2d. B. Nay, I have heard nothing today; but you know how it is as well as I. 112 1st. B. I know there were none in the last week's bill, of the plague; and I am told there will be none in this.

You

2d. B. As to the bills, I wonder you should lay any stress upon what they say. You know well enough they are managed, not to put them in oper in openly of the plague. Private people get their dead put in of other distempers, that their houses may not be marked, or ordered to be shut up. They bribe the searchers and parish officers: and on the other hand the public themselves are not willing to have the town disquieted. "It would make a terrible alarm all over the world, you know: the ships would every where be denied product; and it would ruin trade at home and abroad. But, alas! that miH is a trifle to what I talk of. tud1st. B. Why you talk as if it was not over indeed! Is it really your opinion then that it is not over?

I

2d. B. My opinion! ay, and every body's Topinion too, besides mine. of

1st. B. Why, by your discourse," it is

'really begun.

919 2d. B. Depend upon it it is more than begun, it has spread every way into several

streets in St. Giles's; and they will not be able to conceal it long.

1st. B. You are enough to put the whole town in a fright, brother! Why, you are as bad as my sister, the governess.

2d. B. Would I were as good as my sister! But what do you mean by being as bad as she is? She is frightened at it then, I suppose, as I am._k

1st. B. Why truly I do not know whether she is or not; for, when I came, about a fortnight ago, and told her the plague was begun, as you know we all heard it was, she received the news with so much composure of mind, as I confess I wondered at; and, after a considerable time of silence, answered only that it was the hand of God, and He ought to do with us as pleases Him.

2d. B. That was like her, indeed; but do not say I am like her: I do not pretend to it, I assure you: I am all horror and confusion at the prospect before us.

1st. B. I do not say you are like her in that respect indeed I do not know it: but you are like her in this, she is for alarming every body, as if the plague were actually among us, when she knows nothing of it: and so are you.

2d. B. Well, but hark ye, brother; have a care of being in a worse extreme; for you seem to be lulling yourself asleep, when you know the flame is kindled.

1st. B.

not say so 2d. B.

Do I know it is kindled? Do

I hope it is not.

You cannot seriously say you hope it is not: you may say, as I do, that you wish it were not; but you cannot but know it is actually begun; ay, and more than begun, it has spread a great way already, and in a very few weeks will be all over the city.

1st, B. You make my blood run chill in my veins': what do you mean? I cannot say I know it; I was really of the opinion that it was stopped again, and that the danger was over, at least for the present.

2d. B. And so your first apprehensions cooled again, I perceive.

1st. B. That was too much my case, I confess.w .biz .:

2d. B. And it was mine too, after the first appearance of it at Christmas last. I have been just like a sick-bed penitent; as soon as the fear was over, the penitence cooled and abated. But I feel the return with a double reproach upon me; I think it will sink me before the distemper comes.

› 1st. B. Well, but do not be so positive; I hope you are not so sure of the bad news as you make yourself.1

2d. B. Dear brother, why you and I know how these things are abroad. Do not you remember how the plague at Messina came creeping on just when we left the city, and went away again two or three times; but, as soon as the sun advanced, and they got into May, it broke out like a fire that had been smothered with hot ashes; and what havoc it made? And the like at Gallipoli, and on the Calabrian coast? Depend upon it, the distemper is only smothered with these northerly winds; but, as soon as the winds become westerly, and the weather is a little close and warm, you will see dreadful work here. I do not speak to alarm you, but we should not be blind to our own danger.

"This discourse ended here for the present: but the very next day, which was the third or fourth of May, the youngest brother having been out in the morning, and coming into the counting-house, where his brother was, wished very much to give vent to his thoughts. He accordingly desired one of **Still clinging to the forlorn hope: instead of seeking better grounded encouragement.

their servants, who was there, to withdrawl; and, shutting the door after him, his brother was just going to open the door again to go out too, but he said, Do not go out, brother: I want to speak with you.' So his brother sat down, and, seeing him look a little disordered, said, What is the matter, brother? have you heard any bad news?}% \

luo2d. B. Ay, ay, bad news enough: we are all undone at last. I Less A

1st. BodWhat is it? hear any more of the plague?

What do you od lliw z3r0Q

2d. B. Any more of it! why it is come into the city. There is one dead in the next street to us almost in Bearbinder Låne.

1st. Bw What, of the plague itself? godi 2d. B. Ay, indeed: my Lord Mayorg sent two surgeons to examine the body, and they have both given it in that he died of the plague: he was a Frenchman. I toldw you how it would be $ bS

1stiq Ben Well but this may be some 6 straggling loose fellow, that has come downto from St. Giles's for fear of it, because its was there about a fortnight agouniq od

vab 2dB.Do not let us flatter ourselves any longer, brother, or trifle with heaven.v it has spread at the other end of the towns2 into the Strand, and from thence into b