Star. — 1831-07-25 (London, England)

CHOLERA AND RIOTS AT PETERSBURGH..-PETERSBURG H, JULY 6.—The cholera morbus is attended with unprecedented virulence and fatality. Between the 30th June and the 6th of July there have been 596 cases, only five cures, but 279 deaths l There are 315 cases pending, of which but a small proportion are expected to recover. The alarm and consternation prevailing cannot be described. In consequence of this dreadful mortality, the lower orders of the people have taken it into their heads that the sufferers have been poisoned, or buried alive, as none of those carried to the hospitals had returned. Riots have broken out in different parts, which have only been suppressed by the appearance of the Emperor, who was obliged to leave his seclusion at Peterhof, and frequently exhibit himself in the streets. Dr. Seyman, a German physician to one of the hospitals, has been murdered by the populace, and his body dragged about the streets. Several other individuals lost their lives. The mob took possession of the principal Hospitals, broke the windows, and threw the furniture into the streets. They have also totally destroyed two of the temporary Hospitals which had been erected. The military at last were obliged to interfere. At this period, the disease is rapidly increasing in all parts of the city to a most frightful extent. The English families residing at Petersburgh are leaving the place as fast as possible, and abandoning their property. According to other letters from St. Petersburgh, the cholera was making frightful ravages in that city, which had been evacuated by the greater part of the British merchants and principal inhabitants. On the sth July the number of cases had been 485, out of wbich number there had been 229 deaths. Almost the whole of those attacked were persons of the lowest class, who paid no attention to themselves, as the disease preys upon filth. A serious riot had taken place at St. Petersburg ; the population had been considerably alarmed at the rapid and frequent burials, and an idle and mischievous report having been circulated and believed, that the foreign surgeons were killing the patients and interring them while yet alive, the mob tore down the principal hospital, destroyed the medicines, killed Mr. Seaman, a respectable surgeon and with a degree of ferocity suitable to their brutal ignorance, dragged his murdered body through the public streets, and after assassinating eight individuals, retired breathing vengeance against the persons whose object was to save the lives of those attacked with the disease. During these excesses, the Emperor found it necessary to allay the storm, to return from Peterhoff to St. Petersburgh, where he expostulated with the mob, imploring them to desist from their excesses, and devoutly imploring Providence to abate the calamity. The private letters say, to prevent further excesses, the Emperor will find it necessary to make his appearance daily in his capital. Beaux, July 15.—After four months interruption, the Russian mail from Wilna has again arrived at Tilsit, by way of Georgenburg, where it seems that the whole road is covered by the Russian troops, which are said to be continually increasing in numbers in Lithuania. Posen', July 11.—We learn that a division of the army under General Tolstoi, after it had passed the Niemen, occupied Augustowa. With the addition of the reserves, the corps in Lithuania and Samogitia, are said to annest to 90,000 men. -  POSZIT, JuLT 12. Besides the womb al.  ready communicated, we learn that General Tolstoi has entirely broken up the corps of Generals Gielgud and Chlapowski, and taken from them 17 cannon.