To Matthew Clarkson, Esq. Mayor of the City of Philadelphia

SIR--For the personal respect we bear you, and for thee satisfaction of the mayor, we declare, that to the best of

our remembrance we had the care of the following beds, and no more.

Two belonging to James Starr we buried; upon taking them up, we found one damaged, the blankets &c. belonging to it were stolen. It was refused to be accepted of by his son Moses. It was buried again, and remains so for aught we know; the other was returned, and accepted of.

We buried two belonging to Samuel Fisher, merchant; one of them was taken up by us, to carry a sick person on to Bush Hill, and there left; the other was buried in a grave, under a corpse.

Two beds were buried for Thomas Willing--one six feet deep in his garden, and lime and water thrown upon it; the other was in the potter's field, and further knowledge of it we have not.

We burned one bed, with other furniture and clothing, belonging to the late Mayor, Samuel Powell, on his farm on the west side of Schuylkill river. We buried one of his beds.

For--Dickinson we buried a bed in a lot of Richard Allen, which we have good cause to believe was stolen.

One bed was buried for a person in Front street, whose name is unknown to us--it was buried in the potter's field by a person employed for the purpose. We told him he might take it up again, after it had been buried a week, and apply it to his own use, as he said that he had lately been discharged from the hospital, and had none to lie on.

Thomas Leiper's two beds were buried in the potter's field, and remained there a week, and was then taken up by us, for the use of the sick that we took to Bush Hill, and left there.

We buried one for--Smith, in the potter's field, which was returned, except the furniture, which we believe was stolen.

One other we buried for--Davis, in Vine street; it was buried near Schuylkill, and we believe continues so.

A bed from--Guest, in Second street, was buried in the potter's field, and is there yet for any thing we know.

One bed we buried in the Presbyterian burial ground, the corner of Pine and Fourth streets, and we believe was taken up by the owner, Thomas Mitchell.

--Milligan, in Second street, had a bed buried by us in the Potter's field. We have no further knowledge of it.

This is a true statement of matters respecting the beds, as far as we were concerned. We never undertook the charge of more than their burial, knowing they were liable to be taken away by evil minded persons. We think it beneath the dignity of an honest man, (although injured in his reputation by wicked and envious persons) to vindicate or support his character by an oath or legal affirmation. We fear not our enemies--let them come forward with their charges--we will not flinch; and if they can fix any crime upon us, we refuse not to suffer.

Sir, you have cause to believe our lives were endangered in more cases than one, in the time of the late mortality, and that we were so discouraged, that had it not been for your persuasion, we would have relinquished our disagreeable and dangerous employments; and we hope there is no impropriety in soliciting a certificate of your approbation of our conduct, so far as it hath come to your knowledge.

With an affectionate regard and esteem,
We are your friends,

ABSALOM JONES,

RICHARD ALLEN.

January 7th, 1794.

Having, during the prevalence of the late malignant disorder, had almost daily opportunities of seeing the conduct of Absalom Jones and Richard Allen, and the people employed by them to bury the dead--I with cheerfulness give this testimony of my approbation of their proceedings, so far as they came under my notice. Their diligence, attention, and decency of deportment, afforded me, at the time, much satisfaction.

MATTHEW CLARKSON, Mayor.

Philadelphia, Jan. 23d, 1794.