A few
extracts from Pepys's "Diary," the evidence of an eye-witness and
a contemporary, show the ghastly aspects of this terrible
visitation. On August 31st he writes: "In the City, this week,
died 7496, and of them 6102 died of the plague. But it is found
that the true number of the dead this week is nearer 10,000;
partly from the poor who cannot be taken care of through the
greatness of the number, and partly from the Quakers and others
that will not have any bell rung for them." According to Adams,
John Evelyn noted in his "Kalendarium":--"Sept. 7th.--Near 10,000
now died weekly; however, I went all along the City and suburbs
from Kent street to St. James's, a dismal passage, and dangerous
to see so many coffins exposed in the streets; the streets thin
of people, the shops shut up, and all in silence, no one knowing
whose turn might be next."
As the cold weather came on the plague diminished in intensity
and the people regained their confidence and returned to the
city. According to Adams, in the first week of March, 1666,
deaths by the plague had decreased to 42; and by the end of the
month it was nearly extinct after carrying off about 100,000
victims. In our days we can hardly comprehend the filthy hygienic
conditions under which the people in the cities lived, and it was
probably to this fact that the growth and perpetuation of this
plague was due.
Pages:
1776
1777
1778
1779
1780
1781
1782
1783
1784
1785
1786
1787
1788
1789
1790
1791
1792
1793
1794
1795
1796
1797
1798
1799
1800