Iconfessthisisaverygreatsum;butifitbetruethattherewasdistributedintheparishofCripplegateonly,17,800inoneweektothereliefofthepoor,asIheardreported,andwhichIreallybelievewastrue,theothermaynotbeimprobable。
Itwasdoubtlesstobereckonedamongthemanysignalgoodprovidenceswhichattendedthisgreatcity,andofwhichthereweremanyotherworthrecording,—Isay,thiswasaveryremarkableone,thatitpleasedGodthustomovetheheartsofthepeopleinallpartsofthekingdomsocheerfullytocontributetothereliefandsupportofthepooratLondon,thegoodconsequencesofwhichwerefeltmanyways,andparticularlyinpreservingthelivesandrecoveringthehealthofsomanythousands,andkeepingsomanythousandsoffamiliesfromperishingandstarving。
AndnowIamtalkingofthemercifuldispositionofProvidenceinthistimeofcalamity,Icannotbutmentionagain,thoughIhavespokenseveraltimesofitalreadyonotheraccounts,Imeanthatoftheprogressionofthedistemper;howitbeganatoneendofthetown,andproceededgraduallyandslowlyfromoneparttoanother,andlikeadarkcloudthatpassesoverourheads,which,asitthickensandovercaststheairatoneend,dearsupattheotherend;so,whiletheplaguewentonragingfromwesttoeast,asitwentforwardseast,itabatedinthewest,bywhichmeansthosepartsofthetownwhichwerenotseized,orwhowereleft,andwhereithadspentitsfury,were（asitwere）sparedtohelpandassisttheother;whereas,hadthedistemperspreaditselfoverthewholecityandsuburbs,atonce,raginginallplacesalike,asithasdonesinceinsomeplacesabroad,thewholebodyofthepeoplemusthavebeenoverwhelmed,andtherewouldhavediedtwentythousandaday,astheysaytheredidatNaples;,norwouldthepeoplehavebeenabletohavehelpedorassistedoneanother。
Foritmustbeobservedthatwheretheplaguewasinitsfullforce,thereindeedthepeoplewereverymiserable,andtheconsternationwasinexpressible。Butalittlebeforeitreachedeventothatplace,orpresentlyafteritwasgone,theywerequiteanothersortofpeople;andIcannotbutacknowledgethattherewastoomuchofthatcommontemperofmankindtobefoundamongusallatthattime,namely,toforgetthedeliverancewhenthedangerispast。ButIshallcometospeakofthatpartagain。
Itmustnotbeforgotheretotakesomenoticeofthestateoftradeduringthetimeofthiscommoncalamity,andthiswithrespecttoforeigntrade,asalsotoourhometrade。
Astoforeigntrade,thereneedslittletobesaid。ThetradingnationsofEuropewereallafraidofus;noportofFrance,orHolland,orSpain,orItalywouldadmitourshipsorcorrespondwithus;indeedwestoodonilltermswiththeDutch,andwereinafuriouswarwiththem,butthoughinabadconditiontofightabroad,whohadsuchdreadfulenemiestostrugglewithathome。
Ourmerchantswereaccordinglyatafullstop;theirshipscouldgonowhere—thatistosay,tonoplaceabroad;theirmanufacturesandmerchandise—thatistosay,ofourgrowth—wouldnotbetouchedabroad。Theywereasmuchafraidofourgoodsastheywereofourpeople;andindeedtheyhadreason:forourwoollenmanufacturesareasretentiveofinfectionashumanbodies,andifpackedupbypersonsinfected,wouldreceivetheinfectionandbeasdangeroustotouchasamanwouldbethatwasinfected;andtherefore,whenanyEnglishvesselarrivedinforeigncountries,iftheydidtakethegoodsonshore,theyalwayscausedthebalestobeopenedandairedinplacesappointedforthatpurpose。ButfromLondontheywouldnotsufferthemtocomeintoport,muchlesstounladetheirgoods,uponanytermswhatever,andthisstrictnesswasespeciallyusedwiththeminSpainandItaly。InTurkeyandtheislandsoftheArchesindeed,astheyarecalled,aswellthosebelongingtotheTurksastotheVenetians,theywerenotsoveryrigid。Inthefirsttherewasnoobstructionatall;andfourshipswhichwerethenintheriverloadingforItaly—thatis,forLeghornandNaples—beingdeniedproduct,astheycallit,wentontoTurkey,andwerefreelyadmittedtounladetheircargowithoutanydifficulty;onlythatwhentheyarrivedthere,someoftheircargowasnotfitforsaleinthatcountry;andotherpartsofitbeingconsignedtomerchantsatLeghorn,thecaptainsoftheshipshadnorightnoranyorderstodisposeofthegoods;sothatgreatinconveniencesfollowedtothemerchants。Butthiswasnothingbutwhatthenecessityofaffairsrequired,andthemerchantsatLeghornandNapleshavingnoticegiventhem,sentagainfromthencetotakecareoftheeffectswhichwereparticularlyconsignedtothoseports,andtobringbackinothershipssuchaswereimproperforthemarketsatSmyrnaandScanderoon。
TheinconveniencesinSpainandPortugalwerestillgreater,fortheywouldbynomeanssufferourships,especiallythosefromLondon,tocomeintoanyoftheirports,muchlesstounlade。Therewasareportthatoneofourshipshavingbystealthdeliveredhercargo,amongwhichwassomebalesofEnglishcloth,cotton,kerseys,andsuch—likegoods,theSpaniardscausedallthegoodstobeburned,andpunishedthemenwithdeathwhowereconcernedincarryingthemonshore。
This,Ibelieve,wasinparttrue,thoughIdonotaffirmit;butitisnotatallunlikely,seeingthedangerwasreallyverygreat,theinfectionbeingsoviolentinLondon。
Iheardlikewisethattheplaguewascarriedintothosecountriesbysomeofourships,andparticularlytotheportofFarointhekingdomofAlgarve,belongingtotheKingofPortugal,andthatseveralpersonsdiedofitthere;butitwasnotconfirmed。
Ontheotherhand,thoughtheSpaniardsandPortugueseweresoshyofus,itismostcertainthattheplague（ashasbeensaid）keepingatfirstmuchatthatendofthetownnextWestminster,themerchandisingpartofthetown（suchasthecityandthewater—side）
wasperfectlysoundtillatleastthebeginningofJuly,andtheshipsintherivertillthebeginningofAugust;fortothe1stofJulytherehaddiedbutsevenwithinthewholecity,andbutsixtywithintheliberties,butoneinalltheparishesofStepney,Aldgate,andWhitechappel,andbuttwointheeightparishesofSouthwark。Butitwasthesamethingabroad,forthebadnewswasgoneoverthewholeworldthatthecityofLondonwasinfectedwiththeplague,andtherewasnoinquiringtherehowtheinfectionproceeded,oratwhichpartofthetownitwasbegunorwasreachedto。
Besides,afteritbegantospreaditincreasedsofast,andthebillsgrewsohighallonasudden,thatitwastonopurposetolessenthereportofit,orendeavourtomakethepeopleabroadthinkitbetterthanitwas;theaccountwhichtheweeklybillsgaveinwassufficient;
andthattherediedtwothousandtothreeor—fourthousandaweekwassufficienttoalarmthewholetradingpartoftheworld;andthefollowingtime,beingsodreadfulalsointheverycityitself,putthewholeworld,Isay,upontheirguardagainstit。
Youmaybesure,also,thatthereportofthesethingslostnothinginthecarriage。Theplaguewasitselfveryterrible,andthedistressofthepeopleverygreat,asyoumayobserveofwhatIhavesaid。Buttherumourwasinfinitelygreater,anditmustnotbewonderedthatourfriendsabroad（asmybrother\'scorrespondentsinparticularweretoldthere,namely,inPortugalandItaly,wherehechieflytraded）[said]
thatinLondontherediedtwentythousandinaweek;thatthedeadbodieslayunburiedbyheaps;thatthelivingwerenotsufficienttoburythedeadorthesoundtolookafterthesick;thatallthekingdomwasinfectedlikewise,sothatitwasanuniversalmaladysuchaswasneverheardofinthosepartsoftheworld;andtheycouldhardlybelieveuswhenwegavethemanaccounthowthingsreallywere,andhowtherewasnotaboveone—tenthpartofthepeopledead;thattherewas500,000,leftthatlivedallthetimeinthetown;thatnowthepeoplebegantowalkthestreetsagain,andthosewhowerefledtoreturn,therewasnomissoftheusualthrongofpeopleinthestreets,exceptaseveryfamilymightmisstheirrelationsandneighbours,andthelike。Isaytheycouldnotbelievethesethings;andifinquirywerenowtobemadeinNaples,orinothercitiesonthecoastofItaly,theywouldtellyouthattherewasadreadfulinfectioninLondonsomanyyearsago,inwhich,asabove,therediedtwentythousandinaweek,&c。,justaswehavehaditreportedinLondonthattherewasaplagueinthecityofNaplesintheyear1656,inwhichtheredied20,000peopleinaday,ofwhichIhavehadverygoodsatisfactionthatitwasutterlyfalse。
Buttheseextravagantreportswereveryprejudicialtoourtrade,aswellasunjustandinjuriousinthemselves,foritwasalongtimeaftertheplaguewasquiteoverbeforeourtradecouldrecoveritselfinthosepartsoftheworld;andtheFlemingsandDutch（butespeciallythelast）madeverygreatadvantagesofit,havingallthemarkettothemselves,andevenbuyingourmanufacturesinseveralpartsofEnglandwheretheplaguewasnot,andcarryingthemtoHollandandFlanders,andfromthencetransportingthemtoSpainandtoItalyasiftheyhadbeenoftheirownmaking。
Buttheyweredetectedsometimesandpunished:thatistosay,theirgoodsconfiscatedandshipsalso;forifitwastruethatourmanufacturesaswellasourpeoplewereinfected,andthatitwasdangeroustotouchortoopenandreceivethesmellofthem,thenthosepeopleranthehazardbythatclandestinetradenotonlyofcarryingthecontagionintotheirowncountry,butalsoofinfectingthenationstowhomtheytradedwiththosegoods;which,consideringhowmanylivesmightbelostinconsequenceofsuchanaction,mustbeatradethatnomenofconsciencecouldsufferthemselvestobeconcernedin。
Idonottakeuponmetosaythatanyharmwasdone,Imeanofthatkind,bythosepeople。ButIdoubtIneednotmakeanysuchprovisointhecaseofourowncountry;foreitherbyourpeopleofLondon,orbythecommercewhichmadetheirconversingwithallsortsofpeopleineverycountryandofeveryconsiderabletownnecessary,Isay,bythismeanstheplaguewasfirstorlastspreadalloverthekingdom,aswellinLondonasinallthecitiesandgreattowns,especiallyinthetradingmanufacturingtownsandseaports;sothat,firstorlast,alltheconsiderableplacesinEnglandwerevisitedmoreorless,andthekingdomofIrelandinsomeplaces,butnotsouniversally。HowitfaredwiththepeopleinScotlandIhadnoopportunitytoinquire。
ItistobeobservedthatwhiletheplaguecontinuedsoviolentinLondon,theoutports,astheyarecalled,enjoyedaverygreattrade,especiallytotheadjacentcountriesandtoourownplantations。Forexample,thetownsofColchester,Yarmouth,andHun,onthatsideofEngland,exportedtoHollandandHamburgthemanufacturesoftheadjacentcountriesforseveralmonthsafterthetradewithLondonwas,asitwere,entirelyshutup;likewisethecitiesofBristolandExeter,withtheportofPlymouth,hadthelikeadvantagetoSpain,totheCanaries,toGuinea,andtotheWestIndies,andparticularlytoIreland;butastheplaguespreaditselfeverywayafterithadbeeninLondontosuchadegreeasitwasinAugustandSeptember,soallormostofthosecitiesandtownswereinfectedfirstorlast;andthentradewas,asitwere,underageneralembargooratafullstop—asI
shallobservefurtherwhenIspeakofourhometrade。
Onething,however,mustbeobserved:thatastoshipscominginfromabroad（asmany,youmaybesure,did）somewhowereoutinallpartsoftheworldaconsiderablewhilebefore,andsomewhowhentheywentoutknewnothingofaninfection,oratleastofonesoterrible—thesecameuptheriverboldly,anddeliveredtheircargoesastheywereobligedtodo,exceptjustinthetwomonthsofAugustandSeptember,whentheweightoftheinfectionlying,asImaysay,allbelowBridge,nobodydurstappearinbusinessforawhile。Butasthiscontinuedbutforafewweeks,thehomeward—boundships,especiallysuchwhosecargoeswerenotliabletospoil,cametoananchorforatimeshortofthePool,*orfresh—waterpartoftheriver,evenaslowastheriverMedway,whereseveralofthemranin;andotherslayattheNore,andintheHopebelowGravesend。SothatbythelatterendofOctobertherewasaverygreatfleetofhomeward—boundshipstocomeup,suchasthelikehadnotbeenknownformanyyears。
*ThatpartoftheriverwheretheshipslieupwhentheycomehomeiscalledthePool,andtakesinalltheriveronbothsidesofthewater,fromtheTowertoCuckold\'sPointandLimehouse。[Footnoteintheoriginal。]
Twoparticulartradeswerecarriedonbywater—carriageallthewhileoftheinfection,andthatwithlittleornointerruption,verymuchtotheadvantageandcomfortofthepoordistressedpeopleofthecity:andthosewerethecoastingtradeforcornandtheNewcastletradeforcoals。
ThefirstofthesewasparticularlycarriedonbysmallvesselsfromtheportofHullandotherplacesontheHumber,bywhichgreatquantitiesofcornwerebroughtinfromYorkshireandLincolnshire。
Theotherpartofthiscorn—tradewasfromLynn,inNorfolk,fromWellsandBurnham,andfromYarmouth,allinthesamecounty;andthethirdbranchwasfromtheriverMedway,andfromMilton,Feversham,Margate,andSandwich,andalltheotherlittleplacesandportsroundthecoastofKentandEssex。
TherewasalsoaverygoodtradefromthecoastofSuffolkwithcorn,butter,andcheese;thesevesselskeptaconstantcourseoftrade,andwithoutinterruptioncameuptothatmarketknownstillbythenameofBearKey,wheretheysuppliedthecityplentifullywithcornwhenland—carriagebegantofail,andwhenthepeoplebegantobesickofcomingfrommanyplacesinthecountry。
ThisalsowasmuchofitowingtotheprudenceandconductoftheLordMayor,whotooksuchcaretokeepthemastersandseamenfromdangerwhentheycameup,causingtheircorntobeboughtoffatanytimetheywantedamarket（which,however,wasveryseldom）,andcausingthecorn—factorsimmediatelytounladeanddeliverthevesselsloadenwithcorn,thattheyhadverylittleoccasiontocomeoutoftheirshipsorvessels,themoneybeingalwayscarriedonboardtothemandputintoapailofvinegarbeforeitwascarried。
ThesecondtradewasthatofcoalsfromNewcastle—upon—Tyne,withoutwhichthecitywouldhavebeengreatlydistressed;fornotinthestreetsonly,butinprivatehousesandfamilies,greatquantitiesofcoalswerethenburnt,evenallthesummerlongandwhentheweatherwashottest,whichwasdonebytheadviceofthephysicians。Someindeedopposedit,andinsistedthattokeepthehousesandroomshotwasameanstopropagatethetemper,whichwasafermentationandheatalreadyintheblood;thatitwasknowntospreadandincreaseinhotweatherandabateincold;andthereforetheyallegedthatallcontagiousdistempersaretheworseforheat,becausethecontagionwasnourishedandgainedstrengthinhotweather,andwas,asitwere,propagatedinheat。
Otherssaidtheygrantedthatheatintheclimatemightpropagateinfection—assultry,hotweatherfillstheairwithverminandnourishesinnumerablenumbersandkindsofvenomouscreatureswhichbreedinourfood,intheplants,andeveninourbodies,bytheverystenchofwhichinfectionmaybepropagated;alsothatheatintheair,orheatofweather,asweordinarilycallit,makesbodiesrelaxandfaint,exhauststhespirits,opensthepores,andmakesusmoreapttoreceiveinfection,oranyevilinfluence,beitfromnoxiouspestilentialvapoursoranyotherthingintheair;butthattheheatoffire,andespeciallyofcoalfireskeptinourhouses,ornearus,hadaquitedifferentoperation;theheatbeingnotofthesamekind,butquickandfierce,tendingnottonourishbuttoconsumeanddissipateallthosenoxiousfumeswhichtheotherkindofheatratherexhaledandstagnatedthanseparatedandburntup。Besides,itwasallegedthatthesulphurousandnitrousparticlesthatareoftenfoundtobeinthecoal,withthatbituminoussubstancewhichburns,areallassistingtoclearandpurgetheair,andrenderitwholesomeandsafetobreatheinafterthenoxiousparticles,asabove,aredispersedandburntup。
Thelatteropinionprevailedatthattime,and,asImustconfess,I
thinkwithgoodreason;andtheexperienceofthecitizensconfirmedit,manyhouseswhichhadconstantfireskeptintheroomshavingneverbeeninfectedatall;andImustjoinmyexperiencetoit,forI
foundthekeepinggoodfireskeptourroomssweetandwholesome,andIdoverilybelievemadeourwholefamilyso,morethanwouldotherwisehavebeen。
ButIreturntothecoalsasatrade。Itwaswithnolittledifficultythatthistradewaskeptopen,andparticularlybecause,aswewereinanopenwarwithItheDutchatthattime,theDutchcapersatfirsttookagreatmanyofourcollier—ships,whichmadetherestcautious,andmadethemtostaytocomeinfleetstogether。Butaftersometimethecaperswereeitherafraidtotakethem,ortheirmasters,theStates,wereafraidtheyshould,andforbadethem,lesttheplagueshouldbeamongthem,whichmadethemfarethebetter。
Forthesecurityofthosenortherntraders,thecoal—shipswereorderedbymyLordMayornottocomeupintothePoolaboveacertainnumberatatime,andorderedlightersandothervesselssuchasthewoodmongers（thatis,thewharf—keepersorcoal—sellers）
furnished,togodownandtakeoutthecoalsaslowasDeptfordandGreenwich,andsomefartherdown。
Othersdeliveredgreatquantitiesofcoalsinparticularplaceswheretheshipscouldcometotheshore,asatGreenwich,Blackwall,andotherplaces,invastheaps,asiftobekeptforsale;butwerethenfetchedawayaftertheshipswhichbroughtthemweregone,sothattheseamenhadnocommunicationwiththeriver—men,norsomuchascamenearoneanother。
Yetallthiscautioncouldnoteffectuallypreventthedistempergettingamongthecolliery:thatistosayamongtheships,bywhichagreatmanyseamendiedofit;andthatwhichwasstillworsewas,thattheycarrieditdowntoIpswichandYarmouth,toNewcastle—upon—
Tyne,andotherplacesonthecoast—where,especiallyatNewcastleandatSunderland,itcarriedoffagreatnumberofpeople。
Themakingsomanyfires,asabove,didindeedconsumeanunusualquantityofcoals;andthatupononeortwostopsoftheshipscomingup,whetherbycontraryweatherorbytheinterruptionofenemiesIdonotremember,butthepriceofcoalswasexceedingdear,evenashighas4achalder;butitsoonabatedwhentheshipscamein,andasafterwardstheyhadafreerpassage,thepricewasveryreasonablealltherestofthatyear。
Thepublicfireswhichweremadeontheseoccasions,asIhavecalculatedit,mustnecessarilyhavecostthecityabout200chaldersofcoalsaweek,iftheyhadcontinued,whichwasindeedaverygreatquantity;
butasitwasthoughtnecessary,nothingwasspared。However,assomeofthephysicianscriedthemdown,theywerenotkeptalightabovefourorfivedays。Thefireswereorderedthus:—
OneattheCustomHouse,oneatBillingsgate,oneatQueenhith,andoneattheThreeCranes;oneinBlackfriars,andoneatthegateofBridewell;oneatthecornerofLeadenhalStreetandGracechurch;
oneatthenorthandoneatthesouthgateoftheRoyalExchange;oneatGuildHall,andoneatBlackwellHallgate;oneattheLordMayor\'sdoorinStHelen\'s,oneatthewestentranceintoStPaul\'s,andoneattheentranceintoBowChurch。Idonotrememberwhethertherewasanyatthecitygates,butoneattheBridge—foottherewas,justbyStMagnusChurch。
Iknowsomehavequarrelledsincethatattheexperiment,andsaidthattherediedthemorepeoplebecauseofthosefires;butIampersuadedthosethatsaysooffernoevidencetoproveit,neithercanI
believeitonanyaccountwhatever。
ItremainstogivesomeaccountofthestateoftradeathomeinEnglandduringthisdreadfultime,andparticularlyasitrelatestothemanufacturesandthetradeinthecity。Atthefirstbreakingoutoftheinfectiontherewas,asitiseasytosuppose,averygreatfrightamongthepeople,andconsequentlyageneralstopoftrade,exceptinprovisionsandnecessariesoflife;andeveninthosethings,astherewasavastnumberofpeoplefledandaverygreatnumberalwayssick,besidesthenumberwhichdied,sotherecouldnotbeabovetwo—
thirds,ifaboveone—half,oftheconsumptionofprovisionsinthecityasusedtobe。
ItpleasedGodtosendaveryplentifulyearofcornandfruit,butnotofhayorgrass—bywhichmeansbreadwascheap,byreasonoftheplentyofcorn。Fleshwascheap,byreasonofthescarcityofgrass;
butbutterandcheeseweredearforthesamereason,andhayinthemarketjustbeyondWhitechappelBarswassoldat4poundperload。
Butthataffectednotthepoor。Therewasamostexcessiveplentyofallsortsoffruit,suchasapples,pears,plums,cherries,grapes,andtheywerethecheaperbecauseofthewantofpeople;butthismadethepooreatthemtoexcess,andthisbroughtthemintofluxes,gripingoftheguts,surfeits,andthelike,whichoftenprecipitatedthemintotheplague。
Buttocometomattersoftrade。First,foreignexportationbeingstoppedoratleastverymuchinterruptedandrendereddifficult,ageneralstopofallthosemanufacturesfollowedofcoursewhichwereusuallybroughtforexportation;andthoughsometimesmerchantsabroadwereimportunateforgoods,yetlittlewassent,thepassagesbeingsogenerallystoppedthattheEnglishshipswouldnotbeadmitted,asissaidalready,intotheirport。
ThisputastoptothemanufacturesthatwereforexportationinmostpartsofEngland,exceptinsomeout—ports;andeventhatwassoonstopped,fortheyallhadtheplagueintheirturn。ButthoughthiswasfeltalloverEngland,yet,whatwasstillworse,allintercourseoftradeforhomeconsumptionofmanufactures,especiallythosewhichusuallycirculatedthroughtheLondoner\'shands,wasstoppedatonce,thetradeofthecitybeingstopped。
Allkindsofhandicraftsinthecity,&c。,tradesmenandmechanics,were,asIhavesaidbefore,outofemploy;andthisoccasionedtheputting—offanddismissinganinnumerablenumberofjourneymenandworkmenofallsorts,seeingnothingwasdonerelatingtosuchtradesbutwhatmightbesaidtobeabsolutelynecessary。
ThiscausedthemultitudeofsinglepeopleinLondontobeunprovidedfor,asalsofamilieswhoselivingdependeduponthelabouroftheheadsofthosefamilies;Isay,thisreducedthemtoextrememisery;andImustconfessitisforthehonourofthecityofLondon,andwillbeformanyages,aslongasthisistobespokenof,thattheywereabletosupplywithcharitableprovisionthewantsofsomanythousandsofthoseasafterwardsfellsickandweredistressed:
sothatitmaybesafelyaverredthatnobodyperishedforwant,atleastthatthemagistrateshadanynoticegiventhemof。
Thisstagnationofourmanufacturingtradeinthecountrywouldhaveputthepeopletheretomuchgreaterdifficulties,butthatthemaster—workmen,clothiersandothers,totheuttermostoftheirstocksandstrength,keptonmakingtheirgoodstokeepthepooratwork,believingthatsoonasthesicknessshouldabatetheywouldhaveaquickdemandinproportiontothedecayoftheirtradeatthattime。
Butasnonebutthosemastersthatwererichcoulddothus,andthatmanywerepoorandnotable,themanufacturingtradeinEnglandsufferedgreatly,andthepoorwerepinchedalloverEnglandbythecalamityofthecityofLondononly。
Itistruethatthenextyearmadethemfullamendsbyanotherterriblecalamityuponthecity;sothatthecitybyonecalamityimpoverishedandweakenedthecountry,andbyanothercalamity,eventerribletooofitskind,enrichedthecountryandmadethemagainamends;foraninfinitequantityofhouseholdStuff,wearingapparel,andotherthings,besideswholewarehousesfilledwithmerchandiseandmanufacturessuchascomefromallpartsofEngland,wereconsumedinthefireofLondonthenextyearafterthisterriblevisitation。Itisincrediblewhatatradethismadealloverthewholekingdom,tomakegoodthewantandtosupplythatloss;sothat,inshort,allthemanufacturinghandsinthenationweresetonwork,andwerelittleenoughforseveralyearstosupplythemarketandanswerthedemands。Allforeignmarketsalsowereemptyofourgoodsbythestopwhichhadbeenoccasionedbytheplague,andbeforeanopentradewasallowedagain;andtheprodigiousdemandathomefallingin,joinedtomakeaquickventforallsortofgoods;sothatthereneverwasknownsuchatradealloverEnglandforthetimeaswasinthefirstsevenyearsaftertheplague,andafterthefireofLondon。
ItremainsnowthatIshouldsaysomethingofthemercifulpartofthisterriblejudgement。ThelastweekinSeptember,theplaguebeingcometoitscrisis,itsfurybegantoassuage。IremembermyfriendDrHeath,comingtoseemetheweekbefore,toldmehewassurethattheviolenceofitwouldassuageinafewdays;butwhenIsawtheweeklybillofthatweek,whichwasthehighestofthewholeyear,being8297
ofalldiseases,Iupbraidedhimwithit,andaskedhimwhathehadmadehisjudgementfrom。Hisanswer,however,wasnotsomuchtoseekasIthoughtitwouldhavebeen。\'Lookyou,\'sayshe,\'bythenumberwhichareatthistimesickandinfected,thereshouldhavebeentwentythousanddeadthelastweekinsteadofeightthousand,iftheinveteratemortalcontagionhadbeenasitwastwoweeksago;forthenitordinarilykilledintwoorthreedays,nownotundereightorten;andthennotaboveoneinfiverecovered,whereasIhaveobservedthatnownotabovetwoinfivemiscarry。And,observeitfromme,thenextbillwilldecrease,andyouwillseemanymorepeoplerecoverthanusedtodo;forthoughavastmultitudearenoweverywhereinfected,andasmanyeverydayfallsick,yettherewillnotsomanydieastheredid,forthemalignityofthedistemperisabated\';—addingthathebegannowtohope,nay,morethanhope,thattheinfectionhadpasseditscrisisandwasgoingoff;andaccordinglysoitwas,forthenextweekbeing,asIsaid,thelastinSeptember,thebilldecreasedalmosttwothousand。
