49 



ings of this company, shall be defrayed out of the public 

 stock." 



By which means, the burthen was equally borne, each 

 one being obligated by annual assessment, to contribute a 

 quota to the Treasury Department. 



It had likewise the effect, of producing a more punctual 

 and general attendance. 



Every one knows of the awful and afflicting visitation 

 to Philadelphia, and its environs, in the memorable au- 

 tumn of 1793, when many thousands of our unsuspecting 

 fellow citizens were in a short period, swept from time to 

 eternity, by the unseen and unsparing hand of epidemic 

 desolation. 



It was not until the 24th of December in that year, and 

 even then but a thinly attended meeting was convened, at 

 Robert Irwin's, the White Horse Inn, Market Street, viz. 

 the Governor and Messrs. Hall, Govett, Gray, Donaldson, 

 Tybout, Kuhn and Johnston, only assembled, to condole 

 with each other on the great bereavement of human life 

 amongst their fellow citizens, and dearest relatives and 

 friends, by the recent awful calamity. 



The transaction of business was postponed, and the 

 suspended election of officers, fixed for the £8th Decem- 

 ber, at the house of Mr. Ogden, at the upper ferry. At 

 that meeting the election was held, and the old officers 

 consentino; to serve were re-elected . 



