AUG 23 This afternoon we were agreeably surprised by the arrival of H.D. My Husband informs of the death of Reuben Haines Sen., who died this morning rather suddenly — many have gone off within these few days.

A fever prevails in the City, particularly in Water St. between Race and Arch Sts. of the malignant kind; numbers have died of it. Some say it was occasioned by damaged Coffee and Fish, which were stored at Wm. Smith; others say it was imported in a Vessel from Cape Francois, which lay at our wharf, or at the wharf back of our Store. Doctor Hutchinson was ordered by the Governor to enquire into the report. He found, as ’tis said, upwards of 70 persons sick in that square of different disorders; several of this putrid or bilious fever…. ’Tis really an alarming and serious time….

AUG 25. First day. Wind and rain all night, and all this day – so much that H.D. went not to meeting. This Storm may, if it please kind Providence so to order, abate the alarming fever now prevalent.

AUG 26…. We have been rendered very uneasy this evening by hearsays from the City of a great number of funerals that have been seen this day there. Hope and believe that the number is greatly exaggerated. Wind at east and cloudy.

AUG 27. John Skyrin and Molly Drinker came up this morning. Tho’ the accounts we heard last were not true, yet there is great cause of serious alarm. The Yellow Fever spreads in the City — many are taken off with it, and many with other disorders. Dicky Downing has gone home without consulting his uncle. He was very much frightened, and will, I fear, occasion great uneasiness to my poor Sally, who continues with her little Girls at Downings-Town…. They have burned Tar in the Streets, and taken many other precautions; many families have left the City….

AUG 28. H.S.D. left us at about 6 this morning, I gave him a small spoonful of Daffy’s Elixir, and Vinegar in a sponge, and a sprig of wormwood. J.S. went after breakfast using the same precautions…. Isaac Wharton and family are moved out of Town, P. Hartshorne’s family, and Neigh Waln’s are also out; the inhabitants are leaving the City in great numbers. Poor John Lamsback died yesterday.

AUG 31. The accounts this day from the City are many and various. Some, ’tis said, die of fear; one or more have died in the street, or on the road; those reports are not ascertained….

SEPT 2. Neigh. Waln. and Nancy Morgan came to visit us this forenoon. They informed us of the death of our poor neighbor Caty Prusia and her husband, and of Christian the biscuit baker, both nearly opposite our house, also of Christopher the barber near the corner, and a fringemaker, on this side him…. We have heard this day of the death of a poor intemperate woman of the name of Clarey, who sold oysters last winter in a Cellar in Front St., a little below Elfrith’s Alley. She was taken out of her senses, and went out of town; was found dead on the road….

SEPT 3. We have heard this day of five persons who died in one house in Chestnut Street, at the corner of an alley that goes into Carter’s Alley. The Physicians have given it as their opinion that the disorder spreads in the City, and the Assembly who have lately met, talk of breaking up. The square opposite us in Water St. appears to be depopulated by deaths and flight.

A vessel in the River below, coming up with 2 or 3 hundred passengers from Ireland, an infectious fever on board; orders were sent them by the Governor not to come up — ’tis said that one or more of the passengers have ventured, nevertheless. W.D. and myself took a mile walk before sunset. As we were returning a man at a door stopped us to ask if we had heard the bad news; that several hundred French soldiers, armed, were coming to Philad. from New-York, and that 5 negros were taken up for poisoning the Pumps; those are flying reports, and most likely to be false….

SEPT 6. H.D., W.D. took a ride down town. Met B. Oliver driving a family out; he told them that two of Steel’s children in our Alley are dead, and several sick in the Alley…. Doct. Hutchinson is also gone. ’Tis said he got the disorder by putting a young woman in her Coffin, who died at his house, not being able readily to procure any one to do that office. The ringing of Bells for the dead is forbidden for several days past.

John Cannon, one of the Counsil, drank tea with us, as he had business with my Husband. He took this in his way home, as the Counsil and Assembly have broke up on acct. of this very affecting Dispensation; the offices are almost all shut up, and little business done. The doors of the Houses where the infection is are ordered to be marked, to prevent any but those that are absolutely necessary from entering — such is the melancholy and distressing state of our poor City….

SEPT 30. We have frequently heard within the last 48 hours that the sickness abated in the City, but by Letter from J. Drinker, of this day, we understand that many are near their end, and many others taken down….

OCT 24. … By a letter from J. Drinker of this day, we are informed that the malignancy of the disorder is much lessened, tho’ many are still ill. We have heard of no death this day — it does not follow that none have died, tho’ a proof of an amendment. Tremendous times!

Source: Elizabeth Sandwith Drinker, Extracts from the Journal of Elizabeth Drinker, from 1759 to 1807, A.D., ed. Henry D. Biddle (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1889), 189–193, 202, 210.