Journal of the Plague Year

continued, by a Gentleman

It is ſayed by certain Perſons of a Diſpoſition which I ſuſpect to be merely ſcientifick, that the Woo Han Peſtilence hath cunningly concentrated the worſt of its horrid Work upon the Pooreſt and moſt needy among the Populace, and this in deſpite of that ſuperior moral Healthineſs, which naturally reſults from having no diſpoſable Income to waſte upon Drink and Tattooings, and all thoſe leſs mentionable Vices, which are the unavoidable Proclivity of the expendable Claſses. It appeareth further, that the chronick Crowding of Hovels and conſequent Concentration of miasmatick Poyſons in the domeſtick Atmoſphere of thoſe not yet confined to the Debtor's Priſon, hath ſomehow failed to arreſt to any ſatisfactory Degree, the Progreſsion of this moſt ſubtil Oriental Plague. It is to be hoped, that Her Majeſty's Government will be moved to adopt a ſtrong and unſentimental Attitude of Charity towards theſe inſalubrious Unfortunates, enſuring their moral Progreſsion by further curtailing their Opportunities for Spaffage of their poor fiſcal Subſtance, purging them of the Sin of Pride which goeth with a Penchant for Boddily Cleanlineſs, and encouraging them wherever poſsible, to relieve the deplorable Overcrowding of their Reſidences by diſcharging all unneceſsary Servants.