Journal of the Plague Year

continued, by a Gentleman

It hath been decreed by Her Majeſty's Government, doubtleſs with the due and proper Conſent of the Lords Spiritual and of all relevant philanthropick Organiſations and charitable Clubbes of applauding Ladies, that the twenty-third inſt. ſhall be a Day of National Reflection upon the conſiderable Suffering and Diſmay, which the Woo Han Peſtilence hath inflicted upon the Realm. It is certainlie to be hoped, that the Inſtitution of ſuch an Occaſion of ſolemn Remembrance may lead to ſome genuine Improvement in the Situation of all deſerving Perſons, who have fallen Victim to the Afflictions of the Heathen Plague: Whether by the near Impoſsibilitie of finding a healthy Whore, a Nigger who knows his Place, or even getting a Guſset properly adjuſted; Or by the Decline in the Value of Property owing to the Proliferation in our City Streets of putrid and vulgar Corſes; Or ſimply by running ſhort of Servants at the very Hour and Moment, when the Demiſed of the Houſehold run to ſuch Numbers as to require replacing. I have written to inform our noble Prime Miniſter, that I await the twenty-third inſt. with the greateſt Intereſt and Anticipation of due and material Compenſation for the Martyrdoms of the Worthy; eſpecially thoſe who have ſacrificed their Birthright of Liberty for that prolonged Impriſonment and dretful ſtifling Diſcomfort which attends the wearing of a Maſque, which digs Trenches of abyſmal Profunditie into the Jowells and hideouſly oppreſses the Dewlap, contrary to all naturall Juſtice and numerous Precepts of Magna Carta.