Your are aware that our city is well stocked with sufferers from malaria. You are also aware that the cause lies in our bad sewerage & foul & stagnant water courses. These deadly defects are remediable, & doubtless will be remedied some day; but until that day comes, is it surely cannot be fair in us to allow strangers to settle here without warning giving them warning? If the teachings of our pulpits are real, & not mere gilded talk, our silence in this matter is culpable. Light houses are set up to warn ships to keep away from shoals & rocks; finger-boards instruct the stranger how to avoid powder-mills; a red flag on the plague hospital warns the healthy to shun the spot. It seems to me your petitioner that commo honesty—even a low-grade honesty—requires that we follow this righteous custom & employ some sort of device which shall warn intending settlers that ours is not a healthy city. , but I am of the opinion that a fever- it seems to me that It is the opinion of your peti that a black flag, with skull & cross-bones on it, flying from the dome of the State House, would might would sufficiently advertise this matter. & yet be inexpensive.

Now TWherefore, That your honorable body will deem it wise & just to order said flag, is the humble prayer of your petitioner; & to this end will he ever pray.

meaning by that that it is a far less healthy city than we