Posted with permission of the transcriber, 'Ann' Geo. SICKNESS & POVERTY IN Nineteenth Century Whitehaven. SUSPECTED CHOLERA. On Saturday morning two cases of very sudden death, which have been generally attributed to Cholera, occurred in our harbour; the following are such particulars as we have been able to collect. The Union, a small fishing boat belonging to Allonby, was in Maryport on Tuesday last, having two men and a boy on board. On that day one of the men attended this market with fish, and the other attended Wigton market. Both men returned to Maryport much intoxicated. On Wednesday they sailed with their boat for the coast of Scotland, and on that morning one of them began to be affected with purging which gradually increased in severity. When in Scotland they both drank whiskey very freely. Early on Friday morning they left Innerwell in Galloway for this port, with a quantity of salmon on board, and about seven o'clock the man who had begun to be ill on Wednesday and had been gradually getting worse, was affected by violent spasms in his limbs, and occasional vomiting, the purging conti! nued unabated. About eleven o'clock on the same forenoon, the other man began to be affected in a similar manner to his companion. The boat arrived in our harbour at about two on Saturday morning, and about three the first man died, and the other continued getting rapidly worse. The lad then got on shore and roused the inmates of a public house on the quay, and the assistance of Mr. WYLIE, surgeon, was obtained, though not until it was too late for assistance to be of any avail. Mr. W. took the most effectual means to arrest the disease, but the unfortunate person died about seven o'clock. Mr. BROWN, the guardian of the poor and Mr. SAWYERS, the Comptroller of the Customs, as soon as they learned of the occurrence, lost no time in taking the proper steps. The bodies were enclosed with quick lime, in shells, and interred in trinity Church yard by eleven o'clock. The boat which was described to us as disgustingly filthy, was thoroughly cleaned, and being stored with provisions and water, was by the same hour under sail for the Quarantine Station at Liverpool, under the care of three men who volunteered their services for that purpose. The names of the victims were John HESKET and William JOHNSTON. The escape of the boy was remarkable, and can be attributed to no cause but his exemption from the excesses, which must undoubtedly have been the exciting cause of the disease, which terminated the existence of his elder companions. We are happy to state that we have heard of no similar cases either on board the shipping in the harbour, or in the town; but we trust that if a similar event should unfortunately occur, our townsmen will refrain from crowding down to the quay, and above all things, from going on board any vessel where such suspected cases may happen to be; their presence cannot possibly be of any service; and should the disease be really infectious, might be the means of serious mischief.