Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

To the BOARD of HEALTH.

It must afford great satisfaction to the citizens of Philadelphia to see the Board of Health so well constituted with a man at its head, who has distinguished himself by his philanthropy, firmness and activity in the melancholy fall of '98; and it has increased the public confidence greatly to see them at their posts so early, watching every avenue by which the enemy can enter. Much, gentlemen, has been trusted to your care and prudence, both in the powers granted you by law, and in the importance of the object contemplated. -Your authority wants nothing to render it completely adequate to the business, but the right of removing the resident and consulting physicians and quarantine-master, in case of ignorance or inattention. For after all that you can do, much, very much indeed, depends on their vigilance and faithfulness. It is expected, however, that your severe and scrutinizing eye will keep them to their duty; and in the execution of this delicate part of your office; you may rely on the prompt, firm and united support of your fellow citizens.

I have the fullest confidence that, with the blessing of heaven, you will not only preserve the city from contagion the ensuing season; but that you will be instrumental in settling the public opinion respecting its origin, and in wiping off from Philadelphia the foul stigma, which some men have pertinaciously endeavored to fix on her character.

If the whimsical theory of these innovators were true, we might expect an annual visit of the Yellow Fever in Philadelphia, as regularly as the inhabitants of Grand Cairo look for the plague.

This circumstance is of the greatest importance to our common prosperity. The opinion of the domestic origin of this dreadful scourge, false and absurd as it is, beside its direct tendency to ruin commerce, and to sink the value of property, has done more to agitate and distress the minds of the people, and to arm with death the shafts of the disease than most people are aware of. Sweep your streets and alleys; wash your gutters and common sewers; remove your grave-yards; bring water from Schuylkill into the city; has been the unceasing cry of these gentry, as if they really intended to call off the public attention from the only part where the enemy was like to enter; that they might have a few more opportunities to perfect their knowledge in the use of the lancet, mercury and tartar emetic.-

Your province, gentlemen, is to keep a good look out; to watch the Delaware, and all the avenues leading into the city from New-York and Baltimore—and if you succeed in this respect, I will insure Philadelphia for six pence against the perils of the Yellow Fever for one year, without a pint of water being brought into her streets from Schuylkill or any other source.

PHILADELPHUS.