第9章

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。