Itistruetheplaguewasstillatafrightfulheight,andthenextbillwasnolessthan6460,andthenexttothat,5720;butstillmyfriend\'sobservationwasjust,anditdidappearthepeopledidrecoverfasterandmoreinnumberthantheyusedtodo;andindeed,ifithadnotbeenso,whathadbeentheconditionofthecityofLondon？For,accordingtomyfriend,therewerenotfewerthan60,000peopleatthattimeinfected,whereof,asabove,20,477died,andnear40,000
recovered;whereas,haditbeenasitwasbefore,50,000ofthatnumberwouldveryprobablyhavedied,ifnotmore,and50,000morewouldhavesickened;for,inaword,thewholemassofpeoplebegantosicken,anditlookedasifnonewouldescape。
Butthisremarkofmyfriend\'sappearedmoreevidentinafewweeksmore,forthedecreasewenton,andanotherweekinOctoberitdecreased1843,sothatthenumberdeadoftheplaguewasbut2665;
andthenextweekitdecreased1413more,andyetitwasseenplainlythattherewasabundanceofpeoplesick,nay,abundancemorethanordinary,andabundancefellsickeverydaybut（asabove）themalignityofthediseaseabated。
Suchistheprecipitantdispositionofourpeople（whetheritissoornotallovertheworld,that\'snoneofmyparticularbusinesstoinquire）,butIsawitapparentlyhere,thatasuponthefirstfrightoftheinfectiontheyshunnedoneanother,andfledfromoneanother\'shousesandfromthecitywithanunaccountableand,asIthought,unnecessaryfright,sonow,uponthisnotionspreading,viz。,thatthedistemperwasnotsocatchingasformerly,andthatifitwascatcheditwasnotsomortal,andseeingabundanceofpeoplewhoreallyfellsickrecoveragaindaily,theytooktosuchaprecipitantcourage,andgrewsoentirelyregardlessofthemselvesandoftheinfection,thattheymadenomoreoftheplaguethanofanordinaryfever,norindeedsomuch。Theynotonlywentboldlyintocompanywiththosewhohadtumoursandcarbunclesuponthemthatwererunning,andconsequentlycontagious,butateanddrankwiththem,nay,intotheirhousestovisitthem,andeven,asIwastold,intotheirverychamberswheretheylaysick。
ThisIcouldnotseerational。MyfriendDrHeathallowed,anditwasplaintoexperience,thatthedistemperwasascatchingasever,andasmanyfellsick,butonlyheallegedthatsomanyofthosethatfellsickdidnotdie;butIthinkthatwhilemanydiddie,andthatatbestthedistemperitselfwasveryterrible,thesoresandswellingsverytormenting,andthedangerofdeathnotleftoutofthecircumstancesofsickness,thoughnotsofrequentasbefore;allthosethings,togetherwiththeexceedingtediousnessofthecure,theloathsomenessofthedisease,andmanyotherarticles,wereenoughtodeteranymanlivingfromadangerousmixturewiththesickpeople,andmakethemasanxiousalmosttoavoidtheinfectionsasbefore。
Nay,therewasanotherthingwhichmadethemerecatchingofthedistemperfrightful,andthatwastheterribleburningofthecausticswhichthesurgeonslaidontheswellingstobringthemtobreakandtorun,withoutwhichthedangerofdeathwasverygreat,eventothelast。Also,theinsufferabletormentoftheswellings,which,thoughitmightnotmakepeopleravinganddistracted,astheywerebefore,andasIhavegivenseveralinstancesofalready,yettheyputthepatienttoinexpressibletorment;andthosethatfellintoit,thoughtheydidescapewithlife,yettheymadebittercomplaintsofthosethathadtoldthemtherewasnodanger,andsadlyrepentedtheirrashnessandfollyinventuringtorunintothereachofit。
Nordidthisunwaryconductofthepeopleendhere,foragreatmanythatthuscastofftheircautionssufferedmoredeeplystill,andthoughmanyescaped,yetmanydied;andatleastithadthispublicmischiefattendingit,thatitmadethedecreaseofburialsslowerthanitwouldotherwisehavebeen。Forasthisnotionranlikelightningthroughthecity,andpeople\'sheadswerepossessedwithit,evenassoonasthefirstgreatdecreaseinthebillsappeared,wefoundthatthetwonextbillsdidnotdecreaseinproportion;thereasonItaketobethepeople\'srunningsorashlyintodanger,givingupalltheirformercautionsandcare,andalltheshynesswhichtheyusedtopractise,dependingthatthesicknesswouldnotreachthem—orthatifitdid,theyshouldnotdie。
Thephysiciansopposedthisthoughtlesshumourofthepeoplewithalltheirmight,andgaveoutprinteddirections,spreadingthemalloverthecityandsuburbs,advisingthepeopletocontinuereserved,andtousestilltheutmostcautionintheirordinaryconduct,notwithstandingthedecreaseofthedistemper,terrifyingthemwiththedangerofbringingarelapseuponthewholecity,andtellingthemhowsucharelapsemightbemorefatalanddangerousthanthewholevisitationthathadbeenalready;withmanyargumentsandreasonstoexplainandprovethatparttothem,andwhicharetoolongtorepeathere。
Butitwasalltonopurpose;theaudaciouscreaturesweresopossessedwiththefirstjoyandsosurprisedwiththesatisfactionofseeingavastdecreaseintheweeklybills,thattheywereimpenetrablebyanynewterrors,andwouldnotbepersuadedbutthatthebitternessofdeathwaspast;anditwastonomorepurposetotalktothemthantoaneastwind;buttheyopenedshops,wentaboutstreets,didbusiness,andconversedwithanybodythatcameintheirwaytoconversewith,whetherwithbusinessorwithout,neitherinquiringoftheirhealthorsomuchasbeingapprehensiveofanydangerfromthem,thoughtheyknewthemnottobesound。
Thisimprudent,rashconductcostagreatmanytheirliveswhohadwithgreatcareandcautionshutthemselvesupandkeptretired,asitwere,fromallmankind,andhadbythatmeans,underGod\'sprovidence,beenpreservedthroughalltheheatofthatinfection。
Thisrashandfoolishconduct,Isay,ofthepeoplewentsofarthattheministerstooknoticetothemofitatlast,andlaidbeforethemboththefollyanddangerofit;andthischeckeditalittle,sothattheygrewmorecautious。Butithadanothereffect,whichtheycouldnotcheck;forasthefirstrumourhadspreadnotoverthecityonly,butintothecountry,ithadthelikeeffect:andthepeopleweresotiredwithbeingsolongfromLondon,andsoeagertocomeback,thattheyflockedtotownwithoutfearorforecast,andbegantoshowthemselvesinthestreetsasifallthedangerwasover。Itwasindeedsurprisingtoseeit,forthoughtherediedstillfrom1000to1800aweek,yetthepeopleflockedtotownasifallhadbeenwell。
Theconsequenceofthiswas,thatthebillsincreasedagain400theveryfirstweekinNovember;andifImightbelievethephysicians,therewasabove3000fellsickthatweek,mostofthemnew—comers,too。
OneJohnCock,abarberinStMartin\'s—le—Grand,wasaneminentexampleofthis;Imeanofthehastyreturnofthepeoplewhentheplaguewasabated。ThisJohnCockhadleftthetownwithhiswholefamily,andlockeduphishouse,andwasgoneinthecountry,asmanyothersdid;andfindingtheplaguesodecreasedinNovemberthattherediedbut905perweekofalldiseases,heventuredhomeagain。
Hehadinhisfamilytenpersons;thatistosay,himselfandwife,fivechildren,twoapprentices,andamaid—servant。Hehadnotreturnedtohishouseaboveaweek,andbegantoopenhisshopandcarryonhistrade,butthedistemperbrokeoutinhisfamily,andwithinaboutfivedaystheyalldied,exceptone;thatistosay,himself,hiswife,allhisfivechildren,andhistwoapprentices;andonlythemaidremainedalive。
ButthemercyofGodwasgreatertotherestthanwehadreasontoexpect;forthemalignity（asIhavesaid）ofthedistemperwasspent,thecontagionwasexhausted,andalsothewinterweathercameonapace,andtheairwasclearandcold,withsharpfrosts;andthisincreasingstill,mostofthosethathadfallensickrecovered,andthehealthofthecitybegantoreturn。TherewereindeedsomereturnsofthedistempereveninthemonthofDecember,andthebillsincreasednearahundred;butitwentoffagain,andsoinashortwhilethingsbegantoreturntotheirownchannel。Andwonderfulitwastoseehowpopulousthecitywasagainallonasudden,sothatastrangercouldnotmissthenumbersthatwerelost。Neitherwasthereanymissoftheinhabitantsastotheirdwellings—fewornoemptyhousesweretobeseen,orifthereweresome,therewasnowantoftenantsforthem。
IwishIcouldsaythatasthecityhadanewface,sothemannersofthepeoplehadanewappearance。Idoubtnotbutthereweremanythatretainedasinceresenseoftheirdeliverance,andwerethatheartilythankfultothatSovereignHandthathadprotectedtheminsodangerousatime;itwouldbeveryuncharitabletojudgeotherwiseinacitysopopulous,andwherethepeopleweresodevoutastheywerehereinthetimeofthevisitationitself;butexceptwhatofthiswastobefoundinparticularfamiliesandfaces,itmustbeacknowledgedthatthegeneralpracticeofthepeoplewasjustasitwasbefore,andverylittledifferencewastobeseen。
Some,indeed,saidthingswereworse;thatthemoralsofthepeopledeclinedfromthisverytime;thatthepeople,hardenedbythedangertheyhadbeenin,likeseamenafterastormisover,weremorewickedandmorestupid,moreboldandhardened,intheirvicesandimmoralitiesthantheywerebefore;butIwillnotcarryitsofarneither。Itwouldtakeupahistoryofnosmalllengthtogiveaparticularofallthegradationsbywhichthecourseofthingsinthiscitycametoberestoredagain,andtorunintheirownchannelastheydidbefore。
SomepartsofEnglandwerenowinfectedasviolentlyasLondonhadbeen;thecitiesofNorwich,Peterborough,Lincoln,Colchester,andotherplaceswerenowvisited;andthemagistratesofLondonbegantosetrulesforourconductastocorrespondingwiththosecities。ItistruewecouldnotpretendtoforbidtheirpeoplecomingtoLondon,becauseitwasimpossibletoknowthemasunder;so,aftermanyconsultations,theLordMayorandCourtofAldermenwereobligedtodropit。Alltheycoulddowastowarnandcautionthepeoplenottoentertainintheirhousesorconversewithanypeoplewhotheyknewcamefromsuchinfectedplaces。
Buttheymightaswellhavetalkedtotheair,forthepeopleofLondonthoughtthemselvessoplague—freenowthattheywerepastalladmonitions;theyseemedtodependuponitthattheairwasrestored,andthattheairwaslikeamanthathadhadthesmallpox,notcapableofbeinginfectedagain。Thisrevivedthatnotionthattheinfectionwasallintheair,thattherewasnosuchthingascontagionfromthesickpeopletothesound;andsostronglydidthiswhimsyprevailamongpeoplethattheyranalltogetherpromiscuously,sickandwell。
NottheMahometans,who,prepossessedwiththeprincipleofpredestination,valuenothingofcontagion,letitbeinwhatitwill,couldbemoreobstinatethanthepeopleofLondon;theythatwereperfectlysound,andcameoutofthewholesomeair,aswecallit,intothecity,madenothingofgoingintothesamehousesandchambers,nay,evenintothesamebeds,withthosethathadthedistemperuponthem,andwerenotrecovered。
Some,indeed,paidfortheiraudaciousboldnesswiththepriceoftheirlives;aninfinitenumberfellsick,andthephysicianshadmoreworkthanever,onlywiththisdifference,thatmoreoftheirpatientsrecovered;thatistosay,theygenerallyrecovered,butcertainlythereweremorepeopleinfectedandfellsicknow,whentheredidnotdieaboveathousandortwelvehundredinaweek,thantherewaswhentherediedfiveorsixthousandaweek,soentirelynegligentwerethepeopleatthattimeinthegreatanddangerouscaseofhealthandinfection,andsoillweretheyabletotakeoracceptoftheadviceofthosewhocautionedthemfortheirgood。
Thepeoplebeingthusreturned,asitwere,ingeneral,itwasverystrangetofindthatintheirinquiringaftertheirfriends,somewholefamiliesweresoentirelysweptawaythattherewasnoremembranceofthemleft,neitherwasanybodytobefoundtopossessorshowanytitletothatlittletheyhadleft;forinsuchcaseswhatwastobefoundwasgenerallyembezzledandpurloined,somegoneoneway,someanother。
Itwassaidsuchabandonedeffectscametotheking,astheuniversalheir;uponwhichwearetold,andIsupposeitwasinparttrue,thatthekinggrantedallsuch,asdeodands,totheLordMayorandCourtofAldermenofLondon,tobeappliedtotheuseofthepoor,ofwhomtherewereverymany。Foritistobeobserved,thatthoughtheoccasionsofreliefandtheobjectsofdistresswereverymanymoreinthetimeoftheviolenceoftheplaguethannowafterallwasover,yetthedistressofthepoorwasmorenowagreatdealthanitwasthen,becauseallthesluicesofgeneralcharitywerenowshut。Peoplesupposedthemainoccasiontobeover,andsostoppedtheirhands;
whereasparticularobjectswerestillverymoving,andthedistressofthosethatwerepoorwasverygreatindeed。
Thoughthehealthofthecitywasnowverymuchrestored,yetforeigntradedidnotbegintostir,neitherwouldforeignersadmitourshipsintotheirportsforagreatwhile。AsfortheDutch,themisunderstandingsbetweenourcourtandthemhadbrokenoutintoawartheyearbefore,sothatourtradethatwaywaswhollyinterrupted;
butSpainandPortugal,ItalyandBarbary,asalsoHamburgandalltheportsintheBaltic,thesewereallshyofusagreatwhile,andwouldnotrestoretradewithusformanymonths。
Thedistempersweepingawaysuchmultitudes,asIhaveobserved,manyifnotalltheout—parisheswereobligedtomakenewburying—
grounds,besidesthatIhavementionedinBunhillFields,someofwhichwerecontinued,andremaininusetothisday。Butotherswereleftoff,and（whichIconfessImentionwithsomereflection）beingconvertedintootherusesorbuiltuponafterwards,thedeadbodiesweredisturbed,abused,dugupagain,someevenbeforethefleshofthemwasperishedfromthebones,andremovedlikedungorrubbishtootherplaces。Someofthosewhichcamewithinthereachofmyobservationareasfollow:
（1）ApieceofgroundbeyondGoswellStreet,nearMountMill,beingsomeoftheremainsoftheoldlinesorfortificationsofthecity,whereabundancewereburiedpromiscuouslyfromtheparishesofAldersgate,Clerkenwell,andevenoutofthecity。Thisground,asItakeit,wassincemadeaphysicgarden,andafterthathasbeenbuiltupon。
（2）ApieceofgroundjustovertheBlackDitch,asitwasthencalled,attheendofHollowayLane,inShoreditchparish。Ithasbeensincemadeayardforkeepinghogs,andforotherordinaryuses,butisquiteoutofuseasaburying—ground。
（3）TheupperendofHandAlley,inBishopsgateStreet,whichwasthenagreenfield,andwastakeninparticularlyforBishopsgateparish,thoughmanyofthecartsoutofthecitybroughttheirdeadthitheralso,particularlyoutoftheparishofStAll—hallowsontheWall。ThisplaceIcannotmentionwithoutmuchregret。Itwas,asI
remember,abouttwoorthreeyearsaftertheplaguewasceasedthatSirRobertClaytoncametobepossessedoftheground。Itwasreported,howtrueIknownot,thatitfelltothekingforwantofheirs,allthosewhohadanyrighttoitbeingcarriedoffbythepestilence,andthatSirRobertClaytonobtainedagrantofitfromKingCharlesII。Buthoweverhecamebyit,certainitisthegroundwasletouttobuildon,orbuiltupon,byhisorder。Thefirsthousebuiltuponitwasalargefairhouse,stillstanding,whichfacesthestreetorwaynowcalledHandAlleywhich,thoughcalledanalley,isaswideasastreet。
Thehousesinthesamerowwiththathousenorthwardarebuiltontheverysamegroundwherethepoorpeoplewereburied,andthebodies,onopeningthegroundforthefoundations,weredugup,someofthemremainingsoplaintobeseenthatthewomen\'sskullsweredistinguishedbytheirlonghair,andofothersthefleshwasnotquiteperished;sothatthepeoplebegantoexclaimloudlyagainstit,andsomesuggestedthatitmightendangerareturnofthecontagion;afterwhichthebonesandbodies,asfastastheycameatthem,werecarriedtoanotherpartofthesamegroundandthrownalltogetherintoadeeppit,dugonpurpose,whichnowistobeknowninthatitisnotbuilton,butisapassagetoanotherhouseattheupperendofRoseAlley,justagainstthedoorofameeting—housewhichhasbeenbuilttheremanyyearssince;andthegroundispalisadoedofffromtherestofthepassage,inalittlesquare;thereliethebonesandremainsofneartwothousandbodies,carriedbythedeadcartstotheirgraveinthatoneyear。
（4）Besidesthis,therewasapieceofgroundinMoorfields;bythegoingintothestreetwhichisnowcalledOldBethlem,whichwasenlargedmuch,thoughnotwhollytakeninonthesameoccasion。
[N。B。—Theauthorofthisjournalliesburiedinthatveryground,beingathisowndesire,hissisterhavingbeenburiedthereafewyearsbefore。]
（5）Stepneyparish,extendingitselffromtheeastpartofLondontothenorth,eventotheveryedgeofShoreditchChurchyard,hadapieceofgroundtakenintoburytheirdeadclosetothesaidchurchyard,andwhichforthatveryreasonwasleftopen,andissince,Isuppose,takenintothesamechurchyard。Andtheyhadalsotwootherburying—placesinSpittlefields,onewheresinceachapelortabernaclehasbeenbuiltforeasetothisgreatparish,andanotherinPetticoatLane。
TherewerenolessthanfiveothergroundsmadeuseoffortheparishofStepneyatthattime:onewherenowstandstheparishchurchofStPaul,Shadwell,andtheotherwherenowstandstheparishchurchofStJohn\'satWapping,bothwhichhadnotthenamesofparishesatthattime,butwerebelongingtoStepneyparish。
Icouldnamemanymore,butthesecomingwithinmyparticularknowledge,thecircumstance,Ithought,madeitofusetorecordthem。Fromthewhole,itmaybeobservedthattheywereobligedinthistimeofdistresstotakeinnewburying—groundsinmostoftheout—
parishesforlayingtheprodigiousnumbersofpeoplewhichdiedinsoshortaspaceoftime;butwhycarewasnottakentokeepthoseplacesseparatefromordinaryuses,thatsothebodiesmightrestundisturbed,thatIcannotanswerfor,andmustconfessIthinkitwaswrong。WhoweretoblameIknownot。
IshouldhavementionedthattheQuakershadatthattimealsoaburying—groundsetaparttotheiruse,andwhichtheystillmakeuseof;
andtheyhadalsoaparticulardead—carttofetchtheirdeadfromtheirhouses;andthefamousSolomonEagle,who,asImentionedbefore,hadpredictedtheplagueasajudgement,andrannakedthroughthestreets,tellingthepeoplethatitwascomeuponthemtopunishthemfortheirsins,hadhisownwifediedtheverynextdayoftheplague,andwascarried,oneofthefirstintheQuakers\'dead—cart,totheirnewburying—ground。
Imighthavethrongedthisaccountwithmanymoreremarkablethingswhichoccurredinthetimeoftheinfection,andparticularlywhatpassedbetweentheLordMayorandtheCourt,whichwasthenatOxford,andwhatdirectionswerefromtimetotimereceivedfromtheGovernmentfortheirconductonthiscriticaloccasion。ButreallytheCourtconcernedthemselvessolittle,andthatlittletheydidwasofsosmallimport,thatIdonotseeitofmuchmomenttomentionanypartofithere:exceptthatofappointingamonthlyfastinthecityandthesendingtheroyalcharitytothereliefofthepoor,bothwhichI
havementionedbefore。
Greatwasthereproachthrownonthosephysicianswholefttheirpatientsduringthesickness,andnowtheycametotownagainnobodycaredtoemploythem。Theywerecalleddeserters,andfrequentlybillsweresetupupontheirdoorsandwritten,\'Hereisadoctortobelet\',sothatseveralofthosephysicianswerefainforawhiletositstillandlookaboutthem,oratleastremovetheirdwellings,andsetupinnewplacesandamongnewacquaintance。Thelikewasthecasewiththeclergy,whomthepeoplewereindeedveryabusiveto,writingversesandscandalousreflectionsuponthem,settinguponthechurch—door,\'Hereisapulpittobelet\',orsometimes,\'tobesold\',whichwasworse。
Itwasnottheleastofourmisfortunesthatwithourinfection,whenitceased,theredidnotceasethespiritofstrifeandcontention,slanderandreproach,whichwasreallythegreattroublerofthenation\'speacebefore。Itwassaidtobetheremainsoftheoldanimosities,whichhadsolatelyinvolvedusallinbloodanddisorder。ButasthelateActofIndemnityhadlaidasleepthequarrelitself,sotheGovernmenthadrecommendedfamilyandpersonalpeaceuponalloccasionstothewholenation。
Butitcouldnotbeobtained;andparticularlyaftertheceasingoftheplagueinLondon,whenanyonethathadseentheconditionwhichthepeoplehadbeenin,andhowtheycaressedoneanotheratthattime,promisedtohavemorecharityforthefuture,andtoraisenomorereproaches;Isay,anyonethathadseenthemthenwouldhavethoughttheywouldhavecometogetherwithanotherspiritatlast。But,Isay,itcouldnotbeobtained。Thequarrelremained;theChurchandthePresbyterianswereincompatible。Assoonastheplaguewasremoved,theDissentingoustedministerswhohadsuppliedthepulpitswhichweredesertedbytheincumbentsretired;theycouldexpectnootherbutthattheyshouldimmediatelyfalluponthemandharassthemwiththeirpenallaws,accepttheirpreachingwhiletheyweresick,andpersecutethemassoonastheywererecoveredagain;thisevenwethatwereoftheChurchthoughtwasveryhard,andcouldbynomeansapproveofit。
ButitwastheGovernment,andwecouldsaynothingtohinderit;
wecouldonlysayitwasnotourdoing,andwecouldnotanswerforit。
Ontheotherhand,theDissentersreproachingthoseministersoftheChurchwithgoingawayanddesertingtheircharge,abandoningthepeopleintheirdanger,andwhentheyhadmostneedofcomfort,andthelike:thiswecouldbynomeansapprove,forallmenhavenotthesamefaithandthesamecourage,andtheScripturecommandsustojudgethemostfavourablyandaccordingtocharity。
Aplagueisaformidableenemy,andisarmedwithterrorsthateverymanisnotsufficientlyfortifiedtoresistorpreparedtostandtheshockagainst。Itisverycertainthatagreatmanyoftheclergywhowereincircumstancestodoitwithdrewandfledforthesafetyoftheirlives;
but\'tistruealsothatagreatmanyofthemstayed,andmanyofthemfellinthecalamityandinthedischargeoftheirduty。
ItistruesomeoftheDissentingturned—outministersstayed,andtheircourageistobecommendedandhighlyvalued—butthesewerenotabundance;itcannotbesaidthattheyallstayed,andthatnoneretiredintothecountry,anymorethanitcanbesaidoftheChurchclergythattheyallwentaway。Neitherdidallthosethatwentawaygowithoutsubstitutingcuratesandothersintheirplaces,todotheofficesneedfulandtovisitthesick,asfarasitwaspracticable;sothat,uponthewhole,anallowanceofcharitymighthavebeenmadeonbothsides,andweshouldhaveconsideredthatsuchatimeasthisof1665isnottobeparalleledinhistory,andthatitisnotthestoutestcouragethatwillalwayssupportmeninsuchcases。Ihadnotsaidthis,buthadratherchosentorecordthecourageandreligiouszealofthoseofbothsides,whodidhazardthemselvesfortheserviceofthepoorpeopleintheirdistress,withoutrememberingthatanyfailedintheirdutyoneitherside。Butthewantoftemperamongushasmadethecontrarytothisnecessary:somethatstayednotonlyboastingtoomuchofthemselves,butrevilingthosethatfled,brandingthemwithcowardice,desertingtheirflocks,andactingthepartofthehireling,andthelike。Irecommendittothecharityofallgoodpeopletolookbackandreflectdulyupontheterrorsofthetime,andwhoeverdoessowellseethatitisnotanordinarystrengththatcouldsupportit。Itwasnotlikeappearingintheheadofanarmyorchargingabodyofhorseinthefield,butitwaschargingDeathitselfonhispalehorse;tostaywasindeedtodie,anditcouldbeesteemednothingless,especiallyasthingsappearedatthelatterendofAugustandthebeginningofSeptember,andastherewasreasontoexpectthematthattime;fornomanexpected,andIdaresaybelieved,thatthedistemperwouldtakesosuddenaturnasitdid,andfallimmediatelytwothousandinaweek,whentherewassuchaprodigiousnumberofpeoplesickatthattimeasitwasknowntherewas;andthenitwasthatmanyshiftedawaythathadstayedmostofthetimebefore。
Besides,ifGodgavestrengthtosomemorethantoothers,wasittoboastoftheirabilitytoabidethestroke,andupbraidthosethathadnotthesamegiftandsupport,oroughtnottheyrathertohavebeenhumbleandthankfuliftheywererenderedmoreusefulthantheirbrethren？
Ithinkitoughttoberecordedtothehonourofsuchmen,aswellclergyasphysicians,surgeons,apothecaries,magistrates,andofficersofeverykind,asalsoallusefulpeoplewhoventuredtheirlivesindischargeoftheirduty,asmostcertainlyallsuchasstayeddidtothelastdegree;andseveralofallthesekindsdidnotonlyventurebutlosetheirlivesonthatsadoccasion。
Iwasoncemakingalistofallsuch,Imeanofallthoseprofessionsandemploymentswhothusdied,asIcallit,inthewayoftheirduty;
butitwasimpossibleforaprivatemantocomeatacertaintyintheparticulars。Ionlyrememberthattherediedsixteenclergymen,twoaldermen,fivephysicians,thirteensurgeons,withinthecityandlibertiesbeforethebeginningofSeptember。Butthisbeing,asIsaidbefore,thegreatcrisisandextremityoftheinfection,itcanbenocompletelist。Astoinferiorpeople,Ithinktherediedsix—and—fortyconstablesandhead—boroughsinthetwoparishesofStepneyandWhitechappel;butIcouldnotcarrymylistoil,forwhentheviolentrageofthedistemperinSeptembercameuponus,itdroveusoutofallmeasures。Mendidthennomore（liebytaleandbynumber。Theymightputoutaweeklybill,andcallthemsevenoreightthousand,orwhattheypleased;\'tiscertaintheydiedbyheaps,andwereburiedbyheaps,thatistosay,withoutaccount。AndifImightbelievesomepeople,whoweremoreabroadandmoreconversantwiththosethingsthanIthoughIwaspublicenoughforonethathadnomorebusinesstodothanIhad,—Isay,ifImaybelievethem,therewasnotmanylessburiedthosefirstthreeweeksinSeptemberthan20,000perweek。
However,theothersaverthetruthofit;yetIratherchoosetokeeptothepublicaccount;sevenandeightthousandperweekisenoughtomakegoodallthatIhavesaidoftheterrorofthosetimes;—anditismuchtothesatisfactionofmethatwrite,aswellasthosethatread,tobeabletosaythateverythingissetdownwithmoderation,andratherwithincompassthanbeyondit。
