28 AUDUBON, THE NATURALIST 



friend in August of this year shows that his own city did 

 not escape the pest: 



Richard Harlan to Audubon 



[Addressed] J. J. Audubon Esqr. 



N° Pearle st. 

 Boston 



[Philadelphia, August, 1832.] 

 Dear Sir — 



I have just rec d - your favour of the 5 th inst — by which I 

 perceive you are not in possession of the letter I addressed 

 you to the care of M r Berthoud, the day after your departure. 

 I have since forwarded two others one from N. Orleans, also to 

 care of M r - Berthoud — The Cholera has raged dreadfully in 

 some localities here — I was engaged on Monday superintending 

 the removal of the sick prisoners from the jail in arch S** at the 

 request of the City authorities — I was there three times dur- 

 ing the day — 60 were sick at one time, the suffering, and agony 

 of the dying wretches, was an awful sight to witness, 26 died 

 there that day, and about as many more who were removed 

 to the various local Hospitals — I have treated altogether up 

 to present date 35— of whom 18 from prison. 16 have died — 

 and only one remains today — my success is rather encouraging 

 considering the habits of the poor wretches whose cases fell 

 under my care — most of the fatal cases were in a dying state 

 when admitted — I would not have rec d - them, but for the wish 

 to alleviate suffering and scatter the tenants of the infected 

 rooms of the jail — The Newspapers do not give an accurate 

 account, because numbers are cured in the early stages whose 

 cases are never reported — the statements of deaths are more 

 accurate — and I suppose the greatest mortality has not ex- 

 ceeded 100 per diem — today only 26 deaths reported, there 

 will probably be more tomorrow — I am happy to hear of yr. 

 safe arrival and reception in Boston, in M r Perkins you will 

 find an aimable, liberal, and efficient patron, M r Featherston 

 [Featherstonhaugh] has been in town, but is at present at 



