A caricature of him as Peter Porcupine is published in Scharf's "History of Philadelphia," page 498. Dr. Benjamin Rush had a "pet" treatment for the yellow fever in 1793. Cobbett declared that it was the giving of copious mercurial purges and bleeding five or six times a day. He made it the talk of Philadelphia. In 1797 the "Peter Porcupine Gazette" was published, and he opposed it (the Rush treatment) by squibs, puns, epigrams, and quotations from "Gil Blas." Driven to desperation, Dr. Rush brought suit for libel. It was decided against Cobbett by Chief Justice McKean, whose election as governor he had bitterly opposed. His goods were seized, but did not suffice to pay his debts. He went to New York and published the "Rushlight," abusing Rush, McKean, Shippen and Hopkinson, and others, and ended by consigning all Philadelphians to perdition. He then sailed for England.--Scharf's "History of Philadelphia."] [Footnote 54: April 20th, 1798, B. H. Latrobe says in his journal: "As far as I did observe, I could see no difference between Philadelphian and English manners. The same style of living, the same opinions as to fashions, tastes, comforts and accomplishments. Political fanaticism was, during my residence in Philadelphia, at its acme.... To be civilly received by the fashionable people, and to be invited to the President's, it is necessary to visit the British Ambassador. To be on terms with Chevalier D'Yrujo, or General Kosciusko even, is to be a marked democrat, unfit for the company of the lovers of order and good government. This I saw. Many of my Virginia friends say I must be mistaken. "I boarded at Francis's Hotel. It is a much cheaper house than any I have been at in the Virginia towns. For breakfast, dinner, tea and supper, exclusive of liquors and fire, you pay $8 a week. At the Virginian House, 7/6 per day, or $8.75, exclusive of liquors, tea, supper and fire."--B. H. Latrobe's journal. Eleven years later, B. H. Latrobe gives the expense of going to Philadelphia from Richmond, as follows: Stage to Fredericsburg $3.50 Stage to Georgetown 3.50 Stage to Baltimore 4.75 Mail to Philadelphia 8.00 Heavy stage to Philadelphia $5.00 ----- ------ $16.75 $19.75 Breakfast, 2/6, --3/- $0.50 Dinner, 6/- 1.00 Bed and supper, 4/6- .75 ------ $2.25 ------ Five days $11.25 Stage $19.75 Expenses 11.25 ------ Total $31.00] [Footnote 55: The original of this letter is owned by Lucy Tyson Fitzhugh.]