Journal of the Plague Year

continued, by a Gentleman

Alas that her Majeſty's Government, that Lifter of unneceſsarie Burdens from the labouring Sweat-ſoaked Shoulders of the Perſecuted and Servant-troubled, ſhould be curſed with ſo unworthy and undeſerving a Citizenry; for the lower Claſses in their Ignorance and Folly do ever ſtand ready to defile and deſtroy all Reſults of our noble Prime Miniſter's Herculean Efforts to prevent them dying off in numbers large enough to cauſe undue Inconvenience. No ſooner was it announced, that the Publick-houſes would open again, and that the Peaſantry could with a clear Conſcience ſtray within mutual Proximity to the length of a ſtandard Pillock-thraſher or a wooden Aſses Johnſon, than the baſe Inſtincts of the Herd exerciſed their ineſcapable Influence, and thouſands ſought to congregate upon the Beaches, in the Fields and in the Streets which ſhould have been the excluſive Preſerve of the Gentry. Although ſuch maſsed Concentrations of Britiſhneſs will indubitably deter any further Advance of the merely Chineſe Peſtilence, ſuch Gatherings unleſs for Church or ſpontaneous Tuggings of the Forelock conſtitute a moſt diſguſting Abuſe of our traditional Liberty and Tolerance, and ſhould be met by our glorious Soldiery with the full Force of Blade and Cannon.