The Sun. — 1838-04-14 (London, England)

PESTILENCE IN AMERICA.—A mortal plague, said to be the same as the " Black Death" which raged so fatally in England and in Europe some five or six centuries ago, has broken out in the western and south-western borders of the United States. As yet it has been exclusively confined to the Indians. It attacks the head and loins suddenly, and with dreadful pain ; and in about two hours the victim is a corpse. The body then swells enormously, and turns instantly black. Some idea may be formed of the fearful progress and havoc of death on the prairies from the fact that within a few weeks more than 33,000 savages died. Of a lodge of 1,600 Mandans (a noble tribe) only 35 remained alive. 10,600 Assineboins have died ; and deserted wigwams, newly-made mounds, or putrifying corpses, attended only by the croaking riven and the screaming eagle, mark the mournful desolation of the Indian forests and prairies. The Crows and Black Feet, so eloquently described in Irving's " Astoria" and " Rocky Mountains," have suffered dreadfully ; and more than one of the smaller tribes have been summoned, man, woman, and papoose, to the tribunal of Manitoulin, the Great Spirit, not one remaining to tell that they were once a nation of warriors I The disease is supposed to have originated from small-pox amongst the traders, and from them to have been communicated to the Indians, where it soon appeared in the aggravated form of " The Black Death." An inquest was held on the 31st ult., at Kelvedon, on Elizabeth Partridge, aged 22, wife of John Partridge, shoemaker, Kelvedon. Various rumours circulated respecting the cause of her death, which induced the parish authorities to institute the inquiry. About three weeks ago Partridge, the husband, forced deceased, who was in very delicate health, to leave the house at midnight, almost in a state of nudity, and afterwards severely beat her with a large cord, and otherwise ill-treated her. A post mortem examination took place, but from the evidence of the surgeon little was elicited to prove that the death was occasioned by the injuries. The external parts bore evident marks of violence, being very much discoloured. The Jury, after seven hours' close investigation, returned a verdict of " Manslaughter" against the husband, who was committed for trial at the Session this week ; but circumstances having transpired to give the case a more serious character, it has been transmitted to the Assize, and the parties bound over to prosecute for murder.—Essex Herald.  According to the most recent accounts from St. Petersburgh, a great change has been made in the plan of the journey of the young Grand Duke Alexander, the Emperor's eldest son. His Imperial Highness will go first to Stockholm and then to London, where he will probably remain till after the coronation of Queen Victoria ; then visit the Hague ; afterwards make a tour in the fine countries on the banks of the Rhine, visit the capitals of southern Germany, and arrive in Vienna towerds autumn. After some week's stay there, his Imperial Higness will go to Franzensbrunn, in Silesia, where the Empress, his mother, intends to take the benefit of the mineral waters. The Emperor of Russia will go from Berlin first to Toplitz, and thence also to Franzensbrunn, which seems to be intended as the rendezvous of the Imperial family.