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。