and hardy, as to attempt to introduce any goods, wares, merchandizes, bedding, baggage, &c. imported from, or packed up in, PHILADELPHIA, contrary to the rules prescribed by that body, who were, they faid, deputed to exprefs the will of their fellow citizens.

While our citizens were thus, continues Mr. CAREY, profcribed in several cities and towns,-hunted up like felons in fome, and debarred admittance and turned back in others, whether found or infected,—it is with extreme fatisfaction I am able to record a few inftances of a contrary procedure.

A refpectable number of the inhabitants of Springfield, in NEW JERSEY, after a full confideration of the diftreffes of our citizens, paffed a refolve, offering their town as an afylum to the people flying from PHILADELPHIA, and directing their committee to provide a fuitable place, as an hospital, for such of them as might be feized with the prevailing malignant fever. An afylum was likewise offered to the Philadelphians by feveral of the inhabitants of Elkton, in MARYLAND; and the offer was couched in terms of the utmost sympathy for the diftreffes of the Philadelphians.

At this time the diforder was raging with increafing vehemence. By order of the mayor the bells were ftopB b

ped

ped from tolling. This was a very expedient measure ; as they had before been kept pretty conftantly going the whole day, so as to terrify those in health, and drive the fick, as far as the influence of imagination could produce that effect, to their graves. An idea had gone abroad, that the burning of fires in the streets would have a tendency to purify the air, and arrest the progrefs of the diforder. The people had, therefore, almost every night The mayor large fires at the corners of each street. published also a proclamation forbidding this dangerous practice. As a fubftitute, many had recourfe to the firing of guns, which was imagined a fure preventative of the diforder. This was carried fo far, and attended with so great noise, that it was also forbidden by an order from the mayor.

The fituation of the public hofpital was most dreadful. A profligate and unfeeling fet of nurses (none of good character could be procured at this moment) rioted on the provifions and comforts prepared for the fick, who (unless at the hours the doctors attended) were left almost entirely deftitute of every affiftance. The dying and dead were indifcriminately mingled together. The ordure and other evacuations of the fick were often alNot the smalleft lowed from inattention to remain.

4

order

No

order or regularity exifted. It was, in fact, a great human flaughter-house, where numerous victims were immolated at the altar of riot and intemperance. wonder, then, that a general dread of the place prevailed throughout the city, and that a removal to it was confidered as the feal of death. In confequence, there were various inftances of fick perfons locking their rooms, and refifting every attempt to carry them away. At length the poor were fo much afraid of being fent to BUSHHILL, that they would not acknowledge their illness, until it was no longer poffible to conceal it. For it is to be obferved, that the fear of the contagion was fo prevalent, that as soon as any one was taken fick, an alarm was spread among the neighbours, and every effort was used to have the fick perfon hurried off to BUSHHILL, to avoid spreading the disorder. The cafes of poor people forced in this way to that hospital, though labouring under only common colds, and common fevers of irritation, are numerous and afflicting. There were not wanting inftances of perfons, only flightly ill, being fent to BUSHHILL, by their panic-ftruck neighbours, and embracing the first opportunity of running back to PHI

LADELPHIA.

At this time a circumstance however occurred, which

Bb 2

alone

alone would be fufficient to rescue the character of man from obliquy and reproach. As a human being, I rejoice, fays the benevolent Mr. CAREY, that it has fallen to my lot, to be a witness and recorder of the fact, STEPHEN GERARD, a wealthy merchant, and native of France, touched with the wretched fituation of the fufferers at BUSHHILL, voluntarily and unexpectedly offered to fuperintend that hospital. The surprise and satisfaction excited by this extraordinary effort of humanity, can be better conceived than expreffed. PETER HELM, a native of Pensylvania, actuated by the like benevolent motives, offered his fervices alfo in the fame department.

To form a just estimate of the value of the offer of thefe good men, it is neceffary to take into full confideration the general confternation, which at that period pervaded every quarter of the city, and which made attendance on the fick be regarded little less than certain facrifice. Uninfluenced by any reflections of this kind, without any poffible inducement, but the pureft motives of humanity, they came forward, and undertook what would by others be deemed a forlorn hope. They underwent a laborious round of duty. They inceffantly encouraged and comforted the fick, they gave them ne

ceflaries

ceffaries and medicines, they even performed many difgufting offices of kindness, which nothing could render tolerable, but the exalted motives that impelled them to this heroic conduct.

On the contrary, the jail of PHILADELPHIA is under fuch excellent regulations, that the disorder made its appearance there only in two or three inftances, although fuch abodes of mifery are the places where contagious disorders are mostly generated. When this putrid fever raged moft violently in the city, there were in the jail one hundred and fix French foldiers and failors, confined by the order of the French conful, befides eighty convicts, vagrants, and perfons for trial; all of whom except two or three remained perfectly free from the complaint. Several circumstances conspired to produce this falutary effect.

The people confined are frequently cleansed and purified by the use of the hot and cold bath;-they are kept conftantly employed;-vegetables form a confiderable portion of their diet;-in the yard vegetation flourishes; --and many of them being employed in ftone cutting, the water, conftantly running, keeps the atmosphere in a moift and pure ftate. Whereas the inhabitants of dirty and confined streets have feverely expiated their

neglect