and accomodated, but this alas! 
is now seldom the case. The declaration has done good. 
It begat confidence, and has saved many thousand 
lives. Dr. * * * has recanted in this evening's paper, 
and gives full credit to bleeding and purging in the 
yellow fever. His and * * *'s mistakes have cost our 
city many hundred lives. 
My dear Mother has passed a tolerable day, more 
composed than I expected. In riding upon Arch Street 
this morning, I cast a look at the grave of my dear, 
dear sister. If I survive the present calamity, I will 
adorn it with healing plants and water them with my 
tears. She died in the highest acts of kindness and 
benevolence to her fellow creatures. 
October 3rd. Here will I erect my Ebenezer. 
Hitherto hath the Lord preserved me. The last six 
weeks of my life include the mercies and miracles of a 
century in other times. My health improves daily, and 
I now walk up a pair of stairs without halting to rest, 
or without the aid of a banister. I have had no merit 
in any of my exertions, for I serve a Master whom I am 
afraid of offending, and who has claims upon me infi- 
nitely beyond ten thousand lives. After this declara- 
tion I need not tell you how much I startle at the prop- 
osition of retiring from the present scenes of danger 
and distress. I have given you full credit for having 
never advised it. It would have lessened my respect 
for you for ever. I yesterday received a kind letter 
from Susan, which I have answered. The sympathy 
and prayers of my relations have been very comfort- 
able to me. Adieu. With love as usual I am my dear 
-dear Julia yours very affectionately 
Benjn Rush. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
57 
Philadelphia Octob' 3rd 1793. 
My dear Julia,-In addition to my public duties, I 
have large and frequent demands from country practi- 
tioners, for information respecting the prevailing fever. 
To read their letters alone would be burdensome at 
any time, but it is much more so at present. To save 
the trouble of writing answers to each of them, I have 
this evening composed a short account of the origin, 
symptoms, and treatment of the disease which I shall 
address to Dr. Rogers of New York in the form of a 
letter, and publish in Mr. Brown's paper. My postage 
for letters frequently amounts to 7/6 a day. I have this 
day paid between 40 and 50 visits. Mrs. McCall's 
grandson Cattle is out of danger; so is Master Adams 
at Mr. Ketland's. The three Roman Clergy have all 
been ill. Two of them I hope are in a safe way. Mr. 
Hazard left me from an antipathy to bleeding as a 
remedy in his disorder. Dr. * * * is now his physician. 
This man has seen a great deal of the disorder, but he 
is no more the wiser for it than the black nurses who 
attend the sick. He is, if possible, duller than Dr. * * *. 
Both Mr. Bradford's sons are well; so is Mr. Van- 
buhle, the latter after seven bleedings. He met Col: 
Hamilton on his way to town, who advised him if he 
caught the fever, to use Dr. * * * is remedies, and that 
Mr. Walcot would furnish him with the directions how 
to use them. Mr. Vanbuhle had heard so much of 
the credit of the new remedies before he was taken 
sick as to prefer them. But had he sent to Mr. Wal- 
cott he would not have found him. He and his wife 
have fled, and I am now attending a servant in his 
family in consequence of an order from him before he 58 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
left town. I think it probable that if the new reme- 
dies had been introduced by any other person than a 
decided Democrat, and a friend of Madison and Jeffer- 
son, they would have met with less opposition from 
Col: Hamilton. 
Octobr. 4th. The sky lowers, but alas ! I fear we shall 
have no rain. My brother informs me that the grass is 
burnt up in the neighbourhood of Reading. He ex- 
presses in a letter to me uncommon solicitude for my 
health and life. My mother is better, and Ed. Fisher 
has again taken the field. He yesterday rode five miles 
in the country to see a son of Thos. Morris, an old 
patient of * * *, and who had lost a son by following 
* * *'s mode of treating the disease. Yesterday there 
was great mortality in the city. Townsend Speakman, 
Mr. Kay, Clow's partner, and Jno. Todd the school- 
master are among the dead. Our cousin Parry Hall is 
ill. Wm. Hall's only son is upon the recovery after six 
bleedings. This event has healed the wound which 
death made in his family last winter. Mrs. Hall is 
truly thankful: you know her character. I am often 
oppressed and even distressed with the kindness of my 
patients, and by few more than by Mr. Hall's excellent 
family. I observe with great pleasure an evident sense 
of the divine goodness to pervade all those families 
who have been delivered from death. Men now talk of 
God and of his providence who appeared scarcely to 
believe in either two months ago. 
Adieu my dear Julia. Not a ray of alleviation of the 
present calamity breaks in our city from any quarter. 
All is a thick and melancholy gloom. But God is not 
slack in fulfilling his promises. Continue to wrestle 
with him in your prayers. It is all right, and hereafter OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
59 
we shall behold our sufferings as the emanations not 
only of justice, but of love. Again adieu. I am, 
blessed be the God of my life, in good health, and 
acquire strength daily. Love as usual. 
Yours sincerely 
Benjn Rush. 
Philadelphia Octobr 4. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-I concluded my letter this morning 
by informing you that I daily improved in my strength. 
I ought rather to have said with St. Paul in a physical 
as well as a spiritual sense, " when I am weak, then 
am I strong." After paying a few visits in the neigh- 
bourhood, I returned with a slight attack of my fever. 
It went off in an hour or two with a gentle sweat, and 
I have passed the day at home in as much health and 
spirits as usual, prescribing constantly for such persons 
as I was unable to visit, particularly for the poor. This 
little indisposition was brought on by the fatigue of yes- 
terday, for I was forced by the entreaties and tears of 
persons who stopped my carriage in the streets, to visit 
many more people than I had intended when I left my 
own house. Mr. Coxe and Mr. Fisher have visited all 
my patients for me this day and I hope to their entire 
satisfaction. I fear I shall lose good Mr. Fleming the 
Roman priest in consequence of my inability to visit 
him at the usual hour. The delay of a day, nay of a 
single hour, in administering the remedies proper in 
this disorder, is often attended with irretrievable conse- 
quences. 60 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
I informed you this morning that yesterday the dis- 
ease was uncommonly mortal. Thirty two were buried 
in the Potters Field alone. The disease affects as gen- 
erally as the Plague, and were it not for the new reme- 
dies, I have no doubt but it would have proved equally 
fatal to our citizens. Scarcely a family in town has 
escaped it, and in many families scarcely a child or a 
servant misses it. 
Octobr. 5th. I rose at my usual hour this morning, 
after a comfortable night's rest for which I desire to be 
thankful. How precious is sound sleep, in a city where 
thousands now pass wearisome and sleepless nights ! 
How great is the gift of life in a place where upwards 
of an hundred fellow creatures die every day! Poor 
Peter yielded to the disorder last night. He, and a 
child of two years old whom I saw at Jon. Meredith's 
store a few days ago, were the only two gay things I 
have seen in Philada. for near seven weeks. The sight 
of the child smiling and crowing in my face, reminded 
me of the Arab's child mentioned by Bruce smiling in 
the arms of its half starved mother in the deserts of 
Nubia. It affected me in a manner which I cannot 
describe. We were last night flattered with the hopes 
of rain-but alas! the heavens are still as brass over 
head. The coolness of the weather is however 
favourable to the sick, tho' I fear it increases their num- 
ber by exposing people to take cold, and thereby ex- 
citing the contagion into action. Since I sat down to 
conclude this letter, I have been interrupted not less 
than half a dozen times. Adieu. I shall visit only a 
few patients this day. My letter to Dr. * * * will not 
be published before Monday. The wages for nursing 
now are 4 dollars day. The distress of our city OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
61 
from the want of money alone is very great. Adieu, 
once more. 
From your affectionate 
P.S -My mother joins in much love to you and the 
children. Josey informed me three days ago in the 
street that Ben and Betsy were well. 
Philadelphia Octobr 6. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-All your letters except the one 
sent by Mr. Webb, have come safe to hand. It is not 
in my power to answer them regularly, for they are 
often detained in the post office two or three days 
before I can get them. Confusion and distress pervade 
every branch of business at the present time in Philada. 
You need not return the 20 dollars. I have, or I can 
command eno' for all my exigencies. You will probably 
soon require more, for alas ! I know not when you will 
be able to come to Philada.-all is as yet a gloom 
before us. I shall be gratified with your and the chil- 
dren wearing mourning for my dear sister. I deplore 
her loss every hour of the day. So deep a rent was 
never made by death in my heart before. 
Mrs. Harris's family is still in town. I was this day 
sent for to visit one of her grandchildren, but was 
obliged to decline going, owing to my extreme weak- 
ness. I am unable now to attend even my old patients, 
so very weak handed am I, and so multiplied is the 
sickness. My dear friend Dr. * * * is again ill. I have 
visited him twice today, and have this evening ordered 62 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
him to be bled a fourth time. Old Mr. Guest died at 
5 o'clock this afternoon. Jos. Harrison, and Dr. * * * 
are likewise dead. Dr. * * *'s coachman is very ill, 
and from the want of proper attendance will I fear sink 
under the disease. The zealous and the indefatigable 
Mr. Fleming died last night. My mother was much 
affected and gratified by your letter. She wept over it. 
You may depend upon her care of every thing in the 
house. She has sent Ben his winter cloathes long 
ago. 
Octobr. 7th. Thro' divine goodness I passed a com- 
fortable night after 1 o'clock, before which hour I was 
disturbed by successive knockings at the door. I expect 
to visit Mr. Sami. Meredith this forenoon who is again 
indisposed. It is painful to do duty with a weak, totter- 
ing body, but I am kept from repining by recollecting 
that my divine Master performed many, or perhaps most 
of his laborious acts of love to mankind with a much 
weaker body than mine. This is evident from several 
passages in the history of his life. They know but 
little of the extent of the obligations of Christianity 
who give such a worthless reptile as I am the least 
credit for any one exertion in the cause of humanity, 
for I profess to believe in, and to imitate a Saviour who 
did not but who gave his life, not for his friends, 
but his enemies. I enclose you a sweet little psalm by 
Dr. Watts which I cut out of a newspaper. Tho' I 
have a most imperfect claim to the promises contained 
in it, yet it has pleased God to make it a cordial to my 
soul. My dear mother sends a great deal of love to 
you and the children. Peter after two bleedings is 
better. He has been very much terrified with the fear 
of dying, and I have endeavoured to improve upon OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
63 
his fears by setting before him his wicked life. Adieu 
my dear Julia. Love to all friends. 
Yours very affectionately 
Benjn Rush. 
P.S.-I desired Jno. Coxe last night to visit Mrs. Har- 
ris's grandchild. But I fear he has not done so, for he 
is full of business, and not very well. 
Philada Octobr 7. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-Among the dead of this day are 
Mrs. Coltman and Maj. D. Franks, the former died 
without a physician, not believing herself to be infected. 
The latter died at Mr. Kean's under the care of a French 
physician-deserted by all his former friends-so much 
so that he was buried in the Potters Field. Upwards 
of an 100 persons more it is said have this day been 
conveyed to the grave. My publication of this evening 
has met with a kind reception from my fellow citizens. 
I have only named the mistakes of my brethren. The 
public has been very liberal in applying harsh epithets 
to them. 
Mr. Hazard survived the remedies of Dr. * * * and 
is now out of danger. The mercurial purges and two 
plentiful bleedings which I gave him, laid the foundation 
of his cure. Mr. is very ill. He wished for 
me as his physician, but heard that I was indisposed. I 
lament exceedingly that this was the case, for I take as 
much pleasure in going to old enemies as to old friends. 64 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
He is attended by two French physicians, so that there 
are three chances against him to one in his favor-viz, 
a violent disease and two doctors. Mrs. Kepple and 
Mrs. Math. Clarkson are ill. They are bad subjects for 
the disease, and unfortunately both my patients. Mrs. 
Bludget is well and a most zealous advocate for the 
new remedies. 
Octobr. 8th. "Thy mercies are indeed new unto me, 
O Lord, every morning," great, very great are thy 
faithfulness and goodness to the most unworthy of all 
thy creatures. Seldom have I at any time enjoyed a 
more perfect nights rest. I even had dreams unmixed 
with wringing of hands-weeping eyes-coffins-biers, 
and all the other marks of distress and death. The res- 
pite even in a dream has revived me. A sudden call 
to a child of Col. Pickering's obliges me to conclude my 
letter sooner than I intended. Mrs. Bett in our neigh- 
bourhood is ill under my care, and my dear, dear friend 
Dr. * * * is not yet out of danger. O ! what tugs are 
daily and hourly made upon my poor threadbare heart- 
strings ! But hush ! It becomes me at all times, and 
in all places only to " give thanks." Adieu. Love to 
all the family. 
Yours sincerely 
Benjn Rush. 
P.S.-Jno. Coxe called at Mrs. Harris's but she had 
sent for another doctor. OLD FA MIL Y LE TTERS. 
65 
My dear Julia,-I had almost written that I rejoiced 
in the addition that our sister has made to your brother's 
family, but alas ! I have nothing to do with joy, and I 
sometimes feel as if I never should smile, or indulge a 
moment of gaiety again as long as I lived. This morn- 
ing at 8 o'clock Mr. Seargeant breathed his last. I was 
mistaken in the account I gave you this morning, that 
he wished for me to attend him. Before his illness he 
told one of his neighbours that in case of an attack of 
the disorder, he wd. employ none but a French phy- 
sician. The mortality of the disease has been worse 
this day than ever. Doctors Parke, Currie, Physic, 
James, Mease, and Griffitts are all confined, the last is 
still in great danger. Mr. Meredith is again ill. Fisher 
has gone out in a close carriage to see him. Dani. 
Offley, the quaker preacher is below hope : so is Mr. 
Baldwin the apothecary, Mr. Delany's son in law. 
Miss N. Redman is in danger. She has been bled 
twice this day. Dr. Redman whom I saw in visiting 
Nancy is perfectly recovered. His every breath is full 
of praises to God, and love to the whole human race. 
He begged to be remembered to you, and your mama 
and the whole family at Morven in the most affec- 
tionate manner. 
There is not a single overseer of the poor nor a 
magistrate, but Mr. Clarkson, now in town. Judge of 
the distress of our city from those circumstances! Mr. 
Fisher is just returned from Mr. Meredith's, and I am 
comforted in adding, left him much better. 
I do not think it will be safe for you now to receive 
any article of dress out of our house. It is perhaps at 
Philad* Octobr 8th 1793. 66 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
present one of the most infected houses in town ; nearly 
an hundred people discharge their infected breath in it 
everyday, for many people in the first stage of the dis- 
order are able to walk about, and to call upon a phy- 
sician. Peter is mending tho' very slowly after three 
bleedings. 
Octobr. 9th. I wept last evening in reading the 102nd 
psalm, but blessed be God, my sorrow was indeed of a 
nights continuance only. This morning my mind is com- 
posed. " Not my will, but thine be done." The calls have 
been numerous this morning, but I have declined them 
all. Mr. Fisher is indisposed from the fatigue of yester- 
day. The 100 dollars will be very acceptable from your 
father. The carriage drains me of 6 dollars every day. 
I could now command any sum I pleased from either of 
the Banks, but I had rather be under obligations to your 
brother, than to any citizen of Philada. Adieu. My love 
to all the family. Kiss your little new born namesake 
for me. Again adieu. 
Yours very affectionately 
Benjn Rush. 
P.S.-I heard from Ben again two days ago, by a line 
from Mr. Bradford. He says he has no Papa. All 
Betsey Steen's friends are well. 
My dear Julia,-It turned out as I expected. Mrs. 
Kepple's gross habit, and her delay in sending for me 
till the 3rd. day of her disorder, afforded a most unfa- 
vourable prospect of her recovery from the moment I 
Philada Octobr 9th 1793. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
67 
saw her. She died this day at 5 o'clock. Mrs. Clark- 
son is still ill, but I do not despair of her. Mrs. Bett 
is below hope. Her habit was a bad one, and she too 
soothed herself for several days before I saw her, with 
a belief that her complaints were the effects of an old 
chronic disorder to wch. she had been subject for many 
years. My invaluable friend Dr. * * * is I hope a 
little better. He has been bled seven times. 
Octobr 10th. After a comfortable nights rest I rose 
this morning at 7 o'clock, and have ever since been in 
the midst of sickness and distress. All my meals are 
public. Frequently eight or ten people witness the 
simplicity of my diet-for I am still obliged to live 
wholly on bread and milk and coffee with bread and but- 
ter. Tea has become insipid and almost offensive to my 
stomach. Where and when this will end I know not, but 
I leave all to the disposal of my faithful Creator and Re- 
deemer, in whose will I am enabled frequently to rejoice. 
The new remedies prevail universally in name, but 
many of our doctors offer incense to the public mind by 
one or two bleedings or purgings and then pour in their 
poisonous doses of bark and laudanum. I shall this 
day publish some extracts from Dr. Moseley which will 
cover them with confusion, and shew that they have 
been as deficient in reading, as they are in reasoning and 
observation. 
Excuse the shortness of this letter. My love as usual 
to all friends. Ed. Fisher is better. He is a most 
affectionate and pleasant companion, and what is more, 
full of compassion for the sick. My mother keeps up 
wonderfully. Adieu. From my dear Julia yours 
sincerely 
Benjn Rush. 68 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
P.S.-Maj. Franks was not buried in the Potters field. 
Honest Jno. Thompson, the blacksmith with the wooden 
leg, who lives opposite to Mr. Kean's, prevented it, 
and obtained a grave for him in Christ Church burying 
ground. 
Philadelphia Octobr 10. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-My letters contain such a dull repe- 
tition of melancholy events that I fear you will tire in 
reading them. The mortality this day has been very 
great. It still falls chiefly upon the poor, and particu- 
larly upon servants. Mr. Clarkson informed me this 
day that he had documents to shew that nearly 2000 
persons had died in our city since the first appearance 
of the disease, and most of them with the prevailing 
fever. Mrs. Betts died this morning; also another of 
the Catholic priests. He was my patient till the late 
return of my fever, and I fear suffered from my being 
obliged to desert him. Nancy Redman is in a hopeful 
way, and Dr. * * * nearly out of danger. 
Octobr. 11 th. A return of my fever last evening will 
confine me this day to the house. It belongs to the 
disease to end in an intermittent in many people. Mr. 
Meredith, Mrs. Clymer and Mr. Willing have been 
much afflicted in that way, and what is unfortunate, it 
will not bear the bark. 
Adieu. With love to each of the family and the dear 
children, I am my dear Julia your 
ever affectionate 
Benjn Rush. 
Love to Dr. Smith. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
69 
My dear Julia,-I have this day confined myself to 
the house, and prescribed from the reports of the young 
gentlemen. I cannot say too much in favor of Mr. 
Fisher. He is an enthusiast in humanity, and he has 
discovered uncommon talents in his profession. Dr. 
* * * has been very useful to me in visiting a number 
of patients for me this day. Dr. * * * is out of danger, 
and I hope Mrs. Clarkson is in a fair way of doing 
well. 
I received a most elegant letter from Susan Baynton 
two days ago-full of solicitude for her relations. I 
was happy in being able to inform her that death had 
made no break among them, except in Mr. Bullock's 
family. 
Octobr. 12th. Blessed be God I passed a quiet and 
comfortable night, and have not a single complaint this 
morning but extreme weakness. I shall not go out to- 
day, nor perhaps for some days to come. My fellow 
citizens I hope will excuse, especially when they recol- 
lect how often my premature exertions have brought 
back my fever. 
I recd a letter from Dr. Mcllvaine yesterday containing 
an offer of his house for 10,000. dollars, or a lease of it 
for seven years at a year. I received a letter 
from Dr. * * * likewise [from AbingtonJ proposing to 
me to advertise the lectures to commence on the 5 of 
Decemr or Jany. 
Strange men ! to propose contracts or undertakings 
to a man who is a " poor pensioner upon the bounties 
of an hour." Dr. Young was once asked in a book- 
seller's shop in London by a gentleman who met him 
Philada Octobr 11. 1793. 70 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
there by accident, to dine with him the next day. " To- 
morrow sir, [said he] I expect to meet my God. Today 
is my own." The same spirit which dictated this speech 
should influence every man in my situation. 
Adieu my dear Julia. I have thought more of you 
and the dear children within these two days, than I have 
done for six weeks, owing to my greater retirement 
from the hurry of business. Again adieu. I view you 
all at a distance on a safe and pleasant shore, with your 
eyestrings pained in looking at me, paddling towards 
you in a boat shattered and leaky by many successive 
storms. But in every situation, let us praise the Lord 
for his goodness, and his wonderful works to the chil- 
dren of men. With love as usual, I am my dear Julia 
Your ever affectionate 
Benjn Rush. 
Philada Octobr 13th 1793. 
My dear Julia,-I informed you in the close of my 
last letter that you and the dear children had occupied 
an unusual share of my thoughts within the last few 
days. The effects of this new train of thinking dis- 
covered themselves last night. I dreamed that I saw 
you at a distance at a window in a house in Coates 
Alley up town, with a countenance healthy and pleasant, 
without the least tincture of that sallow gloom which 
pervades the face of every Philadelphian. I made signs 
to you that I would first go home, and prescribe for my 
patients, and that I would come up to you in the evening. 
But ah! I awoke soon afterwards, and that evening did 
not come. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
71 
I recollect now that we had an infant called by your 
name. She was pleasant, and smiled in my face the 
morning we parted. How does she do ? How many 
teeth has she got ? Does she yet articulate any words ? 
John and James you say are with you. I hope they 
behave well. I have heard of Richd. and Emily by 
letters from each of them. Mary you say is at Mr. 
Armstrong's. Many-many thanks to him for afford- 
ing her a shelter in our storm. I owe more gratitude 
to your dear mama than I shall ever be able to pay for 
her frequent remembrances of me, more especially in 
her addresses to the great Arbiter of life in my favor. 
Your brother and sister have been friends indeed. 
May their goodness to you return an hundred fold into 
their own bosoms ! You say nothing of Abbey. I hope 
she is well. My love, my sincere, my increasing love 
to them all. 
I have this day according to promise confined myself 
to the house, and prescribed thro' the reports of my 
pupils. I have consented further to the advice of some 
of my most solid friends not to go into an infected room 
again, until I am much better able to bear the action of 
the contagion on my system, than I have been for some 
weeks past. I shall ride out, if I am spared, but it shall 
be into the country, and only for the restoration of my 
own strength and health. I hope this conduct will not be 
offensive to my divine Master. He requires nothing 
unreasonable from his creatures, and to go further than 
I have done, would be I fear to "tempt the Lord" to 
preserve me, out of the ordinary means of his holy and 
wise providence. The first sick room I entered on the 
4th. of this month affected me so much that I was seized 
with a giddiness and sunk down upon a bed. I nar- 72 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
rowly escaped a chilly fit after it. Such attacks are to 
be expected every day by a person in my weak state. 
Octobr. 14th. Thro' divine goodness I passed a com- 
fortable night without pain or fever and feel stronger 
today than yesterday. I am again able to relish tea and 
chicken broth. I cannot describe Mr. Fisher's kindness 
and attention to me. He seldom asks me how I am 
but his eyes seem to fill with tears. Our old neighbour 
Mr. Franks died last nio-ht. Mr. Adnate and Mr. 
Orton died some time ago. Meyer Fisher is ill under 
the care of * * * the new French Dr. His treatment 
of him shows him to be equally a stranger to the dis- 
ease, and to the principles of medicine. Nancy Red- 
man is on the recovery. Dr. * * * is again ill. Dr. 
* * * has hopes of him. Young Maur: Rodgers has 
been ill, but is now well. He was attended by Dr. 
Woodhouse. 
Adieu my dear Julia. From your 
ever affectionate 
Benjn Rush. 
My dear Julia,-I have this day sent twice to the 
post-office for letters from you, but could obtain none, 
owing to the crowd of applicants on the same business. 
The disappointment was the more painful, as I received 
only one letter from you last week. 
The disease continues to rage, with I fear unabating 
mortality. Mrs. Dr. Smith is ill and attended under 
my direction by Dr. * * * and Ed. Fisher. The poor 
Dr. alone remains with her. Mrs. Blodgett [who is 
Philada Octobr 14. 1793. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
73 
well] and Billy are fled to Norristown. Wm. Hall and 
Mrs. Clarkson are out of danger. Dr. Mease is very 
low but not despaired of. 
Octobr. 15th. Thro' divine goodness I continue to 
gain strength every day. My sleep last, night was 
truly refreshing. Marcus has slept in the room with 
me for some time past, chiefly of late to hand me a 
little food in the middle of the night, for I have become 
so much a child, or an old man, in constitution, that I 
am obliged to eat often, or I become weak and fainty. 
My patients know this so well now, that many of them 
hand me a glass of milk and a crust of bread as soon 
as I enter their houses, just as they hand other people 
a glass of wine. I cannot tell you how much we all 
owe to Marcus. His integrity, industry and fidelity 
deserve great praise. I told you formerly how uni- 
versal his talents were ; I am sure with a little instruc- 
tion he would exceed many of our bark and wine 
doctors in the treatment of the present fever. It has 
been a great alleviation of our distress that he has 
remained with us. Half the servants in the city have 
deserted their masters, and no wonder, for they were 
much exposed from the nature of their duty to taking 
the disorder, and when sick suffered and died by 
neglect, or were sent to the hospital at Bushkill. You 
know I have always pitied this humble class of people, 
and I am happy in reflecting now that I never added 
by a bill to the distresses of any of them. 
My mother is uncommonly well, and more active 
than ever. We shall owe her much for her care of the 
house, since the death of my dear, dear sister. Peter 
is well, but very cross. He is so reduced that you 
would hardly know him. My mother complains much 74 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
of the expenses of house-keeping. As a sample of the 
advanced prices I shall only mention that she pays 7/6 
dozen for washing, and 2/6 a half peck for apples. 
The diet of the family consists chiefly of milk, and our 
faithful Brindle has kindly supplied us with all we 
want. 
The sky is over cast. O ! that the great Jehovah 
would descend in mercy upon our city in showers of 
rain ! All hearts now are faint, and all hope is now in 
God alone. Adieu my dear Julia. Continue to pray 
for your ever affectionate 
Benjn Rush. 
P.S.-Love as usual. I fear I have been deficient in 
not including good Dr. Smith among the friends at 
Princeton to whom I wished to be remembered. 
Philada Octobr 17th 1793. 
My dear Julia,-Satisfactory accounts still arrive 
from all quarters that the disease evidently declines, 
but many have died this day, and many are yet very 
ill. Among the dead is a son of John Donaldson's, 
and among those who are in danger is good old Dr. 
* * *. I informed you formerly of the death of his 
daughter. His son followed her a few days afterwards. 
Two of the old ladies at Mrs. Hodge's it is said are no 
more. Janey Riddle's husband and his brother fol- 
lowed Janey to the grave a few days ago. Two of 
Col. Marsh's sons [Mrs. Josiah's brothers] are dead, 
with many other valuable persons on the hill. None OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
75 
of the above persons were my patients. Geo. Bullock 
is ill at Mrs. Bartram's on Front Street. Dr. Wood- 
house attends him for me. He was indisposed three 
days before Dr. * * * saw him. 
I have this day received a kind letter from Mrs. 
Fergusson. She refers me for comfort and support to 
the 5th. chapter of Job from the 18th. verse to the end. 
Octobr. 18th. Not better, but perfectly well. 
Blessed be God for his goodness ! Marcus proposes 
to feed me today with beef soup. I cannot tell you 
how much I owe to the fidelity and affection of our 
humble black friend. He has been a treasure to us in 
all our difficulties. 
I have this morning received from Mr. Fergusson of 
Dublin a large impression on red wax of that beautiful 
seal which he described in his letter of last year. It is 
admirably executed, and has not suffered by crossing 
the sea. I have recd. many European letters within 
these few weeks, which at any other time would have 
afforded me great pleasure. One of them was from 
Granville Sharp authorizing me to draw for -14 
-o Sterling of contributions in London to the African 
Church of Philadelphia. Among the contributors I 
find the name of the Duke of Grafton for five guineas. 
No one physician except Dr. * * *, and Dr. * * * 
has sent to inquire after my health since my last con 
finement. The confederacy now is stronger than ever 
against me. * * * is, or will be at the head of it. 
He knows that he has injured me, and therefore he 
cannot forgive me. Many, many persons I fear are 
killed now by bark, wine and laudanum to spite me. 
Their rancour has no bounds. They watch my patients 
with great solicitude and console themselves under my 76 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
numerous cures, by declaring that my patients had 
nothing but the common fall fever. The few whom I 
lose, they say die of the yellow fever, and are all killed 
by mercury and bleeding. 
Adieu. With much love as usual to all friends, I am 
my dear Julia 
your sincere 
Philadelphia Octobr 18. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-Good Dr. * * * finished his course 
this morning, and was carried to his grave by eight of 
the members of the African Church this afternoon. 
His son in law Mr. Spencer is ill. Dr. * * * is, I 
suppose his physician. It is truly distressing to think 
of the desolation which has followed the footsteps of 
this man, and of all the doctors who use bark, wine, 
laudanum, and hot or cold baths in this disorder. It is 
much more inflammatory than a common pleurasy, and 
who ever thought of using those remedies in that 
disease? This morning I received a note from Mrs. 
Blackwell written under great agitation of mind, in- 
forming me that the good Doctor is ill with the fever 
at Gloucester. John Coxe flew to his relief. He bled 
him and gave him the mercurial purge. He expects 
to visit him every day, and from present appearances 
he entertains great hopes of his speedy recovery. 
Dr. * * * with his whole family left the city this day. 
Dr. * * * mends, but very slowly. His head has been 
much affected by the disorder. Mrs. Miller his grand- 
mother is indisposed. Dr. * * * attends her. OLD FAMIL Y LETTERS. 
77 
I am again employed in Mr. Hammond's family. 
After curing four of his servants, a French physician 
was sent for a few weeks afterwards to his steward, 
and to one of his maids. They both died. Mr. Fisher 
is now attending his groom. It is probable that Mr. 
Hammond was persuaded that my four cures in his 
family were only of the fall fever, because I did not put 
the yellow color of the disorder in their faces. I put it 
in a more suitable place by means of the strong, but 
safe mercurial purges. 
Good old James Craig died a few days ago. 
Octobr. 19th. Blessed be God I continue to improve 
not only in health, but in strength. I recd. a letter from 
Dr. * * * and another from your kind sister Polly 
yesterday urging me to leave the city. I have written 
to Polly and I hope shall satisfy her, that such a step 
would be unwise, and perhaps sinful. I am still useful. 
I prescribe with success in my house, and my pupils 
under my direction save many, many lives every day. 
Three or four more rainy, or very cold days would de- 
stroy all the contagion in the city, and such weather 
must come soon. In the mean while be assured that I 
will not go into an infected room to see a patient, until 
I am as strong as I was before my confinement. I have 
already resisted two very pressing calls from old 
friends. 
Adieu, my dear friend. My best love to all friends. 
From your sincere and 
affectionate friend 
Benjn Rush. 
P.S.-The disorder revived yesterday a good deal in 
consequence of the warmth of the weather. 78 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
Philada Octobr 20th 1793. 
My dear Julia,-This day poor dear Mrs. Smith 
breathed her last. She appeared, and Mr. Fisher says, 
was out of danger for two days, but sunk under the 
want of good nursing [being attended only by a black 
child of 14 years of age] and under deep depression of 
mind, brought on by the loss of her old friends in sick- 
ness, Mrs. Rodgers and Mrs. Kepple, and perhaps too 
by hearing the sound of the bier at every hour of the 
night and day, passing by her door to the grave yards 
above her. Many have died from the above circum- 
stances in spite of the most effectual medical aid. 
Dani. Offly's death has been ascribed wholly to his 
black nurse having fallen asleep, and to having passed 
a whole night without drinks or food in the weak but 
convalescent state of his disorder. He was a patient of 
Dr. * * *. The Dr. is out of danger. Dr. * * * died 
yesterday morning. Major Sprout's widow is no more. 
Mr. Pilmore is better. Dr. * * * [a bold practitioner] 
was one of his physicians. Dr. * * * was bled twice 
this day. Dr. * * * is to visit him tomorrow with John 
Coxe. Geo. Bullock is still in great danger: none of 
his family visit him, altho' Mrs. Bullock's solicitude for 
his recovery is very great. The Revd. Mr. Turner is 
ill. He preceeded Dr. * * *'s corpse, and exhorted at 
his grave, for contrary to the late custom of our city 
100 people, chiefly women, attended the good old man's 
funeral. 
Dr. * * * and his whole family did not leave town till 
yesterday. He sent me a parting note containing kind 
expressions of friendship, and prayers for my preser- 
vation. An extract from it in favor of plentiful bleed- OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
79 
ing, will I expect appear in Mr. Brown's paper of 
tomorrow. 
Marcus has just now returned from Rosehill upon a 
visit to Becky and Ben. They are both in good health. 
Ben's cheeks were like a rose. He thinks he has 
grown quite handsome. He was shy as to conversing 
with Marcus, but said he loved him. Marcus carried 
Becky sundry articles of diet. 
Dr.* * *'s brother has been recovered under the 
care of the Doctor, and of Dr. * * * from extreme 
danger, by three bleedings in one day, and by a strong 
dose of the mercurial medicine. This cure has tran- 
spired by accident, for pains have been taken to prevent 
its being known, especially to me ! ! ! 
Octobr. 21. A cold morning and a good nights rest 
call upon me with equal force to offer up my grateful 
praises to the author of every public and private bless- 
ing. If the weather continues to increase in coldness, 
and above all if we should have a few days heavy rain 
joined with it, the disease will be driven from the city in 
a few weeks. A few scattered cases may perhaps exist 
from carelessness or accident during the winter. I find by 
my notes of the disorder taken in the year 1762 during 
my apprenticeship that it continued [probably in that 
way only] during the months of Novr and Decemr. 
From the contents or charges in Dr. Redman's day 
book, it visably and almost wholly declined about the 15 
of Octobr. Thus you see the most malignant and deadly 
contagion has its laws, and its bounds, as well as fire 
and water. 
Adieu. Yours most affec7 
Bentn Rush. 80 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
My dear Julia,-The nearer falling bodies approach 
the earth, the greater the attraction they have to each 
other. The same may be said of husbands and wives 
that love each other, when they lessen the distance that 
parts them. I feel more united to you at Trenton than 
at Princeton. The time of our meeting is, I hope, not 
very far distant. The disease declines evidently every 
day. Should the weather be as cold as in former years, 
I think it probable, that you will be able to come to 
town about the middle of November. 
I rode out this forenoon, the first time since the 10th. 
of this month. I found more people in the streets than 
before my confinement, and their countenances wore a 
more cheerful aspect. I observed a tent in the Potter's 
field in riding by it. It was erected for the accomoda- 
tion of the grave diggers, who worked there, day and 
night. Upwards of 1000 persons have been buried in 
that grave yard alone since the ist. day of August. 
Dr. * * * has been in great danger, but has some 
hopeful symptoms this evening. Dr. * * * has visited 
him twice this day-once with John Coxe, and once 
alone, owing to Mr. Coxe being a little indisposed. 
Geo. Bullock will hardly live till tomorrow morning. 
Dr. * * * did not see him till the 3rd. day of his dis- 
order. His father sent him into the country for safety. 
He came into town, without the knowledge of any of 
his family, and concealed his illness till it was too late 
to do him any service, 
Your nurse Barry visited us this afternoon. She and 
her sister have recovered from the fever under my 
directions without a visit from any of us. She and her 
Philadelphia Octobr 21. 1793. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
81 
mother and children were in great distress from the 
want of everything. We did not send her empty away. 
She begged to be remembered to you in the most 
affectionate manner. 
Emily and Richard's letters came safe to hand. 
Richard falls off in his hand-writing. I am glad to hear 
such good accounts of John and Julia. 
Octobr. 22nd. I have only to add that I continue thro' 
divine goodness to gain strength by every night's rest, 
and that I am with much love to Mr. Armstrong and 
Uncle Sami, families, and to each of the children your 
sincere and affectionate 
Benjn Rush. 
P.S.-Mr. Fisher sends his most respectful compts to 
you. He is a most amiable young man. The late dis- 
tresses in our city have awakened uncommon talents 
and virtues in him. Betsy Steen's letter did not come 
to my care. All her friends I believe are well. I cured 
her sister at Mr. Fisher's. 
Philadelphia Octobr 23. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-I am sorry to inform you that the 
late moderate weather has so far revived the disease, 
that the mortality is nearly as great as before the late 
rain and cold weather. 700 have died since the 11 of 
October. 3400 have died since the first of August. O ! 
that God would hear the cries and groans of the many 
hundred, and perhaps thousand sick which still ascend 
to his throne every hour of the day and night, from our 82 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
desolating city ! I feel the distresses of my fellow citi- 
zens the more from my being unable to assist them, 
and from my hearing constantly of some of them being 
murdered by large and ill-timed doses of bark and wine. 
But I must not arraign the conduct of divine provi- 
dence, 
" When obedient nature knows his will, 
A doctor or disease alike can kill." 
Dr. * * * is out of danger, much to the honor of Mr. 
Coxe. Geo. Bullock is still alive, and had he been 
properly attended by his nurse for two days past Dr. 
says, might have recovered. 
I received an affectionate letter from my sister Mont- 
gomery a few days ago. She sympathizes tenderly with 
us in the death of our dear sister. All her letters to 
her since the commencement of the disorder she says 
were very pious, and full of solicitude for my life. One 
expression in Mrs. Montgomery's letter to my mother 
pierced my heart. I cannot copy it, but it contained 
another proof, that she willingly and cheerfully exposed 
and gave her life, to save mine. 
I have given you great credit everywhere for having 
never once advised me to leave the city. You will 
perceive by the paper of this evening, that in my infirm 
and confined situation, I have not been useless to my 
fellow citizens. Many hundred people will subscribe 
similar certificates of being cured by my advice, or by 
my publications alone, without a visit from any physician. 
I am however best satisfied that the detail of those cures 
should be a secret till that great day, when envy and 
calumny shall be able to detract nothing from them. 
Octobr 24. A clear and moderate day. But it is all OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
83 
just as it should be, wise, just, and good. "There is 
more sin [Dr. Priestly says] in complaining of the 
weather, than most people are aware of." 
Adieu. With love to all surrounding friends, I am 
my dear Julia yours 
sincerely 
Benjn Rush. 
P.S.-My mother sent her cloak to Betsey Steen by 
mistake. She begs Betsey to take good care of it. 
All Betsey's relations are out of town, or well in town. 
My dear Julia,-I move at present in so small a 
sphere, and see and hear so little of what goes forward 
in our city, that my letters will contain nothing here- 
after that can interest you. I have not been out of the 
house this day, and have prescribed to not more than 
half a dozen people. This sudden diminution of busi- 
ness, is occasioned in part by the disease having left 
the heart of the city, in which I have generally practised, 
and by its being generally known that I am too weak 
to visit patients. My pupils are still busy, but it is 
chiefly in attending poor people. 
My excellent friend Sami. Coates who has been an 
Anthony Beneset in every stage of our late distresses, 
called upon me this evening, and kindly offered to lend 
me -o-o. I shall probably require it, for I have 
only a few dollars in the house, and this is not a time 
to ask for money from my patients. I have expended 
Philadelphia Octob' 24th 1793. 84 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
since the commencement of the disorder nearly 
in cash and have contracted some debts. In what man- 
ner a part of it has been spent, I shall not mention. I 
regret only that it was not This, only between 
ourselves. 
I receive every day polite and friendly letters from 
the country. Some of them contain expressions which 
indicate a great degree of ignorance of the state of the 
public mind in our city. I am supposed to have created 
a great many friends, and a large fund of gratitude 
among my fellow citizens. This is far from being true. 
The relations and patients of the physicians whose prac- 
tice I have opposed, have taken part with them in their 
resentments and I am now publicly accused at every cor- 
ner of having murdered the greatest part of the citizens 
who have died of the present disorder. These slanders 
must increase, for ignorance and error when detected 
and exposed can never forgive. Dr. * * *, Dr. * * * 
and my old pupils are the only friends I have left among 
my medical brethren. After what has passed between 
me and the rest of them, we can never consult, or even 
associate together hereafter. Did New York offer a 
retreat to me and with it, a chair in their University, I 
should prefer ending my days there [if I survive the 
present calamity] to continuing in Philada. where I see 
nothing before me but strife and misery. One conso- 
lation I derive from the persecutions which have fol- 
lowed my late exertions in behalf of my fellow citizens, 
and that is, they nourish a humble hope that my labors 
have been accepted in heaven, and that they will be 
owned hereafter by the impartial Judge of the uni- 
verse. 
John Todd the lawyer died this afternoon. Thos Hale OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
85 
the carpr and Gerd Vogles died a few days ago, the last 
in jail, and it is said with hunger. 
Octobr 25th. We are all well. My good mother has 
recovered her health and spirits, and is more active than 
she has been for several years. Adieu. 
Yours affectionately 
Benjn Rush. 
My dear Julia,-This morning at i o'clock Geo. 
Bullock breathed his last. I paid a short visit to Peter 
Buynton's family this afternoon who informed me that 
Mr. & Mrs. Bullock bear his death with composure. 
It was expected for several days, and nothing that could 
be done was omitted on the part of Dr. * * * to save 
his life. The mortality has been less this day than usual. 
Only one person has been buried in the Quakers grave 
yard. From five to fourteen have been buried there 
every day for many weeks. 
Dr. * * * is not so well as he has been. He has 
been attended and even nursed under great disadvan- 
tages compared with what he would have had in town, 
and in his own house. The French physicians are every 
where getting into disrepute. They have in conjunc- 
tion with our bark, wine and cold bath Doctors, de- 
stroyed at least two thirds of all who have perished by 
the disorder. The principal remedies of the French 
physicians are hot baths, glysters, nitre, camphor and 
cream tartar. They seldom bleed and all of them rep- 
robate the mercurial purges. One of them [a Jew] 
does not even feel the pulse of his patients. Upon 
Philadelphia Octobr 25th 1793. 86 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
being offered a hand for that purpose by a Mr. Mor- 
rison, he said, " no-no. I never feel the pulse ; that is 
the way the Philadelphia physicians catch the disorder." 
This man died on the 3rd. day. 
My situation for some time past has been in some 
respects like that of the children of Israel in the wilder- 
ness, but it has differed from it in one particular very 
materially, and that is my clothes have not waxed old. 
On the contrary I have become so ragged, that I am 
hardly fit to be seen in my own house. This evil at 
present is without a remedy, for there is scarcely a Tay- 
lor or Shoemaker who carries on business in town, their 
apprentices and journeymen being dead, or turned 
grave diggers, or having left the city. 
Octobr 26th. A warm and cloudy morning-God send 
a plentiful rain! We are all thro' divine goodness in 
good health. Our whole neighbourhood has become 
pure, there being at present not a single sick person 
within a square of us. Adieu. My best love to all our 
dear and invaluable friends at Trenton. I begin to count 
the weeks and days that interpose between our meet- 
ing, for I now begin to think that it will please God to 
bless us again as an unbroken family, my dear sister 
alone excepted from our number. Adieu. 
From yours affectionately 
Benjn Rush. 
Philadelphia Octobr 27. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-Yours of the 24th. of this month 
came safe to hand yesterday morning enclosing a letter 
to Betsey Steen's mother, which shall be sent to her 
sister at Mr. Fisher's. I have hitherto been silent OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
87 
upon the subject of another house, because I con- 
sidered myself as treading upon the brink of the 
grave. Since it has pleased God to check in a great 
measure the ravages of the fever, and to restore my 
health, I have contemplated moving out of the house 
I now occupy before you come to town. Besides the 
reasons you mention for it, I have another. Mr. 
* * * sent me a note on the nth. of September [a day 
of uncommon distress and darkness in our city] and 
raised my rent to £140 a year, and yesterday he sent 
another note demanding the rent of the last quarter. 
Such acts of insensibility to a man labouring and 
broken down as I was, have affected me so much 
that I wish all connection between us as landlord and 
tenant to be dissolved for ever as soon as possible. 
This information must not be made public. I shall 
part with him in peace, and without a complaint. I 
wish landlords would consider the wickedness of rack 
rents. They have been one of the procuring causes 
in my opinion of the late judgment of God upon our 
city. I have thought of taking the house in which Mr. 
Lea lived in 4th. Street. I prefer it to Mr. Mead's as 
being more retired. It will moreover be convenient to 
the lot we once viewed together, if God in his provi- 
dence should enable us to purchase and improve it. 
I cannot promise to visit and escort you to town. I 
still keep up a considerable share of business by means 
of my pupils, and what is more, I have reason to be- 
lieve that I keep ignorance and error [in the present 
disease] in constant awe by continued extracts from the 
authors from which I have derived my principles and 
practice and which are published in the newspapers. 
The envy and hatred of my brethren have lately risen 88 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
to rage. They blush at their mistakes-they feel for 
their murders-and instead of asking forgiveness of 
the public for them, vent all their guilty shame and 
madness in execrations upon the man who has con- 
victed them of both. 
My good friend Sammy Coates called to see me this 
ing, and informed me that there had not been 
a grave opened in the Friends burying ground, nor an 
admission or death this day in the hospital at Bushkill. 
Dr. * * * is still in danger. 
Octobr 28. Blessed be God for the change in the 
weather. We are all well. Adieu. With love to all 
our Princeton friends, and to each of the children, I am 
my dear Julia your ever faithful friend 
Benjn Rush. 
My dear Julia,-I have great pleasure in informing 
you that Dr. * * * is much better. He was bled five 
times. After the 3rd bleeding an old patient of Dr. 
* * *'s went down to Gloucester and begged Mrs. 
* * * in the most pathetic terms not to consent to his 
being bled again. Mrs. * * * acted with firmness and 
propriety, and submitted to the subsequent bleedings 
with full confidence of their being proper, tho' advised 
only by Mr. Coxe. In this way have I been opposed 
and frequently defeated, from the commencement of 
the disorder, by the interference of the friends and 
followers of Dr. * * *. 
The disease visibly and universally declines. But 
Philadelphia Octobr 28. 1793. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
89 
some worthy people still have it, among whom is our 
cousin Parry Hall who is in great danger. Dr. * * * 
and Mr. Fisher attend him. 
Tomorrow we expect to move into the front parlour. 
Our little back parlour has resembled for two months 
past the cabin of a ship. It has been shop, library, 
council chamber, dining room, and at night a bed 
chamber for one of the servants. My mother has 
hired Betsey Correy at 7/6 a week to take charge of the 
kitchen, which will enable Marcus to clean and white- 
wash the house, and to purify all the infected articles 
of furniture in it. 
A new clamor has been excited against me in which 
many citizens take a part. I have asserted that the 
yellow fever was generated in our city. This assertion 
they say will destroy the character of Philad. for 
healthiness, and drive Congress from it. Truth in 
science as in morals never did any harm. If I prove 
my assertion, which I can most easily do, I shall at the 
same time point out the means of preventing its ever 
being generated among us again. I am urged to bring 
forward my proofs immediately. To this I have ob- 
jected, until I am able to call upon a number of persons 
for the priviledge of using their names. To a gentle- 
man who pressed the matter upon me this day, I said 
that the good opinion of the citizens of Philad. was 
now of little consequence to me, for that I thought it 
probable from present appearances, that I should begin 
to seek a retreat and subsistance in some other part of 
the United States. 
"Do all the good you can [said Mr. Westly to Mr. 
Pilmore when he entered into the ministry], expect to 
be persecuted for doing good, and learn to rejoice in 90 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
persecution,"-a hard lesson to flesh and blood ! but I 
hope it will please my divine Master to teach it to me. 
Octobr 29th. We are all well-thank God ! Adieu 
from yours with usual love and sincerity. 
Benjn Rush. 
Octobr 29. 1793. 
My dear Sister,-Your affectionate letters drew 
tears from our eyes. Never did a brother feel more 
for the loss of a sister than I felt for ours. She was 
my friend and councillor in the difficult and distressing 
duties I was called upon to perform to my fellow citi- 
zens. She was my nurse in sickness. In short she 
gave her life to save mine, for when she was advised 
to go out of town to escape the fever, she calmly said 
" no, I will stay and take care of my brother, though I 
were sure I should die with the disorder, for my life is 
of no consequence to anybody compared with his." 
During the prevalence of the fever she was active, 
intelligent and useful among the patients who crowded 
my house at every hour of the day, and at most of the 
hours of the night. No person ever wept in our 
parlour or entry [and many, many tears were shed in 
both] with whom she did not weep. Her whole soul 
was made up of sympathy and kindness. In her last 
illness she was composed, and patient as an angel. 
She repeated several passages from the psalms ex- 
pressive of the love and goodness of God, the day 
before she died. Her last words to me were " A 
thousand and a thousand thanks to you my dear 
brother for all your kindness to me." She was buried OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
91 
near her two children. My whole heart descended 
into the grave with her. But it is time to quit a sub- 
ject with which I could fill many pages. Our dear 
mother has had a light attack of the fever, but is now 
in her usual health. On the 10th of this month I was 
a second time attacked by the disorder, and for a day 
or two was in great danger, but it has pleased God to 
restore me again to life and health. I am still very 
weak and unable to do any business. My wife and 
children are in the Jerseys, where they have been for 
several months. The disease visibly and universally 
declines in every part of the town. It is expected 
that in two or three weeks we shall not have any more 
of it in the city. 
With love to Mr. Montgomery, Miss Betsey, Mr. 
and Mrs. Forster, and John, in which our dear mother 
joins, I am my dear and alas! now my only sister, your 
affectionate brother 
Benjn Rush. 
Philada Octobr 29. 1793. 
Philadelphia Octobr 29. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-My letters of late have become 
so very uninteresting, that I fear you will not think 
them worth their postage. 
At 3 o'clock this afternoon I received a visit from 
Rich. Allen, and Absalom Jones. They informed me 
that after most of the physicians of the city were con- 
fined, they procured the printed directions for curing the 
fever, went among the poor who were sick, gave them 92 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
the mercurial purges, bled them freely, and by those 
means saved the lives of between two and three hun- 
dred persons. This information gave me great pleas- 
ure, as it shews the safety of the medicines I had recom- 
mended, and that with good attendance, the disease is 
as certainly under the management of Art, as the 
measles or influenza. 
Dr. Blackwell continues to mend. I wrote a note to 
Mrs. * * * this morning, congratulating her upon the 
Doctor's recovery under the care of two young phy- 
sicians, and upon the triumph in his case, of youthful 
reason and experience, over grey headed ignorance and 
error. 
Our kinsman Mr. Hall is still in danger. His wife's 
sister is nearly gone. The disease in her fixed upon 
her brain, and has induced a true mania which will 
probably prove fatal before morning. 
Octobr 30th. In a former letter I mentioned to you 
that I had wept one evening over the 102nd psalm. Last 
night I felt great satisfaction in reading the 103rd psalm. 
I beg of you to read it over and over, and to join with 
me in praising God for the wonderful deliverance he 
has wrought for me. You know as yet but one quarter 
of the dangers to which I have been exposed. " I have 
said [almost literally] to corruption thou art my father, 
and to the worm, thou art my mother, and my sister." 
The history of the circumstances under which life was 
preserved in me will form an interesting memoir in the 
account of the disease which I expect to publish as soon 
as I have strength and time eno' for that purpose. I 
sometimes contemplate a ride to Princeton a week or 
two hence, but I can determine nothing positively as yet, 
for my presence in town is necessary to beget confidence OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
93 
in my pupils, and they have constantly from 20 to 30 
patients under their care. I expect to take charge of 
the hospital on Saturday. Adieu, my faithful and sym- 
pathizing friend. I am grateful for all the distress you 
have felt on my account. 
With love as usual I am 
ever yours 
Benjn Rush. 
My dear Julia,-The post master having at last 
provided a letter carrier, your letter of yesterday came 
to hand this day. It gave me great pleasure. John's 
letter which accompanied it was equally satisfactory. 
The stile and sentiments contained in it do him credit. 
Dr. * * *, Mr. Fisher, and his grand mama were charmed 
with it. 
I am much obliged to Dr. * * * for an interest in 
his prayers. I have done him ample justice whenever 
I have heard his conduct blamed for leaving the city, 
and have openly declared that I advised him not to 
come to town at the time he proposed it. Dr. * * * 
and Dr. * * * receive no quarter from the public. The 
latter I have lately heard was indisposed in the country. 
I hope this is true. He is a good man, and I think 
would not have left his flock had his health permitted 
him to remain with them. Mr. Pilmore preached last 
Sunday, and this afternoon in walking by St. Paul's 
Church I saw him in the reading desk. Prayers have 
been offered up in that church twice a week, ever 
since the commencement of the judgment of God upon 
our city. 
Philadelphia Octobr 30. 1793. 94 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
Dr. * * * continues to mend. I received a most 
affectionate note from Mrs. * * * this evening by Mr. 
Coxe in which you and the children are not forgotten. 
P. Hall is still in very great danger. 
I have as yet visited no patient since my last confine- 
ment. I pass my time chiefly in reading, and in adding 
to my notes of the late epidemic. Sometimes seated 
in your easy chair by the fire, I lose myself in looking 
back upon the ocean which I have passed, and now and 
then find myself surprised by a tear in reflecting upon 
the friends I have lost, and the scenes of distress that I 
have witnessed, and which I was unable to relieve. This 
evening- I viewed a corner of the front room in which I 
sat in silence and darkness for half an hour, at a time 
when the disease baffled the power of medicine. I felt 
over again all the horror and distress wch. the prospect 
of the almost, or perhaps total desolation of our city 
at that time excited in my mind. I cast a look [I then 
thought, most probably a final one] towards my dear 
family, for I had resolved to perish with my fellow citi- 
zens rather than dishonor my profession or religion by 
abandoning the city. I never can forget the anguish of 
soul with which in this awful situation I wrung my hands, 
and I believe wept aloud. Soon afterwards- But 
why this painful retrospect of past troubles ? " The 
winter is gone : the flowers appear upon the earth, the 
time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of 
the turtle is again heard in our land." 
Octobr 31. I am sorry to hear of your mama's indis- 
position. Give my love to her, and to all friends. 
Adieu, my dear friend. 
From yours sincerely 
Benjn Rush. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
95 
Philadelphia Octobr 31. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-In dating my letter, I am led to 
reflect that it is the last day of the month in which my 
dear sister died. I feel disposed to wish to arrest time 
at its present point, that I might still be within a month 
of the distressing day on which we parted. The nearer 
I can keep to that day, the nearer I feel my union to 
be to her, and the less disposed I feel to consider her 
as gone forever. Excuse this introduction to my letter. 
I shall never be able to review the melancholy scenes I 
have passed through, nor my sufferings from sickness 
and other causes, without feeling a revival of gratitude 
and affection to that dear woman which I never shall be 
able to express. 
Our worthy kinsman Mr. Hall Mr. Fisher thinks is 
below hope. His wife's sister died this morning. The 
disease you see from these two cases is not deprived 
of its mortality. Many, I fear will die with it in the 
course of the next month from ignorance or careless- 
ness. The citizens are crowding into town every day. 
I wish they may not repent their coming in so soon. I 
have been called to two persons this day who came to 
town a day or two ago. Mr. Fisher hopes the com- 
plaints of the one we consented to attend, are not from 
the contagion of the yellow fever. I ought to have 
mentioned above, that Mr. Hall is dying of a relapse of 
the disorder brought on by extreme fatigue in sitting 
up three nights successively with his sister in law. How 
few people recover from fevers of any kind which are 
brought on by such strong predisposing causes ! I shall 
lose a sincere friend in him. He visited me in my sick- 
ness, and I had great comfort in his pious conversation. 96 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
Envy and malice begin to be hoarse from their loud 
and long complaints against me. Dr. * * *'s friends 
alone are clamorous and unforgiving. He deserted me 
in the hour of danger and persecution. He had given 
the mercurial purges, with success before he was sick. 
He had heard from his pupil Mr. Bache and from my- 
self daily accounts of their wonderful efficacy,-he had 
even assented to their success in curing the disorder by 
a very delicate, but unmerited compliment which he 
paid me in his sickness for having introduced them into 
practice,-and yet after all this,-in his publication 
after his recovery he says " He had not made up his 
mind" as to their efficacy. At this time the mercurial 
purges and myself were blasted in every part of the 
town for killing our citizens, and it was no longer safe 
or prudent to be our friend. Upon reading the Dr.'s 
publication I threw the paper from me, and repeated 
the following lines from Shakespear. 
" This was the most unkindly cut of all. 
Thro' this, the well beloved Brutus stabbed, 
And as he plucked his cursed steel away, 
Mark how the blood of Caesar followed it, 
As rushing out of doors to be resolved, 
If Brutus so unkindly knocked or no- 
Ahr Brutus as you know was Casar's angel." 
Dr. * * * has heard of my having applied the above 
lines to him, and says I called him an assassin. I owned 
to the truth of the charge, but added that I had said 
much worse thing's of him, than all that he had heard. 
That he had concealed the truth-that he had passed 
by a friend who was assassinating by a set of ruffians 
without offering to assist him, and that by withholding OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
97 
his testimony in favor of mercury and jalap he had 
added to the mortality of the disorder. 
Novr Ist. We are all well. Blessed be God for it 
and for the rain of yesterday and last night. Love as 
usual. 
Yours-yours-yours, 
Benjn Rush. 
Philada Novr i. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-I concluded my letter last evening 
with an account of Dr. * * *'s desertion of his friend, 
and with him, of truth and humanity to his fellow citi- 
zens. I shall begin this letter by informing you that 
this day has produced a discovery of a letter from Dr. 
* * * to Dr. * * * in which he has abused me in the 
most intemperate manner. Copies of this letter are 
circulating among the physicians, and no doubt affords 
them much consolation under the load of disgrace which 
their ignorance, and blunders have brought upon them. 
One charge among many others brought against me is, 
that I meanly introduced the mercurial purges to make 
money by the sale of them. The fact is as false, of my 
making money by them, as the motive is unkind, to 
which he ascribes it. Nine tenths of all the purges 
which went out of my shop before the apothecaries 
began to sell them, were given away. My dear sister 
once offered me a dollar and an half, which she received 
during my absence from home, for some of them. I 
refused to take it, and she gave it to the first poor patient 
that came into the house afterwards. You may easily 
conceive of the number of those purges which I gave 98 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
away, when I add, that I used three pounds of jalap 
and two and an half of calomel in the course of a few 
weeks, for after the 19th of September, I sent every body 
to the apothecaries for medicines of all kinds, except 
those poor people who had no money to buy them. You 
may conceive further of the demand for those powders 
and for advice, when I assure you that my parlour and 
entry for several weeks were as crowded at all hours, 
as ever you saw Holland's or any other cheap shop in 
our city. 
I expect to procure a copy of this letter, thro' the in- 
fluence of Dr. * * *, which I shall immediately publish. 
It will shew that I had a more formidable monster than 
the disease, to contend with, during the late calamity. 
My dear kinsman P. Hall died last night. I have no 
doubt of his having entered into the joy of his Lord, 
and I have more than once this day fancied that I saw 
my dear sister running towards him to congratulate 
him upon his arrival on the coasts of bliss, and to in- 
quire of him after the health and comfort of her beloved 
brother. I received a most friendly visit this day from 
Mr. Fitzsimons. He and his whole family have escaped 
the disorder. 
Novemr 2nd. Adieu, my dear Julia. I shall begin this 
day to make inquiries after Mr. Shippen's house. I 
hope to be in a condition to receive you all in two or 
three weeks, either in that house, or in Mr. Mead's. 
With love as usual, I am 
Yours most affectionately 
Benjn Rush. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
99 
Philada Novr 3rd 1793. 
My dear Julia,-This afternoon Mr. Fisher drove 
me in the chair as far as Rosehill, where I had the 
pleasure of seeing our son Ben in good health. My 
emotions upon his being brought near me [for I did not 
get out of the chair] may more easily be conceived 
than described. He has grown tall, and handsome, but 
still retains his sour countenance. Josey bid him laugh, 
which he did with great glee. His voice is as coarse as 
ever, but he speaks much plainer than he did when he 
left town. He says he wants to see you very much. 
Becky is impatient to bring him home, but I objected to 
it, till we get into a larger and purer house. She sends 
a great deal of love to you. 
After parting with Ben, we rode up to Capt. Barry's. 
The whole family came to the door, and received us 
with a degree of joy, that rose almost to acclammations. 
Suspected as we were of being infected, they would 
have dragged us from the chair into the house had we 
permitted them. They regaled us with sweet meats 
and biscuit, and offered us wine, but my stomach will 
not yet bear it. They inquired for you, and gave you 
great credit for the fortitude and even heroism with 
which you had conducted yourself in my late perilous and 
distressing situation. Col. Hamilton is indisposed, and 
has sent to New York for Dr. Stevens. He still de- 
fends bark and the cold bath in the yellow fever, and 
reprobates my practice as obsolete in the West In- 
dies. A fact will soon come to lio-ht, which will 
cover him and his physicians with confusion. It will 
appear in a few days, that two fifths of all the sick 
that were sent to Bushkill have died, under the most 100 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
favourable circumstances of accommodation and attend- 
ance. 
* * * and a Frenchman were their physicians. The 
new remedies were never used to any of therm Under 
the most unfavourable circumstances of attendance 
from my own sickness, the sickness of my pupils, etc., 
I seldom lost more than one in twenty of all who passed 
thro' my hands. 
Dr. * * * came to town last Friday. A man died on 
Saturday night who returned from the country a week 
ago. 
Novr 4th. Adieu. Love as usual. 
Yours sincerely and affecy 
Benjn Rush. 
Philadelphia Novr 4. 1793. 
My dear Julia,-Your letter of the 2nd of this instant 
gave me great pleasure. I have the deepest sense of 
your fervent, and unabated affection for me, and in the 
midst of my dangers and distresses, at all times de- 
rived consolation from reflecting, that I lived every 
mpment in your remembrance, and was constantly car- 
ried by you to the throne of heaven for my preser- 
vation. I derived comfort in the near prospects of 
death likewise, from reflecting upon your extraordinary 
prudence, your good sense, and pious dispositions, all 
of which qualified you in an eminent degree to educate 
our children in a proper manner in case I had been 
taken from you. This idea, connected with an unshaken 
faith in God's promises to widows and fatherless chil- 
dren, sometimes suspended for a while my ardent and OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
101 
natural attachment to you and the children, and made 
me at times willing to part with you provided my death 
would have advanced the great objects to which I had 
directed myself. Life was most desirable at one time, 
only when I thought of the unfinished works I should 
leave behind me, and particularly a long and exact de- 
tail of my opinions, and practice in the yellow fever. 
To render this detail in some degree useful in case I 
had died, I wrote all my notes in a fair, legible hand, and 
committed the arrangement and publication of them to 
my dear pupil Dr. * * *. 
I do not give up my hopes of being able to pay you a 
short visit. Can you provide me with a separate bed 
and room ? and will you consent to receive me without 
the usual modes of salutation among long absent, and 
affectionate friends ? This must be stipulated, before I 
can consent to comply with your invitation. 
Mr. Fisher drove me out to Mr. Meredith's this fore- 
noon. We were received with great kindness, and 
pressed to stay to dinner. I declined it, but with a 
promise to spend part of a day with them some time 
in the course of this week. 
I received a visit this day from Dr. * * *. He is a 
mere skeleton, but retains his usual fine spirits. 
Novr 5th. Marcus, Betsey, and Peter send their duty 
and love to you. I have this morning made Marcus 
very happy, by giving him the suit of cloathes I wore 
during the prevalence of the fever. I have in the stead 
of it, put on my suit of black. My mother joins in 
much love to you and the children and all friends. 102 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
Philada Novr 7th 1793. 
My dear Julia,-Your letter of yesterday came to 
hand in the evening. You cannot be more impatient 
for our meeting than I am, but I dread the thoughts of 
seeing you in town, till the city is more thoroughly puri- 
fied from the contagion of the yellow fever. Many have 
sickened, and some have died, of the citizens who have 
come into town within these ten days. I will give you the 
earliest notice of the time when it will be proper to return, 
but a day of the month must not govern you, while we are 
unable to foretell, or to govern the changes in the weather. 
I shall attend to your advice respecting my breth- 
ren. Indeed I never intended to begin a contro- 
versy with them. I have hitherto calmly contradicted 
their falsehoods. Dr. * * * [stimulated by the * * * 
family] leads the van of my calumniators. I gave him 
no other offence than declining to consult him, as I did 
latterly with all the wine and bark Doctors. A Jew and 
a Christian attempting to worship in the same temple, 
and by means of the same ceremonies, is not a more 
absurd sight than two physicians meeting to consult 
about a disease on the cause and cure of which they 
differed as widely as light differs from darkness. I did 
not take this decisive step with my brethren till I made 
myself hoarse in trying to persuade them to adopt the 
new remedies, and until they had accused me in the 
news papers of murdering my patients by blood letting. 
The dye with them is cast. I feel as if I were more 
than able thro' divine support to meet the gathering 
storm. Since it has been convenient and safe for the 
citizens to visit each other, and to meet at corners, I 
have heard eno' to satisfy me that I shall not be driven OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
103 
from the city. My old patients cannot desert me, for I 
did not desert them in the day of their adversity, and 
some of * * *'s patients whom I cured, have already 
declared that they intend to employ me. I was sent 
for to one of the wealthiest of them this morning. 
Well might David prefer the scourge of a pestilence, 
to that of the evil dispositions of his fellow men. I hope 
God will forgive my want of faith. I am now sure that 
he that hath in abundant mercy, delivered me from the 
rage of the late pestilence, will likewise deliver me from 
the scourge of tongues, and the wrath of man. 
Your mama's letter was balm to my heart. She gives 
you great credit for your proper and dignified behaviour 
during the whole time of my sickness and dangers, but 
she has not added to my opinion of you. I have often 
said, that you were an uncommon woman. I can now 
truly say that you are a great woman, and it will always 
be my consolation and pleasure [for we should have/rzhfe 
in nothing] that in all the letters I have received from 
my wife and three of my children, not one of them con- 
tained a single request, or even hint to me to leave the 
city, during the prevalence of the late fatal epidemic. 
For such a wife, and such children, I desire to be thankful. 
I shall not write again until Saturday. My tenderest 
love to your mama, and to each of the family. Mr. 
Fisher sends his respects to you. He rises daily in my 
opinion for every quality that can adorn a gentleman, 
or constitute a physician. 
From your sincere friend 
Benjn Rush. 
P.S.-Dr. * * *'s family is come to town, but they 
keep close house. 104 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
Philadelphia Novr 8th 1793. 
My dear Julia,-I have this day received by Capt. 
Josiah from London, a letter to you from Dr. * * * 
accompanied with your silk gown which you committed to 
his care to be dyed. I have sent the letter by the post. I 
receivedalong and interestingletter from him at the same 
time, also a valuable medical book from Dr. Proudfit. 
The disease has declined again since the last rain. I 
have had no calls to patients in the yellow fever for two 
days past, but several to patients indisposed with other 
diseases. My applications for advice in my house have 
been considerable likewise, but from no person affected 
with our late epidemic. 
That my letters may contain a faithful narrative of 
all that related to myself during the late calamities of 
our city, I may now venture to inform you that in the 
morning of Octobr 10th at one o'clock, I was attacked 
in a most violent manner with all the symptoms of the 
fever. Seldom have I endured more pain. My mind 
sympathized with my body. You, and my seven dear 
children rushed upon my imagination, and tore my 
heart strings in a manner I had not experienced in 
my former illness. A recovery in my weak and ex- 
hausted state, seemed hardly probable. At 2 o'clock I 
called up Marcus and Mr. Fisher who slept in the ad- 
joining room. Mr. Fisher bled me which instantly 
removed my pains, and then gave me a dose and an half 
of the mercurial medicine. It puked me several times 
during the night, and brought off a good deal of bile 
from my stomach. The next morning it operated down- 
wards, and relieved me so much, that I was able to sit 
up long eno' to finish my letter to you. In the after- OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
105 
noon, my fever returned, attended with a sleepiness, 
which is always considered as an alarming symptom. 
Mr. Fisher bled me again, which immediately removed 
it. I slept pretty well, the next night, was very weak, 
but free of pain the next day ; but the night following, 
I fell into just such a fainty fit, as I had about the crisis 
of my pleurasy in the year 1788. I called upon Marcus 
who slept in the room with me for something to drink, 
and afterwards for some nourishment, which revived me 
in a few minutes, so that I slept well the remaining part 
of the night. One or two nights afterwards he gave 
me something to eat, which prevented a return of the 
fainty fits. It was not till the 15th of the month I was 
able to sit up, nor did I leave my room for many days 
afterwards. Mr. Fisher says he has seen no person 
more violently seized than I was. My recovery was 
under God owing to the speedy use of the new remedies. 
This second attack of the fever, I now see was sent in 
mercy to me and my family. Had I not been arrested by 
it in my labors, my poor frame would probably have sunk 
before this time, under nothing but weakness, and fatigue. 
I used to wish when called to more patients than I 
could attend, that I had an hundred hands, and an hun- 
dred feet. I now wish that I had an hundred hearts and 
an hundred tongues to praise the power, goodness and 
mercy of my gracious Deliverer, to whom alone belong 
the issues from sickness, and the grave. 
Strike out from the list of deaths in your letters Jos. 
Harrison, and Jonth Penrose. Many people walk the 
streets now, who were said to be dead, during the prev- 
alence of the disorder. Adieu. Love as usual. 
Yrs. sincerely 
Benjn Rush. 106 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
P.S.-Marcus is constantly employed in preparing and 
purifying the house for your reception. I hope to be 
able to give you notice, next week, on what day you 
may return. I accord with all your propositions, for 
I expect to be more of your boarder hereafter than ever. 
I have much unfinished business to complete, and 
" Brethren I say the time is short." 
My dear Julia,-My business has increased so much 
with my strength, within these few days, that I am forced 
unwillingly, to relinquish the hope I had cherished, of 
paying you a short visit at Princeton. My time of at- 
tending the hospital moreover has commenced, and you 
know I am not accustomed to neglecting my duty to 
that institution. The lectures are to begin on the 9th 
of next month. Some preparation will be necessary 
for my course, for the late busy season which I have 
passed thro', has prevented my making myself master 
of several subjects on which I must decide in the course 
of the winter. I endeavour to console myself under 
my constant labors by recollecting a speech of Dr. 
* * *'s on his death bed. " I have [said he] led a busy 
and laborious life. I was ashamed to take rest here. 
Eternity will be long eno' to rest in." 
We had yesterday four deaths with the yellow fever, 
and some more are expected. Unless we have a few 
frosty nights this week, it will by no means be safe for 
you to return at the time formerly mentioned. My bed 
and the furniture of my room have been exposed for 
Philadelphia Novr 11. 1793. OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
107 
several nights, but as yet no frost has touched them. 
A woman died yesterday from the contagion lodged in 
a surtout coat which her son brought into the house. 
Have patience. As you said to me in one of your 
letters written a week or two before our marriage, " I 
long-yet dread to see you." Many people are crowd- 
ing into town, and as yet but few have caught the fever, 
but recollect that none, or but few of them come into 
infected houses or to an infected family. I am this day 
to meet Mr. Shippen at his son in law's Mr. Burd's 
upon the subject of his house. You shall hear tomor- 
row of the result of our negotiations. Mrs. Clymer 
speaks in high terms of the house. 
The slanders of my old brethren begin to subside a 
little. A catalogue of them would fill a sheet of paper. 
One among many is that I have not been sick, but I 
confined myself to avoid danger. Poor creatures! 
Where could I have met with greater danger than from 
the contagion in my own house? Until the 10th of 
October I was confined only five days. My confine- 
ment since, was the effect not only of a severe attack 
of the fever, but of such a degree of weakness, attended 
with a cough and occasional fever as rendered me 
scarcely able at times to climb a pair of stairs. 
I have this morning been rebuked, humbled, and com- 
forted by reading the 37th psalm. I find I am a perfect 
Jew in unbelief. I desire to be humbled into the dust 
for it. 
Mrs. Harrison whom I visited yesterday as a patient 
at her son Mathias's inquired after you with great solici- 
tude. She said that she had thought of you much 
oftener during the distress of our city, than you had 
thought of her. You had I find the sympathy, and 108 
OLD FAMILY LETTERS. 
hereafter you will have the praises of all who know 
you. 
Adieu. My tenderest love to all the family. 
Y ou rs-you rs-yours 
my faithful Julia 
Benjn Rush. 
Philada Novr 12. 1793. 
My dearest Julia,-I want words to describe my 
emotions upon hearing that the dearest person to me 
upon the face of the earth is at last within three miles 
of me, after a long and most distressing separation. A 
longer and colder ride into the country than usual this 
morning, has so far exhausted my strength that I fear I 
could not bear a ride to Rosehill, and afterwards-a 
first interview with you. I have moreover a patient ill 
with a disorder which cannot bear the loss of two visits 
a day at a certain hour without the risk of his life. For 
these reasons I have prevailed upon Mr. Fisher to con- 
vey you this letter, with a request to come into town 
with him, or with an assurance that I will come out [if 
as well as usual] in the forenoon, and spend the day 
with you tomorrow. 
If you come to town you shall have the front room 
[now the purest in the house] to yourself. I will sleep in 
the room adjoining you with the door open between us. 
Kiss Ben. But-ah-who will kiss my dear Julia her 
most affectionate husband 
Benjn Rush. 
THE END.