AndDissentersdidthelikealso,andevenintheverychurcheswheretheparishministerswereeitherdeadorfled;norwasthereanyroomformakingdifferenceatsuchatimeasthiswas。
Itwasindeedalamentablethingtohearthemiserablelamentationsofpoordyingcreaturescallingoutforministerstocomfortthemandpraywiththem,tocounselthemandtodirectthem,callingouttoGodforpardonandmercy,andconfessingaloudtheirpastsins。Itwouldmakethestoutestheartbleedtohearhowmanywarningswerethengivenbydyingpenitentstoothersnottoputoffanddelaytheirrepentancetothedayofdistress;thatsuchatimeofcalamityasthiswasnotimeforrepentance,wasnotimetocalluponGod。IwishI
couldrepeattheverysoundofthosegroansandofthoseexclamationsthatIheardfromsomepoordyingcreatureswhenintheheightoftheiragoniesanddistress,andthatIcouldmakehimthatreadsthishear,asIimagineInowhearthem,forthesoundseemsstilltoringinmyears。
IfIcouldbuttellthispartinsuchmovingaccentsasshouldalarmtheverysoulofthereader,IshouldrejoicethatIrecordedthosethings,howevershortandimperfect。
ItpleasedGodthatIwasstillspared,andveryheartyandsoundinhealth,butveryimpatientofbeingpentupwithindoorswithoutair,asIhadbeenforfourteendaysorthereabouts;andIcouldnotrestrainmyself,butIwouldgotocarryaletterformybrothertothepost—
house。ThenitwasindeedthatIobservedaprofoundsilenceinthestreets。WhenIcametothepost—house,asIwenttoputinmyletterI
sawamanstandinonecorneroftheyardandtalkingtoanotheratawindow,andathirdhadopenedadoorbelongingtotheoffice。Inthemiddleoftheyardlayasmallleatherpursewithtwokeyshangingatit,withmoneyinit,butnobodywouldmeddlewithit。Iaskedhowlongithadlainthere;themanatthewindowsaidithadlainalmostanhour,butthattheyhadnotmeddledwithit,becausetheydidnotknowbutthepersonwhodroppeditmightcomebacktolookforit。Ihadnosuchneedofmoney,norwasthesumsobigthatIhadanyinclinationtomeddlewithit,ortogetthemoneyatthehazarditmightbeattendedwith;soIseemedtogoaway,whenthemanwhohadopenedthedoorsaidhewouldtakeitup,butsothatiftherightownercameforitheshouldbesuretohaveit。Sohewentinandfetchedapailofwaterandsetitdownhardbythepurse,thenwentagainandfetchsomegunpowder,andcastagooddealofpowderuponthepurse,andthenmadeatrainfromthatwhichhehadthrownlooseuponthepurse。Thetrainreachedabouttwoyards。Afterthishegoesinathirdtimeandfetchesoutapairoftongsredhot,andwhichhehadprepared,Isuppose,onpurpose;andfirstsettingfiretothetrainofpowder,thatsingedthepurseandalsosmokedtheairsufficiently。Buthewasnotcontentwiththat,buthethentakesupthepursewiththetongs,holdingitsolongtillthetongsburntthroughthepurse,andthenheshookthemoneyoutintothepailofwater,sohecarrieditin。Themoney,asIremember,wasaboutthirteenshillingandsomesmoothgroatsandbrassfarthings。
Theremightperhapshavebeenseveralpoorpeople,asIhaveobservedabove,thatwouldhavebeenhardyenoughtohaveventuredforthesakeofthemoney;butyoumayeasilyseebywhatIhaveobservedthatthefewpeoplewhoweresparedwereverycarefulofthemselvesatthattimewhenthedistresswassoexceedinggreat。
MuchaboutthesametimeIwalkedoutintothefieldstowardsBow;
forIhadagreatmindtoseehowthingsweremanagedintheriverandamongtheships;andasIhadsomeconcerninshipping,Ihadanotionthatithadbeenoneofthebestwaysofsecuringone\'sselffromtheinfectiontohaveretiredintoaship;andmusinghowtosatisfymycuriosityinthatpoint,IturnedawayoverthefieldsfromBowtoBromley,anddowntoBlackwalltothestairswhicharethereforlandingortakingwater。
HereIsawapoormanwalkingonthebank,orsea—wall,astheycallit,byhimself。Iwalkedawhilealsoabout,seeingthehousesallshutup。AtlastIfellintosometalk,atadistance,withthispoorman;firstIaskedhimhowpeopledidthereabouts。\'Alas,sir！\'sayshe,\'almostdesolate;alldeadorsick。Hereareveryfewfamiliesinthispart,orinthatvillage\'（pointingatPoplar）,\'wherehalfofthemarenotdeadalready,andtherestsick。\'Thenhepointingtoonehouse,\'Theretheyarealldead\',saidhe,\'andthehousestandsopen;nobodydaresgointoit。Apoorthief\',sayshe,\'venturedintostealsomething,buthepaiddearforhistheft,forhewascarriedtothechurchyardtoolastnight。\'
Thenhepointedtoseveralotherhouses。\'There\',sayshe。\'theyarealldead,themanandhiswife,andfivechildren。There\',sayshe,\'theyareshutup;youseeawatchmanatthedoor\';andsoofotherhouses。
\'Why,\'saysI,\'whatdoyouhereallalone？\'\'Why,\'sayshe,\'Iamapoor,desolateman;ithaspleasedGodIamnotyetvisited,thoughmyfamilyis,andoneofmychildrendead。\'\'Howdoyoumean,then,\'saidI,\'thatyouarenotvisited？\'\'Why,\'sayshe,\'that\'smyhouse\'（pointingtoaverylittle,low—boardedhouse）,\'andtheremypoorwifeandtwochildrenlive,\'saidhe,\'iftheymaybesaidtolive,formywifeandoneofthechildrenarevisited,butIdonotcomeatthem。\'AndwiththatwordIsawthetearsrunveryplentifullydownhisface;andsotheydiddownminetoo,Iassureyou。
\'But,\'saidI,\'whydoyounotcomeatthem？Howcanyouabandonyourownfleshandblood？\'\'Oh,sir,\'sayshe,\'theLordforbid！Idonotabandonthem;IworkforthemasmuchasIamable;and,blessedbetheLord,Ikeepthemfromwant\';andwiththatIobservedhelifteduphiseyestoheaven,withacountenancethatpresentlytoldmeIhadhappenedonamanthatwasnohypocrite,butaserious,religious,goodman,andhisejaculationwasanexpressionofthankfulnessthat,insuchaconditionashewasin,heshouldbeabletosayhisfamilydidnotwant。\'Well,\'saysI,\'honestman,thatisagreatmercyasthingsgonowwiththepoor。Buthowdoyoulive,then,andhowareyoukeptfromthedreadfulcalamitythatisnowuponusall？\'\'Why,sir,\'sayshe,\'Iamawaterman,andthere\'smyboat,\'sayshe,\'andtheboatservesmeforahouse。Iworkinitintheday,andIsleepinitinthenight;andwhatIgetIlaydownuponthatstone,\'sayshe,showingmeabroadstoneontheothersideofthestreet,agoodwayfromhishouse;\'andthen,\'sayshe,\'Ihalloo,andcalltothemtillImakethemhear;andtheycomeandfetchit。\'
\'Well,friend,\'saysI,\'buthowcanyougetanymoneyasawaterman？Doesanbodygobywaterthesetimes？\'\'Yes,sir,\'sayshe,\'inthewayIamemployedtheredoes。Doyouseethere,\'sayshe,\'fiveshipslieatanchor\'（pointingdowntheriveragoodwaybelowthetown）,\'anddoyousee\',sayshe,\'eightortenshipslieatthechainthere,andatanchoryonder？\'pointingabovethetown）。\'Allthoseshipshavefamiliesonboard,oftheirmerchantsandowners,andsuch—like,whohavelockedthemselvesupandliveonboard,closeshutin,forfearoftheinfection;andItendonthemtofetchthingsforthem,carryletters,anddowhatisabsolutelynecessary,thattheymaynotbeobligedtocomeonshore;andeverynightIfastenmyboatonboardoneoftheship\'sboats,andthereIsleepbymyself,and,blessedbeGod,Iampreservedhitherto。\'
\'Well,\'saidI,\'friend,butwilltheyletyoucomeonboardafteryouhavebeenonshorehere,whenthisissuchaterribleplace,andsoinfectedasitis？\'
\'Why,astothat,\'saidhe,\'Iveryseldomgouptheship—side,butdeliverwhatIbringtotheirboat,orliebytheside,andtheyhoistitonboard。IfIdid,Ithinktheyareinnodangerfromme,forInevergointoanyhouseonshore,ortouchanybody,no,notofmyownfamily;butIfetchprovisionsforthem。\'
\'Nay,\'saysI,\'butthatmaybeworse,foryoumusthavethoseprovisionsofsomebodyorother;andsinceallthispartofthetownissoinfected,itisdangeroussomuchastospeakwithanybody,forthevillage\',saidI,\'is,asitwere,thebeginningofLondon,thoughitbeatsomedistancefromit。\'
\'Thatistrue,\'addedhe;\'butyoudonotunderstandmeright;Idonotbuyprovisionsforthemhere。IrowuptoGreenwichandbuyfreshmeatthere,andsometimesIrowdowntherivertoWoolwichandbuythere;thenIgotosinglefarm—housesontheKentishside,whereIamknown,andbuyfowlsandeggsandbutter,andbringtotheships,astheydirectme,sometimesone,sometimestheother。Iseldomcomeonshorehere,andIcamenowonlytocallonmywifeandhearhowmyfamilydo,andgivethemalittlemoney,whichIreceivedlastnight。\'
\'Poorman！\'saidI;\'andhowmuchhastthougottenforthem？\'
\'Ihavegottenfourshillings,\'saidhe,\'whichisagreatsum,asthingsgonowwithpoormen;buttheyhavegivenmeabagofbreadtoo,andasaltfishandsomeflesh;soallhelpsout。\'\'Well,\'saidI,\'andhaveyougivenitthemyet？\'
\'No,\'saidhe;\'butIhavecalled,andmywifehasansweredthatshecannotcomeoutyet,butinhalf—an—hourshehopestocome,andIamwaitingforher。Poorwoman！\'sayshe,\'sheisbroughtsadlydown。
Shehasaswelling,anditisbroke,andIhopeshewillrecover;butI
fearthechildwilldie,butitistheLord—\'
Herehestopped,andweptverymuch。
\'Well,honestfriend,\'saidI,\'thouhastasureComforter,ifthouhastbroughtthyselftoberesignedtothewillofGod;Heisdealingwithusallinjudgement。\'
\'Oh,sir！\'sayshe,\'itisinfinitemercyifanyofusarespared,andwhoamItorepine！\'
\'Sayestthouso？\'saidI,\'andhowmuchlessismyfaiththanthine？\'
Andheremyheartsmoteme,suggestinghowmuchbetterthispoorman\'sfoundationwasonwhichhestayedinthedangerthanmine;
thathehadnowheretofly;thathehadafamilytobindhimtoattendance,whichIhadnot;andminewasmerepresumption,hisatruedependenceandacouragerestingonGod;andyetthatheusedallpossiblecautionforhissafety。
Iturnedalittlewayfromthemanwhilethesethoughtsengagedme,for,indeed,Icouldnomorerefrainfromtearsthanhe。
Atlength,aftersomefurthertalk,thepoorwomanopenedthedoorandcalled,\'Robert,Robert\'。Heanswered,andbidherstayafewmomentsandhewouldcome;soherandownthecommonstairstohisboatandfetchedupasack,inwhichwastheprovisionshehadbroughtfromtheships;andwhenhereturnedhehallooedagain。
Thenhewenttothegreatstonewhichheshowedmeandemptiedthesack,andlaidallout,everythingbythemselves,andthenretired;andhiswifecamewithalittleboytofetchthemaway,andcalledandsaidsuchacaptainhadsentsuchathing,andsuchacaptainsuchathing,andattheendadds,\'Godhassentitall;givethankstoHim。\'Whenthepoorwomanhadtakenupall,shewassoweakshecouldnotcarryitatoncein,thoughtheweightwasnotmuchneither;sosheleftthebiscuit,whichwasinalittlebag,andleftalittleboytowatchittillshecameagain。
\'Well,but\',saysItohim,\'didyouleaveherthefourshillingstoo,whichyousaidwasyourweek\'spay？\'
\'Yes,yes,\'sayshe;\'youshallhearherownit。\'Sohecallsagain,\'Rachel,Rachel,\'whichitseemswashername,\'didyoutakeupthemoney？\'\'Yes,\'saidshe。\'Howmuchwasit？\'saidhe。\'Fourshillingsandagroat,\'saidshe。\'Well,well,\'sayshe,\'theLordkeepyouall\';andsoheturnedtogoaway。
EndofPart3
Part4
AsIcouldnotrefraincontributingtearstothisman\'sstory,soneithercouldIrefrainmycharityforhisassistance。SoIcalledhim,\'Harkthee,friend,\'saidI,\'comehither,forIbelievethouartinhealth,thatImayventurethee\';soIpulledoutmyhand,whichwasinmypocketbefore,\'Here,\'saysI,\'goandcallthyRacheloncemore,andgiveheralittlemorecomfortfromme。GodwillneverforsakeafamilythattrustinHimasthoudost。\'SoIgavehimfourothershillings,andbidhimgolaythemonthestoneandcallhiswife。
Ihavenotwordstoexpressthepoorman\'sthankfulness,neithercouldheexpressithimselfbutbytearsrunningdownhisface。
Hecalledhiswife,andtoldherGodhadmovedtheheartofastranger,uponhearingtheircondition,togivethemallthatmoney,andagreatdealmoresuchasthathesaidtoher。Thewoman,too,madesignsofthelikethankfulness,aswelltoHeavenastome,andjoyfullypickeditup;
andIpartedwithnomoneyallthatyearthatIthoughtbetterbestowed。
IthenaskedthepoormanifthedistemperhadnotreachedtoGreenwich。Hesaidithadnottillaboutafortnightbefore;butthatthenhefearedithad,butthatitwasonlyatthatendofthetownwhichlaysouthtowardsDeptfordBridge;thathewentonlytoabutcher\'sshopandagrocer\'s,wherehegenerallyboughtsuchthingsastheysenthimfor,butwasverycareful。
Iaskedhimthenhowitcametopassthatthosepeoplewhohadsoshutthemselvesupintheshipshadnotlaidinsufficientstoresofallthingsnecessary。Hesaidsomeofthemhad—but,ontheotherhand,somedidnotcomeonboardtilltheywerefrightedintoitandtillitwastoodangerousforthemtogototheproperpeopletolayinquantitiesofthings,andthathewaitedontwoships,whichheshowedme,thathadlaidinlittleornothingbutbiscuitbreadandshipbeer,andthathehadboughteverythingelsealmostforthem。Iaskedhimiftherewasanymoreshipsthathadseparatedthemselvesasthosehaddone。Hetoldmeyes,allthewayupfromthepoint,rightagainstGreenwich,towithintheshoreofLimehouseandRedriff,alltheshipsthatcouldhaveroomridtwoandtwointhemiddleofthestream,andthatsomeofthemhadseveralfamiliesonboard。Iaskedhimifthedistemperhadnotreachedthem。Hesaidhebelievedithadnot,excepttwoorthreeshipswhosepeoplehadnotbeensowatchfultokeeptheseamenfromgoingonshoreasothershadbeen,andhesaiditwasaveryfinesighttoseehowtheshipslayupthePool。
WhenhesaidhewasgoingovertoGreenwichassoonasthetidebegantocomein,Iaskedifhewouldletmegowithhimandbringmeback,forthatIhadagreatmindtoseehowtheshipswereranged,ashehadtoldme。Hetoldme,ifIwouldassurehimonthewordofaChristianandofanhonestmanthatIhadnotthedistemper,hewould。
IassuredhimthatIhadnot;thatithadpleasedGodtopreserveme;
thatIlivedinWhitechappel,butwastooimpatientofbeingsolongwithindoors,andthatIhadventuredoutsofarfortherefreshmentofalittleair,butthatnoneinmyhousehadsomuchasbeentouchedwithit。
Well,sir,\'sayshe,\'asyourcharityhasbeenmovedtopitymeandmypoorfamily,sureyoucannothavesolittlepityleftastoputyourselfintomyboatifyouwerenotsoundinhealthwhichwouldbenothinglessthankillingmeandruiningmywholefamily。\'Thepoormantroubledmesomuchwhenhespokeofhisfamilywithsuchasensibleconcernandinsuchanaffectionatemanner,thatIcouldnotsatisfymyselfatfirsttogoatall。ItoldhimIwouldlayasidemycuriosityratherthanmakehimuneasy,thoughIwassure,andverythankfulforit,thatIhadnomoredistemperuponmethanthefreshestmanintheworld。Well,hewouldnothavemeputitoffneither,buttoletmeseehowconfidenthewasthatIwasjusttohim,nowimportunedmetogo;sowhenthetidecameuptohisboatIwentin,andhecarriedmetoGreenwich。Whileheboughtthethingswhichhehadinhischargetobuy,Iwalkeduptothetopofthehillunderwhichthetownstands,andontheeastsideofthetown,togetaprospectoftheriver。Butitwasasurprisingsighttoseethenumberofshipswhichlayinrows,twoandtwo,andsomeplacestwoorthreesuchlinesinthebreadthoftheriver,andthisnotonlyupquitetothetown,betweenthehouseswhichwecallRatcliffandRedriff,whichtheynamethePool,butevendownthewholeriverasfarastheheadofLongReach,whichisasfarasthehillsgiveusleavetoseeit。
Icannotguessatthenumberofships,butIthinktheremustbeseveralhundredsofsail;andIcouldnotbutapplaudthecontrivance:
fortenthousandpeopleandmorewhoattendedshipaffairswerecertainlyshelteredherefromtheviolenceofthecontagion,andlivedverysafeandveryeasy。
Ireturnedtomyowndwellingverywellsatisfiedwithmyday\'sjourney,andparticularlywiththepoorman;alsoIrejoicedtoseethatsuchlittlesanctuarieswereprovidedforsomanyfamiliesinatimeofsuchdesolation。Iobservedalsothat,astheviolenceoftheplaguehadincreased,sotheshipswhichhadfamiliesonboardremovedandwentfartheroff,till,asIwastold,somewentquiteawaytosea,andputintosuchharboursandsaferoadsonthenorthcoastastheycouldbestcomeat。
Butitwasalsotruethatallthepeoplewhothusleftthelandandlivedonboardtheshipswerenotentirelysafefromtheinfection,formanydiedandwerethrownoverboardintotheriver,someincoffins,andsome,asIheard,withoutcoffins,whosebodieswereseensometimestodriveupanddownwiththetideintheriver。
ButIbelieveImayventuretosaythatinthoseshipswhichwerethusinfectediteitherhappenedwherethepeoplehadrecoursetothemtoolate,anddidnotflytotheshiptilltheyhadstayedtoolongonshoreandhadthedistemperuponthem（thoughperhapstheymightnotperceiveit）andsothedistemperdidnotcometothemonboardtheships,buttheyreallycarrieditwiththem;oritwasintheseshipswherethepoorwatermansaidtheyhadnothadtimetofurnishthemselveswithprovisions,butwereobligedtosendoftenonshoretobuywhattheyhadoccasionfor,orsufferedboatstocometothemfromtheshore。Andsothedistemperwasbroughtinsensiblyamongthem。
AndhereIcannotbuttakenoticethatthestrangetemperofthepeopleofLondonatthattimecontributedextremelytotheirowndestruction。Theplaguebegan,asIhaveobserved,attheotherendofthetown,namely,inLongAcre,DruryLane,&c。,andcameontowardsthecityverygraduallyandslowly。ItwasfeltatfirstinDecember,thenagaininFebruary,thenagaininApril,andalwaysbutaverylittleatatime;thenitstoppedtillMay,andeventhelastweekinMaytherewasbutseventeen,andallatthatendofthetown;andallthiswhile,evensolongastilltherediedabove3000aweek,yethadthepeopleinRedriff,andinWappingandRatcliff,onbothsidesoftheriver,andalmostallSouthwarkside,amightyfancythattheyshouldnotbevisited,oratleastthatitwouldnotbesoviolentamongthem。Somepeoplefanciedthesmellofthepitchandtar,andsuchotherthingsasoilandrosinandbrimstone,whichissomuchusedbyalltradesrelatingtoshipping,wouldpreservethem。Othersarguedit,becauseitwasinitsextreamestviolenceinWestminsterandtheparishofStGilesandStAndrew,&c。,andbegantoabateagainbeforeitcameamongthem—whichwastrueindeed,inpart。Forexample—
Fromthe8thtothe15thAugust—
StGiles—in—the—Fields242
Cripplegate886
Stepney197
StMargaret,Bermondsey24
Rotherhith3
Totalthisweek4030
Fromthe15thtothe22ndAugust—
StGiles—in—the—Fields175
Cripplegate847
Stepney273
StMargaret,Bermondsey36
Rotherhith2
Totalthisweek5319
N。B。—ThatitwasobservedthenumbersmentionedinStepneyparishatthattimeweregenerallyallonthatsidewhereStepneyparishjoinedtoShoreditch,whichwenowcallSpittlefields,wheretheparishofStepneycomesuptotheverywallofShoreditchChurchyard,andtheplagueatthistimewasabatedatStGiles—in—the—
Fields,andragedmostviolentlyinCripplegate,Bishopsgate,andShoreditchparishes;buttherewasnottenpeopleaweekthatdiedofitinallthatpartofStepneyparishwhichtakesinLimehouse,RatdiffHighway,andwhicharenowtheparishesofShadwellandWapping,eventoStKatherine\'sbytheTower,tillafterthewholemonthofAugustwasexpired。Buttheypaidforitafterwards,asIshallobserveby—and—by。
This,Isay,madethepeopleofRedriffandWapping,RatcliffandLimehouse,sosecure,andflatterthemselvessomuchwiththeplague\'sgoingoffwithoutreachingthem,thattheytooknocareeithertoflyintothecountryorshutthemselvesup。Nay,sofarweretheyfromstirringthattheyratherreceivedtheirfriendsandrelationsfromthecityintotheirhouses,andseveralfromotherplacesreallytooksanctuaryinthatpartofthetownasaPlaceofsafety,andasaplacewhichtheythoughtGodwouldpassover,andnotvisitastherestwasvisited。
Andthiswasthereasonthatwhenitcameupon—themtheyweremoresurprised,moreunprovided,andmoreatalosswhattodothantheywereinotherplaces;forwhenitcameamongthemreallyandwithviolence,asitdidindeedinSeptemberandOctober,therewasthennostirringoutintothecountry,nobodywouldsufferastrangertocomenearthem,no,nornearthetownswheretheydwelt;and,asI
havebeentold,severalthatwanderedintothecountryonSurreysidewerefoundstarvedtodeathinthewoodsandcommons,thatcountrybeingmoreopenandmorewoodythananyotherpartsonearLondon,especiallyaboutNorwoodandtheparishesofCamberwell,Dullege,andLusum,where,itseems,nobodydurstrelievethepoordistressedpeopleforfearoftheinfection。
Thisnotionhaving,asIsaid,prevailedwiththepeopleinthatpartofthetown,wasinparttheoccasion,asIsaidbefore,thattheyhadrecoursetoshipsfortheirretreat;andwheretheydidthisearlyandwithprudence,furnishingthemselvessowithprovisionsthattheyhadnoneedtogoonshoreforsuppliesorsufferboatstocomeonboardtobringthem,—Isay,wheretheydidsotheyhadcertainlythesafestretreatofanypeoplewhatsoever;butthedistresswassuchthatpeopleranonboard,intheirfright,withoutbreadtoeat,andsomeintoshipsthathadnomenonboardtoremovethemfartheroff,ortotaketheboatandgodowntherivertobuyprovisionswhereitmightbedonesafely,andtheseoftensufferedandwereinfectedonboardasmuchasonshore。
Astherichersortgotintoships,sothelowerrankgotintohoys,smacks,lighters,andfishing—boats;andmany,especiallywatermen,layintheirboats;butthosemadesadworkofit,especiallythelatter,for,goingaboutforprovision,andperhapstogettheirsubsistence,theinfectiongotinamongthemandmadeafearfulhavoc;manyofthewatermendiedaloneintheirwherriesastheyridattheirroads,aswellasabovebridgeasbelow,andwerenotfoundsometimestilltheywerenotinconditionforanybodytotouchorcomenearthem。
Indeed,thedistressofthepeopleatthisseafaringendofthetownwasverydeplorable,anddeservedthegreatestcommiseration。But,alasIthiswasatimewheneveryone\'sprivatesafetylaysonearthemthattheyhadnoroomtopitythedistressesofothers;foreveryonehaddeath,asitwere,athisdoor,andmanyevenintheirfamilies,andknewnotwhattodoorwhithertofly。
This,Isay,tookawayallcompassion;self—preservation,indeed,appearedheretobethefirstlaw。Forthechildrenranawayfromtheirparentsastheylanguishedintheutmostdistress。Andinsomeplaces,thoughnotsofrequentastheother,parentsdidtheliketotheirchildren;nay,somedreadfulexamplestherewere,andparticularlytwoinoneweek,ofdistressedmothers,ravinganddistracted,killingtheirownchildren;onewhereofwasnotfarofffromwhereIdwelt,thepoorlunaticcreaturenotlivingherselflongenoughtobesensibleofthesinofwhatshehaddone,muchlesstobepunishedforit。
Itisnot,indeed,tobewonderedat:forthedangerofimmediatedeathtoourselvestookawayallbowelsoflove,allconcernforoneanother。Ispeakingeneral,forthereweremanyinstancesofimmovableaffection,pity,anddutyinmany,andsomethatcametomyknowledge,thatistosay,byhearsay;forIshallnottakeuponmetovouchthetruthoftheparticulars。
Tointroduceone,letmefirstmentionthatoneofthemostdeplorablecasesinallthepresentcalamitywasthatofwomenwithchild,who,whentheycametothehouroftheirsorrows,andtheirpainscomeuponthem,couldneitherhavehelpofonekindoranother;neithermidwifeorneighbouringwomentocomenearthem。
Mostofthemidwivesweredead,especiallyofsuchasservedthepoor;andmany,ifnotallthemidwivesofnote,werefledintothecountry;sothatitwasnexttoimpossibleforapoorwomanthatcouldnotpayanimmoderatepricetogetanymidwifetocometoher—andiftheydid,thosetheycouldgetweregenerallyunskilfulandignorantcreatures;andtheconsequenceofthiswasthatamostunusualandincrediblenumberofwomenwerereducedtotheutmostdistress。
Someweredeliveredandspoiledbytherashnessandignoranceofthosewhopretendedtolaythem。Childrenwithoutnumberwere,I
mightsay,murderedbythesamebutamorejustifiableignorance:
pretendingtheywouldsavethemother,whateverbecameofthechild;
andmanytimesbothmotherandchildwerelostinthesamemanner;
andespeciallywherethemotherhadthedistemper,therenobodywouldcomenearthemandbothsometimesperished。Sometimesthemotherhasdiedoftheplague,andtheinfant,itmaybe,halfborn,orbornbutnotpartedfromthemother。Somediedintheverypainsoftheirtravail,andnotdeliveredatall;andsomanywerethecasesofthiskindthatitishardtojudgeofthem。
Somethingofitwillappearintheunusualnumberswhichareputintotheweeklybills（thoughIamfarfromallowingthemtobeabletogiveanythingofafullaccount）underthearticlesof—
Child—bed。
AbortiveandStill—born。
ChristmasandInfants。
Taketheweeksinwhichtheplaguewasmostviolent,andcomparethemwiththeweeksbeforethedistemperbegan,eveninthesameyear。Forexample:—
Child—bed。Abortive。Still—born。
