Short Account of Malignant Fever in Philadelphia – Preface and Introduction (1793), Philadelphia County, PA Contributed to the PAGenWeb Archives by Marjorie B. Winter [marjw@cox.net] Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* To the American Philosophical Society. GENTLEMEN, With due deference, I presume to dedicate to you the following pages, in which I have endeavored to give as faithful an account as possible, of the dreadful calamity we have just experienced. I am, gentlemen, With esteem, Your obedt. Humble servant, MATHEW CAREY NUMBER XLVII District of Pennsylvania, to wit— (L. S.) Be it remembered, that on the thirteenth day of November, in the eighteenth year of the independence of the united states of America, Mathew Carey, of the said district, hath deposited in this office, the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as author, in the words following, to wit: “A Short account of the malignant fever lately prevalent in Philadelphia, with a statement of the proceedings that took place on the subject in different parts of the united states. By Mathew Carey”. In conformity to the act of the congress of the united states, intituled, “An act for the encouragement of learning; by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned.” SAMUEL CALDWELL, Clerk of the district of Pennsylvania. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION Philadelphia, Nov. 13, 1793. THE favourable reception given to the imperfect account of the fever which I lately published, and the particular desire of some of my friends, have induced me to undertake a more satisfactory history of it, in order to collect together, while facts are recent, as many of the most interesting occurrences as I could, for the information of the public. I have not attempted any embellishment or ornament of style; but have merely aimed at telling plain facts in plain language. I have taken every precaution to arrive at the truth; and hope the errors in the account, will not be found numerous. For the desultory plan of some part of the pamphlet, I have to offer the following apology; many of the circumstances and reflections towards the conclusion, which would have come with more propriety in the beginning, did not occur, until some Of the first half-sheets were not only written, but printed. I had no choice, therefore, but either to omit them, or place them somewhat out of order. I preferred the latter. Most of the facts mentioned have fallen under my own observation. Those of a different description, I have been assiduous to collect from every person of credibility, possessed of information. Desirous of having this account correct and complete, I have printed off but a small number of copies of the present edition: and shall esteem myself most particularly obliged to any person who will be so kind to point out errors, to be corrected in, or suggest facts, to be added to, a new edition, which I propose to put to press very soon, and which will, I hope, be found more ample than the present one. PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION November 23, 1793. WHEN I published the first edition of this pamphlet, it was my intention to have greatly enlarged it for a second one, and to have new-modelled it, so as to preserve a connection between its several parts, in which it is extremely deficient. But its speedy sale, and the demand for more copies, render it impossible for me to do more, at present, than make such corrections as the kindness of few friends has led them to point out. In giving an account of the proceedings that took place on the subject of the disorder, throughout the union, I have suppressed many a harsh comment, which was forcing itself on me; from the reflexion, that in similar circumstances, we might perhaps, have been equally severe. And to perpetuate animosities, is performing a very unfriendly office. They are easily generated; but their extinction is a work of time and difficulty. Let us, therefore, (especially when we “hold the mirror up to nature” at home,) not only forgive, but even forget, if possible, all the unpleasant treatment our citizens have experienced. I have heard more than one person object to the account of the shocking circumstances that occurred in Philadelphia, as portraying the manner of the people in an unfavourable light. If that be the case, the fault is not mine. I am conscious I have not exaggerated the matter. But I do not conceive it can have that effect; for it would be as unjust and injudicious to draw the character of Philadelphia from the proceedings of a period of horror and affright, when all the "mild charities of social life” were suppressed by regard for self, as to stamp eternal infamy on a nation, for the atrocities perpetrated in times of civil broils, when all the “angry passions” are roused into dreadful and ferocious activity. PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION, November 30, 1793. THIS pamphlet comes before the public a third time, and, in some measure, in a new form. I have reduced it to as methodical a state, as in my power, but not as much so as I could wish, nor, I fear, as the reader may expect. To one merit only do I lay claim in the compilation; that is, of having meant well. If, on a fair perusal, the candid allow me that, I am satisfied to have the execution censured with all the severity of which criticism is capable. However, I beg leave to inform the reader, that this day ends one month, since the writing of the pamphlet commenced. I know that the shortness of the time employed, is no justification of a bad performance; but it may somewhat extenuate the defects of a middling one. I have found several objections made to parts of it. Most of them I have removed. Some few, resting on the sentiments of individuals, directly contrary to my own judgment, I have passed over. For, until my reason is convinced, I cannot change my opinion for that of any person whatever. To those gentlemen who have been so kind to furnish me with facts to enlarge and improve the work, I profess myself under great obligations. I request them to continue their kindness; as, if public favour should give this trifle a fourth edition, I shall add all that may be communicated in the interim; otherwise I shall probably publish separately what may be worthy of the public eye. PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION. Jan. 16, 1794 THE uncommon degree of favour which this pamphlet has experienced, has impressed me with lively sentiments of gratitude. As the only proper return in my power, I have, in each successive edition, used every endeavor to improve it. In the number of victims to the late calamity, there were many strangers,— among whom were probably some, by whose death, estates have fallen to heirs at a distance. It being; therefore, of great importance to extend and improve the list of the dead, and to remedy the extreme inaccuracy of the sextons’ returns, I employed. suitable persons to go thro’ the city and liberties, and make enquiry at every house, without exception, for the names and occupations of the dead. The disobliging temper of some; and the fears of others, that an improper use would be made of the information they could have given, have, in various instances, defeated my purpose. Imperfect as the list still remains, I hope it will be found useful in removing anxious doubts, and conveying to persons in different countries, the melancholy information of the decease of relatives, which, but for such a channel of communication, would, in many cases, be difficult, if not impossible to acquire for years to come. To the present edition, I have added a short account of the plague at London, and at Marseilles. On a comparison, the reader will be struck with astonishment, at the extraordinary similarity between many of the leading and most important circumstances that occurred in those two places, and the events of September and October, 1793, in Philadelphia.