Journal of the Plague Year

continued, by a Gentleman

Yeſterday our noble Prime Miniſter's moſt humble and dutiful Chancellor announced the ſtirring News, that with the Peſtilence reduced to the ſame State as all other foreign Enemies we muſt brace ourſelves to the Duty of protecting the Nation's Revenue. A ſupreme Effort of Spending will be required, eſpecially from the Servant-claſses which are wont uſuriouſly to hoard their Aſsets againſt a rainy Day rather than employing them with Chriſtian Faith and Foreſight to make Hay while the Iron is heated and repair the Roof while the Sun ſhineth.

No ſooner was the Proclamation iſsued, than I ſummoned my domeſtick Staff before me to inform them of their patriotick Duties, at which they did no more than mumble and ſhuffle their Feet, as if I had ordered them to ſome outraging unnatural Intemperance. Even thoſe recenty dead of Want, the which I had ordered exhumed and brought forth upon the Chance of the good Tidings reviving them in the Hour of their Country's great Need, appeared to ſlump againſt their Neighbours with a new inſolent Dilatorineſs. No matter how patiently I explained, that they were far more fortunate in their Lot, than thoſe of their Betters whoſe inveſtments may this Yeare, with the Government's Charity, yield no more than the uſual Profits, theſe froward and diſcontented Creatures perſiſted in refuſing to recogniſe their good Fortune. Is there no Depth of Idleneſs nor blacke Abyſm of ſelf-deſtructive Depravity, to which the inferior Claſses will not ſink in the Abſence of the clean white Hand that wieldeth the God-beſtowed Rod of benevolent Chaſtiſement?