UponthefootofalltheseobservationsImustsaythatthoughProvidenceseemedtodirectmyconducttobeotherwise,yetitismyopinion,andImustleaveitasaprescription,viz。,thatthebestphysicagainsttheplagueistorunawayfromit。IknowpeopleencouragethemselvesbysayingGodisabletokeepusinthemidstofdanger,andabletoovertakeuswhenwethinkourselvesoutofdanger;andthiskeptthousandsinthetownwhosecarcaseswentintothegreatpitsbycartloads,andwho,iftheyhadfledfromthedanger,had,Ibelieve,beensafefromthedisaster;atleast\'tisprobabletheyhadbeensafe。
Andwerethisveryfundamentalonlydulyconsideredbythepeopleonanyfutureoccasionofthisorthelikenature,Iampersuadeditwouldputthemuponquitedifferentmeasuresformanagingthepeoplefromthosethattheytookin1665,orthananythathavebeentakenabroadthatIhaveheardof。Inaword,theywouldconsiderofseparatingthepeopleintosmallerbodies,andremovingthemintimefartherfromoneanother—andnotletsuchacontagionasthis,whichisindeedchieflydangeroustocollectedbodiesofpeople,findamillionofpeopleinabodytogether,aswasverynearthecasebefore,andwouldcertainlybethecaseifitshouldeverappearagain。
Theplague,likeagreatfire,ifafewhousesonlyarecontiguouswhereithappens,canonlyburnafewhouses;orifitbeginsinasingle,or,aswecallit,alonehouse,canonlyburnthatlonehousewhereitbegins。Butifitbeginsinaclose—builttownorcityandgetsahead,thereitsfuryincreases:itragesoverthewholeplace,andconsumesallitcanreach。
Icouldproposemanyschemesonthefootofwhichthegovernmentofthiscity,ifevertheyshouldbeundertheapprehensionsofsuchanotherenemy（Godforbidtheyshould）,mighteasethemselvesofthegreatestpartofthedangerouspeoplethatbelongtothem;Imeansuchasthebegging,starving,labouringpoor,andamongthemchieflythosewho,incaseofasiege,arecalledtheuselessmouths;whobeingthenprudentlyandtotheirownadvantagedisposedof,andthewealthyinhabitantsdisposingofthemselvesandoftheirservantsandchildren,thecityanditsadjacentpartswouldbesoeffectuallyevacuatedthattherewouldnotbeaboveatenthpartofitspeoplelefttogetherforthediseasetotakeholdupon。Butsupposethemtobeafifthpart,andthattwohundredandfiftythousandpeoplewereleft:
andifitdidseizeuponthem,theywould,bytheirlivingsomuchatlarge,bemuchbetterpreparedtodefendthemselvesagainsttheinfection,andbelessliabletotheeffectsofitthanifthesamenumberofpeopleliveddosetogetherinonesmallercitysuchasDublinorAmsterdamorthelike。
Itistruehundreds,yea,thousandsoffamiliesfledawayatthislastplague,butthenofthem,manyfledtoolate,andnotonlydiedintheirflight,butcarriedthedistemperwiththemintothecountrieswheretheywentandinfectedthosewhomtheywentamongforsafety;
whichconfoundedthething,andmadethatbeapropagationofthedistemperwhichwasthebestmeanstopreventit;andthistooisanevidenceofit,andbringsmebacktowhatIonlyhintedatbefore,butmustspeakmorefullytohere,namely,thatmenwentaboutapparentlywellmanydaysaftertheyhadthetaintofthediseaseintheirvitals,andaftertheirspiritsweresoseizedasthattheycouldneverescapeit,andthatallthewhiletheydidsotheyweredangeroustoothers;Isay,thisprovesthatsoitwas;forsuchpeopleinfectedtheverytownstheywentthrough,aswellasthefamiliestheywentamong;anditwasbythatmeansthatalmostallthegreattownsinEnglandhadthedistemperamongthem,moreorless,andalwaystheywouldtellyousuchaLondonerorsuchaLondonerbroughtitdown。
ItmustnotbeomittedthatwhenIspeakofthosepeoplewhowerereallythusdangerous,Isupposethemtobeutterlyignorantoftheirownconditions;foriftheyreallyknewtheircircumstancestobesuchasindeedtheywere,theymusthavebeenakindofwilfulmurtherersiftheywouldhavegoneabroadamonghealthypeople—anditwouldhaveverifiedindeedthesuggestionwhichImentionedabove,andwhichIthoughtseemeduntrue:viz。,thattheinfectedpeoplewereutterlycarelessastogivingtheinfectiontoothers,andratherforwardtodoitthannot;andIbelieveitwaspartlyfromthisverythingthattheyraisedthatsuggestion,whichIhopewasnotreallytrueinfact。
Iconfessnoparticularcaseissufficienttoproveageneral,butI
couldnameseveralpeoplewithintheknowledgeofsomeoftheirneighboursandfamiliesyetlivingwhoshowedthecontrarytoanextreme。Oneman,amasterofafamilyinmyneighbourhood,havinghadthedistemper,hethoughthehaditgivenhimbyapoorworkmanwhomheemployed,andwhomhewenttohishousetosee,orwentforsomeworkthathewantedtohavefinished;andhehadsomeapprehensionsevenwhilehewasatthepoorworkman\'sdoor,butdidnotdiscoveritfully;butthenextdayitdiscovereditself,andhewastakenveryin,uponwhichheimmediatelycausedhimselftobecarriedintoanoutbuildingwhichhehadinhisyard,andwheretherewasachamberoveraworkhouse（themanbeingabrazier）。Herehelay,andherehedied,andwouldbetendedbynoneofhisneighbours,butbyanursefromabroad;andwouldnotsufferhiswife,norchildren,norservantstocomeupintotheroom,lesttheyshouldbeinfected—butsentthemhisblessingandprayersforthembythenurse,whospokeittothematadistance,andallthisforfearofgivingthemthedistemper;andwithoutwhichheknew,astheywerekeptup,theycouldnothaveit。
AndhereImustobservealsothattheplague,asIsupposealldistempersdo,operatedinadifferentmannerondifferingconstitutions;somewereimmediatelyoverwhelmedwithit,anditcametoviolentfevers,vomitings,insufferableheadaches,painsintheback,andsouptoravingsandragingswiththosepains;otherswithswellingsandtumoursintheneckorgroin,orarmpits,whichtilltheycouldbebrokeputthemintoinsufferableagoniesandtorment;whileothers,asIhaveobserved,weresilentlyinfected,thefeverpreyingupontheirspiritsinsensibly,andtheyseeinglittleofittilltheyfellintoswooning,andfaintings,anddeathwithoutpain。
Iamnotphysicianenoughtoenterintotheparticularreasonsandmannerofthesedifferingeffectsofoneandthesamedistemper,andofitsdifferingoperationinseveralbodies;norisitmybusinessheretorecordtheobservationswhichIreallymade,becausethedoctorsthemselveshavedonethatpartmuchmoreeffectuallythanIcando,andbecausemyopinionmayinsomethingsdifferfromtheirs。IamonlyrelatingwhatIknow,orhaveheard,orbelieveoftheparticularcases,andwhatfellwithinthecompassofmyview,andthedifferentnatureoftheinfectionasitappearedintheparticularcaseswhichI
haverelated;butthismaybeaddedtoo:thatthoughtheformersortofthosecases,namely,thoseopenlyvisited,weretheworstforthemselvesastopain—Imeanthosethathadsuchfevers,vomitings,headaches,pains,andswellings,becausetheydiedinsuchadreadfulmanner—yetthelatterhadtheworststateofthedisease;forintheformertheyfrequentlyrecovered,especiallyiftheswellingsbroke;
butthelatterwasinevitabledeath;nocure,nohell）,couldbepossible,nothingcouldfollowbutdeath。Anditwasworsealsotoothers,because,asabove,itsecretlyandunperceivedbyothersorbythemselves,communicateddeathtothosetheyconversedwith,thepenetratingpoisoninsinuatingitselfintotheirbloodinamannerwhichitisimpossibletodescribe,orindeedconceive。
Thisinfectingandbeinginfectedwithoutsomuchasitsbeingknowntoeitherpersonisevidentfromtwosortsofcaseswhichfrequentlyhappenedatthattime;andthereishardlyanybodylivingwhowasinLondonduringtheinfectionbutmusthaveknownseveralofthecasesofbothsorts。
（1）Fathersandmothershavegoneaboutasiftheyhadbeenwell,andhavebelievedthemselvestobeso,tilltheyhaveinsensiblyinfectedandbeenthedestructionoftheirwholefamilies,whichtheywouldhavebeenfarfromdoingiftheyhadtheleastapprehensionsoftheirbeingunsoundanddangerousthemselves。Afamily,whosestoryIhaveheard,wasthusinfectedbythefather;andthedistemperbegantoappearuponsomeofthemevenbeforehefoundituponhimself。
Butsearchingmorenarrowly,itappearedhehadbeenaffectedsometime;andassoonashefoundthathisfamilyhadbeenpoisonedbyhimselfhewentdistracted,andwouldhavelaidviolenthandsuponhimself,butwaskeptfromthatbythosewholookedtohim,andinafewdaysdied。
（2）Theotherparticularis,thatmanypeoplehavingbeenwelltothebestoftheirownjudgement,orbythebestobservationwhichtheycouldmakeofthemselvesforseveraldays,andonlyfindingadecayofappetite,oralightsicknessupontheirstomachs;nay,somewhoseappetitehasbeenstrong,andevencraving,andonlyalightpainintheirheads,havesentforphysicianstoknowwhatailedthem,andhavebeenfound,totheirgreatsurprise,atthebrinkofdeath:thetokensuponthem,ortheplaguegrownuptoanincurableheight。
Itwasverysadtoreflecthowsuchapersonasthislastmentionedabovehadbeenawalkingdestroyerperhapsforaweekorafortnightbeforethat;howhehadruinedthosethathewouldhavehazardedhislifetosave,andhadbeenbreathingdeathuponthem,evenperhapsinhistenderkissingandembracingsofhisownchildren。Yetthuscertainlyitwas,andoftenhasbeen,andIcouldgivemanyparticularcaseswhereithasbeenso。Ifthentheblowisthusinsensiblystriking—ifthearrowfliesthusunseen,andcannotbediscovered—towhatpurposearealltheschemesforshuttinguporremovingthesickpeople？Thoseschemescannottakeplacebutuponthosethatappeartobesick,ortobeinfected;whereasthereareamongthematthesametimethousandsofpeoplewhoseemtobewell,butareallthatwhilecarryingdeathwiththemintoallcompanieswhichtheycomeinto。
Thisfrequentlypuzzledourphysicians,andespeciallytheapothecariesandsurgeons,whoknewnothowtodiscoverthesickfromthesound;theyallallowedthatitwasreallyso,thatmanypeoplehadtheplagueintheirveryblood,andpreyingupontheirspirits,andwereinthemselvesbutwalkingputrefiedcarcaseswhosebreathwasinfectiousandtheirsweatpoison,andyetwereaswelltolookonasotherpeople,andevenknewitnotthemselves;Isay,theyallallowedthatitwasreallytrueinfact,buttheyknewnothowtoproposeadiscovery。
MyfriendDrHeathwasofopinionthatitmightbeknownbythesmelloftheirbreath;butthen,ashesaid,whodurstsmelltothatbreathforhisinformation？since,toknowit,hemustdrawthestenchoftheplagueupintohisownbrain,inordertodistinguishthesmell！
Ihavehearditwastheopinionofothersthatitmightbedistinguishedbytheparty\'sbreathinguponapieceofglass,where,thebreathcondensing,theremightlivingcreaturesbeseenbyamicroscope,ofstrange,monstrous,andfrightfulshapes,suchasdragons,snakes,serpents,anddevils,horribletobehold。ButthisIverymuchquestionthetruthof,andwehadnomicroscopesatthattime,asIremember,tomaketheexperimentwith。
Itwastheopinionalsoofanotherlearnedman,thatthebreathofsuchapersonwouldpoisonandinstantlykillabird;notonlyasmallbird,butevenacockorhen,andthat,ifitdidnotimmediatelykillthelatter,itwouldcausethemtoberoupy,astheycallit;particularlythatiftheyhadlaidanyeggsatanytime,theywouldbeallrotten。ButthoseareopinionswhichIneverfoundsupportedbyanyexperiments,orheardofothersthathadseenit;soIleavethemasIfindthem;
onlywiththisremark,namely,thatIthinktheprobabilitiesareverystrongforthem。
Somehaveproposedthatsuchpersonsshouldbreatheharduponwarmwater,andthattheywouldleaveanunusualscumuponit,oruponseveralotherthings,especiallysuchasareofaglutinoussubstanceandareapttoreceiveascumandsupportit。
ButfromthewholeIfoundthatthenatureofthiscontagionwassuchthatitwasimpossibletodiscoveritatall,ortopreventitsspreadingfromonetoanotherbyanyhumanskill。
HerewasindeedonedifficultywhichIcouldneverthoroughlygetovertothistime,andwhichthereisbutonewayofansweringthatI
knowof,anditisthis,viz。,thefirstpersonthatdiedoftheplaguewasonDecember20,orthereabouts,1664,andinoraboutlongAcre;
whencethefirstpersonhadtheinfectionwasgenerallysaidtobefromaparcelofsilksimportedfromHolland,andfirstopenedinthathouse。
Butafterthisweheardnomoreofanypersondyingoftheplague,orofthedistemperbeinginthatplace,tillthe9thofFebruary,whichwasaboutsevenweeksafter,andthenonemorewasburiedoutofthesamehouse。Thenitwashushed,andwewereperfectlyeasyastothepublicforagreatwhile;fortherewerenomoreenteredintheweeklybilltobedeadoftheplaguetillthe22ndofApril,whentherewastwomoreburied,notoutofthesamehouse,butoutofthesamestreet;
and,asnearasIcanremember,itwasoutofthenexthousetothefirst。Thiswasnineweeksasunder,andafterthiswehadnomoretillafortnight,andthenitbrokeoutinseveralstreetsandspreadeveryway。Nowthequestionseemstoliethus:Wherelaytheseedsoftheinfectionallthiswhile？Howcameittostopsolong,andnotstopanylonger？Eitherthedistemperdidnotcomeimmediatelybycontagionfrombodytobody,or,ifitdid,thenabodymaybecapabletocontinueinfectedwithoutthediseasediscoveringitselfmanydays,nay,weekstogether;evennotaquarantineofdaysonly,butsoixantine;notonlyfortydays,butsixtydaysorlonger。
Itistruetherewas,asIobservedatfirst,andiswellknowntomanyyetliving,averycoldwinterandalongfrostwhichcontinuedthreemonths;andthis,thedoctorssay,mightchecktheinfection;butthenthelearnedmustallowmetosaythatif,accordingtotheirnotion,thediseasewas（asImaysay）onlyfrozenup,itwouldlikeafrozenriverhavereturnedtoitsusualforceandcurrentwhenitthawed—whereastheprincipalrecessofthisinfection,whichwasfromFebruarytoApril,wasafterthefrostwasbrokenandtheweathermildandwarm。
Butthereisanotherwayofsolvingallthisdifficulty,whichIthinkmyownremembranceofthethingwillsupply;andthatis,thefactisnotgranted—namely,thattherediednoneinthoselongintervals,viz。,fromthe20thofDecembertothe9thofFebruary,andfromthencetothe22ndofApril。Theweeklybillsaretheonlyevidenceontheotherside,andthosebillswerenotofcreditenough,atleastwithme,tosupportanhypothesisordetermineaquestionofsuchimportanceasthis;foritwasourreceivedopinionatthattime,andIbelieveuponverygoodgrounds,thatthefraudlayintheparishofficers,searchers,andpersonsappointedtogiveaccountofthedead,andwhatdiseasestheydiedof;andaspeoplewereverylothatfirsttohavetheneighboursbelievetheirhouseswereinfected,sotheygavemoneytoprocure,orotherwiseprocured,thedeadpersonstobereturnedasdyingofotherdistempers;andthisIknowwaspractisedafterwardsinmanyplaces,IbelieveImightsayinallplaceswherethedistempercame,aswillbeseenbythevastincreaseofthenumbersplacedintheweeklybillsunderotherarticlesofdiseasesduringthetimeoftheinfection。Forexample,inthemonthsofJulyandAugust,whentheplaguewascomingontoitshighestpitch,itwasveryordinarytohavefromathousandtotwelvehundred,nay,toalmostfifteenhundredaweekofotherdistempers。Notthatthenumbersofthosedistemperswerereallyincreasedtosuchadegree,butthegreatnumberoffamiliesandhouseswherereallytheinfectionwas,obtainedthefavourtohavetheirdeadbereturnedofotherdistempers,topreventtheshuttinguptheirhouses。Forexample:—
Deadofotherdiseasesbesidetheplague—
Fromthe18thJulytothe25th942
\"25thJuly\"1stAugust1004
\"1stAugust\"8th1213
\"8th\"15th1439
\"15th\"22nd1331
\"22nd\"29th1394
\"29th\"5thSeptember1264
\"5thSeptembertothe12th1056
\"12th\"19th1132
\"19th\"26th927
Nowitwasnotdoubtedbutthegreatestpartofthese,oragreatpartofthem,weredeadoftheplague,buttheofficerswereprevailedwithtoreturnthemasabove,andthenumbersofsomeparticulararticlesofdistempersdiscoveredisasfollows:—
Aug。Aug。Aug。Aug。Aug。Sept。Sept。Sept。
1815222951219
to8to15to22to29toSept。5to12to19to26
Fever314353348383364332309268
Spotted1741901661651579710165
FeverSurfeit8587749968454936
Teeth90113111133138128121112
663743699780727602580481
Therewereseveralotherarticleswhichboreaproportiontothese,andwhich,itiseasytoperceive,wereincreasedonthesameaccount,asaged,consumptions,vomitings,imposthumes,gripes,andthelike,manyofwhichwerenotdoubtedtobeinfectedpeople;butasitwasoftheutmostconsequencetofamiliesnottobeknowntobeinfected,ifitwaspossibletoavoidit,sotheytookallthemeasurestheycouldtohaveitnotbelieved,andifanydiedintheirhouses,togetthemreturnedtotheexaminers,andbythesearchers,ashavingdiedofotherdistempers。
This,Isay,willaccountforthelongintervalwhich,asIhavesaid,wasbetweenthedyingofthefirstpersonsthatwerereturnedinthebilltobedeadoftheplagueandthetimewhenthedistemperspreadopenlyandcouldnotbeconcealed。
Besides,theweeklybillsthemselvesatthattimeevidentlydiscoverthetruth;for,whiletherewasnomentionoftheplague,andnoincreaseafterithadbeenmentioned,yetitwasapparentthattherewasanincreaseofthosedistemperswhichborderednearestuponit;
forexample,therewereeight,twelve,seventeenofthespottedfeverinaweek,whentherewerenone,orbutveryfew,oftheplague;
whereasbefore,one,three,orfourweretheordinaryweeklynumbersofthatdistemper。Likewise,asIobservedbefore,theburialsincreasedweeklyinthatparticularparishandtheparishesadjacentmorethaninanyotherparish,althoughtherewerenonesetdownoftheplague;allwhichtellsus,thattheinfectionwashandedon,andthesuccessionofthedistemperreallypreserved,thoughitseemedtousatthattimetobeceased,andtocomeagaininamannersurprising。
Itmightbe,also,thattheinfectionmightremaininotherpartsofthesameparcelofgoodswhichatfirstitcamein,andwhichmightnotbeperhapsopened,oratleastnotfully,orintheclothesofthefirstinfectedperson;forIcannotthinkthatanybodycouldbeseizedwiththecontagioninafatalandmortaldegreefornineweekstogether,andsupporthisstateofhealthsowellasevennottodiscoverittothemselves;yetifitwereso,theargumentisthestrongerinfavourofwhatIamsaying:namely,thattheinfectionisretainedinbodiesapparentlywell,andconveyedfromthemtothosetheyconversewith,whileitisknowntoneithertheonenortheother。
Greatweretheconfusionsatthattimeuponthisveryaccount,andwhenpeoplebegantobeconvincedthattheinfectionwasreceivedinthissurprisingmannerfrompersonsapparentlywell,theybegantobeexceedingshyandjealousofeveryonethatcamenearthem。Once,onapublicday,whetheraSabbath—dayornotIdonotremember,inAldgateChurch,inapewfullofpeople,onasuddenonefanciedshesmeltanillsmell。Immediatelyshefanciestheplaguewasinthepew,whispershernotionorsuspiciontothenext,thenrisesandgoesoutofthepew。Itimmediatelytookwiththenext,andsotothemall;andeveryoneofthem,andofthetwoorthreeadjoiningpews,gotupandwentoutofthechurch,nobodyknowingwhatitwasoffendedthem,orfromwhom。
Thisimmediatelyfilledeverybody\'smouthswithonepreparationorother,suchastheoldwomandirected,andsomeperhapsasphysiciansdirected,inordertopreventinfectionbythebreathofothers;insomuchthatifwecametogointoachurchwhenitwasanythingfullofpeople,therewouldbesuchamixtureofsmellsattheentrancethatitwasmuchmorestrong,thoughperhapsnotsowholesome,thanifyouweregoingintoanapothecary\'sordruggist\'sshop。Inaword,thewholechurchwaslikeasmelling—bottle;inonecorneritwasallperfumes;inanother,aromatics,balsamics,andvarietyofdrugsandherbs;inanother,saltsandspirits,aseveryonewasfurnishedfortheirownpreservation。YetIobservedthatafterpeoplewerepossessed,asIhavesaid,withthebelief,orratherassurance,oftheinfectionbeingthuscarriedonbypersonsapparentlyinhealth,thechurchesandmeeting—housesweremuchthinnerofpeoplethanatothertimesbeforethattheyusedtobe。ForthisistobesaidofthepeopleofLondon,thatduringthewholetimeofthepestilencethechurchesormeetingswereneverwhollyshutup,nordidthepeopledeclinecomingouttothepublicworshipofGod,exceptonlyinsomeparisheswhentheviolenceofthedistemperwasmoreparticularlyinthatparishatthattime,andeventhennolongerthanitcontinuedtobeso。
IndeednothingwasmorestrangethantoseewithwhatcouragethepeoplewenttothepublicserviceofGod,evenatthattimewhentheywereafraidtostiroutoftheirownhousesuponanyotheroccasion;
this,Imean,beforethetimeofdesperation,whichIhavementionedalready。Thiswasaproofoftheexceedingpopulousnessofthecityatthetimeoftheinfection,notwithstandingthegreatnumbersthatweregoneintothecountryatthefirstalarm,andthatfledoutintotheforestsandwoodswhentheywerefurtherterrifiedwiththeextraordinaryincreaseofit。ForwhenwecametoseethecrowdsandthrongsofpeoplewhichappearedontheSabbath—daysatthechurches,andespeciallyinthosepartsofthetownwheretheplaguewasabated,orwhereitwasnotyetcometoitsheight,itwasamazing。
ButofthisIshallspeakagainpresently。Ireturninthemeantimetothearticleofinfectingoneanotheratfirst,beforepeoplecametorightnotionsoftheinfection,andofinfectingoneanother。Peoplewereonlyshyofthosethatwerereallysick,amanwithacapuponhishead,orwithclothesroundhisneck,whichwasthecaseofthosethathadswellingsthere。Suchwasindeedfrightful;butwhenwesawagentlemandressed,withhisbandonandhisglovesinhishand,hishatuponhishead,andhishaircombed,ofsuchwebadnottheleastapprehensions,andpeopleconversedagreatwhilefreely,especiallywiththeirneighboursandsuchastheyknew。Butwhenthephysiciansassuredusthatthedangerwasaswellfromthesound（thatis,theseeminglysound）asthesick,andthatthosepeoplewhothoughtthemselvesentirelyfreewereoftentimesthemostfatal,andthatitcametobegenerallyunderstoodthatpeopleweresensibleofit,andofthereasonofit;then,Isay,theybegantobejealousofeverybody,andavastnumberofpeoplelockedthemselvesup,soasnottocomeabroadintoanycompanyatall,norsufferanythathadbeenabroadinpromiscuouscompanytocomeintotheirhouses,ornearthem—atleastnotsonearthemastobewithinthereachoftheirbreathorofanysmellfromthem;andwhentheywereobligedtoconverseatadistancewithstrangers,theywouldalwayshavepreservativesintheirmouthsandabouttheirclothestorepelandkeepofftheinfection。
Itmustbeacknowledgedthatwhenpeoplebegantousethesecautionstheywerelessexposedtodanger,andtheinfectiondidnotbreakintosuchhousessofuriouslyasitdidintoothersbefore;andthousandsoffamilieswerepreserved（speakingwithduereservetothedirectionofDivineProvidence）bythatmeans。
Butitwasimpossibletobeatanythingintotheheadsofthepoor。
Theywentonwiththeusualimpetuosityoftheirtempers,fullofoutcriesandlamentationswhentaken,butmadlycarelessofthemselves,foolhardyandobstinate,whiletheywerewell。Wheretheycouldgetemploymenttheypushedintoanykindofbusiness,themostdangerousandthemostliabletoinfection;andiftheywerespokento,theiranswerwouldbe,\'ImusttrusttoGodforthat;ifIamtaken,thenIamprovidedfor,andthereisanendofme\',andthelike。
Orthus,\'Why,whatmustIdo？Ican\'tstarve。Ihadasgoodhavetheplagueasperishforwant。Ihavenowork;whatcouldIdo？Imustdothisorbeg。\'Supposeitwasburyingthedead,orattendingthesick,orwatchinginfectedhouses,whichwereallterriblehazards;buttheirtalewasgenerallythesame。Itistrue,necessitywasaveryjustifiable,warrantableplea,andnothingcouldbebetter;buttheirwayoftalkwasmuchthesamewherethenecessitieswerenotthesame。Thisadventurousconductofthepoorwasthatwhichbroughttheplagueamongtheminamostfuriousmanner;andthis,joinedtothedistressoftheircircumstanceswhentaken,wasthereasonwhytheydiedsobyheaps;forIcannotsayIcouldobserveonejotofbetterhusbandryamongthem,Imeanthelabouringpoor,whiletheywereallwellandgettingmoneythantherewasbefore,butaslavish,asextravagant,andasthoughtlessfortomorrowasever;sothatwhentheycametobetakensicktheywereimmediatelyintheutmostdistress,aswellforwantasforsickness,aswellforlackoffoodaslackofhealth。
ThismiseryofthepoorIhadmanyoccasionstobeaneyewitnessof,andsometimesalsoofthecharitableassistancethatsomepiouspeopledailygavetosuch,sendingthemreliefandsuppliesbothoffood,physic,andotherhelp,astheyfoundtheywanted;andindeeditisadebtofjusticeduetothetemperofthepeopleofthatdaytotakenoticehere,thatnotonlygreatsums,verygreatsumsofmoneywerecharitablysenttotheLordMayorandaldermenfortheassistanceandsupportofthepoordistemperedpeople,butabundanceofprivatepeopledailydistributedlargesumsofmoneyfortheirrelief,andsentpeopleabouttoinquireintotheconditionofparticulardistressedandvisitedfamilies,andrelievedthem;nay,somepiousladiesweresotransportedwithzealinsogoodawork,andsoconfidentintheprotectionofProvidenceindischargeofthegreatdutyofcharity,thattheywentaboutinpersondistributingalmstothepoor,andevenvisitingpoorfamilies,thoughsickandinfected,intheirveryhouses,appointingnursestoattendthosethatwantedattending,andorderingapothecariesandsurgeons,thefirsttosupplythemwithdrugsorplasters,andsuchthingsastheywanted;andthelasttolanceanddresstheswellingsandtumours,wheresuchwerewanting;givingtheirblessingtothepoorinsubstantialrelieftothem,aswellasheartyprayersforthem。
Iwillnotundertaketosay,assomedo,thatnoneofthosecharitablepeopleweresufferedtofallunderthecalamityitself;butthisImaysay,thatIneverknewanyoneofthemthatmiscarried,whichI
mentionfortheencouragementofothersincaseofthelikedistress;
anddoubtless,iftheythatgivetothepoorlendtotheLord,andHewillrepaythem,thosethathazardtheirlivestogivetothepoor,andtocomfortandassistthepoorinsuchamiseryasthis,mayhopetobeprotectedinthework。
Norwasthischaritysoextraordinaryeminentonlyinafew,but（forIcannotlightlyquitthispoint）thecharityoftherich,aswellinthecityandsuburbsasfromthecountry,wassogreatthat,inaword,aprodigiousnumberofpeoplewhomustotherwiseinevitablyhaveperishedforwantaswellassicknessweresupportedandsubsistedbyit;andthoughIcouldnever,norIbelieveanyoneelse,cometoafullknowledgeofwhatwassocontributed,yetIdobelievethat,asIheardonesaythatwasacriticalobserverofthatpart,therewasnotonlymanythousandpoundscontributed,butmanyhundredthousandpounds,tothereliefofthepoorofthisdistressed,afflictedcity;nay,onemanaffirmedtomethathecouldreckonupaboveonehundredthousandpoundsaweek,whichwasdistributedbythechurchwardensattheseveralparishvestriesbytheLordMayorandaldermenintheseveralwardsandprecincts,andbytheparticulardirectionofthecourtandofthejusticesrespectivelyinthepartswheretheyresided,overandabovetheprivatecharitydistributedbypiousbandsinthemannerIspeakof;andthiscontinuedformanyweekstogether。
