The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-12-28 00:00:00

NR ORLEANS.

The following is an extract of a letter stdresved
to the Editor of an American Paper, dated New
Orleans, September 18 :
" I wish it was in my power to give you a good
account from this devoted city, hut far from
it is the cave. Since the Ist of itogiitt it has
been very sickly, and constantly increasing.--
The contagion which it has pleased Mimic Pro-
vidence to s-td among us, has within a fort-
night summed an alarming appearance, and Some
say resembles more a plague thaw any thing
else. In some instances, • person has Collets
a victim in the course of twelve hiatus. Such
was the cape yesierd.iy of a Mr. Dundee, villa
kept a ►oda-shop, and waited on Ins customers
in perfect health till three o'clock, p.
m.—
complained a little of drowsiness and a pain in
his head—went home and laid down—was seized
with the black vomit, and was in ins grave four-
teen .hours after he went home. Others get
along two, three, and four ; but in the case
of black vomit, very few escape. The nest bad
strut is a suppression of urine ; the physicians
are bee 1111 l nig more familiarized to it, though it
appear-et' at fir►t to baffle all their skill. 'rite
freer assumes as many thffeteitt shapes, that they
really do mit know what to call it, though it
is generally trained the yellow fever—anal in
several iomi•nees has swept away whole (am,-
hes of seven or eight. Strangers have been the
principal victims to this dreadful calamity,
though it has takes, off some of the natives, and
those of long residence. 1-low many have died 1
cannot say ; no accounts are allowed to be pub-
lashed, and reports are so various that no coati-
. deuce can he placed in them. Same say 60 per
day have gone to their long home, while the
greatest number 1 can ascertain was on the 9th
instant, winch was thirty-one. This you will say
is bail enough. I believe the average per day
front the Ist August, would out exceed twenty.
The weather has been cold fur the last few days ;
said it is said lay the physicians that the causes are di-
minishing, and bec eeeee more mild and yielding to
medicine. The American doctors neatly all pursue
the same ;practice—first blood-letting, and then
bringing on a salivation immediately, both by inward
and outward applications of mercury. It will be very
unsafe, and at the great risk of life, for soy strangers
to come here before December, and indeed fur those
who have gone to spend the tomtit-r to the 'meth.
Its short. the doctors all agree, that a smart frost
alone will put an end to this deadly poisoned at-
mosphere, and say Christmas will lie early enough
for strangers to come M. My bossiness has detained
one Co long, that I feel as safe taw here as if I had
removed—tor the country all shove is sickly—and
the neighliou ring resorts over the lake are all crowd-
ed, and it I go not, I shall nut think it safe to re-
tard December. I have strong confidence
in the Fattier of Mercies that I shall be spared,
and that in case of an attack I shall survive it.
Thus is a starry account, but it is a true one, and
1 write to you because many worse may appear.
I' We have lodged in gaol eighteen pirates, taken
off the 'Collator, by the two cutters—Louisiana
and Alabama—sod such is the depravity of our cabs
zetio, that they are already advocating them, anal
preparing to give a favourable prejudice to the pub-
lic iniod ,srevious to their trial. I doubt if they do not
all get clear, unless the Judge has power to order a
Special Jury, in which case they may have u chance
of a swiag: Otherwise a promiscuous Jury of
French, Spaniards, &c. could not be packed here
to laud a verdict of guilty ; fur it would be alt even
chance that one at least of the Jury might be one
of their own kidney. You will have the particulars
in the papers to which I refer."