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。