A brief Journal of what passed in the City of Marseilles, while it was afflicted with the Plague, in the Year 1720 — John Shaqi
A brief Journal of what passed in the City of Marseilles, while it was afflicted with the Plague, in the Year 1720Pichatty de Croislainte
History
A brief Journal of what passed in the City of Marseilles, while it was afflicted with the Plague, in the Year 1720
Pichatty de Croislainte
Plague -- France -- Marseille -- Early works to 1800
1. All the Rakers, and others employed under the Scavengers to
clean the Streets, having deserted since the Beginning of the
Contagion, for fear of being made use of as Buriers of the Dead:
the whole Town since the Second of this Month, is full of Dunghils
and Poisonous Filth, which stagnates on the Pavement: They are by
an Ordinance commanded to return on Pain of Death.
2. From out of the Houses, the Quilts, Straw-Beds, Bed-Cloaths,
Apparel, and Rags used about the Infected, are thrown into the
Streets; so that there is no passing them. An Ordinance forbids it,
and enjoins that all such Things be drawn to the publick Squares,
and immediately burnt, on Pain of Imprisonment.
3. For want of Porters, the very Corn, which the Boats bring
up from the Barrier of _Lestaque_, cannot be carried into the
Store-Houses; those Porters are all engaged in the Service of
private Persons in the Territory: An Ordinance commands them to
come and work as usual in the City, on Pain of Death; and private
Persons are forbidden to detain them, on the Penalty of a Fine of
3000 Livres, and of Imprisonment.
4. For want of those who used to ply with Asses, the Bakers cannot
get the Wood carried with which the Town furnishes them; and all
private Persons are under the like Inconvenience: An Ordinance
charges those Ass-Keepers to return with their Beasts, on Pain of
Death.
The Chamber of Vacations being informed, that the Intendants of Health,
and the Commissaries appointed in the Parishes and Quarters, who
have deserted, do not obey the Ordinance of the Sheriffs and return;
that Chamber issues an Arrêt this Day, commanding them all to return
forthwith to their Duties, on Pain of Death.
* * * * *
All these Arrêts and Ordinances are duly proclaimed by Sound of
Trumpet, and affixed at all the Corners of the Streets, and in all the
Quarters of the Territories, but to no manner of Purpose; the Dread of
the Plague is so strong and terrible, that nothing can overcome it. It
is indeed impossible for the Heart of Man to bear up against all the
frightful Spectacles that present themselves every where to the Eye in
this unhappy City; the dire Effects of a raging Pestilence, which seems
to threaten not to be asswaged by the Death only and general Extinction
of all the Inhabitants, but by rendring the Place it self a vast Sink
of Corruption and Poison, for ever uninhabitable by human Race.
* * * * *
Which Way soever one turns, the Streets appear strowed on both Sides
with dead Bodies close by each other, most of which being putrified,
are unsupportably hideous to behold.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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