Autograph Letter Signed

An Account of the Yellow Fever Epidemic in Philadelphia

Reports that self and family, blessed be God, are nearly recovered from the malignant disorder in the city of Philadelphia. The scene has surpassed everything Hodgdon has seen before: the dying, groans filled the City all nights, and the dead with the returning day. Whole families have been swept away. Has great cause for thankfulness. Discusses the smoking and repacking of the clothing. President of United States, George Washington has gone to Mount Vernon, the Secretary of Treasury to New York, Secretary of Foreign Affairs to Virginia, and Secretary of War to Boston. Knox has left Hodgdon's hands full. All letters pay postage, no papers printed so no newspapers. More than half the inhabitants of city have gone into the country. All business is at a stand.

An account of the Yellow Fever epidemic in Philadelphia

1793

09

21

Philadelphia

Isaac Craig

Samuel Hodgdon

Hodgdon family

Secretary of War

Henry Knox

President of the United States

George Washington

Secretary of the Treasury

Alexander Hamilton

Thomas Jefferson

William Knox

Pittsburgh

Philadelphia

Mount Vernon

New York

Virginia

fever

malignant disorder

smoking

repacking

clothing

infection

stores

receipts

franks. postage

papers

newspapers

Yellow Fever epidemic

1793092136001

1

Philadelphia 21 September 1793
Sir,
I am favored with your
Letter of the 13th instant -- My self and
Family -- Blessed be God are nearly recovered
from the Malignant disorder that has made
such havock in our own City, the scene has
surpass'd everything that I have before
seen -- the dying, groans has filled our []
all night, and the dead has reached on
our Eyes with the returning day -- whole
families have been swept away -- we
have great cause for thanfulness
for reasons at large offered in my side
-- it was morally and almost physically
impossible for infection to have reached
any of the Clothing -- indeed a large part
of the Clothing was on the road before
there was any infection in the City --
however, it were necessary it would have
been better to have taken the precaution[s]
when the Clothing has reached its desti-
nation I never conceived it necessary
any where -- I am very sorry to find your
own articles have not reached you -- and
that any part of the Stores appear to have
been unnecessarily detained on the road
I wish you to make particular inquiry
into the reason of such detention, and
if they are not Satisfactory to you -- Note
it in the Back of the receipt when
you give them, and I will then take
proper Measure with the Delinquients
The President of the United States is gone
to Mount Vernon -- the Secretary of the
Treasury to New York -- the Secretary of
Foreign Affairs to Virginia, and the Secretary
of War to Boston -- the last has left my
hands full of business -- no Franks are
left, all Letters now Pay Postage -- you
charge what you pay -- No papers are
printed consequently you have no News [for]
the Printers, with more than half the
Inhabitants of the City are gone into the
Country all business is at a stand
Thank you the copy of my form[?]
letter and must request the same favor
for this -- I have no one to assist me
Knox is better and removed into the
country -- adieu -- I am as ever
Sincerely yours
Samuel Hodgdon