Now,certainly,ifhouseshadbeenprovidedonpurposeforthosethatweresoundtoperformthisdemi—quarantinein,theywouldhavemuchlessreasontothinkthemselvesinjuredinsucharestraintthaninbeingconfinedwithinfectedpeopleinthehouseswheretheylived。
Itishere,however,tobeobservedthatafterthefuneralsbecamesomanythatpeoplecouldnottollthebell,mournorweep,orwearblackforoneanother,astheydidbefore;no,norsomuchasmakecoffinsforthosethatdied;soafterawhilethefuryoftheinfectionappearedtobesoincreasedthat,inshort,theyshutupnohousesatall。Itseemedenoughthatalltheremediesofthatkindhadbeenusedtilltheywerefoundfruitless,andthattheplaguespreaditselfwithanirresistiblefury;sothatasthefirethesucceedingyearspreaditself,andburnedwithsuchviolencethatthecitizens,indespair,gaveovertheirendeavourstoextinguishit,sointheplagueitcameatlasttosuchviolencethatthepeoplesatstilllookingatoneanother,andseemedquiteabandonedtodespair;wholestreetsseemedtobedesolated,andnottobeshutuponly,buttobeemptiedoftheirinhabitants;doorswereleftopen,windowsstoodshatteringwiththewindinemptyhousesforwantofpeopletoshutthem。Inaword,peoplebegantogiveupthemselvestotheirfearsandtothinkthatallregulationsandmethodswereinvain,andthattherewasnothingtobehopedforbutanuniversaldesolation;anditwasevenintheheightofthisgeneraldespairthatitPleasedGodtostayHishand,andtoslackenthefuryofthecontagioninsuchamanneraswasevensurprising,likeitsbeginning,anddemonstratedittobeHisownparticularhand,andthatabove,ifnotwithouttheagencyofmeans,asIshalltakenoticeofinitsproperplace。
ButImuststillspeakoftheplagueasinitsheight,ragingeventodesolation,andthepeopleunderthemostdreadfulconsternation,even,asIhavesaid,todespair。Itishardlycredibletowhatexcessthepassionsofmencarriedtheminthisextremityofthedistemper,andthispart,Ithink,wasasmovingastherest。Whatcouldaffectamaninhisfullpowerofreflection,andwhatcouldmakedeeperimpressionsonthesoul,thantoseeamanalmostnaked,andgotoutofhishouse,orperhapsoutofhisbed,intothestreet,comeoutofHarrowAlley,apopulousconjunctionorcollectionofalleys,courts,andpassagesintheButcherRowinWhitechappel,—Isay,whatcouldbemoreaffectingthantoseethispoormancomeoutintotheopenstreet,rundancingandsingingandmakingathousandanticgestures,withfiveorsixwomenandchildrenrunningafterhim,cryingandcallinguponhimfortheLord\'ssaketocomeback,andentreatingthehelpofotherstobringhimback,butallinvain,nobodydaringtolayahanduponhimortocomenearhim？
Thiswasamostgrievousandafflictingthingtome,whosawitallfrommyownwindows;forallthiswhilethepoorafflictedmanwas,asIobservedit,eventhenintheutmostagonyofpain,having（astheysaid）twoswellingsuponhimwhichcouldnotbebroughttobreakortosuppurate;but,bylayingstrongcausticsonthem,thesurgeonshad,itseems,hopestobreakthem—whichcausticswerethenuponhim,burninghisfleshaswithahotiron。Icannotsaywhatbecameofthispoorman,butIthinkhecontinuedrovingaboutinthatmannertillhefelldownanddied。
Nowondertheaspectofthecityitselfwasfrightful。Theusualconcourseofpeopleinthestreets,andwhichusedtobesuppliedfromourendofthetown,wasabated。TheExchangewasnotkeptshut,indeed,butitwasnomorefrequented。Thefireswerelost;theyhadbeenalmostextinguishedforsomedaysbyaverysmartandhastyrain。Butthatwasnotall;someofthephysiciansinsistedthattheywerenotonlynobenefit,butinjurioustothehealthofpeople。Thistheymadealoudclamourabout,andcomplainedtotheLordMayoraboutit。Ontheotherhand,othersofthesamefaculty,andeminenttoo,opposedthem,andgavetheirreasonswhythefireswere,andmustbe,usefultoassuagetheviolenceofthedistemper。Icannotgiveafullaccountoftheirargumentsonbothsides;onlythisI
remember,thattheycavilledverymuchwithoneanother。Somewereforfires,butthattheymustbemadeofwoodandnotcoal,andofparticularsortsofwoodtoo,suchasfirinparticular,orcedar,becauseofthestrongeffluviaofturpentine;otherswereforcoalandnotwood,becauseofthesulphurandbitumen;andotherswereforneitheroneorother。Uponthewhole,theLordMayororderednomorefires,andespeciallyonthisaccount,namely,thattheplaguewassofiercethattheysawevidentlyitdefiedallmeans,andratherseemedtoincreasethandecreaseuponanyapplicationtocheckandabateit;andyetthisamazementofthemagistratesproceededratherfromwantofbeingabletoapplyanymeanssuccessfullythanfromanyunwillingnesseithertoexposethemselvesorundertakethecareandweightofbusiness;for,todothemjustice,theyneithersparedtheirpainsnortheirpersons。Butnothinganswered;theinfectionraged,andthepeoplewerenowfrightedandterrifiedtothelastdegree:sothat,asI
maysay,theygavethemselvesup,and,asImentionedabove,abandonedthemselvestotheirdespair。
Butletmeobserveherethat,whenIsaythepeopleabandonedthemselvestodespair,Idonotmeantowhatmencallareligiousdespair,oradespairoftheireternalstate,butImeanadespairoftheirbeingabletoescapetheinfectionortooutlivetheplague。whichtheysawwassoragingandsoirresistibleinitsforcethatindeedfewpeoplethatweretouchedwithitinitsheight,aboutAugustandSeptember,escaped;and,whichisveryparticular,contrarytoitsordinaryoperationinJuneandJuly,andthebeginningofAugust,when,asIhaveobserved,manywereinfected,andcontinuedsomanydays,andthenwentoffafterhavinghadthepoisonintheirbloodalongtime;butnow,onthecontrary,mostofthepeoplewhoweretakenduringthetwolastweeksinAugustandinthethreefirstweeksinSeptember,generallydiedintwoorthreedaysatfurthest,andmanytheverysamedaytheyweretaken;whetherthedog—days,or,asourastrologerspretendedtoexpressthemselves,theinfluenceofthedog—star,hadthatmalignanteffect,orallthosewhohadtheseedsofinfectionbeforeinthembroughtituptoamaturityatthattimealtogether,Iknownot;butthiswasthetimewhenitwasreportedthatabove3000peoplediedinonenight;andtheythatwouldhaveusbelievetheymorecriticallyobserveditpretendtosaythattheyalldiedwithinthespaceoftwohours,viz。,betweenthehoursofoneandthreeinthemorning。
Astothesuddennessofpeople\'sdyingatthistime,morethanbefore,therewereinnumerableinstancesofit,andIcouldnameseveralinmyneighbourhood。OnefamilywithouttheBars,andnotfarfromme,wereallseeminglywellontheMonday,beingteninfamily。Thateveningonemaidandoneapprenticeweretakenillanddiedthenextmorning—whentheotherapprenticeandtwochildrenweretouched,whereofonediedthesameevening,andtheothertwoonWednesday。Inaword,bySaturdayatnoonthemaster,mistress,fourchildren,andfourservantswereallgone,andthehouseleftentirelyempty,exceptanancientwomanwhocameintotakechargeofthegoodsforthemasterofthefamily\'sbrother,wholivednotfaroff,andwhohadnotbeensick。
Manyhouseswerethenleftdesolate,allthepeoplebeingcarriedawaydead,andespeciallyinanalleyfartheronthesamesidebeyondtheBars,goinginatthesignofMosesandAaron,therewereseveralhousestogetherwhich,theysaid,hadnotonepersonleftaliveinthem;andsomethatdiedlastinseveralofthosehouseswereleftalittletoolongbeforetheywerefetchedouttobeburied;thereasonofwhichwasnot,assomehavewrittenveryuntruly,thatthelivingwerenotsufficienttoburythedead,butthatthemortalitywassogreatintheyardoralleythattherewasnobodylefttogivenoticetotheburiersorsextonsthattherewereanydeadbodiestheretobeburied。
Itwassaid,howtrueIknownot,thatsomeofthosebodiesweresomuchcorruptedandsorottenthatitwaswithdifficultytheywerecarried;andasthecartscouldnotcomeanynearerthantotheAlleyGateintheHighStreet,itwassomuchthemoredifficulttobringthemalong;butIamnotcertainhowmanybodieswerethenleft。I
amsurethatordinarilyitwasnotso。
AsIhavementionedhowthepeoplewerebroughtintoaconditiontodespairoflifeandabandonthemselves,sothisverythinghadastrangeeffectamongusforthreeorfourweeks;thatis,itmadethemboldandventurous:theywerenomoreshyofoneanother,orrestrainedwithindoors,butwentanywhereandeverywhere,andbegantoconverse。Onewouldsaytoanother,\'Idonotaskyouhowyouare,orsayhowIam;itiscertainweshallallgo;so\'tisnomatterwhoisallsickorwhoissound\';andsotheyrandesperatelyintoanyplaceoranycompany。
Asitbroughtthepeopleintopubliccompany,soitwassurprisinghowitbroughtthemtocrowdintothechurches。Theyinquirednomoreintowhomtheysatneartoorfarfrom,whatoffensivesmellstheymetwith,orwhatconditionthepeopleseemedtobein;but,lookinguponthemselvesallassomanydeadcorpses,theycametothechurcheswithouttheleastcaution,andcrowdedtogetherasiftheirliveswereofnoconsequencecomparedtotheworkwhichtheycameaboutthere。Indeed,thezealwhichtheyshowedincoming,andtheearnestnessandaffectiontheyshowedintheirattentiontowhattheyheard,madeitmanifestwhatavaluepeoplewouldallputupontheworshipofGodiftheythoughteverydaytheyattendedatthechurchthatitwouldbetheirlast。
Norwasitwithoutotherstrangeeffects,forittookaway,allmannerofprejudiceatorscrupleaboutthepersonwhomtheyfoundinthepulpitwhentheycametothechurches。Itcannotbedoubtedbutthatmanyoftheministersoftheparishchurcheswerecutoff,amongothers,insocommonanddreadfulacalamity;andothershadnotcourageenoughtostandit,butremovedintothecountryastheyfoundmeansforescape。Asthensomeparishchurcheswerequitevacantandforsaken,thepeoplemadenoscrupleofdesiringsuchDissentersashadbeenafewyearsbeforedeprivedoftheirlivingsbyvirtueoftheActofParliamentcalledtheActofUniformitytopreachinthechurches;nordidthechurchministersinthatcasemakeanydifficultyofacceptingtheirassistance;sothatmanyofthosewhomtheycalledsilencedministershadtheirmouthsopenedonthisoccasionandpreachedpubliclytothepeople。
HerewemayobserveandIhopeitwillnotbeamisstotakenoticeofitthatanearviewofdeathwouldsoonreconcilemenofgoodprinciplesonetoanother,andthatitischieflyowingtooureasysituationinlifeandourputtingthesethingsfarfromusthatourbreachesarefomented,illbloodcontinued,prejudices,breachofcharityandofChristianunion,somuchkeptandsofarcarriedonamongusasitis。Anotherplagueyearwouldreconcileallthesedifferences;adoseconversingwithdeath,orwithdiseasesthatthreatendeath,wouldscumoffthegallfromourtempers,removetheanimositiesamongus,andbringustoseewithdifferingeyesthanthosewhichwelookedonthingswithbefore。AsthepeoplewhohadbeenusedtojoinwiththeChurchwerereconciledatthistimewiththeadmittingtheDissenterstopreachtothem,sotheDissenters,whowithanuncommonprejudicehadbrokenofffromthecommunionoftheChurchofEngland,werenowcontenttocometotheirparishchurchesandtoconformtotheworshipwhichtheydidnotapproveofbefore;butastheterroroftheinfectionabated,thosethingsallreturnedagaintotheirlessdesirablechannelandtothecoursetheywereinbefore。
Imentionthisbuthistorically。Ihavenomindtoenterintoargumentstomoveeitherorbothsidestoamorecharitablecomplianceonewithanother。Idonotseethatitisprobablesuchadiscoursewouldbeeithersuitableorsuccessful;thebreachesseemrathertowiden,andtendtoawideningfurther,thantoclosing,andwhoamIthatIshouldthinkmyselfabletoinfluenceeitheronesideorother？ButthisImayrepeatagain,that\'tisevidentdeathwillreconcileusall;ontheothersidethegraveweshallbeallbrethrenagain。Inheaven,whitherIhopewemaycomefromallpartiesandpersuasions,weshallfindneitherprejudiceorscruple;thereweshallbeofoneprincipleandofoneopinion。WhywecannotbecontenttogohandinhandtothePlacewhereweshalljoinheartandhandwithouttheleasthesitation,andwiththemostcompleteharmonyandaffection—Isay,whywecannotdosohereIcansaynothingto,neithershallIsayanythingmoreofitbutthatitremainstobelamented。
Icoulddwellagreatwhileuponthecalamitiesofthisdreadfultime,andgoontodescribetheobjectsthatappearedamonguseveryday,thedreadfulextravagancieswhichthedistractionofsickpeopledrovetheminto;howthestreetsbegannowtobefulleroffrightfulobjects,andfamiliestobemadeevenaterrortothemselves。ButafterIhavetoldyou,asIhaveabove,thatoneman,beingtiedinhisbed,andfindingnootherwaytodeliverhimself,setthebedonfirewithhiscandle,whichunhappilystoodwithinhisreach,andburnthimselfinhisbed;andhowanother,bytheinsufferabletormenthebore,dancedandsungnakedinthestreets,notknowingoneecstasyfromanother;I
say,afterIhavementionedthesethings,whatcanbeaddedmore？
Whatcanbesaidtorepresentthemiseryofthesetimesmorelivelytothereader,ortogivehimamoreperfectideaofacomplicateddistress？
Imustacknowledgethatthistimewasterrible,thatIwassometimesattheendofallmyresolutions,andthatIhadnotthecouragethatI
hadatthebeginning。Astheextremitybroughtotherpeopleabroad,itdrovemehome,andexcepthavingmademyvoyagedowntoBlackwallandGreenwich,asIhaverelated,whichwasanexcursion,Ikeptafterwardsverymuchwithindoors,asIhadforaboutafortnightbefore。IhavesaidalreadythatIrepentedseveraltimesthatIhadventuredtostayintown,andhadnotgoneawaywithmybrotherandhisfamily,butitwastoolateforthatnow;andafterIhadretreatedandstayedwithindoorsagoodwhilebeforemyimpatienceledmeabroad,thentheycalledme,asIhavesaid,toanuglyanddangerousofficewhichbroughtmeoutagain;butasthatwasexpiredwhiletheheightofthedistemperlasted,Iretiredagain,andcontinueddosetenortwelvedaysmore,duringwhichmanydismalspectaclesrepresentedthemselvesinmyviewoutofmyownwindowsandinourownstreet—asthatparticularlyfromHarrowAlley,ofthepooroutrageouscreaturewhichdancedandsunginhisagony;andmanyotherstherewere。ScarceadayornightpassedoverbutsomedismalthingorotherhappenedattheendofthatHarrowAlley,whichwasaplacefullofpoorpeople,mostofthembelongingtothebutchersortoemploymentsdependinguponthebutchery。
Sometimesheapsandthrongsofpeoplewouldburstoutofthealley,mostofthemwomen,makingadreadfulclamour,mixedorcompoundedofscreeches,cryings,andcallingoneanother,thatwecouldnotconceivewhattomakeofit。Almostallthedeadpartofthenightthedead—cartstoodattheendofthatalley,forifitwentinitcouldnotwellturnagain,andcouldgoinbutalittleway。There,I
say,itstoodtoreceivedeadbodies,andasthechurchyardwasbutalittlewayoff,ifitwentawayfullitwouldsoonbebackagain。Itisimpossibletodescribethemosthorriblecriesandnoisethepoorpeoplewouldmakeattheirbringingthedeadbodiesoftheirchildrenandfriendsoutofthecart,andbythenumberonewouldhavethoughttherehadbeennoneleftbehind,orthattherewerepeopleenoughforasmallcitylivinginthoseplaces。Severaltimestheycried\'Murder\',sometimes\'Fire\';butitwaseasytoperceiveitwasalldistraction,andthecomplaintsofdistressedanddistemperedpeople。
Ibelieveitwaseverywherethusasthattime,fortheplagueragedforsixorsevenweeksbeyondallthatIhaveexpressed,andcameeventosuchaheightthat,intheextremity,theybegantobreakintothatexcellentorderofwhichIhavespokensomuchinbehalfofthemagistrates;namely,thatnodeadbodieswereseeninthestreetorburialsinthedaytime:fortherewasanecessityinthisextremitytobearwithitsbeingotherwiseforalittlewhile。
OnethingIcannotomithere,andindeedIthoughtitwasextraordinary,atleastitseemedaremarkablehandofDivinejustice:viz。,thatallthepredictors,astrologers,fortune—tellers,andwhattheycalledcunning—men,conjurers,andthelike:calculatorsofnativitiesanddreamersofdream,andsuchpeople,weregoneandvanished;
notoneofthemwastobefound。Iamverilypersuadedthatagreatnumberofthemfellintheheatofthecalamity,havingventuredtostayupontheprospectofgettinggreatestates;
andindeedtheirgainwasbuttoogreatforatime,throughthemadnessandfollyofthepeople。Butnowtheyweresilent;manyofthemwenttotheirlonghome,notabletoforetelltheirownfateortocalculatetheirownnativities。Somehavebeencriticalenoughtosaythateveryoneofthemdied。Idarenotaffirmthat;butthisImustown,thatIneverheardofoneofthemthateverappearedafterthecalamitywasover。
Buttoreturntomyparticularobservationsduringthisdreadfulpartofthevisitation。Iamnowcome,asIhavesaid,tothemonthofSeptember,whichwasthemostdreadfulofitskind,Ibelieve,thateverLondonsaw;for,byalltheaccountswhichIhaveseenoftheprecedingvisitationswhichhavebeeninLondon,nothinghasbeenlikeit,thenumberintheweeklybillamountingtoalmost40,000fromthe22ndofAugusttothe26thofSeptember,beingbutfiveweeks。
Theparticularsofthebillsareasfollows,viz。:—
FromAugustthe22ndtothe29th7496
\"\"29th\"5thSeptember8252
\"Septemberthe5th\"12th7690
\"\"12th\"19th8297
\"\"19th\"26th6460
—————
38,195
Thiswasaprodigiousnumberofitself,butifIshouldaddthereasonswhichIhavetobelievethatthisaccountwasdeficient,andhowdeficientitwas,youwould,withme,makenoscrupletobelievethattherediedabovetenthousandaweekforallthoseweeks,oneweekwithanother,andaproportionforseveralweeksbothbeforeandafter。Theconfusionamongthepeople,especiallywithinthecity,atthattime,wasinexpressible。Theterrorwassogreatatlastthatthecourageofthepeopleappointedtocarryawaythedeadbegantofailthem;nay,severalofthemdied,althoughtheyhadthedistemperbeforeandwererecovered,andsomeofthemdroppeddownwhentheyhavebeencarryingthebodiesevenatthepitside,andjustreadytothrowthemin;andthisconfusionwasgreaterinthecitybecausetheyhadflatteredthemselveswithhopesofescaping,andthoughtthebitternessofdeathwaspast。Onecart,theytoldus,goingupShoreditchwasforsakenofthedrivers,orbeinglefttoonemantodrive,hediedinthestreet;andthehorsesgoingonoverthrewthecart,andleftthebodies,somethrownouthere,somethere,inadismalmanner。Anothercartwas,itseems,foundinthegreatpitinFinsburyFields,thedriverbeingdead,orhavingbeengoneandabandonedit,andthehorsesrunningtoonearit,thecartfellinanddrewthehorsesinalso。Itwassuggestedthatthedriverwasthrowninwithitandthatthecartfelluponhim,byreasonhiswhipwasseentobeinthepitamongthebodies;butthat,Isuppose,couldnotbecertain。
InourparishofAldgatethedead—cartswereseveraltimes,asIhaveheard,foundstandingatthechurchyardgatefullofdeadbodies,butneitherbellmanordriveroranyoneelsewithit;neitherintheseormanyothercasesdidtheyknowwhatbodiestheyhadintheircart,forsometimestheywereletdownwithropesoutofbalconiesandoutofwindows,andsometimesthebearersbroughtthemtothecart,sometimesotherpeople;nor,asthementhemselvessaid,didtheytroublethemselvestokeepanyaccountofthenumbers。
Thevigilanceofthemagistrateswasnowputtotheutmosttrial—
and,itmustbeconfessed,canneverbeenoughacknowledgedonthisoccasionalso;whateverexpenseortroubletheywereat,twothingswereneverneglectedinthecityorsuburbseither:—
（1）Provisionswerealwaystobehadinfullplenty,andthepricenotmuchraisedneither,hardlyworthspeaking。
（2）Nodeadbodieslayunburiedoruncovered;andifonewalkedfromoneendofthecitytoanother,nofuneralorsignofitwastobeseeninthedaytime,exceptalittle,asIhavesaidabove,inthethreefirstweeksinSeptember。
Thislastarticleperhapswillhardlybebelievedwhensomeaccountswhichothershavepublishedsincethatshallbeseen,whereintheysaythatthedeadlayunburied,whichIamassuredwasutterlyfalse;atleast,ifithadbeenanywhereso,itmusthavebeeninhouseswherethelivingweregonefromthedead（havingfoundmeans,asIhaveobserved,toescape）andwherenonoticewasgiventotheofficers。Allwhichamountstonothingatallinthecaseinhand;forthisIampositivein,havingmyselfbeenemployedalittleinthedirectionofthatpartintheparishinwhichIlived,andwhereasgreatadesolationwasmadeinproportiontothenumberofinhabitantsaswasanywhere;Isay,Iamsurethattherewerenodeadbodiesremainedunburied;thatistosay,nonethattheproperofficersknewof;noneforwantofpeopletocarrythemoff,andburierstoputthemintothegroundandcoverthem;andthisissufficienttotheargument;forwhatmightlieinhousesandholes,asinMosesandAaronAlley,isnothing;foritismostcertaintheywereburiedassoonastheywerefound。Astothefirstarticle（namely,ofprovisions,thescarcityordearness）,thoughIhavementioneditbeforeandshallspeakofitagain,yetImustobservehere:—
（1）Thepriceofbreadinparticularwasnotmuchraised;forinthebeginningoftheyear,viz。,inthefirstweekinMarch,thepennywheatenloafwastenouncesandahalf;andintheheightofthecontagionitwastobehadatnineouncesandahalf,andneverdearer,no,notallthatseason。AndaboutthebeginningofNovemberitwassoldtenouncesandahalfagain;thelikeofwhich,Ibelieve,wasneverheardofinanycity,undersodreadfulavisitation,before。
（2）Neitherwasthere（whichIwonderedmuchat）anywantofbakersorovenskeptopentosupplythepeoplewiththebread;butthiswasindeedallegedbysomefamilies,viz。,thattheirmaidservants,goingtothebakehouseswiththeirdoughtobebaked,whichwasthenthecustom,sometimescamehomewiththesickness（thatistosaytheplague）uponthem。
Inallthisdreadfulvisitationtherewere,asIhavesaidbefore,buttwopest—housesmadeuseof,viz。,oneinthefieldsbeyondOldStreetandoneinWestminster;neitherwasthereanycompulsionusedincarryingpeoplethither。Indeedtherewasnoneedofcompulsioninthecase,fortherewerethousandsofpoordistressedpeoplewho,havingnohelporconveniencesorsuppliesbutofcharity,wouldhavebeenverygladtohavebeencarriedthitherandbeentakencareof;
which,indeed,wastheonlythingthatIthinkwaswantinginthewholepublicmanagementofthecity,seeingnobodywashereallowedtobebroughttothepest—housebutwheremoneywasgiven,orsecurityformoney,eitherattheirintroducingorupontheirbeingcuredandsentout—forverymanyweresentoutagainwhole;andverygoodphysicianswereappointedtothoseplaces,sothatmanypeopledidverywellthere,ofwhichIshallmakementionagain。Theprincipalsortofpeoplesentthitherwere,asIhavesaid,servantswhogotthedistemperbygoingoferrandstofetchnecessariestothefamilieswheretheylived,andwhointhatcase,iftheycamehomesick,wereremovedtopreservetherestofthehouse;andtheyweresowelllookedafterthereinallthetimeofthevisitationthattherewasbut156buriedinallattheLondonpest—house,and159atthatofWestminster。
Byhavingmorepest—housesIamfarfrommeaningaforcingallpeopleintosuchplaces。Hadtheshuttingupofhousesbeenomittedandthesickhurriedoutoftheirdwellingstopest—houses,assomeproposed,itseems,atthattimeaswellassince,itwouldcertainlyhavebeenmuchworsethanitwas。Theveryremovingthesickwouldhavebeenaspreadingoftheinfection,andtheratherbecausethatremovingcouldnoteffectuallyclearthehousewherethesickpersonwasofthedistemper;andtherestofthefamily,beingthenleftatliberty,wouldcertainlyspreaditamongothers。
Themethodsalsoinprivatefamilies,whichwouldhavebeenuniversallyusedtohaveconcealedthedistemperandtohaveconcealedthepersonsbeingsick,wouldhavebeensuchthatthedistemperwouldsometimeshaveseizedawholefamilybeforeanyvisitorsorexaminerscouldhaveknownofit。Ontheotherhand,theprodigiousnumberswhichwouldhavebeensickatatimewouldhaveexceededallthecapacityofpublicpest—housestoreceivethem,orofpublicofficerstodiscoverandremovethem。
Thiswaswellconsideredinthosedays,andIhaveheardthemtalkofitoften。Themagistrateshadenoughtodotobringpeopletosubmittohavingtheirhousesshutup,andmanywaystheydeceivedthewatchmenandgotout,asIhaveobserved。Butthatdifficultymadeitapparentthattheytwouldhavefounditimpracticabletohavegonetheotherwaytowork,fortheycouldneverhaveforcedthesickpeopleoutoftheirbedsandoutoftheirdwellings。ItmustnothavebeenmyLordMayor\'sofficers,butanarmyofofficers,thatmusthaveattemptedit;andtilepeople,ontheotherhand,wouldhavebeenenragedanddesperate,andwouldhavekilledthosethatshouldhaveofferedtohavemeddledwiththemorwiththeirchildrenandrelations,whateverhadbefallenthemforit;sothattheywouldhavemadethepeople,who,asitwas,wereinthemostterribledistractionimaginable,Isay,theywouldhavemadethemstarkmad;whereasthemagistratesfounditproperonseveralaccountstotreatthemwithlenityandcompassion,andnotwithviolenceandterror,suchasdraggingthesickoutoftheirhousesorobligingthemtoremovethemselves,wouldhavebeen。
Thisleadsmeagaintomentionthetimewhentheplaguefirstbegan;thatistosay,whenitbecamecertainthatitwouldspreadoverthewholetown,when,asIhavesaid,thebettersortofpeoplefirsttookthealarmandbegantohurrythemselvesoutoftown。Itwastrue,asIobservedinitsplace,thatthethrongwassogreat,andthecoaches,horses,waggons,andcartsweresomany,drivinganddraggingthepeopleaway,thatitlookedasifallthecitywasrunningaway;andhadanyregulationsbeenpublishedthathadbeenterrifyingatthattime,especiallysuchaswouldpretendtodisposeofthepeopleotherwisethantheywoulddisposeofthemselves,itwouldhaveputboththecityandsuburbsintotheutmostconfusion。
Butthemagistrateswiselycausedthepeopletobeencouraged,madeverygoodbye—lawsfortheregulatingthecitizens,keepinggoodorderinthestreets,andmakingeverythingaseligibleaspossibletoallsortsofpeople。
Inthefirstplace,theLordMayorandthesheriffs,theCourtofAldermen,andacertainnumberoftheCommonCouncilmen,ortheirdeputies,cametoaresolutionandpublishedit,viz。,thattheywouldnotquitthecitythemselves,butthattheywouldbealwaysathandforthepreservinggoodorderineveryplaceandforthedoingjusticeonalloccasions;asalsoforthedistributingthepubliccharitytothepoor;and,inaword,forthedoingthedutyanddischargingthetrustreposedinthembythecitizenstotheutmostoftheirpower。