The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-19

that for the last two months has strobe almost
interruptedy throughout our city, your correspon-
dent has not escaped unscathed. On the afternoon
of the day on which my last was written was Sc
verely attacked in the enjoyment of my usual good
health, without any previous admoniton whatever
off approach, unnatural fulness of the alb
domen; and by timely medical aid, and the prov-
dence of an ever-merciful God, am 80 far GONZALES
cent to be enabled. to write you few lines.
Ahought is the opinion of the press and of the med
ical faculty that there is gradual decrease in the cpl
demic, and which conclusion, admit, is justfable
from the daily reports since Friday of last week;
yet the important facts are lost sight of that the
quarantine keeps, on an average, from ten to ff-
teen hundred foreign emigrants from landing week.
ly, in the city, which class of community afforded
more than its full proportion of victims; and the
additional one that our inhabitants are lessenng in
numbers every day, by the flight of families to
every part of the country where they can procure
board and feel safe from this terror lof mankind.
Looking, then, dispassionately at all this circum-
stances that surround u.s. do not that can with
any degree propriety, say that there is the least
mitigation in the daily mortality attending the cpl
demic. In fact, the reports from ten out of the
thirteen cemeteries of the interments yesterday
show an alarming increase over the two previous
days.
On Sunday, the 8tn instant, the interme nts were
l07, of which 80 were of cholera, while those on
yesterday, from but ten cemeteries, show l25 inter-
| &c cholo
increase of twenty-five per cent. in the deaths by
cholera, and the Public Register informs me that
to-day will be still worse. From these facts you
can judge whether any well-grounded reason ex-
lists upon which to found express an opinion
that we have seen the worst of the disease
There is a singular fact in connexlon with the
mortality in our city caused by the cholera and
that is, the very large number of ladies', especially
married ones, who have been attacked and died
Heretofore it has been supposed that males were
more liable to attack than females, but experience
during its existence in St. Louis this season shows
the reverse of this proposition to be the fact
Yesterday, information reached US that the Pre-
sident of the United States had by proclamation,
recommended to the people Of the Union to observe
the first Friday in next month public national
day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, as a
means of intercession to Almighty God that He
will, in the midst of His visitation of judgment
upon us, remember us in mercy, and spare us from
further chastisemenr by pestience. All, of every
party and denomination, welcomed the recon-
mendation with gratitude; and throughout this Sec
ton of country it will not only be adopted, but
religiously observed. For this timely thought Of
the Chief Executive of this great nation he merits
the gratitude of us all, but more especially those
communities which, like St. Louis, have been con-
verted, emphatcaly into city of mourning. OH
how many, many heart-rendng incidents l could
relate to you of families decmated and others en-
trely swept off by this incomprehensible scourge
But yesterday lady of my acquaintance was con-
vulsed with the agonies of despair, she few from
one room to the other, in one of which ex-
piring her adored mother, and in the other her
more than comforter and friend-her husband.
This morning the last rite Of sepulture paid
TO both; and the daughter and wife is a confirmed
maniac. May we not hope that mercfu God,
who never willingly afflicts or grieves His children,
will restore the shattered reason of this widow and
orphan, and preserve her life, that the remainder of
her days may be days Of usefulness and piety!
There are also incidents of another character
that daily develop themselves, that exhibit human
nature in its depraved and revolving features
But Yesterday the father and mother of poor but
respectable family were summoned by this swift
winged messenger to enter upon their journey
which lies beyond the portals Of the tomb. Scarce
had they been laid beneath the clod of the valley,
before merciess landlord turned their two orphan
little boys into the streets, and took possession of
the house and its contents. The eldest was but
nine, and, for his years, Lad of unusual inteli-
gence and great sensibility. With no friends to
whom they could fly for refuge, even for nights
shelter, the elder took the younger brother by the
hand, and together they hed them to an open COM
mon, and, beneath the shelter Of a heavy foliaged
oak, reposed themselves upon the bosom Of that
mother that never yet rejected her ofsprng-te
Earth The fact becoming known to one of our
knd-hearted police officers that these little wander
ers had been thus sent adrit upon the troubled sea
of this cold and unfeelng world, he went in search
Of them, and late hour Of the night found them
upon the common beneath tree, feeding upon
crust Of bread that some one had given them, and
the first morse OF food they had tasted for four and
twenty hours. They have been sent to the poor
house, where, at least, they will be spared that
worst Of deaths-starvaton in land Of plenty.
If such an incident this is not enough to dis
gust man with his own nature, then what circum-
stance in life could OF the hend in the semblance
of man that has thus outraged the laws Of nature,
and of natures God, what eam say Yet why
should occupy your space in denunciation of such
a wretch Should my structures meet his eye, they
would never bring blush to his cheek or cause
single throb of remorse in his callous and hardened
heart He who is perfectly reckless Of the injunc
tons of his Maker thus to treat helpless orphan
infancy, would prove hopelessly insensibIe to the
execrations praise of mankind What to me is
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