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(Letter to Bishop Elliott from Bishop Polk, Oct. 2, I855)

(I2)

New Orleans, Oct. 2, I855

My dear Elliott:

There is a lady in this city, a Miss Meade,
who has been recommended to me as a teacher for my children, a
daily governess - who says she was once in your employment at
Mt. and who refers to you. Will you please let me know what
you think of her generally. You will remember her of course.
She is English or Scotch, quite a linguist, and went from you to
Cuba.

It has been a long time since I have heard
from you, or since I have written you a line, but the truth is since
I have been in New Orleans my time has been so cut up by a multi-
tude of cares, inseparable from Episcopal residence in a great
city, and from which before I was comparatively exempt, that I am
half inclined to take refuge for my negligence behind that as an
excuse. But aside from cares that are ordinary, I have for many
months past had mind and head fully occupied with solicitudes in-
separable from the presence and ravages of our Southern Epidemic.
The character of the fever this year has been full as bad as in
'53, and the mortality would have been as great had their been
material. The number of cases of black vomit has been unusually
large. But three years in succession has left comparatively few
unacclimated. The opinion used to prevail that our creole popula-
tion was exempt, but not so with this later form of fever. Nativity
is no longer a protection. I heard the other day of a child only
I8 hours old which died of black vomit. Indeed the season has been
remarkable for the number of cases among children. Two of my city
clergy- the only two not acclimated - have been down with it and have