of ſuch Deſolation. I obſerv’d alſo, that as the Violence of the Plague had encreaſed, ſo the Ships which had Families on Board, remov’d and went farther off, till, as I was told, ſome went quite away to Sea, and put into ſuch Harbours, and ſafe Roads on the North Coaſt, as they could beſt come at.
But it was alſo true, that all the People, who thus left the Land, and liv’d on Board the Ships, were not entirely ſafe from the Infection, for many died, and were thrown over-board into the River, ſome in Coffins, and ſome, as I heard, without Coffins, whoſe Bodies were ſeen ſometimes to drive up and down, with the Tide in the River.
But I believe; I may venture to ſay, that in thoſe Ships which were thus infected, it either happened where the People had recourſe to them too late, and did not fly to the Ship till they had ſtayed too long on Shore, and had the Diſtemper upon them, tho’ perhaps, they might not perceive it, and ſo the Diſtemper did not come to them, on Board the Ships, but they really carried it with them; OR it was in theſe Ships, where the poor Waterman ſaid they had not had Time to furniſh themſelves with Proviſions, but were obliged to ſend often on Shore to. buy what they had Occaſion for, or ſuffered Boats to come to them from the Shore; and ſo the Diſtemper was brought inſenſibly among them.
And here I cannot but take notice that the ſtrange Temper of the People of London at that Time contributed extremely to their own Deſtruction. The Plague began, as I have obſerved, at the other End of the Town, namely, in Long-Acre, Drury-Lane, &c. and came on towards the City very gradually and ſlowly. It was felt at firſt in December, then again in February, then again in April, and always but a very little at a Time; then it ſtopt till May, and even the laſt Week in May, there was but 37, and all at that End of the Town; and all this while, even ſo long, as till there died above 3000 a-Week; yet had the
