who has returned somewhat unwell. The Salary 20s. a day. I
promised to give him a decisive answer in the evening. Went to Mr. Dunn’s
room and heard a discourse from a Stranger. Call’d at Dr. Smith’s and agree’d
to accept the proposal. The prevailing Epidemic Fever* appears to spread
considerably near Dr. Young’s.
24th Behold me in a new Station and my mind in a State
of confusion and perplexity. At 10 O’clock I call’d on Dr. Smith, and after
sitting near 2 hours stepp’d into the Chair with him and away we posted
to Bellevue. After instructing me in my duty and introducing me to the
family and patients, he shook me affectionately by the hand and departed.
There are 6 patients. The Family consists of Mr. Fisher,
there than an old-fashioned country house, with a few
extra outbuildings. Its occupation by the city was originally for an almshouse,
it being bought in 1794 for £2,000. At the beginning of the Revolutionary
war the poor, who had previously been quartered in a building in the present
City Hall Park, were removed first to West Chester and then to Poughkeepsie.
After the war, when they returned, a new building was erected in Chambers
street. The new Almshouse at Bellevue, now a part of the Hospital, was
opened in the beginning of the year 1816. Its expense, including that of
the Penitentiary and other buildings, was $418,791.34. There was a farm
connected with this up to 1830. The first regular Hospital building was
begun here in 1823.
* The Yellow Fever.
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the steward, and his wife, Old Daddy, the gardener, an old
Negro, a black nurse, and 2 white ones. I spent the afternoon in putting
up medicines and arranging matters. At 5 O’clock I set off and walk’d to
my Father’s, 3 ½ miles, drank tea, pack’d up some clothes, books,
& c., in a trunk which I bought of my Father. My mother’s feelings
are not a little agitated on this change in our family. I returned to the
Hospital about half past 8, my Brother keeping me company about a mile
up the road. Another patient had arrived. Attending to him and writing
the daily report to the Committee of Health employ’d me ‘till near 10 in
the evening.
27th. This morning I began to apprehend hot weather, but
ht ewind rose before noon and we had a very pleasant day. I wrote a few
lines to my Mother by the Steward, who brought me an answer, together with
a letter from my Brother and another from Alex. Tiebout. This was a great
gratification. I answer’d the two latter immediately. Another patient sent
up in a shocking condition, 10 days of the disease, vomiting blood by mouthfuls;
in short, he died within 2 hours’ time. His Brother came again to see the
corpse, but was not allowed. The relations of Betsy Gants, a young girl,
were very anxious to see her, and to indulge them we had her
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