Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-09-29
THE ORPHANS OF ron rsMOUTu-rHE
FEvEK-BIsiIoP MAGILL Sc.
KTCHMoNn. " Sc,

wharf In this city, awaiting the arrival of the
steamboat, which was bearing the mostptiful
freight that ever pressed its decks-the or.
phans made by the ravages of the yellow fe-
yer in Portsmouth. A large arowd of svm-
pathsing friends, fearless of any danger of
contaglon IRON these innocent emigrants from
the infected districts. were gathered n rn.
ceive and welcome them.
An hour after the usual time, rs if the boot
had run with more than ordinary cautiousness
it brought us its precious load. There were
no loud shouts, no rude vivas when these
awaited guests were borne to the shore IL
was scene too sad for such demonstration
but there Yas the more fitting welcome of
streaming eyes OF outstretcbed arms TO boor
them to their provided home. They came
under the careful escort of Rev. II. Hume
pastor Of one Of the Baptist Churches of
Portsmouth, through whose untirinr efforts
during the whole dreary season of the pesti.
lencc, they had been gathes4a into q tempor
ary home there, and their wants as faithfully
as possible provided for. There were babes
in the arms of nurses, and "tottering wee
things" from four 30 eight and ten years old.
All had been orphaned by the terrible fever
that has desolated that beautiful city. Some
of them have no known relative living in the
wide world. OF some of them, not even the
Found on the streets, or in the asserted dwell
lngs. they were borne to their temporary
home by strangers. Some were just recover
ing from the fever, and some in blooming
health had entirely escaped its virulence und
looked like beautiful water lilies plucked
from foul moraSs. They were twenty-eight
in number, not half that were gathered in the
temporary home at Portsmouth the remain
der will be forwarded in few days. 1T is
probable, also, that larger number still from
Norfolk will find homo among us.
The building provided for their reception.
is located about q mile from the city, on a
beautiful hill and surrounded by a lovely
grove Of original forest oaks. 1t is large
edlce, containing over forty rooms, and was
erected some fifteen years since for Roman
Catholic College, but for want Of patronage
has been standing untenanted for several
years Through the kindness of the Lessee,
who had few days before rented it. and the
consent of Bishop McGll, this building was
put in order for the reception Of the orphans
Every thing had been provided for their com
fort, which the forethought Of our ladies could
suggest, in the most liberal abundance
Over five hundred dresses were provided.
beds and bedding-house keeping furniture,
OF all kinds and uses and provisions enough
to vlctual a garrison. | could scarcely havo
imagined 1t possible, that a building so large
could have been cleansed, furnished and pro-
visloned, so rs to furnish most comfortable
accommodation for at least hundred chill
dren with their attendants-all within three
days, and by voluntary charity.
When the children arrived at the building
they were met by nurses and soon made to
feel themselves at home Poor little ones
the most oi them are too young to compre-
hend the sadness Of their bereavement, and
they seemed pleased with their Journey and
delighted with their new home. While talk
ing with one Of the physicians, felt a slight
pnIl at my coat, and looking down, there
stood before me pale, beautiful tiny creature
OF some three summers, holdind out her little
hands to be taken up. / took her in my
arms when she imme diatcly stretched out
her pretty neck and pursed up her poutiing
lips for kiss, as Il reward for my attention.
Quietly, without word or movement she lay
IN my arms and went to sleep. Poor child!
she was one of three whose mother had re-
Gently died, and whose father was in the Hos
pital, sick Of the fever.
The fever in Norfhlk and Portsmouth
seems to be abating somewhat. There are
fewer deaths, but whether because Of the
thinning out of the population, or because it
has expended its virulencc, we cannot tell
| was happy TO learn yesterday that DR.. Jas.
Bryant, OF Your city, was deemed beyond dan
ger, aud was rapidly regaiuing strength He
was most labOrOus and useful until taken
down by the fever, and his name will long be
gratefully remembered in Portsmouth,
DIR. n. Z. Miller, too, won for himself
near place in the hearts Of the Norfolk peo-
pie. His energetic and cheerful kindness in
ministering TO TIT wants Of the suffering, in
On gi,,.r al, e, Al -, y
sacrificing his life TO his benevolence will new
er be forgotten. lie was n young man of
most generous impulses and Of noble heart.
1t is sad TO think of the sudden blightng Of
so much promise of eminence and usefulness.
We are only resigned to such providences
when we remember that they are controlled
by Him who "doeth all things we'll"
No plague or pestience OF which | have
ever read or heard has equalled, in its terri
BILE ravages, this sweep of the Yellow Fever
in Portsmouth and Norfolk, in proportion to
population. There have been at least eigh-
! teen hundred deaths in the two cities, the
most of them since the population has been
reduced to less than ten thousand
There is waging here quite fierce contro-
versy, growing out of these sufierings of a
theologico political character. 1t originated
| in this wise: Bishop McGill, of the Roman
Oathollc Cuurcn, IN sermon on the day oil
prayer appointed by the Mayor, ventured to
intimate that the probable cause Of these
judgments of the Almighty was to be found
in the wicked hostility of the people to the
divine church of which he is q minister, and
bishop, as developed in the policy of the
"Know-Nothing' party.
For the Interpretation Of these melancholy
! providences he was indidnantly rebuked by
the editor of the "Daily American" The
| Bishop replied in letter to the "Richmond
| Enquirer" which did not mend the matter at
all, in the estimation Of the community. The
editor OF the "Whig" ventured some com
ments upon the Bishops letter, which brought
out communication 10 him from the redoubt-
able prelate. The tone Of this note was
deemed so nsolent that the editor sent word
back by the messenger that "if it were not
for some little respect for the Bishops cloth,
he would cut his ears off close TO his head be-
| fore sunset"
The Bishop has placed himself in very
unenyiable position, even in the estimation OF
his own people in this city. 1t is believed
! here that if the Almighty were sending judg-
ments upon the know Nothings," he would
have commenced in this city, where they are
| so much more numerous, or more probably
still in Philadelphia. a.--Phita. Sun.
Truly yours, A CHIEI.
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