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cost the lives of many thousands. The disease made short work of it: in a very little time it carried off those who had before been the healthiest. Frequently, a man or a woman fell down dead in the marketplaces; for many who had the plague, did not know it till their vitals were attacked, and then they died in a few moments. It often happened, that people suddenly fell down in the streets in this manner, without any previous symptom, and died upon the spot. Others had, perhaps, sufficient time to reach the nearest shop, or door-way, and sat down and died. These occurrences were so frequent in the streets, that scarcely any one was seen walking in them, though here and there a corpse might be observed lying upon the ground. At first, those that were passing by, stood still on meeting with a dead body, and called to the people in the neighbourhood to come; but afterwards, when the cases occurred so frequently, and every one's anxiety for his own safety increased, no further notice was taken of them. If any one saw a corpse lying in his way, he went across the street, in order to avoid it; and if

it was in a narrow lane, he turned about, and took another road. Thus the bodies continued there till the police were informed of it, or until night, when the dead-cart, which drove through the whole city, took them up.

"During my walks, I witnessed many mournful instances of people falling down dead in the streets, and heard the dreadful shrieks of females, who, in the agonies of death, threw open the windows, and uttered a terrible cry. One day, on passing through Tokenhouse-yard, a window was violently thrown up, and a woman cried out thrice, O death, death, death!" in such a horrifying tone as made my blood run cold. No one was to be seen in the street, nor did any one open a window; for people had no longer any curiosity. In Whitechapel I knew a family of ten persons; they were all apparently well on the Monday; on Saturday afternoon they were all dead, and the house stood empty.

"A singular circumstance occurred to me, one evening, as I passed along the City-road.

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Twilight had already commenced, and a thick fog scarcely suffered me to see ten paces before me. Time had elapsed before I was aware, and I was hastening, in order to reach my habitation by day-light, without coming in contact with any one. No one met me; no one was seen in the street. at once, I saw before me a figure which moved, and then remained standing. On closer observation, I found that it was a man, who was endeavouring to raise up another who had fallen to the ground, and therefore probably a dead man. I called out to him, Friend, consider what you are doing! You are touching a person who has doubtless died of the plague; and you must know that such a contact will cost you your life!' The man raised himself slowly up, and replied with a hollow voice, Comrade, you have no need to care for me: I have already died of the plague; it will harm me no more: but it has taken terrible hold of this man.' The voice sounded so hollow, the speech was SO strange, all around was so silent, every circumstance so exciting, and the figure

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stood there so awfully in the fog, that it would have been pardonable in me, if I had really believed I was listening to a spirit from another world; but whilst considering what I should make of the matter, the tall figure fell to the ground with a cry, and was dead also. I afterwards heard that it was a lunatic, who during the absence of his keeper, who wished to fetch something, had found opportunity to get loose, and walk about the streets. He there found his keeper, whom the plague had seized and killed on the way.

"Lord Craven was also living in London at this time. His house was in a part of the town since called Craven's-buildings. When the plague became universal his lordship resolved to retire to his country-seat, to escape the danger. As he was passing through his house, with his hat on his head, and drawing on his gloves, he heard his coachman, who was a black, say to another servant, I think that since my lord is leaving London to avoid the plague, his God must live in the country and not in the town.' The

poor black said this in the simplicity of his heart; for he really believed that there were different gods, who had power in different places. This speech made such an impression on Lord Craven, that he remained in London, where he was very active and useful during the season of distress, and God was so gracious as to preserve his life."

Such was the narrative of the old gentleman, who added, "Let us beg of God, that this dreadful plague may not also find its way to us. We have richly deserved

it with our sins."

How gladly would I have opened my heart to this good man, if circumstances had permitted, and if our residence in Vienna had been of longer duration; but after three days had elapsed, I was compelled to leave this resting-place, and prosecute my melancholy journey. O, how painful was it to me, to remove farther and farther from my native country, without the hope of ever returning to it, or seeing any of my family again, and to go. amongst a people, to whom I felt the

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