第19章

Uponalltheseaccounts,Isay,Icouldwish,whenwewererecovered,ourconducthadbeenmoredistinguishedforcharityandkindnessinremembranceofthepastcalamity,andnotsomuchavaluingourselvesuponourboldnessinstaying,asifallmenwerecowardsthatflyfromthehandofGod,orthatthosewhostaydonotsometimesowetheircouragetotheirignorance,anddespisingthehandoftheirMaker—whichisacriminalkindofdesperation,andnotatruecourage。

Icannotbutleaveituponrecordthatthecivilofficers,suchasconstables,head—boroughs,LordMayor"sandsheriffs"—men,asalsoparishofficers,whosebusinessitwastotakechargeofthepoor,didtheirdutiesingeneralwithasmuchcourageasany,andperhapswithmore,becausetheirworkwasattendedwithmorehazards,andlaymoreamongthepoor,whoweremoresubjecttobeinfected,andinthemostpitifulplightwhentheyweretakenwiththeinfection。Butthenitmustbeadded,too,thatagreatnumberofthemdied;indeeditwasscarcepossibleitshouldbeotherwise。

Ihavenotsaidonewordhereaboutthephysicorpreparationsthatweordinarilymadeuseofonthisterribleoccasion—Imeanwethatwentfrequentlyabroadandupdownstreet,asIdid;muchofthiswastalkedofinthebooksandbillsofourquackdoctors,ofwhomIhavesaidenoughalready。Itmay,however,beadded,thattheCollegeofPhysiciansweredailypublishingseveralpreparations,whichtheyhadconsideredofintheprocessoftheirpractice,andwhich,beingtobehadinprint,Iavoidrepeatingthemforthatreason。

OnethingIcouldnothelpobserving:whatbefelloneofthequacks,whopublishedthathehadamostexcellentpreservativeagainsttheplague,whichwhoeverkeptaboutthemshouldneverbeinfectedorliabletoinfection。Thisman,who,wemayreasonablysuppose,didnotgoabroadwithoutsomeofthisexcellentpreservativeinhispocket,yetwastakenbythedistemper,andcarriedoffintwoorthreedays。

Iamnotofthenumberofthephysic—hatersorphysic—despisers;onthecontrary,IhaveoftenmentionedtheregardIhadtothedictatesofmyparticularfriendDrHeath;butyetImustacknowledgeImadeuseoflittleornothing—except,asIhaveobserved,tokeepapreparationofstrongscenttohaveready,incaseImetwithanythingofoffensivesmellsorwenttoonearanyburying—placeordeadbody。

NeitherdidIdowhatIknowsomedid:keepthespiritsalwayshighandhotwithcordialsandwineandsuchthings;andwhich,asI

observed,onelearnedphysicianusedhimselfsomuchtoasthathecouldnotleavethemoffwhentheinfectionwasquitegone,andsobecameasotforallhislifeafter。

Iremembermyfriendthedoctorusedtosaythattherewasacertainsetofdrugsandpreparationswhichwereallcertainlygoodandusefulinthecaseofaninfection;outofwhich,orwithwhich,physiciansmightmakeaninfinitevarietyofmedicines,astheringersofbellsmakeseveralhundreddifferentroundsofmusicbythechangingandorderorsoundbutinsixbells,andthatallthesepreparationsshallbereallyverygood:"Therefore,"saidhe,"Idonotwonderthatsovastathrongofmedicinesisofferedinthepresentcalamity,andalmosteveryphysicianprescribesorpreparesadifferentthing,ashisjudgementorexperienceguideshim;but",saysmyfriend,"letalltheprescriptionsofallthephysiciansinLondonbeexamined,anditwillbefoundthattheyareallcompoundedofthesamethings,withsuchvariationsonlyastheparticularfancyofthedoctorleadshimto;sothat",sayshe,"everyman,judgingalittleofhisownconstitutionandmannerofhisliving,andcircumstancesofhisbeinginfected,maydirecthisownmedicinesoutoftheordinarydrugsandpreparations。

Onlythat",sayshe,"somerecommendonethingasmostsovereign,andsomeanother。Some",sayshe,"thinkthatpill。ruff。,whichiscalleditselftheanti—pestilentialpillisthebestpreparationthatcanbemade;othersthinkthatVenicetreacleissufficientofitselftoresistthecontagion;andI",sayshe,"thinkasboththesethink,viz。,thatthelastisgoodtotakebeforehandtopreventit,andthefirst,iftouched,toexpelit。"Accordingtothisopinion,IseveraltimestookVenicetreacle,andasoundsweatuponit,andthoughtmyselfaswellfortifiedagainsttheinfectionasanyonecouldbefortifiedbythepowerofphysic。

Asforquackeryandmountebanks,ofwhichthetownwassofull,I

listenedtononeofthem,andhaveobservedoftensince,withsomewonder,thatfortwoyearsaftertheplagueIscarcelysaworheardofoneofthemabouttown。Somefanciedtheywereallsweptawayintheinfectiontoaman,andwereforcallingitaparticularmarkofGod"svengeanceuponthemforleadingthepoorpeopleintothepitofdestruction,merelyforthelucreofalittlemoneytheygotbythem;

butIcannotgothatlengthneither。Thatabundanceofthemdiediscertain—manyofthemcamewithinthereachofmyownknowledge—

butthatallofthemweresweptoffImuchquestion。Ibelieverathertheyfledintothecountryandtriedtheirpracticesuponthepeoplethere,whowereinapprehensionoftheinfectionbeforeitcameamongthem。

This,however,iscertain,notamanofthemappearedforagreatwhileinoraboutLondon。Therewere,indeed,severaldoctorswhopublishedbillsrecommendingtheirseveralphysicalpreparationsforcleansingthebody,astheycallit,aftertheplague,andneedful,astheysaid,forsuchpeopletotakewhohadbeenvisitedandhadbeencured;whereasImustownIbelievethatitwastheopinionofthemosteminentphysiciansatthattimethattheplaguewasitselfasufficientpurge,andthatthosewhoescapedtheinfectionneedednophysictocleansetheirbodiesofanyotherthings;therunningsores,thetumours,&c。,whichwerebrokeandkeptopenbythedirectionsofthephysicians,havingsufficientlycleansedthem;andthatallotherdistempers,andcausesofdistempers,wereeffectuallycarriedoffthatway;andasthephysiciansgavethisastheiropinionswherevertheycame,thequacksgotlittlebusiness。

Therewere,indeed,severallittlehurrieswhichhappenedafterthedecreaseoftheplague,andwhich,whethertheywerecontrivedtofrightanddisorderthepeople,assomeimagined,Icannotsay,butsometimesweweretoldtheplaguewouldreturnbysuchatime;andthefamousSolomonEagle,thenakedQuakerIhavementioned,prophesiedeviltidingseveryday;andseveralotherstellingusthatLondonhadnotbeensufficientlyscourged,andthatsorerandsevererstrokeswereyetbehind。Hadtheystoppedthere,orhadtheydescendedtoparticulars,andtoldusthatthecityshouldthenextyearbedestroyedbyfire,then,indeed,whenwehadseenitcometopass,weshouldnothavebeentoblametohavepaidmorethanacommonrespecttotheirpropheticspirits;atleastweshouldhavewonderedatthem,andhavebeenmoreseriousinourinquiriesafterthemeaningofit,andwhencetheyhadtheforeknowledge。Butastheygenerallytoldusofarelapseintotheplague,wehavehadnoconcernsincethataboutthem;yetbythosefrequentclamours,wewereallkeptwithsomekindofapprehensionsconstantlyuponus;andifanydiedsuddenly,orifthespottedfeversatanytimeincreased,wewerepresentlyalarmed;muchmoreifthenumberoftheplagueincreased,fortotheendoftheyeartherewerealwaysbetween200and300oftheplague。Onanyoftheseoccasions,Isay,wewerealarmedanew。

ThosewhorememberthecityofLondonbeforethefiremustrememberthattherewasthennosuchplaceaswenowcallNewgateMarket,butthatinthemiddleofthestreetwhichisnowcalledBlow—

bladderStreet,andwhichhaditsnamefromthebutchers,whousedtokillanddresstheirsheepthere（andwho,itseems,hadacustomtoblowuptheirmeatwithpipestomakeitlookthickerandfatterthanitwas,andwerepunishedthereforitbytheLordMayor）;Isay,fromtheendofthestreettowardsNewgatetherestoodtwolongrowsofshamblesforthesellingmeat。

Itwasinthoseshamblesthattwopersonsfallingdowndead,astheywerebuyingmeat,gaverisetoarumourthatthemeatwasallinfected;which,thoughitmightaffrightthepeople,andspoiledthemarketfortwoorthreedays,yetitappearedplainlyafterwardsthattherewasnothingoftruthinthesuggestion。Butnobodycanaccountforthepossessionoffearwhenittakesholdofthemind。

However,itPleasedGod,bythecontinuingofthewinterweather,sotorestorethehealthofthecitythatbyFebruaryfollowingwereckonedthedistemperquiteceased,andthenwewerenotsoeasilyfrightedagain。

Therewasstillaquestionamongthelearned,andatfirstperplexedthepeoplealittle:andthatwasinwhatmannertopurgethehouseandgoodswheretheplaguehadbeen,andhowtorenderthemhabitableagain,whichhadbeenleftemptyduringthetimeoftheplague。

Abundance—ofperfumesandpreparationswereprescribedbyphysicians,someofonekindandsomeofanother,inwhichthepeoplewholistenedtothemputthemselvestoagreat,andindeed,inmyopinion,toanunnecessaryexpense;andthepoorerpeople,whoonlysetopentheirwindowsnightandday,burnedbrimstone,pitch,andgunpowder,andsuchthingsintheirrooms,didaswellasthebest;nay,theeagerpeoplewho,asIsaidabove,camehomeinhasteandatallhazards,foundlittleornoinconvenienceintheirhouses,norinthegoods,anddidlittleornothingtothem。

However,ingeneral,prudent,cautiouspeopledidenterintosomemeasuresforairingandsweeteningtheirhouses,andburnedperfumes,incense,benjamin,rozin,andsulphurintheirroomscloseshutup,andthenlettheaircarryitalloutwithablastofgunpowder;

otherscausedlargefirestobemadealldayandallnightforseveraldaysandnights;bythesametokenthattwoorthreewerepleasedtosettheirhousesonfire,andsoeffectuallysweetenedthembyburningthemdowntotheground;asparticularlyoneatRatcliff,oneinHolbourn,andoneatWestminster;besidestwoorthreethatweresetonfire,butthefirewashappilygotoutagainbeforeitwentfarenoughtobumdownthehouses;andonecitizen"sservant,IthinkitwasinThamesStreet,carriedsomuchgunpowderintohismaster"shouse,forclearingitoftheinfection,andmanageditsofoolishly,thatheblewuppartoftheroofofthehouse。Butthetimewasnotfullycomethatthecitywastohepurgedbyfire,norwasitfaroff;forwithinninemonthsmoreIsawitalllyinginashes;when,assomeofourquackingphilosopherspretend,theseedsoftheplaguewereentirelydestroyed,andnotbefore;anotiontooridiculoustospeakofhere:since,hadtheseedsoftheplagueremainedinthehouses,nottobedestroyedbutbyfire,howhasitbeenthattheyhavenotsincebrokenout,seeingallthosebuildingsinthesuburbsandliberties,allinthegreatparishesofStepney,Whitechappel,Aldgate,Bishopsgate,Shoreditch,Cripplegate,andStGiles,wherethefirenevercame,andwheretheplagueragedwiththegreatestviolence,remainstillinthesameconditiontheywereinbefore？

ButtoleavethesethingsjustasIfoundthem,itwascertainthatthosepeoplewhoweremorethanordinarilycautiousoftheirhealth,didtakeparticulardirectionsforwhattheycalledseasoningoftheirhouses,andabundanceofcostlythingswereconsumedonthataccountwhichIcannotbutsaynotonlyseasonedthosehouses,astheydesired,butfilledtheairwithverygratefulandwholesomesmellswhichothershadtheshareofthebenefitofaswellasthosewhowereattheexpensesofthem。

Andyetafterall,thoughthepoorcametotownveryprecipitantly,asIhavesaid,yetImustsaytherichmadenosuchhaste。Themenofbusiness,indeed,cameup,butmanyofthemdidnotbringtheirfamiliestotowntillthespringcameon,andthattheysawreasontodependuponitthattheplaguewouldnotreturn。

TheCourt,indeed,cameupsoonafterChristmas,butthenobilityandgentry,exceptsuchasdependeduponandhademploymentundertheadministration,didnotcomesosoon。

Ishouldhavetakennoticeherethat,notwithstandingtheviolenceoftheplagueinLondonandinotherplaces,yetitwasveryobservablethatitwasneveronboardthefleet;andyetforsometimetherewasastrangepressintheriver,andeveninthestreets,forseamentomanthefleet。Butitwasinthebeginningoftheyear,whentheplaguewasscarcebegun,andnotatallcomedowntothatpartofthecitywheretheyusuallypressforseamen;andthoughawarwiththeDutchwasnotatallgratefultothepeopleatthattime,andtheseamenwentwithakindofreluctancyintotheservice,andmanycomplainedofbeingdraggedintoitbyforce,yetitprovedintheeventahappyviolencetoseveralofthem,whohadprobablyperishedinthegeneralcalamity,andwho,afterthesummerservicewasover,thoughtheyhadcausetolamentthedesolationoftheirfamilies—who,whentheycameback,weremanyofthemintheirgraves—yettheyhadroomtobethankfulthattheywerecarriedoutofthereachofit,thoughsomuchagainsttheirwills。WeindeedhadahotwarwiththeDutchthatyear,andoneverygreatengagementatseainwhichtheDutchwereworsted,butwelostagreatmanymenandsomeships。But,asIobserved,theplaguewasnotinthefleet,andwhentheycametolayuptheshipsintherivertheviolentpartofitbegantoabate。

IwouldbegladifIcouldclosetheaccountofthismelancholyyearwithsomeparticularexampleshistorically;ImeanofthethankfulnesstoGod,ourpreserver,forourbeingdeliveredfromthisdreadfulcalamity。Certainlythecircumstanceofthedeliverance,aswellastheterribleenemyweweredeliveredfrom,calleduponthewholenationforit。Thecircumstancesofthedeliverancewereindeedveryremarkable,asIhaveinpartmentionedalready,andparticularlythedreadfulconditionwhichwewereallinwhenweweretothesurpriseofthewholetownmadejoyfulwiththehopeofastopoftheinfection。

NothingbuttheimmediatefingerofGod,nothingbutomnipotentpower,couldhavedoneit。Thecontagiondespisedallmedicine;

deathragedineverycorner;andhaditgoneonasitdidthen,afewweeksmorewouldhaveclearedthetownofall,andeverythingthathadasoul。Meneverywherebegantodespair;everyheartfailedthemforfear;peopleweremadedesperatethroughtheanguishoftheirsouls,andtheterrorsofdeathsatintheveryfacesandcountenancesofthepeople。

Inthatverymomentwhenwemightverywellsay,"Vainwasthehelpofman",—Isay,inthatverymomentitpleasedGod,withamostagreeablesurprise,tocausethefuryofittoabate,evenofitself;andthemalignitydeclining,asIhavesaid,thoughinfinitenumbersweresick,yetfewerdied,andtheveryfirstweeks"billdecreased1843;avastnumberindeed！

ItisimpossibletoexpressthechangethatappearedintheverycountenancesofthepeoplethatThursdaymorningwhentheweeklybillcameout。Itmighthavebeenperceivedintheircountenancesthatasecretsurpriseandsmileofjoysatoneverybody"sface。Theyshookoneanotherbythehandsinthestreets,whowouldhardlygoonthesamesideofthewaywithoneanotherbefore。Wherethestreetswerenottoobroadtheywouldopentheirwindowsandcallfromonehousetoanother,andaskhowtheydid,andiftheyhadheardthegoodnewsthattheplaguewasabated。Somewouldreturn,whentheysaidgoodnews,andask,"Whatgoodnews？"andwhentheyansweredthattheplaguewasabatedandthebillsdecreasedalmosttwothousand,theywouldcryout,"GodbepraisedI"andwouldweepaloudforjoy,tellingthemtheyhadheardnothingofit;andsuchwasthejoyofthepeoplethatitwas,asitwere,lifetothemfromthegrave。Icouldalmostsetdownasmanyextravagantthingsdoneintheexcessoftheirjoyasoftheirgrief;butthatwouldbetolessenthevalueofit。

Imustconfessmyselftohavebeenverymuchdejectedjustbeforethishappened;fortheprodigiousnumberthatweretakensicktheweekortwobefore,besidesthosethatdied,wassuch,andthelamentationsweresogreateverywhere,thatamanmusthaveseemedtohaveactedevenagainsthisreasonifhehadsomuchasexpectedtoescape;andastherewashardlyahousebutmineinallmyneighbourhoodbutwasinfected,sohaditgoneonitwouldnothavebeenlongthattherewouldhavebeenanymoreneighbourstobeinfected。Indeeditishardlycrediblewhatdreadfulhavocthelastthreeweekshadmade,forifImightbelievethepersonwhosecalculationsIalwaysfoundverywellgrounded,therewerenotlessthan30,000peopledeadandnear100。000fallensickinthethreeweeksIspeakof;forthenumberthatsickenedwassurprising,indeeditwasastonishing,andthosewhosecourageupheldthemallthetimebefore,sankunderitnow。

Inthemiddleoftheirdistress,whentheconditionofthecityofLondonwassotrulycalamitous,justthenitpleasedGod—asitwerebyHisimmediatehandtodisarmthisenemy;thepoisonwastakenoutofthesting。Itwaswonderful;eventhephysiciansthemselvesweresurprisedatit。Wherevertheyvisitedtheyfoundtheirpatientsbetter;eithertheyhadsweatedkindly,orthetumourswerebroke,orthecarbuncleswentdownandtheinflammationsroundthemchangedcolour,orthefeverwasgone,ortheviolentheadachewasassuaged,orsomegoodsymptomwasinthecase;sothatinafewdayseverybodywasrecovering,wholefamiliesthatwereinfectedanddown,thathadministersprayingwiththem,andexpecteddeatheveryhour,wererevivedandhealed,andnonediedatalloutofthem。

Norwasthisbyanynewmedicinefoundout,ornewmethodofcurediscovered,orbyanyexperienceintheoperationwhichthephysiciansorsurgeonsattainedto;butitwasevidentlyfromthesecretinvisiblehandofHimthathadatfirstsentthisdiseaseasajudgementuponus;andlettheatheisticpartofmankindcallmysayingwhattheyplease,itisnoenthusiasm;itwasacknowledgedatthattimebyallmankind。Thediseasewasenervatedanditsmalignityspent;andletitproceedfromwhencesoeveritwill,letthephilosopherssearchforreasonsinnaturetoaccountforitby,andlabourasmuchastheywilltolessenthedebttheyowetotheirMaker,thosephysicianswhohadtheleastshareofreligioninthemwereobligedtoacknowledgethatitwasallsupernatural,thatitwasextraordinary,andthatnoaccountcouldbegivenofit。

IfIshouldsaythatthisisavisiblesummonstousalltothankfulness,especiallywethatwereundertheterrorofitsincrease,perhapsitmaybethoughtbysome,afterthesenseofthethingwasover,anofficiouscantingofreligiousthings,preachingasermoninsteadofwritingahistory,makingmyselfateacherinsteadofgivingmyobservationsofthings;andthisrestrainsmeverymuchfromgoingonhereasImightotherwisedo。ButiftenlepersWerehealed,andbutonereturnedtogivethanks,Idesiretobeasthatone,andtobethankfulformyself。

NorwillIdenybuttherewereabundanceofpeoplewho,toallappearance,wereverythankfulatthattime;fortheirmouthswerestopped,eventhemouthsofthosewhoseheartswerenotextraordinarylongaffectedwithit。

Buttheimpressionwassostrongatthattimethatitcouldnotberesisted;

no,notbytheworstofthepeople。

Itwasacommonthingtomeetpeopleinthestreetthatwerestrangers,andthatweknewnothingatallof,expressingtheirsurprise。

GoingonedaythroughAldgate,andaprettymanypeoplebeingpassingandrepassing,therecomesamanoutoftheendoftheMinories,andlookingalittleupthestreetanddown,hethrowshishandsabroad,"Lord,whatanalterationishereIWhy,lastweekI

camealonghere,andhardlyanybodywastoheseen。"Anotherman—I

heardhim—addstohiswords,"Tisallwonderful;"tisalladream。"

"BlessedbeGod,"saysathirdman,dandletusgivethankstoHim,for"tisallHisowndoing,humanhelpandhumanskillwasatanend。"

Thesewereallstrangerstooneanother。Butsuchsalutationsasthesewerefrequentinthestreeteveryday;andinspiteofaloosebehaviour,theverycommonpeoplewentalongthestreetsgivingGodthanksfortheirdeliverance。

Itwasnow,asIsaidbefore,thepeoplehadcastoffallapprehensions,andthattoofast;indeedwewerenomoreafraidnowtopassbyamanwithawhitecapuponhishead,orwithadothwraptroundhisneck,orwithhisleglimping,occasionedbythesoresinhisgroin,allwhichwerefrightfultothelastdegree,buttheweekbefore。

Butnowthestreetwasfullofthem,andthesepoorrecoveringcreatures,givethemtheirdue,appearedverysensibleoftheirunexpecteddeliverance;andIshouldwrongthemverymuchifI

shouldnotacknowledgethatIbelievemanyofthemwerereallythankful。ButImustownthat,forthegeneralityofthepeople,itmighttoojustlybesaidofthemaswassaidofthechildrenofIsraelaftertheirbeingdeliveredfromthehostofPharaoh,whentheypassedtheRedSea,andlookedbackandsawtheEgyptiansoverwhelmedinthewater:viz。,thattheysangHispraise,buttheysoonforgotHisworks。

Icangonofartherhere。Ishouldbecountedcensorious,andperhapsunjust,ifIshouldenterintotheunpleasingworkofreflecting,whatevercausetherewasforit,upontheunthankfulnessandreturnofallmannerofwickednessamongus,whichIwassomuchaneye—

witnessofmyself。Ishallconcludetheaccountofthiscalamitousyearthereforewithacoarsebutsincerestanzaofmyown,whichI

placedattheendofmyordinarymemorandumsthesameyeartheywerewritten:—

AdreadfulplagueinLondonwasIntheyearsixty—five,WhichsweptanhundredthousandsoulsAway;yetIalive！

H。F。