第 3 节
作者:溜溜      更新:2021-02-25 00:27      字数:9322
  counted very terrible; and the complaints of people so confined were
  very grievous。  They were heard into the very streets; and they were
  sometimes such that called for resentment; though oftener for
  compassion。  They had no way to converse with any of their friends
  but out at their windows; where they would make such piteous
  lamentations as often moved the hearts of those they talked with; and
  of others who; passing by; heard their story; and as those complaints
  oftentimes reproached the severity; and sometimes the insolence; of
  the watchmen placed at their doors; those watchmen would answer
  saucily enough; and perhaps be apt to affront the people who were in
  the street talking to the said families; for which; or for their ill…
  treatment of the families; I think seven or eight of them in several
  places were killed; I know not whether I should say murdered or not;
  because I cannot enter into the particular cases。  It is true the
  watchmen were on their duty; and acting in the post where they were
  placed by a lawful authority; and killing any public legal officer in the
  execution of his office is always; in the language of the law; called
  murder。  But as they were not authorised by the magistrates'
  instructions; or by the power they acted under; to be injurious or
  abusive either to the people who were under their observation or to
  any that concerned themselves for them; so when they did so; they
  might he said to act themselves; not their office; ' to act as private
  persons; not as persons employed; and consequently; if they brought
  mischief upon themselves by such an undue behaviour; that mischief
  was upon their own heads; and indeed they had so much the hearty
  curses of the people; whether they deserved it or not; that whatever
  befell them nobody pitied them; and everybody was apt to say they
  deserved it; whatever it was。  Nor do I remember that anybody was
  ever punished; at least to any considerable degree; for whatever was
  done to the watchmen that guarded their houses。
  What variety of stratagems were used to escape and get out of
  houses thus shut up; by which the watchmen were deceived or
  overpowered; and that the people got away; I have taken notice of
  already; and shall say no more to that。  But I say the magistrates did
  moderate and ease families upon many occasions in this case; and
  particularly in that of taking away; or suffering to be removed; the
  sick persons out of such houses when they were willing to be removed
  either to a pest…house or other Places; and sometimes giving the well
  persons in the family so shut up; leave to remove upon information
  given that they were well; and that they would confine themselves in
  such houses where they went so long as should be required of them。
  The concern; also; of the magistrates for the supplying such poor
  families as were infected … I say; supplying them with necessaries; as
  well physic as food … was very great; and in which they did not content
  themselves with giving the necessary orders to the officers appointed;
  but the aldermen in person; and on horseback; frequently rode to such
  houses and caused the people to be asked at their windows whether
  they were duly attended or not; also; whether they wanted anything
  that was necessary; and if the officers had constantly carried their
  messages and fetched them such things as they wanted or not。  And if
  they answered in the affirmative; all was well; but if they complained
  that they were ill supplied; and that the officer did not do his duty; or
  did not treat them civilly; they (the officers) were generally removed;
  and others placed in their stead。
  It is true such complaint might be unjust; and if the officer had such
  arguments to use as would convince the magistrate that he was right;
  and that the people had injured him; he was continued and they
  reproved。  But this part could not well bear a particular inquiry; for the
  parties could very ill be well heard and answered in the street from the
  windows; as was the case then。  The magistrates; therefore; generally
  chose to favour the people and remove the man; as what seemed to be
  the least wrong and of the least ill consequence; seeing if the
  watchman was injured; yet they could easily make him amends by
  giving him another post of the like nature; but if the family was
  injured; there was no satisfaction could be made to them; the damage
  perhaps being irreparable; as it concerned their lives。
  A great variety of these cases frequently happened between the
  watchmen and the poor people shut up; besides those I formerly
  mentioned about escaping。  Sometimes the watchmen were absent;
  sometimes drunk; sometimes asleep when the people wanted them;
  and such never failed to be punished severely; as indeed they
  deserved。
  But after all that was or could be done in these cases; the shutting up
  of houses; so as to confine those that were well with those that were
  sick; had very great inconveniences in it; and some that were very
  tragical; and which merited to have been considered if there had been
  room for it。  But it was authorised by a law; it had the public good in
  view as the end chiefly aimed at; and all the private injuries that were
  done by the putting it in execution must be put to the account of the
  public benefit。
  It is doubtful to this day whether; in the whole; it contributed
  anything to the stop of the infection; and indeed I cannot say it did; for
  nothing could run with greater fury and rage than the infection did
  when it was in its chief violence; though the houses infected were shut
  up as exactly and as effectually as it was possible。  Certain it is that if
  all the infected persons were effectually shut in; no sound person
  could have been infected by them; because they could not have come
  near them。  But the case was this (and I shall only touch it here):
  namely; that the infection was propagated insensibly; and by such
  persons as were not visibly infected; who neither knew whom they
  infected or who they were infected by。
  A house in Whitechappel was shut up for the sake of one infected
  maid; who had only spots; not the tokens come out upon her; and
  recovered; yet these people obtained no liberty to stir; neither for air
  or exercise; forty days。  Want of breath; fear; anger; vexation; and all
  the other gifts attending such an injurious treatment cast the mistress
  of the family into a fever; and visitors came into the house and said it
  was the plague; though the physicians declared it was not。  However;
  the family were obliged to begin their quarantine anew on the report
  of the visitors or examiner; though their former quarantine wanted but
  a few days of being finished。  This oppressed them so with anger and
  grief; and; as before; straitened them also so much as to room; and for
  want of breathing and free air; that most of the family fell sick; one of
  one distemper; one of another; chiefly scorbutic ailments; only one; a
  violent colic; till; after several prolongings of their confinement; some
  or other of those that came in with the visitors to inspect the persons
  that were ill; in hopes of releasing them; brought the distemper with
  them and infected the whole house; and all or most of them died; not
  of the plague as really upon them before; but of the plague that those
  people brought them; who should have been careful to have protected
  them from it。  And this was a thing which frequently happened; and
  was indeed one of the worst consequences of shutting houses up。
  I had about this time a little hardship put upon me; which I was at
  first greatly afflicted at; and very much disturbed about though; as it
  proved; it did not expose me to any disaster; and this was being
  appointed by the alderman of Portsoken Ward one of the examiners of
  the houses in the precinct where I lived。  We had a large parish; and
  had no less than eighteen examiners; as the order called us; the people
  called us visitors。  I endeavoured with all my might to be excused
  from such an employment; and used many arguments with the
  alderman's deputy to be excused; particularly I alleged that I was
  against shutting up houses at all; and that it would be very hard to
  oblige me to be an instrument in that which was against my
  judgement; and which I did verily believe would not answer the end it
  was intended for; but all the abatement I could get was only; that
  whereas the officer was appointed by my Lord Mayor to continue two
  months; I should be obliged to hold it but three weeks; on condition
  nevertheless that I could then get some other sufficient housekeeper to
  serve the rest of the time for me … which was; in short; but a very small
  favour; it being very difficult to get any man to accept of such an
  employment; that was fit to be entrusted with it。
  It is true that shutting up of houses had one effect; which I am
  sensible was of moment; namely; it confined the distempered people;
  who would otherwise have b