按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
strictly put in execution； for at first the watchmen were not so
vigorous and severe as they were afterward in the keeping the people
in； that is to say； before they were （I mean some of them） severely
punished for their neglect； failing in their duty； and letting people who
were under their care slip away； or conniving at their going abroad；
whether sick or well。 But after they saw the officers appointed to
examine into their conduct were resolved to have them do their duty
or be punished for the omission； they were more exact； and the people
were strictly restrained； which was a thing they took so ill and bore so
impatiently that their discontents can hardly be described。 But there
was an absolute necessity for it； that must be confessed； unless some
other measures had been timely entered upon； and it was too late for that。
Had not this particular （of the sick being restrained as above） been
our case at that time； London would have been the most dreadful
place that ever was in the world； there would； for aught I know； have
as many people died in the streets as died in their houses； for when the
distemper was at its height it generally made them raving and
delirious； and when they were so they would never be persuaded to
keep in their beds but by force； and many who were not tied threw
themselves out of windows when they found they could not get leave
to go out of their doors。
It was for want of people conversing one with another； in this time
of calamity； that it was impossible any particular person could come
at the knowledge of all the extraordinary cases that occurred in
different families； and particularly I believe it was never known to this
day how many people in their deliriums drowned themselves in the
Thames； and in the river which runs from the marshes by Hackney；
which we generally called Ware River； or Hackney River。 As to those
which were set down in the weekly bill； they were indeed few； nor
could it be known of any of those whether they drowned themselves
by accident or not。 But I believe I might reckon up more who within
the compass of my knowledge or observation really drowned
themselves in that year； than are put down in the bill of all put
together： for many of the bodies were never found who yet were
known to be lost； and the like in other methods of self…destruction。
There was also one man in or about Whitecross Street burned himself
to death in his bed； some said it was done by himself； others that it
was by the treachery of the nurse that attended him； but that he had
the plague upon him was agreed by all。
It was a merciful disposition of Providence also； and which I have
many times thought of at that time； that no fires； or no considerable
ones at least； happened in the city during that year； which； if it had
been otherwise； would have been very dreadful； and either the people
must have let them alone unquenched； or have come together in great
crowds and throngs； unconcerned at the danger of the infection； not
concerned at the houses they went into； at the goods they handled； or
at the persons or the people they came among。 But so it was； that
excepting that in Cripplegate parish； and two or three little eruptions
of fires； which were presently extinguished； there was no disaster of
that kind happened in the whole year。 They told us a story of a house
in a place called Swan Alley； passing from Goswell Street； near the
end of Old Street； into St John Street； that a family was infected there
in so terrible a manner that every one of the house died。 The last
person lay dead on the floor； and； as it is supposed； had lain herself all
along to die just before the fire； the fire； it seems； had fallen from its
place； being of wood； and had taken hold of the boards and the joists
they lay on； and burnt as far as just to the body； but had not taken hold
of the dead body （though she had little more than her shift on） and had
gone out of itself； not burning the rest of the house； though it was a
slight timber house。 How true this might be I do not determine； but
the city being to suffer severely the next year by fire； this year it felt
very little of that calamity。
Indeed； considering the deliriums which the agony threw people
into； and how I have mentioned in their madness； when they were
alone； they did many desperate things； it was very strange there were
no more disasters of that kind。
It has been frequently asked me； and I cannot say that I ever knew
how to give a direct answer to it； how it came to pass that so many
infected people appeared abroad in the streets at the same time that
the houses which were infected were so vigilantly searched； and all of
them shut up and guarded as they were。
I confess I know not what answer to give to this； unless it be this：
that in so great and populous a city as this is it was impossible to
discover every house that was infected as soon as it was so； or to shut
up all the houses that were infected； so that people had the liberty of
going about the streets； even where they Pleased； unless they were
known to belong to such…and…such infected houses。
It is true that； as several physicians told my Lord Mayor； the fury of
the contagion was such at some particular times； and people sickened
so fast and died so soon； that it was impossible； and indeed to no
purpose； to go about to inquire who was sick and who was well； or to
shut them up with such exactness as the thing required； almost every
house in a whole street being infected； and in many places every
person in some of the houses； and that which was still worse； by the
time that the houses were known to be infected； most of the persons
infected would be stone dead； and the rest run away for fear of being
shut up； so that it was to very small purpose to call them infected
houses and shut them up； the infection having ravaged and taken its
leave of the house before it was really known that the family was any
way touched。
This might be sufficient to convince any reasonable person that as it
was not in the power of the magistrates or of any human methods of
policy； to prevent the spreading the infection； so that this way of
shutting up of houses was perfectly insufficient for that end。 Indeed it
seemed to have no manner of public good in it； equal or
proportionable to the grievous burden that it was to the particular
families that were so shut up； and； as far as I was employed by the
public in directing that severity； I frequently found occasion to see
that it was incapable of answering the end。 For example； as I was
desired； as a visitor or examiner； to inquire into the particulars of
several families which were infected； we scarce came to any house
where the plague had visibly appeared in the family but that some of
the family were fled and gone。 The magistrates would resent this； and
charge the examiners with being remiss in their examination or
inspection。 But by that means houses were long infected before it was
known。 Now； as I was in this dangerous office but half the appointed
time； which was two months； it was long enough to inform myself that
we were no way capable of coming at the knowledge of the true state
of any family but by inquiring at the door or of the neighbours。 As for
going into every house to search； that was a part no authority would
offer to impose on the inhabitants； or any citizen would undertake： for
it would have been exposing us to certain infection and death； and to
the ruin of our own families as well as of ourselves； nor would any
citizen of probity； and that could be depended upon； have stayed in the
town if they had been made liable to such a severity。
Seeing then that we could come at the certainty of things by no
method but that of inquiry of the neighbours or of the family； and on
that we could not justly depend； it was not possible but that the
uncertainty of this matter would remain as above。
It is true masters of families were bound by the order to give notice
to the examiner of the place wherein he lived； within two hours after
he should discover it； of any person being sick in his house （that is to
say； having signs of the infection）… but they found so many ways to
evade this and excuse their negligence that they seldom gave that
notice till they had taken measures to have every one escape out of the
house who had a mind to escape； whether they were sick or sound；
and while this was so； it is easy to see that the shutting up of houses
was no way to be depended upon as a sufficient method for putting a
stop to the infection because； as I have said elsewhere； many of those
that so went out of those infected houses had the plague really upon
them； though they might really think themselves sound。 And some of
these were the people that walked the streets till they fell down dead；
not that they were suddenly struck with the distemper as with a
bullet that k