Part 6

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 de _Pilles_, and the Sheriffs; and M. _de Chicoyneau_ and _Verny_, 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_, and _Audan_, 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_, and _Icard_, 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 Langeron_ posts at each Gate a _Corps de Garde_ of 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 which they 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 of _Avignon_ are so kind to write to them, that the common Father of the Faithful _Roman_ Catholicks, moved at hearing of the Calamities of a City, which was the first of all _Gaul_ that received the Catholick Faith, by St. _Lazarus_ its 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 of _Rome_, and Processions, at which his Holiness assists on Foot, to beseech the Sovereign Father of Mercies to appease his Wrath against _Marseilles_, 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 of _Ancona_ two thousand Measures (called _Roubies_) of Bread-Corn, which will be forthwith brought hither by Vessels that are to take it in at _Civita-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, the Bishop pronounces Sentence, and, conformably to the Petition of the Sheriffs of the 4th of _September_ last, 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 Langeron_ goes 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 of _Brie_, which M. _de Langeron_ causes to encamp at the _Chartreuse_, 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 a _Corps de Garde_ of 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 Fathers _de 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 the _Loge_. 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 of _Major_ to be brought forth, and to accompany them to the Square of the _Loge_, 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 Langeron_ had 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. _Victor_ to perform their Part: M. _Estelle_ went, 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, come to 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 Langeron_ orders 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 22d and 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 Commissaries _de Police_ to return, to bring to Tryal those Malefactors, and to secure those Effects for the lawful Claimants.

The 24th M. _de Langeron_, the Marquess _de Pilles_ and 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 Commissaries _de Police_, that the same may be properly secured.

The 25th another 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, and _Marseilles_ is in the greatest Extremities that it ever felt. M. _de Langeron_ and 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 27th the Hospitals of the _Mall_, of _La Charité_, and of the _Rive Neuve_, being by the Decrease of the Distemper more than sufficient to hold all the Sick; and that _des Convalescens_ being become altogether superfluous, it is resolv'd to make Use of it for those who have recovered, and not of the College _de l'Oratoire_, as was design'd.

The 28th and 29th are 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 the _Mall_.

The 30th the great Number of Surgeons, as well Masters as others, who are come from all Parts, allur'd by the Advertisements of the 30th of _September_, 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 they approach, the Chevalier _de Soissans_ finds 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 Hospital _des Convalescens_, where the Surgeons search them, and detain all who ought to be kept there.

The First of _November_, being the Feast of all Saints, the Bishop comes out of his Palace in Procession, accompany'd by the Canons of the Church _des 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 of _Aix_, 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. _Charles_ did the like formerly at _Milan_ on 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 the _Roman_ Purple 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 Langeron_ with 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 8th they 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 6th to the 13th M. _de Langeron_ sends out Orders on all Sides for regulating and relieving all the Quarters of the Territory, where the Plague continues to rage; and the 14th he publishes an Ordinance with the Marquess _de Pilles_ and 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 towards _Toulon_ to fetch Wood.

The 16th the 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 Church _des 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 of _Rome_, to incline the Almighty to deliver _Marseilles_ from 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 Langeron_ receives an Answer from Court, to the Dispatches he had sent thither: M. _le Blanc_, and M. _le Pelletier des Forts_ write to him, that his Royal Highness being extremely concerned at the Calamity of _Marseilles_, had given Orders to the _India_ Company 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 Marquess _de la Vrilliere_ writes 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 at _Aix_, 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; from _Languedoc_ the 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. _Constans_ and _Remusat_, have by their Credit and Money procured twenty thousand Measures (called _Charges_) of Bread-Corn; M. _Martins_, _Grimaud_, and _Beoland_, 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 the _Levant_; 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 Lubieres_ and _de Ricardi_, Counsellors of the Parliament, and M. _de Rauville_ President of the Court of Accompts, Aids and Finances: We could not perish with so great and various Supplies; but _Marseilles_ and 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 18th M. _Taxil_, Agent of the _India_ Company at _Marseilles_, remits to the Sheriffs one thousand six hundred Marks of _Bullion_, and twenty thousand and forty nine Marks in Pieces of Eight, which they cause to be conveyed to the Mint at _Montpellier_, there to be converted into new Specie.

The 19th the 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 22d Vessels are fitted out to fetch Corn from the _Levant_, that we might not be wholly in want of it this Winter, and after the Plague and Scarcity fall into Famine.

The 23d Advice comes that one of the Vessels in which his Holiness's Ministers had caused to be laden at _Civita-Vecchia_, the Bread-Corn designed for the Poor of _Marseilles_, is unhappily wrecked on the Island of _Porcherolles_, and that of one thousand Measures it carried, not three hundred could be saved.

The 24th and 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 Langeron_ establishes such proper and exact Precautions, that no Endeavours of that kind can succeed.

The 26th he 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 27th he 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 28th two other Vessels laden with the rest of the Bread-Corn given by his Holiness, arrive at _Toulon_: The Bishop comes to the Town-house, to concert with M. _de Langeron_ and 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 of _Languedoc_, to come laden with Provisions to the Port of _Frioul_ in the Island of _Roteneau_, one of the Isles of _Marseilles_, whither the Barrier is removed from _Lestaque_, 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 Langeron_ and 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 of _Roteneau_.

The 30th the Chevalier _Rose_ undertakes 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 of _December_ the Hospital of the _Rive-Neuve_, governed and directed by the Chevalier _Rose_, being become useless, the few Sick remaining in it are removed to that of _la Charité_, and the other is entirely shut up: M. _Boyer de Paradis_, one of the Physicians who came from _Paris_ by 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.