Page:A Journal of the Plague Year (1722).djvu/188

 is always in the Language of the Law call’d Murther. But as they were not authoriz’d by the Magiſtrate’s Inſtructions, or by the Power they acted under, to be injurious or abuſive, either to the People who were under their Obſervation, or to any that concern’d themſelves for them; ſo when they did ſo, they might be ſaid to act themſelves, not their Office; to act as private Perſons, not as Perſons employ’d; and conſequently if they brought Miſchief upon themſelves by ſuch an undue Behaviour, that Miſchief was upon their own Heads; and indeed they had ſo much the hearty Curſes of the People, whether they deſerv’d it or not, that whatever befel them nobody pitied them, and every Body was apt to ſay, they deſerv’d it, whatever it was; nor do I remember that any Body was ever puniſh’d, at leaſt to any conſiderable Degree, for whatever was done to the Watchmen that guarded their Houſes. What variety of Stratagems were uſed to eſcape and get out of Houſes thus ſhut up, by which the Watchmen were deceived or overpower’d, and that the People got away, I have taken notice of already, and ſhall ſay no more to that: But I ſay the Magiſtrates did moderate and eaſe Families upon many Occaſions in this Caſe,and particularly in that of taking away,or ſuffering to be remov’d the ſick Perſons out of ſuch Houſes,when they were willing to be remov’d either to a Peſt-Houſe, or other Places, and ſometimes giving the well Perſons in the Family ſo ſhut up, leave to remove upon Information given that they were well, and that they would confine themſelves in ſuch Houſes where they went, ſo long as ſhould be requir’d of them. The Concern alſo of the Magiſtrates for the ſupplying ſuch poor Families as were infected; I ſay, ſupplying them with Neceſſaries, as well Phyſick as Food, was very great, and in which they did not content themſelves with giving the neceſſary Orders to the Officers appointed, but the Aldermen in Perſon, and on Horſeback frequently