June 15, Awful Mortality

With feelings of the deepest sorrow, we have to convey to our readers intelligence of the most distressing nature, which will carry dismay to many, and regret to all, and further arrest the public mind to the consideration of a disease which is so fearful and desolating in its progress. After devastating the land, it has invaded the deep ; and the sum of human suffering which we this day announce, shows how fell and destructive has been its short career on the waters. 

The ship Brutus, Captain Neilson, left the Mersey on the 18th May for Quebec, with three hundred and thirty passengers, principally composed of persons from the agricultural districts, anxious to find in the Canadas profitable returns for their labour and capital. The crew was efficient, the captain able and attentive. The services of a surgeon and clergyman were also engaged, and every thing promised a favourable and pleasant voyage.

The weather was calm and beautiful ; and the first six days were spent without regret of the past, but in pleasing anticipation of the future. On Friday the 25th May there was illness on board, but it created no alarm. On Sunday, the 27th, the crew and passengers were summoned to prayers, and the Reverend gentleman preached from 1 Cor. “Now abideth faith, hope, and charity.” He was listened to with the most marked attention and the day closed in serenity and peace. The sun on the following morning rose unclouded, it shone on health, it set on dismay and death! A man, in the vigour and prime of life was suddenly seized with illness ; and soon the principal symptoms of malignant Cholera manifested themselves. The surgeon, aware of the necessity of prompt and vigorous exertion,  at once applied the necessary remedies, and his patient recovered.  His next case was not so fortunate ; and soon the news of a woman’s death thrilled through the ship with awful solemnity. A childe of a few days old soon followed ; and the next day, Tuesday, death made a fearful advance.  

Alarm then arrived at its height, and each passenger began to view his fellow with fearful apprehension. Sympathy became absorbed in the fear of general danger, and many sought protection by keeping aloof from those parts of the ship in which the sufferers lay. This was to no avail ; and when, on the following Sunday, the awful splash told of thirteen bodies being committed to the deep ! then, indeed, 

                      “Shrunk the timid, and stood the brave” 

The Brave !  few, few, in truth they were ! despair seemed to sit on every visage, the stillness of the grave was around and the doctor’s melancholy movements were viewed with almost the listless gaze of inanition.  On Monday the deaths swelled in their amount, and the captain, finding himself deprived of the services of his second mate, carpenter, and steward, thought it in accordance with his duty to bear up for Cork, but finding that impossible, he altered his course for Liverpool, and arrived yesterday morning, and was immediately reported.  The death’s amounted to seventy-nine, and two having died after coming into port leaves the amount of mortality eighty-one individuals since the disease broke out.

The board of health had all the particulars laid before them, and the Newcastle lazaretto ship in the Slyne was ordered for the accommodation of the remaining passengers, and the necessary supply of provisions sent on board. The number of cases were in all 117, and the recoveries 20, a proof that the medical gentleman (one) efficiently discharged his duty. We have obtained the names and former residences of the deceased, which we deem it our duty to publish.

[I am still working to identify which of the dead came from Deddington, but I think it safe to say that most of those from Oxfordshire were from the village—editor] 

Two others yesterday, make 81 in the whole.