Note 35 — Chapter II
Reading edition
The yellow fever was brought from the West Indies to Philadelphia. The first case appeared in July. By August 22d it had become epidemic. August 24th a general exodus from the city took place. Almost half its inhabitants (17,000) left the city. By November 4th, when the disease abated, it was estimated that 5,000 had died. September 11th, 1793, Mr. Jefferson wrote to Mr. Morris: "An infectious and deadly disease has broken out. The deaths week before last were 40; last week, 50; this week, 200. Hamilton is ill, and the President has left for Mt. Vernon yesterday." Seventeen thousand left the city; 20,000 remained; 5,000 died—yellow fever, 1793.