The 3dofOctober, Part of the Troops which M.de Langeronexpected for the Service of the City, and to execute his Orders, arrive;viz.Three Companies of the Regiment ofFlandres, whom he causes to encamp at theChartreusewithout the Walls.
The 4th, the two new Hospitals at theMallandla Charité, are, at length, in a Condition to receive the Sick; and immediately they creep thither from all Quarters. A Number of Gally-Slaves is employed to fetch those who cannot help themselves, and are lying in the publick Places and Streets, and in the Houses.
The 5th, all the Physicians, as well Strangers, as of Faculty in this City, are convened at the Town-House, in the Presence of M.de Langeron, the Marquess dePilles, and the Sheriffs; and M.de ChicoyneauandVerny, as Principals, and those others to whom the general Inspection is committed, appoint the Stations where each shall serve, and the Surgeons to be employed under them. If all the Strangers have signalized themselves by their Skill and Zeal, those of the City have equall'd them in both; they have served with so little Care of their own Persons, that three of them have lost their Lives, M.Peissonel,Montagnier, andAudan, and a fourth, Mr.Bertrand, was very near Death's Door.
The 6th, three of the Captains of the City dying, the Sheriffs nominate in their Room M.Desperier,Bonnaneau, andIcard, who from the Beginning of the Contagion have voluntarily gone upon any Service, however toilsome and hazardous, for the City.
The 7th, the Plague being more violent in the Territory than in the City, and it being of Importance to hinder the Sick to come from thence into it; M.de Langeronposts at each Gate aCorps de Gardeof Soldiers of the King's Troops, under the Command of the Captains and Officers of the Town; and publishes an Ordinance, which prescribes the Rules to be observed at any Person's coming into, or going out of the Gates.
The 8th, whereas since the two new Hospitals have been opened, the Sick are no longer lying about the Streets, and the dead Bodies are carried off daily, by the great Number of Carts which are continually passing; Dispositions are made for cleaning the Streets throughout the City, as well for making Room to pass, as to take away the horrible Infection caused by the prodigious Quantity of Filth and Nastiness, with whichthey are all covered. For this Purpose large Boats, used for cleansing the Port, by taking up the Soil, are placed all along the Key at each Pallisade; and while the Sheriffs go each through a Quarter with a Brigade of Gally Slaves, to cause all the Heaps of infected Cloaths and Houshold-Goods, which have been thrown out of the Windows, to be burnt; other Brigades of Slaves go with Carts, to take up the Dunghills and Filth, which they shoot into those Boats, and these carry it out, and throw it into the Sea, as far as they can from the Mouth of the Port: This is so tedious a Work, that be it followed never so close, it will take up a Month at least to finish it.
The 9th, the Sheriffs receive News that fills them with Joy and Consolation; they find by a Letter which the Consuls ofAvignonare so kind to write to them, that the common Father of the FaithfulRomanCatholicks, moved at hearing of the Calamities of a City, which was the first of allGaulthat received the Catholick Faith, by St.Lazarusits first Bishop; which in all Times has preserved it in its Purity, no Heresy having ever been able to get footing in it; and which has always had a singular Attachment, with a profound and inviolable Respect, for the Holy See; has not thought it enough to order publick Prayers in all the Churches ofRome, and Processions, at which his Holiness assists on Foot, to beseech the Sovereign Father of Mercies to appease his Wrath againstMarseilles, and cast away the dreadful Scourge which lays it desolate; but being desirous to succour so many miserable Poor as are in it, and supply them with Bread in their Need, has caused to be bought up in the District ofAnconatwo thousand Measures (calledRoubies) of Bread-Corn, which will be forthwith brought hither by Vessels that are to take it in atCivita-Vecchia, to be distributed to the Poor in such Proportions as the Bishop shall allot.
The 10th, the Canons of the Collegiate Church of St.Martin, having Benefices with Cure of Souls, persisting to absent themselves from their Duty, notwithstanding the several Admonitions signified to them, theBishop pronounces Sentence, and, conformably to the Petition of the Sheriffs of the 4thofSeptemberlast, declares their Benefices vacant, and that they shall be filled with others duly qualified; and he nominates to them accordingly.
The 11th, there are in the Hospitals several Patients who have the Happiness to recover of the Plague: A Place is necessary for these to be removed to, where they may stay forty Days after their Buboes and Sores are entirely cured and healed up; it is resolv'd to make use of the grand Infirmaries for this Purpose; they must be made ready, and provided with all Things necessary: M.de Langerongoes thither, with M.Estelle, and Orders are given for doing it out of hand.
The 12th, more Troops arrive for the Service of the City;viz.Three Companies of the Regiment ofBrie, which M.de Langeroncauses to encamp at theChartreuse, with the three others already there.
The 13th, 14th, and 15th, while the Infirmaries are getting ready for those who are recover'd from the Plague, he sends Orders into the Territory, to compel those Intendants of Health, who have absented themselves, and several other Municipal Officers, whose Service is absolutely requisite in the City, to return.
The 16th, he posts aCorps de Gardeof thirty Soldiers by the Town-House, to guard the Sheriffs, and execute Orders.
The 17th, it is resolved to send into the Infirmaries, not only those who have recovered in the several Hospitals, but likewise all those who wander about the City with their Buboes broke and running, and communicate the Contagion generally to those who, not knowing their Condition, have the Misfortune to touch or approach them.
The 18th, the Difficulties which obstruct the putting the Infirmaries intirely into Order; or closing up the Sides of the Market-House, which are open; Timber,Boards, and Sail-Cloth being not to be had; make it necessary to seek some other Place, which is already in proper Order; such appears to be the College of the Fathersde l'Oratoire, the Halls of which are capable of harbouring a great Number of Persons; and Lodgings for the Officers, Surgeons, and Servants, are ready in the rest of the House, which is quite empty by the Flight of those Priests.
The 16th, the Grand Claustral Prior (i.e.he that resides, and keeps the Monks to their Duty) of the Abbey of St.Victor, and two Monks deputed from that Chapter, come to the Town-House to justify themselves upon their Refusal to carry in Procession the Shrines and Reliques of their Church, to the Square of theLoge. The Continuance of the Contagion, notwithstanding all the Efforts hitherto made to stop it, leaving no Hope, but in the Mercy of the Almighty through the Intercession of the Saints, the Sheriffs resolved to desire the Bishop to cause all the Shrines of Saints, and all the Reliques of the Church ofMajorto be brought forth, and to accompany them to the Square of theLoge, where they design'd to erect a great Altar, on which to place them in open View, and likewise to desire the Monks of the Abbey of St.Victor, to bring out at the same Time all the Shrines and Reliques of their Church, and to accompany them to the same Place, where being all ranged together on the same Altar, the Bishop was to celebrate Mass, and all the Prayers prescribed against the Plague were to be said. The Bishop instantly agreed to it, with all the Joy and Satisfaction which the Piety that animates him could raise: M.de Langeronhad given the most proper Orders, for preventing any Crowd, or even any Communication, at this Holy Procession; nothing remained, but to dispose the Monks of the Abbey of St.Victorto perform their Part: M.Estellewent, and moved it to them; they consent, but on Conditions utterly impracticable: They demand, either that two Altars should be erected, or that the Bishop should not celebrate Mass, lest their Privileges should receive some Diminution by it. And their Grand Prior Claustral, with two Monks of the Abbey, cometo Day to the Town-house, to have it understood that their Reasons were solid, and not Pretexts.
The 20th, no Bell having been rung in the Town since the Contagion, not even that which warns the Soldiers and Townsmen to retire to their Houses and Quarters at Night, M.de Langeronorders it to be rung as formerly.
The 21st, he orders the Officers of the City to go the Rounds punctually in all the Quarters, with the Number of Soldiers appointed by him.
The 22dand 23d, the Prisons being filled with Malefactors, and the Effects of a vast Number of Houses being exposed to Robbery, by the Death of all the Persons who inhabited them; he sends Orders into the Territory, to oblige the Commissariesde Policeto return, to bring to Tryal those Malefactors, and to secure those Effects for the lawful Claimants.
The 24thM.de Langeron, the Marquessde Pillesand the Sheriffs, publish an Ordinance at my Instance, commanding all those who have taken into their Possession the Keys of Houses, or the Effects of Persons deceased, or who have had them put into their Hands in Trust, of what Nature soever they are, to appear within twenty four Hours at the Town-House, and make Declaration thereof before the Commissariesde Police, that the same may be properly secured.
The 25thanother Ordinance is issued for the Publick Safety and Health, importing, that for preventing Robberies in the Night, and the Increase of the Contagion by removing from one Place to another infected Apparel, those who after ringing the warning Bell at Night shall be taken robbing Houses, or removing Apparel, or Houshold Goods, shall be punish'd with Death; and that those who shall have forbidden Arms found upon them, shall be condemned to the Gallies.
The 26th, tho' the Plague seems to have decreased, want of Provisions increases; the Distemper having got into the neighbouring Places, and even into the Capital of the Province, hardly any Corn or other Necessaries are brought any longer to the Markets at the Barriers; even all the Barriers are chang'd and remov'd so far off, that they are out of reach, andMarseillesis in the greatest Extremities that it ever felt. M.de Langeronand the Sheriffs see the Necessity there is, for avoiding a speedy Famine, to send Vessels to divers Parts to fetch Bread-Corn, and other Provisions; but having neither Money nor Means to procure any, they are obliged to send Dispatches to Court for Supplies.
The 27ththe Hospitals of theMall, ofLa Charité, and of theRive Neuve, being by the Decrease of the Distemper more than sufficient to hold all the Sick; and thatdes Convalescensbeing become altogether superfluous, it is resolv'd to make Use of it for those who have recovered, and not of the Collegede l'Oratoire, as was design'd.
The 28thand 29thare spent in putting it in Order and Furnishing it with new Beds, after all the Sick who were in it had been remov'd to the Hospital at theMall.
The 30ththe great Number of Surgeons, as well Masters as others, who are come from all Parts, allur'd by the Advertisements of the 30thofSeptember, that had been sent out to be publickly affix'd every where, which promised great Rewards to those that would come and serve; makes it necessary to publish contrary Advertisements, signifying, that the Distemper having happily decreased very much, there is no further Occasion for them.
The 31th, to get together, in Order to confine and put under Quarantain, those who have recovered from the Plague, who with their Buboes broke and running wander about the Streets and infect all whom theyapproach, the Chevalierde Soissansfinds out a very easy Expedient; they are all necessitous People who beg about, and do not fail to go wherever Alms are distributed daily to all Comers; he orders Soldiers to hide themselves near the House whither the Bishop has retir'd; in less than half an Hour above five hundred of these Beggars flock thither, whom the Soldiers surround and carry to the Hospitaldes Convalescens, where the Surgeons search them, and detain all who ought to be kept there.
The First ofNovember, being the Feast of all Saints, the Bishop comes out of his Palace in Procession, accompany'd by the Canons of the Churchdes Acoulles, by those whom he has newly nominated Canons of the Church of St.Martin, and by the Parson and Priests of the Parish of St.Ferriol; and chusing to appear like the Scape Goat, loaded with the Sins of all the People, and like a Victim destin'd to expiate them, he walks with a Halter about his Neck, the Cross in his Arms, and bare-Foot; thus he proceeds by the Ring towards the Gate ofAix, where he celebrates Mass publickly, at an Altar which he had caused to be erected; and after a pathetick Exhortation to the People to move them to Repentance, for appeasing the Wrath of God, and obtaining Deliverance from the raging Pestilence; he pronounces a solemn Consecration of the City to the sacred Heart of Jesus, in Honour of which he had instituted a Festival to be kept yearly by a Mandate which he caus'd to be read: The Tears which are seen running down his Cheeks during this devout Ceremony, join'd to his very moving Expressions, excite Compunction in the most obdurate Hearts, and every one pierc'd with unfeigned Sorrow cries to the Lord for Mercy: St.Charlesdid the like formerly atMilanon the same Festival of all Saints, when that City was under the Calamity of the Plague; and nothing is wanting to this Imitator of the Zeal, Piety, Charity, and all the Virtues of so great a Saint, but theRomanPurple which he deserves, and which a whole People on whom he heaps spiritual and temporal Blessings, wish him from the bottom of their Hearts.
From the second to the fifth, M.de Langeronwith the Sheriffs divide all the Quarters of the Town into new Districts, and appoint at every District, containing a certain number of Houses, a Commissary to see to the Execution of the several Orders issued, and to prevent whatever may contribute to the Continuance of the Plague, or to its Return.
The 5th, for restraining the excessive Price of all Provisions, which is raised every Day by those who take Advantage of the general Scarcity, they hold in the Town-house an Assembly of Merchants and Tradesmen to settle a general Rate; they continue drawing it up the next Day, and the 8ththey publish an Ordinance forbidding all Shopkeepers, Retailers, and Regraters, to sell at a higher Price than what is specified in that general Rate, on the Penalty of the Pillory, of Refunding the Money taken, and Confiscation of the Goods sold.
From the 6thto the 13thM.de Langeronsends out Orders on all Sides for regulating and relieving all the Quarters of the Territory, where the Plague continues to rage; and the 14thhe publishes an Ordinance with the Marquessde Pillesand the Sheriffs, which prescribes such exact and judicious Precautions to be observ'd at the Gates, that the indispensible Commerce between the City and the Territory is maintain'd, and yet the Distemper which is there cannot any way be brought into the City, to make that which still continues here rage the more.
The 15th, the Bakers having almost spent all the Fuel for their Ovens, so that they must leave off Baking, Vessels are sent towardsToulonto fetch Wood.
The 16ththe Bishop takes a holy Resolution to exorcise the Plague, which he has the Grief to see continue: In order to this, having called together the Remains of his Clergy in the Churchdes Acoulles, he begins by causing all the Prayers to be read which his Holiness had sent to him, and which are daily repeated in all the Churches ofRome, to incline the Almighty to deliverMarseillesfrom this Scourge; and after a very eloquent and very moving Exhortation, he carries up the Holy Sacrament to the Leads over the Roof of the Church, from whence all the City and its Territory lye open to the View, gives his Benediction, and performs the Exorcism against the Plague, with all the Prayers and Ceremonies which the Church has prescribed.
The 17th, M.de Langeronreceives an Answer from Court, to the Dispatches he had sent thither: M.le Blanc, and M.le Pelletier des Fortswrite to him, that his Royal Highness being extremely concerned at the Calamity ofMarseilles, had given Orders to theIndiaCompany to remit hither twenty five thousand Pieces of Eight, and one thousand nine hundred Marks of Silver, with which he is pleased to assist this City, till he can provide for its further Relief: The Marquessde la Vrillierewrites the same thing to the Sheriffs, and that his Royal Highness will do all that lies in his Power to succour them: That August Prince has had all possible Regard for this unfortunate City; from the Time he knew of its Distress, he has not neglected sending Orders every where, for supplying it with all necessary Help, as well to cure the Distemper, as to provide against Scarcity and Want: All his Ministers have seconded his Intentions with so much Earnestness and Application, that they seem to have had no other Business upon their Hands, than to hasten its Supplies, and to render them effectual. What Gratitude for this will not Subjects so obedient and so faithful ever cherish in their Hearts? This Gratitude for their Preservation, joined to the Ardour and Zeal which have always distinguished them in the Submission and Obedience due to his Majesty; will inflame them with a Desire to sacrifice their Lives and Fortunes, for the Honour and Glory of his Service.
Never was there greater Scarcity, nor ever was such Scarcity so plentifully supplied; so that having been continually just falling into Want, or in fear of wanting every thing, by the Interdiction of Communication and Commerce, we have hardly ever wanted any thing, by Means of the continual Succours which came in successively from all Parts, by the Orders of his Royal Highness, and the particular Care of M.le Pelletier des Forts, and M.le Blanc, to cause them to be executed: Corn and other Provisions, and especially large Cattle, and Sheep, have been brought in such Quantity and Numbers, notwithstanding all Difficulties, that for a long time we have had a kind of Plenty of them; from the Mint atAix, the first President has remitted very considerable Sums of Money, he has procured all Necessaries to be sent in from divers Parts; he has caused almost whole Forests to be cut down, that we might not want Wood for firing; and not contenting himself with procuring Credit for us to a great Sum, he has had the Goodness to find Means to discharge a considerable Part of that Debt; fromLanguedocthe Intendant, M.de Bernage, has taken infinite Pains to get sent hither all the Succours that fertile Province could furnish.
Several eminent Citizens have contributed very largely; M.ConstansandRemusat, have by their Credit and Money procured twenty thousand Measures (calledCharges) of Bread-Corn; M.Martins,Grimaud, andBeoland, have voluntarily taken inconceivable Pains so keep the Shambles supplied, and with very great Success; several others have contributed Money for buying up Corn in theLevant; even some of the Magistrates of the Soveraign Courts of the Province, as soon as the Plague had broke out, moved by their Generosity of Heart, and Grandeur of Soul, offered and even sent in all the Corn that was reaped on their own Lands; such are M.de Lubieresandde Ricardi, Counsellors of the Parliament, and M.de RauvillePresident of the Court of Accompts, Aids and Finances: We could not perish with so great and various Supplies; butMarseillesand its Territory are an Abyss; it cannot otherwise be filled, than by that prodigious Abundance,which Liberty, and the Concourse of the Commerce of Nations, bring into it.
The 18thM.Taxil, Agent of theIndiaCompany atMarseilles, remits to the Sheriffs one thousand six hundred Marks ofBullion, and twenty thousand and forty nine Marks in Pieces of Eight, which they cause to be conveyed to the Mint atMontpellier, there to be converted into new Specie.
The 19ththe Distemper which had extremely decreased, having increased again a little, and there being Ground to believe that the Communication in some Churches which were opened, had occasioned it, the Bishop is desired to be pleased to order them to be shut up again.
The 20th, 21st, and 22dVessels are fitted out to fetch Corn from theLevant, that we might not be wholly in want of it this Winter, and after the Plague and Scarcity fall into Famine.
The 23dAdvice comes that one of the Vessels in which his Holiness's Ministers had caused to be laden atCivita-Vecchia, the Bread-Corn designed for the Poor ofMarseilles, is unhappily wrecked on the Island ofPorcherolles, and that of one thousand Measures it carried, not three hundred could be saved.
The 24thand 25th, the Contagion still continuing in the Territory, and the Persons who live there, or have retired thither, especially those who are struck with it, or suspect they are, using all manner of Artifice to steal into the City, where the Distemper has almost intirely ceased, M.de Langeronestablishes such proper and exact Precautions, that no Endeavours of that kind can succeed.
The 26thhe publishes an Ordinance, to serve for Rules at the Gates, prescribing the several Certificates which must be brought to obtain Permission to enter, and describing the Condition of Health and other Circumstances a Person must be in to be qualified for a Certificate from the Parish-Priests, Captains, and Commissaries.
The 27thhe sends this Ordinance to be published in the Territory, and with it a circular Letter to all the Parish-Priests, Captains and Commissaries of the Quarters, for their more ample Instruction.
The 28thtwo other Vessels laden with the rest of the Bread-Corn given by his Holiness, arrive atToulon: The Bishop comes to the Town-house, to concert with M.de Langeronand the Sheriffs, the Means of getting it brought to this City, whither those Vessels will not come because of the Contagion.
The 29th, the Difficulty made by the Masters of Vessels ofLanguedoc, to come laden with Provisions to the Port ofFrioulin the Island ofRoteneau, one of the Isles ofMarseilles, whither the Barrier is removed fromLestaque, because after they have unladen at that Island, no Ballast is to be had there, without which they cannot sail empty, and return to their own Ports; this Difficulty, I say, obliges M.de Langeronand the Sheriffs to send for the Regulators of the Fishermen to the Town-house, and order them to see that no Boat goes out to fish, till it has first carried a lading of Ballast to that Isle ofRoteneau.
The 30ththe ChevalierRoseundertakes for the Execution of this Order; and he succeeds so well in it, that all the Ballast necessary for all the Vessels which may come to that Island, is presently carried thither.
The First ofDecemberthe Hospital of theRive-Neuve, governed and directed by the ChevalierRose, being become useless, the few Sick remaining in it are removed to that ofla Charité, and the other is entirely shut up: M.Boyer de Paradis, one of the Physicians who came fromParisby Order of his Royal Highness, served in it with all the Ardour and Zeal, that the Love of his native Country could inspire.
From the second to the fifth, Assemblies are held, to settle all the Dispositions and all the Measures necessary for purifying and dis-infecting all the Houses of the City in which the Contagion has been: A tedious Work, which to be very minutely performed, must be as laborious as it is nice and important.
The 6th, the grand Infirmaries having been for some time purified, M.Michel, a Physician of the Faculty ofMarseilles, who had been shut up in them from the beginning of the Contagion, comes out with the Surgeons he had with him; he served with a Zeal, Firmness, and Success, which make him admired by all.
The 7th, the Intendants of Health assemble at the Town-house, in the Presence of M.de Langeronand the Sheriffs, to deliberate about purifying all the Vessels that are in the Port, who had taken in their Cargoes before the Plague broke out; these Intendants (those of them who had absented being come back long since) do their Duty so well, that tho' they are obliged to serve only by Turns, they generally all act together, hardly any one excusing himself.
The Directors of the Hospital-general ofla Charitéand those of theHôtel Dieu, acquit themselves also of their Duty with the same Ardour: The latter even took upon them the Direction of this Hospital when it was turned into a Pest-House, tho' the coming near such a Place gives Disgust and makes one tremble: The Zeal among them was so extraordinary, that at the beginning of the Contagion, when every Body was running away, M.Bruno Grainierwas seen to quit his own House, and take up his Lodgings in theHôtel Dieu, there to devote himself intirely to the Service of the Poor, and endeavour to prevent the Plague's getting into it; accordingly it never could get in, before it had overthrown this piousArgus, and deprived of Life this Example of the most fervent and active Charity.
Almost all the Municipal Officers, and other Principal Citizens have been come back also some time; most of the Shops of Tradesmen and Artificers are opened; the People, who in their Fright had lost all Hope of Health, and all Measure of Prudence, are brought to themselves, and put into Heart again by the Presence and good Orders of M.de Langeron; and every one is at present assisting each other by mutual Offices, and by an exact and admirable Administration of Government; which cutting off all destructive Communication, allows only what is salutary. As this is but a brief Journal, drawn up in haste in some Moments stolen from Business, the Publick may expect an ample Supplement to it, which shall take in several Things here omitted, and the Services worthy of Notice and Acknowledgment, which several Persons have rendred to the City, as well within it, as Abroad; and the Wonders performed by the Surgeons, whom the Court was pleased to send, and others, shall not be forgotten.
The 8th, the Danger of Communication hindring still the Opening of the Churches, the Bishop orders Altars to be set up in the Streets, and Mass to be said at them in Publick.
This Day M.de Langeron, the Marquessde Pilles, and the Sheriffs, publish an Ordinance, directing the Commissaries of the Quarters and Parishes, all they are to do generally, as well for hindring whatever might contribute to the keeping of the Contagion in the Town, or increasing it by introducing the Distemper from Abroad, as for concurring to the great Work still remaining, of disinfecting all the Houses.
The 9th, upon Notice that several Taverns, Victualing-Houses, Coffee-Houses, and other like Houses of Publick Resort are opened, where People meeting in Crowds, a mortal Communication is to be feared; an Ordinance is published, at my Instance, for their beingall shut up again, on the Penalty of Imprisonment, and of a Fine of thirty Livres.
This present Day (the 10thofDecember) the Distemper has so abated throughout the City, that no new Patient has been carried into any Hospital: There is Ground to hope, that the Wrath of God will be intirely appeased; that this miserable unfortunate City will be wholly delivered from this cruel Visitation, which has laid it desolate; and that we shall be secured from all Returns of it, by the wise, exact, and judicious Precautions which M.de Langerontakes, in Concert with the Sheriffs, with such indefatigable Zeal, such laborious Assiduity, such prudent Vigilance, and such singular Application, that the Preservation ofMarseillescannot but be looked upon as his Work; and its surviving Inhabitants will be ever obliged to bless his glorious Name, and those of the Sheriffs, who second him so well, and do so justly merit, by the Ardour with which they have exposed their Lives, the Title ofFathers of their Country.
Done atMarseilles,in the Town-House, the10thofDecember, 1720.
TheEND.
Transcriber's Note.In the original page numbering is not continuous. The following corrections were made:p. 9:le Pellletier des Fortswas changed tole Pelletier des Fortsp. 47:King's Puocurator was changed to King's Procurator
In the original page numbering is not continuous. The following corrections were made:
p. 9:
le Pellletier des Fortswas changed tole Pelletier des Forts
p. 47:
King's Puocurator was changed to King's Procurator